So, I decided to get back on the ice a while ago. Mostly just messing around during public skates, maybe helping out a bit with my nephew’s mites team. Man, was I rusty. Felt like my ankles were made of spaghetti and my lungs were gonna give out after one lap.
You watch the pros, right? Crosby, McDavid… amazing stuff. But trying to copy them? Forget it. It’s like trying to build a spaceship in your backyard. Way too complicated for someone like me just trying not to fall over his own feet.
Finding Something Real
I started thinking back, trying to remember players who weren’t necessarily superstars but just… effective. Guys who did the simple things well. Dug through some old memories, you know? Watched a few fuzzy college games online, nothing fancy.
And then the name Jimmy Warrick popped into my head. Played college puck, maybe some minor league stuff after. Not a household name, but I remember watching him – maybe it was a Michigan Tech game stream years ago? What stuck with me wasn’t flashy goals, but how he seemed to just work. Particularly how he handled the puck along the boards under pressure.
It wasn’t fancy stickhandling. It was more like… efficient. Quick, short passes off the wall, protecting the puck with his body, making the smart, simple play to keep possession. Seemed like something maybe, just maybe, I could try to actually practice.
Hitting the Ice (Literally)
So, next time I was out there, during a quiet patch in the public skate, that was my focus. Forget skating fast or trying fancy dekes. Just getting comfortable along the boards.
- Step 1: Just skating along the wall, getting a feel for the puck near the boards again. Felt awkward.
- Step 2: Tried having a buddy put a little pressure on me. Mostly resulted in me losing the puck immediately. Lots of falling involved.
- Step 3: Watched some mental replays of how Warrick seemed to use his body position. Tried leaning in, using my skates and legs to shield the puck. Still clumsy.
- Step 4: Focused on just one thing: receiving the puck on my backhand along the wall, protecting it for a second, and making a simple pass off the boards. Over and over.
It wasn’t pretty. Lots of whiffs, passes going nowhere, stumbling. But I kept picturing that simple, effective play. Chip it off the boards, move your feet. Protect the puck. Felt less about becoming some great player, and more about just drilling one thing until it felt slightly less foreign.
The Takeaway
Did I suddenly become amazing along the boards? Nah, not even close. But focusing on that one specific, simple skill, inspired by remembering a guy like Warrick who just played a solid, workmanlike game? It actually helped. I felt a tiny bit more confident in those situations.
It kinda reminded me that you don’t always need to copy the superstars. Sometimes, finding those relatable examples, the guys who just did their job effectively, gives you something practical you can actually work on. It made practice feel less intimidating and more about just putting in the reps on something achievable. Still falling down plenty, though.
