Words from the publisher...

Well, here we are.

For all but some junior hockey leagues and professional hockey leagues, the 2023 offseason has arrived.

What a ride this past season was. Don’t you agree?

Just check out this current edition of Rubber Hockey. We had not one, not two, not three, and not four, but FIVE youth hockey teams from our coverage areas bring home USA Hockey national championships.

Incredible work by those teams’ players, coaches and staff.

All that hard work that started last summer has paid off in a way that everyone involved will never forget.

For the vast majority of those youth hockey players, those national championship medals and memories will be the pinnacle of their hockey careers. The numbers are out there, how a very small percentage of athletes go pro.

But if that is the pinnacle, man, how amazing!

You will always have that bond with that team and those teammates. Even if you lose touch and meet up years down the road, I guarantee that the topic of converation will inevitably focus on the season you won it all and finished No. 1 in your age bracket in the entire United States.

No one will ever take those memories of that sense of pride from you.

As we get into the spring and summer months, some players stay on the ice, some rest, some hit the weight room, and some take up other sports.

The latter is not a bad thing.

When I talk to hockey players at all levels, I like to ask if they olayed other sports growing up and I have not met one player, male or female, that said hockey was all they did.

Many say lacrosse (a favorite in our household) and many say baseball and golf and a few have said tennis and soccer.

It’s only when kids get older and the sports’ seasons and commitment levels conflict that hockey wins out.

And again, not a bad choice at all, right?

The Stanley Cup Playoffs will soon be underway and for many hockey fans, this is the best time of the year.

Who will hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup at the end of the postseason? There are 16 teams, and soon it will be eight.

Then four. And then two.

And then the last team standing gets to raise the greatest trophy in sports.

Same goes for the just-completed college hockey and some junior seasons. Relish the memories and keep looking ahead to next season.

Which reminds me...

Remember to keep supporting Rubber Hockey!

Contact me any time at (248) 890-3944 (call/text) and by email at matt@rubberhockey.com.

Looking forward to hearing from you!