
Every cold winter morning I wake up to look out my bedroom window, hoping to see a big blanket of fresh powdery snow. I realize that the snow brings a sport in my life that’s been a part of me for 10 years: Hockey.
Arriving at school each winter day the sight of the hockey rink is sublime. A skatable surface of ice is only a week away. That’s all I can think about during the day: When will the rink be finished so I can slap on some skates and get back in the groove?
This year, I found out that Kenny Lake wouldn’t have a hockey team; the chill up my spine dispersed. The first hockey meeting of the year showed that there would only be eight players. Eight players means more ice time and harder work. During that meeting, Coach Somerville asked if the players were committed (school grades, family and harder work, etc.) to playing for Kenny Lake. I was the only one who raised my hand. Coach then brought up the idea of sending kids to Glennallen to play for the Panthers, and that’s when everybody else became interested. Not a month later, the second meeting was about who “really” wanted to play for Glennallen; six out of the nine wanted to play.
Knowing that Kenny Lake won’t have a team really bugs the community and me. The choice for me to play for Glennallen is still up, but that means a $100 players fee, buying a Panther’s jersey, and four days a week to practice in Glennallen. The choice is mine and right now I don’t know yet.