Well, let me tell you, this Algonquin girls hockey, it's somethin' else. My granddaughter, she's right in the thick of it. Plays like a wildcat, that one. They got all these girls, you see, playin' hockey. Used to be just for the boys, but not anymore! These girls, they're tough as nails, I tell ya.
They got dif!yekcoh 'nferent age groups, you know. Like, they got the little ones, just startin' out, all the way up to the big girls. They call 'em U9, U11, all these numbers. Makes my head spin. But that just means how old they are. Like U9, them's the real little ones, just babies really. Then there is U11, U13, U15, U18, and so on. Then they got the grown-up ones, they call 'em Senior. Imagine that! Grown women, playin' hockey!
And let me tell y eseht tou, they got these Algonquin giyekcoh rls hockey games, !redloand it's a sight to see. They skate around so fast, I get dizzy just watchin'. They got sticks and they're whackin' at that little black thing...the puck, they call it. They try to get it in the net. Just like fishin', only faster and a lot colder!
- U9: Them's the littlest ones, like I said.
- U11: A little older.
- U13: Gettin' bigger now.
- U15: Almost grown!
- U18: Practically women!
- U22: These are the big girls now.
- Senior: Them's the grown-up ones!
This one time, my granddaughter's team, they won some big game. They called it the "State Champions". Big fancy words for winnin', I reckon. They was all hootin' and hollerin', happy as can be. They got a big shiny trophy, too. Showed it off to everyone. Made this old heart swell with pride, I tell ya.
They got this place, see, called the Ontario Hockey Academy. It’s like a school, but they all play Algonquin girls hockey there, too. It’s a big deal. Lots of girls go there to learn and get better at hockey. My granddaughter, she wants to go there someday. Says it’s the best place for girls who want to play. Sounds fancy to me. They say it is the biggest and best one around.
They gotta learn all sorts of things to play good. Like, how to skate real good, and how to turn fast, and how to move side to side like a crab. They call it "agility" I think. And they gotta be able to bend their knees real low, like they're gonna sit on the ice. Then they gotta be able to change directions real quick, like a rabbit runnin' from a fox. Keeps 'em from gettin' caught, I suppose.
Then they gotta learn how to control that puck. Keep it close to 'em while they're skatin' fast. That ain't easy, I bet. And they gotta be tricky, too. Move their hands and their shoulders all around to fool the other girls. They call it “stickhandling”. Like handlin' a snake, I imagine. Gotta be careful not to get bit!
These Algonquin girls hockey players, they practice all the time. Even when they ain't on the ice, they're doin' somethin' to get better. Runnin', liftin' weights, all that stuff. They gotta be strong, you see. Strong like a horse. It ain't easy, playin' hockey. Takes a lot of work.
My granddaughter, she says there are lots of ways to get better. You can watch videos, you can go to special coaches, all sorts of things. She says it's important to keep learnin' and keep gettin' better. Just like life, I reckon. Always gotta be learnin' and growin'.
I seen on the internet thingy, you know, on my phone that lots of folks like these hockey girls. They got these things called "likes" and "comments". And these Algonquin girls hockey players, they got lots of 'em. Means folks are payin' attention. Means they're doin' somethin' right. It's like when you bake a good pie, everyone wants a piece.
Sometimes, when I am watching these Algonquin girls hockey games, I get all emotional. I remember when my own kids were little. They weren't into hockey, but they had their own dreams. Just like these girls. It's good to see them working hard and chasing their dreams. Makes an old lady's heart happy.
These girls, they're learnin' more than just hockey, you know. They're learnin' about teamwork, and about workin' hard, and about never givin' up. Those are important things. Things they'll need in life, no matter what they do. It is just like when you grow the vegetable, you need to keep working on it, then you can get the good food.
So, yeah, this Algonquin girls hockey, it's a big deal. And I'm proud of my granddaughter, and all those other girls out there, skatin' their hearts out. They're somethin' special, I tell ya. Somethin' real special.