Alright, so let me tell you about this Shattuck-St. Mary’s hockey camp thing I did. It’s one of those places you hear about, you know? Like a legend in the hockey world, especially for young players dreaming big. I wasn’t exactly a spring chicken aiming for the NHL, but I figured, why not go check it out? See what all the fuss was about with my own eyes.
Getting Myself There and First Look
So, I signed up. The process was pretty straightforward, nothing too crazy there. Then it was just a matter of getting my gear sorted. Dug out my old skates, got ’em sharpened up real good. Made sure my stick was still in one piece. You know, the usual pre-hockey routine. Didn’t do any super intense training beforehand, just my regular stuff. I wasn’t trying to impress anyone, just wanted to experience it.
Driving onto the campus, I gotta say, it’s a pretty imposing place. Lots of old brick buildings, looks very… traditional. You can just feel the history there. And kids, hockey players everywhere. Serious-looking kids, too. For a moment, I kinda felt like, “Whoa, what did I get myself into?” But excitement was definitely kicking in.
Hitting the Ice – The Real Deal
Okay, the on-ice stuff. That’s what I was there for, right? And man, they don’t mess around. The coaches, they were sharp. Knew their stuff inside out. You could tell they’ve seen it all. The drills were intense. Fast-paced. Lots of skating, puck handling, shooting. They really push you. Some of those younger campers were just flying out there. I was mostly focused on keeping my legs moving and trying to absorb what they were teaching.
What really stood out to me was the focus on fundamentals. We did a lot of basic skill work, but at a high tempo and with a lot of attention to detail. Things I thought I knew, they’d break it down even further. It wasn’t just about going through the motions; it was about doing it right, every single time. Honestly, it was tiring. My legs were burning after those first few sessions.
Off the Ice and the Vibe
I didn’t stay in the dorms or anything, just went for the camp sessions. But the whole atmosphere around the place is just hockey, hockey, hockey. Everyone’s talking about it, living it. It’s a different kind of environment when everyone is so focused on one thing. You could tell these kids were serious about their development. It’s pretty cool to see that level of dedication, even if my own pro dreams sailed long ago!
There wasn’t a whole lot of downtime during the camp itself, at least for the parts I was involved in. It was pretty much gear up, get on the ice, work hard, get off, and then get ready to do it again. But that’s what you sign up for, I guess. No complaints there.
What I Took Away From It All
So, what did I learn? Well, I definitely got reminded that there’s always more to learn in hockey, no matter how long you’ve been playing. Picked up a few pointers, for sure. Some new ways to think about certain plays or techniques. The biggest thing, though, was just being in that environment. It’s motivating, you know? Seeing that level of coaching and that dedication from the players.
Was it tough? Yeah, some parts were. Keeping up with the pace, pushing through when you’re tired. But that’s the good stuff. That’s where you feel like you’re actually improving, or at least trying to.
- My skating felt a bit sharper by the end.
- Got some good repetitions on skills I hadn’t focused on in a while.
- Mostly, it was just a really solid hockey experience.
So yeah, that was my little adventure at the Shattuck-St. Mary’s hockey camp. It’s definitely a serious program, and you can see why they have the reputation they do. If you’re serious about hockey, or even just a big fan of the game like me wanting to see a high-level setup, it’s an eye-opener. I’m glad I went. Just another good memory made, playing the game I love.
