My boyfriend, Michael, started skating at age two and began playing hockey at age three right until his second to last year of juniors. I was fortunate enough to watch him play his last two seasons of juniors. I didn't know a thing about ice hockey when we started dating three years ago. He and his family have taught me a thing or two about the sport, but most of what I have learned comes from watching him play and my experience as a hockey player's girlfriend.
So what have I learned? Here's a few things that a few of us hockey girlfriends can relate to...
1. Goon and Miracle are your new favorite movies.
3. Late nights at the rink, followed by early mornings at the rink.
4. That feeling you get when you can't make it to a game for whatever reason, especially when they're home games.
5. Imagining all the cute photos that never did get taken because get real.
6. All the hockey lingo you'll never understand.
- "I wheeled around the d like he was standing still, sniped bar down, and had a sick celly."
- "Those two goons had a sweet scrap."
- "That goalie is a f*cking sieve."
- "That kid is a f*cking duster."
- "His hands are filthy."
7. And all the cursing after he's been around the guys for a while.
8. When it's colder in the arena than it is outside and never sitting in the arena in between periods because any chance to warm up is needed.
9. Never knowing if the game is going to start early or late because it always depends on who played on the ice beforehand.
10. The smell of his hands that lingers for hours after the game no matter how many times he's washed them since.
11. He keeps all of his old sweatshirts, including the one that fit him at 13 and fits you perfectly today.
12. Waiting outside of the locker 15 minutes at least because that's how long it takes to all of the gear off. Even longer if coach wants to yell.
13. Speaking of coaches, so many coaches. Head coach, assistant coach, defensive coach, skating coach, oh and the trainer.
14. All of the potential injuries.
As with any sport - concussions, dislocated shoulders, torn labrums, broken arms.
15. Forget actually spending time with them during the season. His time is spent at practice, games, traveling, and with the guys.
16. He's going to remember basically everyone he's ever played on a team with, and even a few that he played against. Especially when they make it NHL.
17. Those guys on his team will always be good friends of his.
Hockey players are constantly hugging one another.
18. Their dedication to the sport, including sometimes playing on two teams at once or playing with a torn labrum for four months before getting surgery at the very end of the season
(ahem, Michael Taylor).
19. Also the longest sports season ever. Practices starting in August and games going until March or April.
20. Being corrected when you say "he made a goal" if you're new to hockey because apparently that only works for soccer.
21. You'll have a whole new appreciation for hockey, as you think about how difficult it is just to be on skates but then add pushing, fighting, and holding the puck to the mix. It's those strong legs!
22. The feeling of being able to calm him down after losing a game.
23. There's something about hockey players that make them more sensitive and caring, but also incredibly strong, stubborn, and protective.
Jonathan Toews from the Chicago Blackhawks.
24. Always being very proud to call him yours and wanting to show him off.
"Yeah, that's right. My boyfriend plays hockey."
25. You're going to miss watching him play when he decides to not go further with the sport, but you'll have NHL and AHL games to watch for the entirety of your relationship.
Basically how this little guy feels is how I feel about my hockey player.
