Quote:Written Task: Why did your player want to play hockey to begin with? What drew them to the game? Was it a supportive parent? A Hall of Fame hero? Maybe it's just the sound a skate makes when it cuts into the ice? What is it about hockey that's so special to your player? (150+ words)

Growing up in the Caribbean, the idea of people playing a game on ice was something very strange. As a young lad, I signed on with a merchant vessel. We travelled all over the world and I experienced all sorts of oddities and cultural differences. On one of the trips we had an extended stay in a northern harbour. It was there that I witnessed the sport of hockey for the very first time at the age of 8 or 9. It hadn't ever occurred to me that a sport could be played on ice with knives strapped to their feet. This was something I HAD to see.

So I ran to the local arena where I heard a game was currently being played to see this in action. I'll never forget hearing the sport before ever seeing it. The game was already in progress and as I was rushing down the hallway looking for my section I could hear the puck smack off the glass and the sounds of skates carving into the ice. I couldn't wait to find my seat and watch what was making all that noise. I was amazed at everything.

I knew from that moment that I'd do everything I could to be as close to the sport as I could be.

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