Alright so last Tuesday I dragged my tired butt outta bed at 5:30 AM to try this Jack Harney Hockey thing everyone keeps whispering about. Was kinda skeptical, truth told. Another fitness fad?
Getting Started – More Hassle Than I Expected
First off, found his basic “beginner package” online – just a PDF and some grainy phone videos honestly. Downloaded it, printed out the drills (printer jammed twice, classic). Looked simple enough on paper: stick handling patterns, footwork drills, something he calls “dynamic puck retrieval.” Yeah, right.
Grabbed my old gear outta the garage – knee pads smelling vaguely of mold, stick taped up like a mummy. My backyard’s basically concrete and weeds, but I figured good enough. Set up some cones made from empty Diet Coke cans. How hard could it be?
Let me tell ya: Humbling. First drill, trying to weave the puck around those cans while shuffling sideways? Looked like a drunk flamingo on roller skates. Puck kept shooting off into the rose bushes, wife was yelling from the kitchen window about noise before sunrise. Good times.
Sticking With It (Pun Intended)
Didn’t want to quit after day one like some couch potato. Committed to doing the stupid morning routine for at least two weeks. Cold concrete at dawn ain’t exactly motivating, but hey.
- Day 3: Puck control was still garbage, but my legs stopped feeling like absolute jelly halfway through.
- Day 6: Actually started hitting the cans most times instead of demolishing Mom’s azaleas.
- Day 10: That “dynamic puck retrieval” madness? Where you pretend a puck’s shot wide and you gotta scramble? Almost tripped myself less. Almost.
Called up my buddy Mike – guy played junior hockey eons ago. Told him about Harney. He just grunted and said “Sounds like basic agility work with a puck.” But he also admitted the footwork patterns I described weren’t half bad for building stability, especially for old farts like us trying not to break a hip.
The Actual Benefits – Surprise, Surprise
After three solid weeks? Okay, I’ll admit it. Felt… lighter on my feet? Not graceful, mind you. Still look like Frankenstein chasing a peanut. But:
- Got way better at changing direction quick when playing with my kids. Dodged a rogue tricycle like a champ.
- Less wheezing chasing the puck across the outdoor rink last weekend.
- That nagging ache in my knee from sitting all day at the computer? Seems quieter. Could be coincidence? Could be the footwork.
- Surprisingly fun. Way less boring than jogging. Destroying soda cans is therapeutic.
Don’t expect overnight Gretzky skills. It’s grind. But if you got zero stick skills like me and wanna move better, maybe build some toughness? Yeah, it kinda works. Just warn the neighbors about the early morning puck-clang symphony.
