Most girls’ hockey players I know don’t play pick-up hockey. Either they don’t want to or they don’t think they have time to. But those who do are developing their game sense, their confidence with the puck and their ability to create time and space on the ice - all things that are essential to success at all levels of girls’ hockey.
When I made the decision that I wanted to play hockey at the university level at the age of 15, I became laser-focused on doing whatever it took to reach that goal. In addition to focusing on my off-ice training, nutrition and mental game, I would spend every spare moment I could at the outdoor rink across the street from my house working on my skills - usually alone in the freezing cold for hours on end. I was way behind most of my teammates in terms of skill and experience, so I was determined to bridge that gap as
quickly as possible.
To be honest, that outdoor rink was really the key to my success. I didn’t go to a lot of hockey camps or skills sessions, but I played a lot of pick-up hockey. I was the only girl and usually one of the few teenagers in intense games between grown men, many of whom had played junior hockey and beyond. When I first started playing in those games, I was just “filler”. I would skate up and down the ice as hard as I could, never really expecting to get the puck and trying to make the smartest and quickest play possible if I did so that I wouldn’t get run over.
When I first started playing in those pick-up games, I would say things to myself like, “Today, I’m going to make 3 good passes” as I walked over to the rink. I didn’t expect to score any goals and in those early days, all the goals I did score were from deflections off my outstretched stick or banging home someone else’s rebound. Nothing flashy, never anything worth writing home about.
At first, the guys didn’t really like having me out there. I wasn’t the worst player out there, but I certainly wasn’t even close to being the best. And because I was the only girl, I had to prove myself each and every time I hit the ice with those guys. And eventually, after months and years of playing with them, I did. I went from wanting to make a few decent passes to stealing pucks off people. Instead of scoring off ugly deflections, I was making pretty passing plays and beating people 1-on-1 to score.
I went from going home exhausted from just trying to keep up, to having to stay out on the ice for most of the game because the guys were tired while I had an endless supply of energy. I played in those shinny games from the age of 15 all the way through the end of my university career. I loved coming back to play over the holiday break when I was in university, catching up with the guys again and showing any newcomers to the game that girls can play, and even dominate, the game.
Those shinny games were what made me a smart hockey player. I challenged myself to compete in and contribute to those games. I went from being a very peripheral player to controlling the action. While the practicing and playing I did on my competitive team was certainly critical in my growth and development as a player, it was the weekend games with the guys and countless hours working on my individual skills all alone that made me a better player. I learned how to play with my head up, how to be confident carrying the puck, how to thread the needle with a beautifully timed pass and how to dig in the corners without having to throw a body-check. Since my teammates changed from game to game on that outdoor rink, I learned how to constantly adapt to the skill and ability level of the people I was playing with in order to maximize our team’s performance.
Looking back on my career now, I have no doubt that I wouldn’t have had a shot at playing at the college level or beyond had I not devoted so much time and energy to pushing myself to be the best I could be when no one was watching.
Your friend and coach,
Coach Kim
