Not Ready to Play

I sat down and talked with Coach today. He told me he doesn't think I'm ready to play at this level quite yet. He gave me the option of being traded if I wanted to be traded, but he said he wants to keep me and work with me because he thinks I'm a great kid. He said he cannot guarantee me any playing time right now, I need to develop a little more, but he also said if I put the work in, my potential is through the roof. It was a little disappointing hearing that from Coach, but also encouraging. I told him I want to stay and that I will work my hardest on and off the ice. I think that's what he wanted to hear from me because I really do believe that he thinks I can be a good hockey player for his team, it just might take a little while for me to acclimate. He wouldn't have kept me around this long if he didn't see something in me that he liked. I talked to my advisor, Jason, after talking to Coach, and he said it's up to me if I want to get traded, but being traded might be hard because I'm so inexperienced. I agree. I like it where I am. I think I'm in a good spot, where I can succeed if I work hard, and where people want to see me succeed as well. But he was going to talk to Coach anyways. Knowing that I won't be playing much will make it even more of a mental challenge to get through this year, but it will also drive me to become better. I definitely don't want to fill water bottles all year! Sam told me I'm in the same boat he was in last year. He said he was lucky to play 4th line, and he had to grind through every practice and every shift on the ice. I'm up for that challenge, and I think I will develop faster than Coach or anyone expects me to.