You lace up the skates, put on the gloves, strap on the helmet, and walk on to the ice and nothing else matters. It doesnt matter that you failed a test, your girl is makin you mad, or that you got a ticket on the way there...your world is absolutely perfect for the next couple hours. Here's to face-offs, goals, assists, overtime, living on the road, cold rinks, early mornings, breakaways, going top cheese, countless hours of practice, bag skates, puking, thousands of dollars, dangling d-men, end to end rushes, big hits, broken twigs, new skates, packing bombs, dropping the mitts, wheelin' broads, coaches, adding the letter "y" to the end of everyone's last name, the pick up, tape to tape sauce, let downs, miracles and most of all - the game of Hockey. Why? Why do we skate back and forth night after night? Skating so hard we throw up. Skating so hard your heart beat rings in your head, while your lungs are grasping for air. Late nights, early mornings, Friday nights, Saturday evenings, broken bones, torn muscles and deep bruises. We skate through it all. Because we live off our adrenaline, because the game frees your spirit, because the party in the locker room is second to none, because youre invincible once you step on the ice, because one shot can make you smile all night, sniping the twine, top shelf where momma keeps the peanut butter, the rattling of the boards, the feel of the puck, and skates carving into the ice is a rhythm to live by, because its possible to skate fast enough to leave all your worries behind. Sweat is the cologne of our accomplishment. Why? Why would someone push themselves so hard the uneducated people always ask? HIGH SCHOOL, HOUSE LEAGUE, A, AA, AAA, JR.A, OHL, US COLLEGE, PRO ... It's never been for the money, and it's not for the fame. 'The Boys and Girls play... because we love it ...