Do Your Teammates Really Matter to You?

[kosydar 0]

Up until yesterday, I never thought who I play with would have that big of an effect on me. I always thought that no matter what, I'd always feel the drive to play for myself, regardless of who I was surrounded by. In my town, there is only one organization, so I've played with the same core group of guys for my entire hockey life. So long before the season even begins, the teams are set. This upcoming season was supposed to be great. Its going to be my senior year, and I'll be having fun playing one last year with my friends. On my team there is the "core" of the team that consists of me and three of my friends. Out of the blocks, one friend moves to Michigan. So thats never good. The other two friends recently made a Jr. B team up in Portland. That leaves me by myself, basically. Obviously I wanted to play up there, but I go to a prestigious private high school, I didn't want to put three years of hard work behind so I could graduate from a shithole public school. Along with my two friends, two other quality players from my team made the same team. So this team of mine that was basically all returning and looking real good has turned to shit overnight. There is still a pretty good chance that some of the guys will get cut from the Jr. B team, its a brand new team and they just made it past rookie camp. The team is importing some older Jr. B players to beef up the roster, so some of these guys will probably get cut. If they don't clipped, they'll be 4th/5th liners. They say that if they don't play much, they'll quit, but who knows. As of now, I feel like complete shit about next year, almost to the point to where I don't even want to put in the work. Instead of playing one last year with my friends, I get to play one last year with a bunch of 15 year olds. Sometimes doing the right thing, like putting your education first is a really shitty thing to do. What about you guys, had similar situations?

[Chadd 916]

Somtimes shitty things happen no matter what you do. If things don't change, pick one or two of the new guys and try to show them the right way to do things in practice and in games. While you may not be able to have a fantastic run over the course of the season, you can try to instill a work ethic and a level of performance that will live on. Then again, they may be dicks.

[Cavs019 708]

I have almost the exact same situation as you. I started at a fantastic althletic school, but left because my parents and I felt the academics were not up to par with the athletic programs. At the private school i am at now, the hockey is so-so (skate every day which is great but the level of comp and team itself is not even close) but the academic emphasis is far greater. I'd much rather play with better kids because at this point im pretty much playing for myself. The other option would have been to go back to public school and play junior, but again the academic factor comes into play. Ultimately, the problem is that im not quite good enough to play at the colleges with the academic prestige im looking at, but i could play d3 at a school where the academics aren't as good. Its truely a question of what to you value more, hockey or academics, and for me, especially for the sake of my future, its academics.

[kosydar 0]

The part that sucks is, these kids actually think that they're going to go somewhere with hockey. If you're 17/18 and still playing in Oregon, you're screwed. I'm all for having dreams and working hard to accomplish them, but only to a certain degree. When you're dream isn't becoming a reality and you have to give up everything in your life to attain it, even though its probably not going to happen, it isn't worth it to me. I guess I just view my education differently than most hockey players do though.

[Cavs019 708]

People need to "stop living the dream" as they say and realize they are actually going to need to do something with their life besides play hockey.

[joshy207 15]

The part that sucks is, these kids actually think that they're going to go somewhere with hockey. If you're 17/18 and still playing in Oregon, you're screwed. I'm all for having dreams and working hard to accomplish them, but only to a certain degree. When you're dream isn't becoming a reality and you have to give up everything in your life to attain it, even though its probably not going to happen, it isn't worth it to me. I guess I just view my education differently than most hockey players do though.

I'd say your attitude is right, at this point your education is going to get you a lot farther than your hockey will. Who knows, if you end up playing for your HS and if you take a leadership role, you might find coaching in your future. I started off kinda that way, helping out with my old team after I was done with Midgets. I ended up coaching for like 4 years, I really enjoyed it. I'd still be coaching but I work nights and weekends at the LHS, so I don't have time.

[lee92 2]

same kinda situation for me. last year our major midget team folded so we had a bunch of my friends ending up playing for us for high school. this year the major midget team was up n running again and i was considering tryin out, up until i found out two of my friends were heading off for jr a tryouts, and another for the lewiston maniacs...so i ended up scratching that idea of playing for the team with no one i knew. i know your suppose to play for urself, but i wanted to have a repeat and some fun with my friends. so now i'm back to high school for my final year where we should have an above average team

[mack 44]

Kosy, I didn't have that great of a team but the "education first" mentality was pounded into my skull when I wanted to go to a school that actually gave a crap about its hockey. In the long run I'm glad I just stuck with the okay hockey and an emphasis on the education itself.

[flaming_june 2]

that sucks man, but i do hope your friends make it.

i don't think this is an arguement, because if you love hockey as much as i, and as i hope you do, you will play no matter what. not only that you'd work hard too.

you win some you loose some. it sucks you'd have to be the odd man out, but you just have to keep going. haha, your prolly gona lead the team this year then!

[chippa13 1844]

You guys need to look at the upside of joining a team of guys you don't know. It's a great chance to make some new friends and get some more contacts in hockey. When I first got out of college my brother and I joined an adult team where we didn't know anyone. A few years later I was an usher at one of the other guy's wedding.

I've had a few times where I have jumped onto a team where I didn't know anyone just to get another night of hockey in and I've made friends and contacts on all of them. One of the teams, I brought in a couple of my friends a year later and it became the primary team I play on now.

[Kovy_Ribs_Fedo 3]

People need to "stop living the dream" as they say and realize they are actually going to need to do something with their life besides play hockey.

I'll do everything I can to win my life with hockey. If I don't try it, I will be mad about myself all my life. If hockey doesn't work, I will comeback to serious studies...

[thejackal 46]

Personally I know (99.9% sure at least) I won't go that far in hockey. I'll probably stop playing in a couple of years (except outdoors) and play tennis. It's much less expensive, just as good exercise, and great with friends.

[Jim A 4]

well i think you need to ask yourself a few things

what are your hockey aspirations/goals and what is the reality..

you are still eligible next year to play on the Jr. B team after you graduate from HS...

me, I had a similar situation twice as i was growing chcose school both times..tough decisisions..didn't always think they were right..but hindsight validates it...