Hockey aficianados reflect on the sport
Hockey heads discuss pros and cons of their favorite game
Mark Hensch
Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Down the Hill
Despite lacking an official team, many Hillsdale students lace up their skates for local hockey games. Most of these players grew up with the sport, and now must generate local pick-up games to maintain their escapades on the ice rink.
Sophomore Chris Stephens said he took up hockey at age 3 by learning to skate with his family in Grosse Pointe, Mich. Since then, the career defenseman has played every chance he can get, even winning the 2007 state championship with Grosse Point South High School.
"I get a rush of energy just thinking about hockey," Stephens said. "I started just pushing a chair around the ice. You have to get your skating and balance down first."
Having played on travel league, high school and AAA teams, Stephens said it was disheartening arriving at Hillsdale and not having a squad waiting for him. Despite this, he said his frequent games at a friend's rink in town satisfy his cravings.
"When you've been playing since age three it is tough to quit," Stephens said.
In contrast, junior Phil Partyka said Hillsdale's lack of a hockey team came as a relief. A defensive player since age six, Partyka said he became burned out playing junior level hockey between his 18th and 21st birthdays as a means of joining Wayne State University's college team.
"It was really tough keeping up with hockey in college," he said. "We'd skate every day of the season."
Now 22, Partyka said transfering to Hillsdale morphed into a blessing in disguise. Rejuvenated by the spontaneity of random pickup games at a rink in North Adams, he said he is enjoying hockey more than he has in years.
"You're just out there having fun with a pick-up game," Partyka said. "There's no coaches, no pressure. That's how I prefer it."
Freshman Russell Morey, a defenseman, said he too enjoys pick-up games at college having grown up in a hockey-loving household. Having seen his first game at nine days old, he said he has developed many lasting friendships over the years because of the sport.
"The people you meet are really great people," he said.
Morey said his passion for hockey has cooled over the years, mainly because of the grueling schedule, expensive costs and painful injuries. Having torn a knee ligament and broken a wrist, he said he is used to hard-hitting games. Despite these complaints, he said he gets a rush from zooming around a rink.
"I like the game as a whole," he said. "It is the teamwork, the speed, thinking on your feet and running into people. I still skate whenever I get the chance."
Sophomore Chris Stephens said he took up hockey at age 3 by learning to skate with his family in Grosse Pointe, Mich. Since then, the career defenseman has played every chance he can get, even winning the 2007 state championship with Grosse Point South High School.
"I get a rush of energy just thinking about hockey," Stephens said. "I started just pushing a chair around the ice. You have to get your skating and balance down first."
Having played on travel league, high school and AAA teams, Stephens said it was disheartening arriving at Hillsdale and not having a squad waiting for him. Despite this, he said his frequent games at a friend's rink in town satisfy his cravings.
"When you've been playing since age three it is tough to quit," Stephens said.
In contrast, junior Phil Partyka said Hillsdale's lack of a hockey team came as a relief. A defensive player since age six, Partyka said he became burned out playing junior level hockey between his 18th and 21st birthdays as a means of joining Wayne State University's college team.
"It was really tough keeping up with hockey in college," he said. "We'd skate every day of the season."
Now 22, Partyka said transfering to Hillsdale morphed into a blessing in disguise. Rejuvenated by the spontaneity of random pickup games at a rink in North Adams, he said he is enjoying hockey more than he has in years.
"You're just out there having fun with a pick-up game," Partyka said. "There's no coaches, no pressure. That's how I prefer it."
Freshman Russell Morey, a defenseman, said he too enjoys pick-up games at college having grown up in a hockey-loving household. Having seen his first game at nine days old, he said he has developed many lasting friendships over the years because of the sport.
"The people you meet are really great people," he said.
Morey said his passion for hockey has cooled over the years, mainly because of the grueling schedule, expensive costs and painful injuries. Having torn a knee ligament and broken a wrist, he said he is used to hard-hitting games. Despite these complaints, he said he gets a rush from zooming around a rink.
"I like the game as a whole," he said. "It is the teamwork, the speed, thinking on your feet and running into people. I still skate whenever I get the chance."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Calvin Overdorff
posted 2/09/10 @ 4:16 PM EST
I started playing hockey later in life. Our family business paved an inline hockey rink for a customer and I bought some skates for myself and my sons. (Continued…)
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