Written task: Write 150+ words about your player's early childhood as they began their long journey to the SHL. What was it like the first time they picked up a stick or put on the pads? Was your player already a naturally-talented superstar before hitting double digits in age? Was your player a bit slower to pick up the sport? Focus in this PT on the earliest portion of your player's life and their relationship with the sport of hockey during that time.

In Russia hockey is a normal part of many kids' lives.  However, Ivan came from a rough area of town and his family did not have the money necessary for a structured hockey education.  He started as a small kid on a pair of hand me down skates and working simple skating skills.  He would then find various sticks and pieces of wood to use as a hockey stick and began to emulate some of the older kids in the neighborhood.  It wasn't until his early teens when Ivan finally got a chance to play on a structured team and learn how hockey is really played in a group.  This transition was tough for him as his skating skills and hands were great, but he had little concept of the size of a rink nor the players around him.  These new concepts almost ruined the game for him as he felt it was overly restrictive. But he was mentored by an older kid and things began to fall into place.