First Ice

There's something special about the first time you step back onto the ice every year. I'm not quite sure what it is, exactly, whether it be the sight of a freshly cleaned sheet of ice, the sound of blades biting deep into the ice, the ring pucks ripping off the glass, or even the stench of hockey equipment that hasn't seen the light of day for a few months... Well, even I can admit that maybe a little air freshener would be a good idea, but you get the picture. Makes you feel a little like a kid again.

You look around the dressing room, and the looks on the kids faces tell it all. This may not be the NHL, but to each of these kids, it couldn't be more important if it was. For some, they're looking to bring home the big trophy this year, but most are just here for the love of the game. Take a look again, and you might notice that a few are a little nervous. First practice, new teammates, unknown coaches. For some this will be their first year checking, and aren't looking forward to the potential bruises, but they'll get into the groove soon enough.

As a coach, you couldn't ask for a better group of kids, all ready and willing to listen to whatever wisdom their coach dishes out... Wouldn't that be nice! There's always a trouble maker or two, but once practice is underway, everybody's getting into it. Every year there's a snag or two, but whatever happens, it looks like a promising season ahead.