Growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., it was nearly impossible to avoid becoming immersed in the
Photo by Wes Kroninger
hockey culture.
Several times each year, I would hop on the subway and endure the 30-minute ride to Madison Square Garden to cheer for my favorite hockey team, the New York Rangers, even though losing was their norm. I worshipped my Rangers and, even more so, loved to play this team sport.
My gear differed significantly from the photo on this page. I did not wear pads. My uniform consisted of a T-shirt and shorts that I donned in the summer months. As winter approached, I converted to insulated gear that consisted of jeans and a sweatshirt. I collected seasonal “uniforms” since I needed to adapt to the climate change of my “hockey arena.”
Unlike the Chiller at Easton, my arena was rudimentary. My venue was the street, minus boards lined with the logos of corporate sponsors. Rather, it was queued with Ford Fairlanes, Chevy Bel Airs and an occasional Edsel, to name a few.
My hockey equipment did not include ice skates. My skates were ball-bearing steel rollerskates, or ball-bearings as they were called, anchored by metal clamps that were tightened to the front of my sneakers by a special key.
Goalie was my favorite position. The “net” was a U-shaped chalk mark outlined on the asphalt with the open end facing the playing field. To score a goal, the puck (sometimes we used a tin can when a puck was not available) had to pass the goalie between the two vertical chalk lines.
Regardless of the limitations I faced while growing up, I experienced the same values being instilled by the New Albany High School hockey coaches in their players. Bob Valasek’s story about our hockey team emphasizes the positives we as parents, teachers and coaches want passed on to those whose lives are entrusted to us. These positives include being respectful and kind to others, representing our community, and having fun: a winning formula for any team.
Healthfully,
Phil
