There are many people in this world that have certain things they love. It may be school, friends, family or just the love of watching television. I have loved the same thing for my entire life: the game of hockey. Through the years it has made a drastic impact on my life and has shaped me into the person I am today. Many people are drawn to all sorts of different hobbies, and hockey just happened to be mine. It's been about 13 years since I first stepped foot on the ice, and I remember it just like it was yesterday. My father had built our own rink in our backyard and at the young age of 4, we went for our first skate. My family, especially my dad, has definitely had the biggest influence on me in hockey. He has always been the most motivating and I always wish to make him proud at every game. My family has done more than enough in helping me pursue my dream in hockey. I really do appreciate all they have done, from all the time and money they've invested in my hockey over the years.
Hockey is not a sport I fell in love with because it was expected of me or because everyone else played. It is a sport I fell in love with because the moment I witnessed my first ice rink and stepped foot on the ice, I had no other choice. In fact, I was dismal in my first couple years but I never quit. It was simply my attraction to the sport that kept me motivated to keep on playing. To say the least, the people around me weren't the most supportive in my first couple years. They actually wanted me to try and take up another sport. Everyone seemed surprised that such a small, scrawny boy played the game of hockey. This makes no difference as over the past couple years, hockey has become so much a part of my life that it has shaped into who I am today.
When you come to the locker room and you play a team sport: this becomes your family. I have always had a very strong bond with the players on each time I have played on. This high school hockey team ha...