Quitting Hockey...

[colin97 0]

Im 15, starting midget hockey in Calgary. I have a chance to drop out. My reasons for quitting? 1. Ill be playing with 17 year olds and chances are ill get raped (not actually but you know what i mean). 2. I play guitar and id have waaay more time to focus on improving. 3. i could get a job to afford new guitar equipment (Gibson guitars, Orange amps, etc...) 4. Id have more time to focus on school and without late night practices id be able to get a decent sleep. Reasons not to quit? 1. I love the sport! 2. Its great exercise.... I really need some advice, anything. thanks in advance.

[twister18 1]

Reasons not to quit? 1. I love the sport!

That sounds like reason to NEVER QUIT! Trust me, as someone who left the sport for too long a period time, If you still truley love the game, don't quit! If it's becoming more like a job, and you no longer enjoy going to the rink, then maybe take a break, but don't give it up completely, ever :)

[colin97 0]

Well, i love fooling around and playin games. With all the intensity, organized just isnt as fun as it used it be. and id still be goin to the Lake by my house very often in the winter to fool around. But theres so much pressure (even on the lower levels that i play on) from coaches, other players, fans/parents. Its the practices and all the hard core skating and training. All the intensity takes away all the fun, and im WAY better at guitar, ive been playing hockey for as long as i can remember, itd just be wierd without...

[kovalchuk71 212]

If you want to stay, why not just join a rec league? That way you can still play and focus on your guitar playing.

[colin97 0]

I dnno, its just that, all the coaches and shit. last season i got so close to jsut wanting to kick my coaches ass (i didnt! but he was a total douche, he picked on me cuz i have longer hair than most guys). I just dont know, itd be such a huge change! ive been playing for as long as i can remember. its just so hard to imagine no saturday morning practice! i know id miss it, but i think its it for me. Id still have hockey and just random skating at the lake tho. I wanna stay and play, but i dont want to put up with all the BS again.

[biff44 0]

I would not worry about the age thing. I have seen kids your age playing Junior hockey, and not doing too badly at it! Unless you are physically very small, I would go for it and not worry at all.

I do appreciate your dilema, though. Hockey, at a higher level, takes a boatload of your time! Time with your buds suffers, time with your girlfriend suffers, time playing guitar suffers. You really often times only have time for hockey, school, and sleeping! But there is stuff you can do. At 15, you are getting rides to practice and games. Use that time to do your schoolwork. If it is a long ride and your parents are doing it, bring a guitar along and practice in the car. See www.travelerguitar.com for a decent axe that you can play in a car without hitting things. If there are road trips, bring it or an acoustic along and play a little instead of playing poker in the hotel room. In other words, get more efficient use of your time and you might be able to do both.

As far as the job goes, jeez, summer time is the time to make some $. During the season, your schedule will be pretty choppy. Maybe if your games are later in the day, you can work somewhere weekend mornings?

[colin97 0]

The thing is tho, i need more time with my friends and shit. And the playing guitar in the car?! that aint enough time, currently i play a solid 5 hours a day! and then i go and hang out with people. and the job thing, it takes more than 2 months to make the 2600$ i need for an amplifier (its hell bein a gear whore AND a tone whore). plus ive gota go to band rehearsels and shit, i could sure as hell use a new guitar and that could run me as much as 3000$. and im like 5'4 and 115, im afraid ill end up in the hospital! and at hotels i DO bring my guitar, play it as much as i can, then go play poker and hit on the hot girls at the pool B) . if only the day wer another 8 hours long.

[Slapshot9123 0]

My guitar playing took a back seat to hockey 2nd year bantam. I still play guitar but not nearly as much as I used to. I manage to play 2 hours a day now, I was at 5-6 hours before 2nd year bantam. I slowly realized that I was going to peak as a guitar player and not really care anymore. I realized my potential as a hockey player and im currently running with it. You should just find the happy balance between the two that satisfies what you want.

[biff44 0]

It is important, as a teenager, to find something to do, and really devote some time to it to see how good you can get. It could be hockey, it could be guitar, it could be some other sport or hobby. The important thing is to really immerse yourself in it, and in doing so learn who you are. Sounds like you are going to have trouble doing both at a high level. Maybe you do have to chose.

The funny thing is, as far as developing goes, it really does not matter which one you do chose. It only matters that you fully commit to it.

[Aussie Joe 0]

Im gonna get chewed for this but...

No offense, but it sounds like "Lazy teenager syndrome" to me. Who cares what the parents etc think. The only two people that are able to get the best out of you is your coach and yourself. Focus on why you play hockey when you are out there. Hard practices make you better, make you learn that through blood, sweat and hard work, you can accomplish a great deal through life. The earlier you REALLY learn hardwork the more successful you will become.

I guess the biggest thing (aside from a kick in zee anoos) is what makes you want to play? Does scoring or stopping guys give you a buzz? I know I love checking guys twice the size of me and scoring. Also, do you think you will regret quitting BIG time when you are 19? 25? 35? etc. I know I would have.

