A Little Perspective

6 months ago, I never thought that I would be in the position I am in now. I made it to training camp with the Bismarck Bobcats, and this is exactly the position I want to be in. I've worked hard to get here, but I will definitely have to work even harder to get where I want to go. After main camp, part of me wanted to hear that I could make an immediate impact on the team, but that is a little unrealistic. I haven't had nearly as much coaching or playing experience as most of the other kids that have made it through to training camp, and I think that is working in my favor because I have a lot of potential that needs to be coached out of me. I'm so excited to start the season, but also a little overwhelmed at trying to think too much about all that I have to do. My dad has told me to take things one step at a time, which has really helped me calm down. This is going to be an exciting process for me, but I know that it's not going to be an easy one. I'm ready to work hard, though, like I've always done in whatever I do. Next step: training camp on August 28th.

Thoughts After Main Camp

I'm emotionally exhausted. I made the cut to training camp, which starts on August 28th. Turns out, they took more than 23 players. I think they took around 30 players for training camp. I know I should be excited, and I am but I'm also disappointed about how much I heard from the coach afterwards. He basically told me the same thing I had heard after the camp in Denver in May. He says I need to work on a lot, and that I need to listen to him no matter how harsh he is in teaching me things. And I will. I'm probably the most coachable kid out there. He also told me that he thinks by Christmas I will be at the level I want to be at to play in the NAHL. Those are good things to hear, and I can tell that he is excited to have me as a Bobcat. At the same time, though, I sort of wanted to hear how much I've improved over the summer. I know I still have a long way to go, but I'm going to take it one step at a time. The next step is training camp, and I need to show up in better shape than I am in now. That's in 3 weeks...Part of me wishes I could start tomorrow, but it will be good for me to be up at the lake with my family for a little while now. I'm excited to be a Bobcat, and from here on out I'm gonna give it all to be the best I can for this team.

Much Better Day at the Rink

I played a lot better today in the two games that I played. I am getting more comfortable and more confident as main camp goes on. I played to my strengths and moved the puck much better than I did yesterday. Working out in Vail the past 2 1/2 weeks has really helped me because I feel like I am very well-conditioned and in good shape to compete with the best players at camp. In the second game of the day, I definitely had my best game of the tryout. My feet were moving, and I felt like I really made a difference whenever I stepped on the ice. I ended up scoring a goal from the point on a slap shot and thought I played well even though we lost the game. I made it onto the all-star game roster with 11 other defensemen. I'm super excited to play in the game tomorrow at 10 because I know I've earned a spot with my play. After the game, the roster comes out. Wish me luck!

Thoughts After 1st Game at Main Camp

Overall, I played pretty well. I was nervous at the beginning and that probably affected my play. I just wanted to do everything right. Because I was worried about trying to be perfect, I ended up making some mistakes. But I think I made some good plays; I had a few good passes and some good shots. I need to figure out a way to become more comfortable on the ice, though, and just play hockey instead of trying to do everything right. I was putting too much pressure on myself when I know I should just follow my instincts and play the game I know how to play. There are two more games to play before the all-star game, at least, and I need to play better, not worry about trying to do too much, but let the game come to me.

Off to Bismarck

Tomorrow, I head to Bismarck, ND for the first time. Main camp starts tomorrow with three games this weekend, and then an all-star game on Sunday. The roster is posted after that and then the real work will start. Wish me luck!!

Main Camp is Coming Up

Main camp for the Bismarck Bobcats is from August 6th-8th in Bismarck, ND. I have been thinking about this all summer, and I am so excited to get up there and play. I feel confident in myself because I know I have made a few big strides this summer in making myself a better hockey player. I've gained weight and I can tell a difference in my skating already because I am a lot stronger than I was at the start of the summer. I know this camp will be much more competitive than the camp in Denver; it is made up of the best players from each regional camp, their tenders (I am one of their tendered players), draft picks, and returning veterans. But I'm ready. A little nervous. A little nervous is good, though, because it makes me think about what I have to do and keeps my emotions down to earth. I don't know what to expect from the camp, but I can expect to show up in the best shape and with the best mindset I can have to give myself the best possible chance of becoming a Bobcat. After this tryout, the Bobcats will release their roster, and I hope to be one of the 23 players they pick. I know I say this in almost every post, but I can't help it: I can't wait for August 6th.

Summer in Colorado

Away from family and away from what I’ve known for the past 4 summers. It’s weird not being up in Minocqua, Wisconsin with my family, performing in Min-Aqua Bats shows, but I’m enjoying what I’m doing. I’m happy that I have the self-constraint to realize that the best thing for me to do is to stay at home and focus on hockey. I’ve made some sacrifices this summer, if living in the Vail Valley for a summer is a consequence…I’ve decided to stay at home in Colorado, while my family goes up to our lake cabin in Minocqua, Wisconsin.

Right now, I am the only one living in my house. It’s kind of an eerie feeling because no one is here but me. My dog isn’t even here to greet me every time I come into the house. The house has kind of become a hockey factory. All I do is shoot pucks in my garage or cook food for myself, as I eat a lot. I’m realizing what a tough job my mom has feeding me because I’m constantly either making food for myself, buying food for myself, or thinking about how I need to make food for myself. Buying the food hasn’t been very hard of late; I bought cereal, milk, and Oreos last time I went to City Market. The fact that I need to gain weight before camp in August has made the job even harder for myself, though, because I stuff myself every time I eat. Living alone in my house has made me appreciate the little things, and made me realize how hard being a mom would be. I have to water plants, do laundry, do dishes, go to the post office, take out the recycling, mow the lawn, buy groceries, all things I do when my mom is here, but it’s hard to balance all of these things without a mom around to remind me of what I have to do and focus on playing hockey too. I guess it’s a warm up for what I will go through next year.

I definitely am exaggerating a little because I’ve been able to focus on hockey pretty easily living alone. I’ve been skating a lot, as much as I can with the limited times that Dobson has to offer, and I’ve been working out a lot, doing little things every day and working out at Dogma twice a week. My workouts will definitely get harder as I build up to main camp on August 6th. It’s hard to believe main camp is only a month away, and soon after that the season starts. But I will be ready.

In the time that I haven’t been playing hockey I’ve been thinking about being up in Minocqua, but not a lot because that just distracts me a little too much. I’ve been enjoying the outdoors in Vail, though, climbing up to waterfalls in East Vail and tubing down the Gore Creek when my hockey for the day is over. Summer’s only just started, but part of me really wishes it was hockey season already. I want to get up there and prove myself already! Good news is I only have to wait another month. And I can make myself much better in one month.