Skate! Skate! Skate!

I am thrilled. I am anxious. I am intimidated. Today I visited my local hockey shop to buy some skates.

I hatched a plan to discover if my days of playing hockey really were over. After talking it over with my wonderful and supportive partner, she encouraged me to take the first step of this plan and buy my first new pair of skates in 25 years.

Some information here for those of you might not be aware that skates worn by goalies are quite different than those worn by forwards and defenseman. In fact, the blades on a goalie skate are more like figure skates than hockey skates with a few important differences.

Goalie skates, like figure skates, have a flat blade while normal hockey skates have a curved blade. Goalie skates do not have the toe pick like figure skates but feature a hard plastic, protective shell that surrounds the boot.

"In fact, the blades on a goalie skate are more like figure skates"

Because my last skating experience had been with regular hockey skates and they had been horrible rentals, I had some hope that getting myself goalie skates that fit well would lead to a better evaluation whether my days of skating really were over. After all, I had played goalie my entire youth and never spent any time on regular skates.

I tried on several brands and while trying to keep the budget small, my primary concern was finding a skate that fit well. I had always experienced foot pain from skating and I was determined that if I couldn't find a new skate that left me pain-free then this entire journey was going to come to a quick end.

I ended up with a low-mid priced Reebok skate priced around $130. I vaguely remembered that I liked my skates on the dull side and so had them sharpened on the spot with those instructions.

Off to the rink!

A Seed of an Idea

I'll turn 47 in 2013. I haven't played hockey since 1986. I was never very good.

About a year ago while walking by the ice rink in Arlington, Texas, I stopped to watch some guys playing beer league hockey. I sometimes do this on my way to the movieplex which overlooks the indoor rink. Whenever I stop to watch, I always have a pang of envy and regret. Envy that these men were enjoying the thrill of the ice and competition. Regret that I had lost the heritage of hockey participation that flows through my Canadian veins.

Often I'd wander down to rink-level and read the flyers for league signups, "players wanted" and rule sheets. Each time I'd glance at the postings, I'd quickly dismiss whatever fleeting thoughts I had with excuses; Too expensive. I don't have the time. I was never good enough to play.

"Still I would stop to watch. Still the envy and regret."

Two years ago, my fleeting thoughts led me to take my two girls- who were both taking figure skating lessons at the time- to a public skate where my worst fears were confirmed. After two laps around the ice on a pair of rental skates I was in agony from foot pain and my ankles felt like wet noodles. I quickly fled the ice, took off my skates and admitted to myself that whatever I had been thinking was wrong and hockey was a chapter of my life that closed twenty odd years ago.

Still I would stop to watch. Still the envy and regret. I found my self lingering and silently evaluating the players on the ice.

Was it really too late? Weren't those rental skates designed to inflict pain and suffering? Had I really drifted into the age where I started marking off things that I would never again do in my life?

A seed.