[colin97 0]

Well i dont really have to choose. If i play hockey, ill be stuck playing in my Bedroom with my crappy amp (my guitar is decent) and i wont be able to get out and do any shows. if i quit hockey, ill be able to get a job, earn some cash, buy some serious guitar stuff (amps, effect pedals, guitars...) and ill be able to really get out there and try to be the local rockstar. i already play guitar a solid 5-6 hours a day atleast. sometimes ill just play at 3 in the mornin without an amp (sounds better without one anyway, as said earlier my amp sucks). i like hockey, but i love guitar, its just my thing that i do. i could keep playin organized hockey, but then i would have next to no chance in goin further in guitar, id still be able to play but not to the max u could say. or i could drop organized hockey (id still play at the lake with my friends quite a bit) and really get serious into guitar and get some good equipment and rock the neighbourhood. I think ive gotta quit hockey to really do what i wanna do. any thoughts?

[gxc999 7]

Here are a few factors to consider. 1) You will ultimately fail playing guitar 2) At 15, you have plenty of time left for growth and hockey improvement 3) Hockey seriously benefits you physically and mentally 4) the bond and friendships with teammates you will develop may last you a lifetime 5) $2600 on an amp? Are you INSANE! That's like two years worth of new sticks!! 6) Hockey players hate wanna be rockstars

[Slapshot9123 0]

At this point, dont look at us to tell you what to do. Mostly everyone will say play hockey. Do what you want we are not living your life for you.

[colin97 0]

2600$ isnt that bad, its not like its a Gibson Les Paul Custom at the overall price of 4000$ hockey just hasnt been good to me, shitty coaches, jackass teamates... and so what if i fail at playing guitar? music has always been there for me, when im pissed i play guitar, when im sad, i play guitar, when im pumped, i play guitar. and playing guitar does not mean im lazy at all! obviously Aussie Joe, you have not seen Slash live, or Joe Perry, or Zack Wylde.

[Fury of One 6]

Exactly, there's no guarantees in life. No one knows whether you'll be the next Satriani or Gretzky. Just do whatever you love more.

[Chadd 916]

You don't need to buy an Orange amp or a les paul. Once you hit a certain level of talent, the tone comes from you more than it comes from the gear. I've owned a couple dozen guitars over my life and at least a dozen amps. Strats, teles, les pauls, ESPs, Kramers, etc... and the newer les pauls suck compared to the old ones. Anyone who spends $3000 on a new one is out of their mind. Same thing for amps, I've gone the Marshall and mesa routes and I'm loving the tone I get out of my B52 all tube 2x12 combo. It ran me something like $600 new at guitar center.

You can't do everything at a high level and hang out for hours a day with your friends. While you say you love hockey, it sounds like everything else is higher on your priority list. As mentioned though, just because you stop playing competitive hockey doesn't mean you can't play in a house league for fun if you truly do love the sport.

[Fletch 219]

Exactly. You could always pick up one or the other later in life as a hobby.

[Chadd 916]

obviously Aussie Joe, you have not seen Slash live, or Joe Perry, or Zack Wylde.

I've seen three of the four and wasn't very impressed with two of the three.

[colin97 0]

just curious, who wer u not impressed with? by the way, ive picked guitar, im better at it and its more fun, whether i make it or not, it beats the hell outa hockey for me.

[Chadd 916]

just curious, who wer u not impressed with? by the way, ive picked guitar, im better at it and its more fun, whether i make it or not, it beats the hell outa hockey for me.

Wylde and Perry

Wylde was absolutely terrible live, sloppiest "great" guitarist I've ever seen. Perry was ok, but just mailed in each of the five performances I saw.

[sabres48 0]

Sounds like you already had your mind made up when you made the thread

[Chadd 916]

Sounds like you already had your mind made up when you made the thread

Most people already have their mind made up and just want people to back their decision. Hence the anger at not being supported.

[chef_ducky 0]

Good Luck with what you choose. You will probably regret giving up hockey in the long run. You can always learn guitar and play it well, hockey however, you walk away from for a while, and you are really going to screw yourself. You will lose a lot of talent. I understand the part about not enjoying it as much, I am not playing organized this year (i am the same age), not because I am intimidated, not because I want to do this and that, but so I can enjoy it, play pick up with a bunch of guys who will give me a challenge(well for the most part anyway) and maybe try for Junior in a couple years. As already stated, you probably have your mind made up, but make sure you weigh out your options very carefully!

[top_shelf_24 0]

I play an instrument and i can say that if this were a guitar board then everyone would be supporting you on this one. You may lose talent if you stop playing hockey but if you aren't serious about it anyway, why does it matter. Think of how much guitar talent you won't be gaining/building if you continue to play hockey. I personally look forward to lake hockey at the cottage more than organized, but keep in mind i have never played at a high skill level. You truly seem passionate about guitar, so why dot do everything you can to pursue it? Get out there, play gigs. The bonds you form with bandmates and fellow musicians will surely equal that of a teammate or coach.

[Chadd 916]

The bonds you form with bandmates and fellow musicians will surely equal that of a teammate or coach.

Plus you get laid way more when you play guitar. ;)