That's Junior Hockey For Ya

Here are my past 3 weekends: 1.) Leave Bismarck, drive 18 hours to get to Rio Rancho, New Mexico, 2.) Leave Rio Rancho, drive 12 hours to get to Frisco, Texas, take on the Texas Tornado in a two game set, get on the bus, drive 12 hours back to Rio Rancho, 3.) Leave Rio Rancho, drive 14 hours to Topeka, Kansas, take on the Topeka Roadrunners in a two game set, but I really didn't play a whole game, get on the bus, drive 15 hours back to Rio Rancho. That's a lot of time on the road, but I love it! And there has been a lot going on other than the weekends! It feels like I've been here in Rio Rancho for maybe 3 days, but I've already been here almost 3 weeks! There's a new challenge every day, and every day seems to fly by. I'm really learning the importance of taking care of my body because I put it under a lot of pressure every week: practices every day, workouts 3 times a week, and 2 games a weekend can be very tiring, especially when the road trips are so long. I will already be going home for Christmas in a month...can't believe it.

A lot has happened since the season started, and I can't wait to see what happens the rest of the season. I can feel that I am getting better, but, really, I have yet to prove myself. I'm still very driven. I'm not going to let a sense of entitlement creep in now that I've started playing. I've only played in 3 games in the NAHL. Well, 4 if I count the one game I played in Bismarck...But I'm so hungry to prove that I can play. I don't know how many people could actually survive what I'm doing mentally or physically. It's definitely a lot to handle, but I love it so far, and I know it will just continue to go by fast. I only have one year left after this year because I'm a '91 birth year. One of the vets I have a lot of respect for here in New Mexico said in a team meeting last week, "We're doing something that like 800 other kids in the country are doing. You don't get games back after you play them. We have to realize that this experience doesn't last forever, I mean this is my last year." He said, "We're missing out on other things in life right now, but I'm fine with that because I'm chasing my dream." And that's what I'm doing. Chasing my dream. I have a lot of time left to prove myself, almost a year and a half, but I think I need to start playing with the kind of passion that our vets play with, like it's their last game every game. I need to stop being afraid and just play. I feel like I am starting to play my game more and more every day. I'm getting more comfortable. I realize it's a process, though, and I have to be patient. It'll come in time; I can feel it coming. Every day is about getting better and proving yourself at this level, and I'm pushing myself as hard as I can.