By Spencer Arvold, Ice Sports Programming
In the Minnesota Wild Adult Hockey League that runs at the Schwan Super Rink there are over 141 teams in the winter session. That equates to around 2,100 participants.
At the Super Rink we run three sessions a year which in turn is 35 games for league play.
We also host four adult tournaments, each boasting a minimum of three games. Most of our MN Wild AHL teams play in two out of four tournaments.
Basically, what do all these stats boil down to?
A passion for a game that goes well beyond their youth years.
Adult hockey is a great game, it brings camaraderie with friends and a great workout for anyone willing to lace up the boots. This year as I took over running the adult league, I noticed the passion that the players have for the game. A great example of that passion is in our 60+ division. Here's a group that includes many grandfathers that still go out and give it their all for 35 games a year. On top of that they are traveling to the USA National Tournament in Florida this April. That is a pretty rare thing in sports, to play as much as they do at that age.
What is it with hockey? That passion that drives you to come back to it. This is an open ended question because I don't have the answer to why we continue to play, but I know that any hockey players reading this knows the feeling I'm talking about. It's something that will never go away, a passion for a game.
Let us know, why do you still play? What is it about hockey for YOU?
our 60+ teams sure do have a great attitude,very competitive games every time they skate.
Posted by: jeff m (refjeff) | January 31, 2012 at 02:50 PM