This year I had the opportunity of a lifetime, hockey with a group of former NHL players in the Hockey Hall of Fame Induction weekend play. And while I do not skate with Yzerman and Hull, I was there on the ice with former NHL greats Glenn Anderson and Cliff Ronning (If your answer to these names: “Who …. Google me confidence and were they are still pretty amazing).

Well, I must admit I was a little nervous before the tournament 4-for-4. But I held my own. And I realized what’s really interesting. I’m playing “like a boy” on the ice. Let me explain what I mean. At the time I began to play hockey at the ripe age of 13 years, I only played with boys. It was not very competitive hockey – it was only the house-league and pick-up hockey. I do not have a women’s ice hockey team representative for two years been playing so a hockey with the boys was my only option.

I remember the location of the outdoor rink every day and say, “I do not want the worst player on the ice. I have always been the only girl there. And I would not be” the girl “. I do not want the boys to take it easy for me. I was only able to keep up.

So for the first two years I went out and played with boys and tried to defend myself. It was not nice at first, but when I get my first girls elite team, I probably had recorded nearly 400 hours ice time playing with the boys.

And as I continued in high school, I continued to play pickup hockey with the boys whenever I could – in addition to all the hockey, I played with my girls hockey team. I was the only girl still there, but now I’m playing slow and Counter boys make. When I left for college, I was made skating circles around some of the guys that made me look like a human pylon a few years earlier.

Bottom line:

The game with the guys gave me the best player I could be. Do I think the girls hockey players should play with boys? Not at all. But hockey players are not enough girls, “Just go out and play.

I’m not 13 years old, who could not in a hockey-section of a 19-year colleges and try the national team because of all the hockey skate schools I went to amazing Representative teams I played for. I was able to make this leap in a short period because I am on the outdoor rink for hundreds of hours, every winter, to try to play as one of the boys.

You must have the skills, systems and strategies, and the speed, strength and stamina to really excel at the elite women’s hockey level. But one must also be creative and competitive. And if you play pickup hockey on the ice, try different things that could never try, if watching your coach and teammates. They will remain on hold for two hours, with only two extra skaters on the bench and not just watch, and keep the score all the way through, even if it’s 23-21. Not enough hockey girls to do. “It is those who can come to the surface.