One thing I have learned about growing up in a hockey family is that even if you are not a sports fan, hockey will always hold a special place in your heart. Although this lesson is larger than many others, there are plenty of other factors that any hockey family can relate to.

1. Early games far away.

One thing you can count on for sure is you will become very friendly with waking up with, if not before the sunrise. Why so early? Apparently hockey organizations feel that booking your team for 7:00 a.m. ice an hour drive from your house works best.

2. Waking up alone.

If you’re lucky enough to not have to wake up early, chances are when you do wake up the rest of your family is already gone. There is a game, or a practice happening somewhere. Trust me. You’d think this would be great until it starts to happen every weekend.

3. Tournaments, tournaments, tournaments.

Lake Placid, Waterville Valley, the Lobster Pot, Montreal, the Cranberry Tournament, state tournaments, and so on. The list is endless, but the memories you will make last forever. Traveling to new places with good friends, who doesn’t want that? I have been able to go to so many fun and different places thanks to my brothers playing hockey.

4. Family parties.

Birthday parties, cookouts, school graduations, you name it. Automatically you will have more hockey family invited than biological family. It’s the way things go. You will have teammates from past teams, current teams, and hockey friends in general will all get an invite. Chances are in the end, there will be twice the hockey friends invited than true friends and family.

5. Intense try-outs.

Hockey try-outs are some of the most intense I have seen. While try-outs may be in November, practice starts in August. And on try-out day be prepared, you are going to skate harder than you thought possible. Come ready! You definitely don’t want to be the one to have to use the Puke Bucket. Yes, the puke bucket is real, and it will be there waiting for you.

6. Community.

Hockey friends are more than just friends; they are family. In time of crisis family is always there for one another. The hockey community comes with one of the strongest bonds. If there is a teammate who’s family is struggling or going through a rough patch, you can guarantee that there will be families offering help and assistance in any way that they can. Someone is always going to be there for you, no matter what.

7. Extra siblings.

Biologically I have three brothers, however during hockey season I am shocked if there are less than three extra kids at my house. Not only are friends constantly over, but these are kids I've known my whole life -- they might as well be my brothers. My brother’s friends and teammates feel more comfortable in my house than I do half the time. During the summer it gets even worse. At any given time there will be five extra kids at my house that don’t live there. One of my brother’s friends moved in for a solid four days, went home for a night, and came back for another two. However, it’s nothing to be annoyed with, in the end I think my brother’s friends are as important as my brothers are and if they needed help, I’d be there.

8. Sketti dinner.

All athletes have their certain rituals, and one big ritual for hockey players, as well as other high school athletes, is having spaghetti dinner the night before a game. The conversations you will overhear at these dinners will probably make you question your sanity. Actually they will definitely make you question your sanity.

9. Knockey.

(Knee hockey.) Even when hockey players aren’t playing the game, it’s definitely on their mind. Best way to feed the hockey addiction when you can’t get ice time … knee hockey. Most likely one house has been deemed the “hockey house” this house has the perfect basement to set up a mini rink. Word to the wise: do not open the door to the basement. The stench of teenage hockey players dripping in sweat is something you definitely do not want to smell. Nauseating is the only word I can use to describe it.

10. "Miracle."

To many people "Miracle" is just a movie, but to hockey players, Miracle is so much more. "Miracle" is the story of the 1980 USA Olympic Hockey team’s victory over the Soviet Union. Herb Brooks led the team to victory as they went on to win the gold medal. Most hockey players can quote the movie, and living in a hockey household I have seen "Miracle" at least seventy-five times. Herb Brooks’ speech is also brought up around every hockey season, especially before going in to a tournament.

11. Games.

Games bring crazy fans, crazy screaming, and fun. If it’s hockey season, you know exactly when each game for the next couple of weeks is going to happen. Most likely there are back-to-back games on Wednesday night, JV playing first.

Although this list is only a few of the things that growing up in a hockey family has taught me, I’m sure I could find many more. It has taken over a lot of my life, and my time, but I love being able to watch my brothers play a sport that they love. I honestly wouldn’t change growing up in a hockey family for anything.