“Hockey is a metaphor for life. You have to be willing to get knocked down and get back up.”
–Mike Eruzione* (Captain of the 1980 Gold Medal-winning USA Hockey Team)
A friend recently introduced me to hockey. Talk about being late to the party, or the game, as it were. Hockey’s big in North Carolina. We have the NHL’s Hurricanes in Raleigh, and Charlotte has the Checkers, the American Hockey League’s development team for the Florida Panthers. Florida won this year’s Stanley Cup and the Checkers lost to the Abbotsford Canucks in the finals for the Calder Cup, the AHL championship trophy.
It got me thinking: Just as Eruzione said, life is a lot like hockey and, I would add, more specifically, the hockey puck. “What?” you ask. (Hockey) stick with me.
That puck flies around on the ice so fast it’s hard to follow, battered and whacked by merciless stick-bearing behemoths. Don’t our lives feel like that sometimes? Like we’re being knocked around by forces for which we have no defense? Aimlessly moving but in no purposeful direction? How did things go so wrong? Why was I treated so badly? What did I do to deserve this?
In hockey, “icing” occurs when the defensive team hits the puck down the rink and across the red line without anyone touching the puck in its transit. It’s considered a delay tactic. A waste of time.
It’s no stretch to think each of us sometimes ends a day thinking about what we failed to accomplish, as though we shot through the day–like that puck aimlessly sailing down the ice–just waisting time. Mucking it up by not doing anything of significance. And then we have to face (off) the penalty for that failure.
Hockey’s other common penalty, “offside,” is when an offensive player gets ahead of the puck and crosses the blue line. Don’t we sometimes have people in our lives who get ahead of us? Achieve a task? Get a promotion? Steal the limelight? All while we’re hopelessly chasing after them? Then, we find ourselves resenting them, as though the fact that they accomplished what we didn’t makes them a yucky, offensive person.
Ah, but then there’s the goal. In hockey, of course, that’s when the puck crosses the goal line and enters the net area. That’s what every hockey grinder is shooting for, literally.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14 NIV).” Of course, he was talking about an eternal goal–one all of us believers are shooting for. But we also set earthly goals, and with determination, strive to reach them, no matter who gets in the way and tries to block us.
And once scored, oh, how we celebrate! Like hockey players, we dance on the ice of life.
* For those who remember that Olympics, can you believe Mike’s now seventy years old?
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“Hockey is a metaphor for life. You have to be willing to get knocked down and get back up.”
–Mike Eruzione* (Captain of the 1980 Gold Medal-winning USA Hockey Team)
A friend recently introduced me to hockey. Talk about being late to the party, or the game, as it were. Hockey’s big in North Carolina. We have the NHL’s Hurricanes in Raleigh, and Charlotte has the Checkers, the American Hockey League’s development team for the Florida Panthers. Florida won this year’s Stanley Cup and the Checkers lost to the Abbotsford Canucks in the finals for the Calder Cup, the AHL championship trophy.
It got me thinking: Just as Eruzione said, life is a lot like hockey and, I would add, more specifically, the hockey puck. “What?” you ask. (Hockey) stick with me.
That puck flies around on the ice so fast it’s hard to follow, battered and whacked by merciless stick-bearing behemoths. Don’t our lives feel like that sometimes? Like we’re being knocked around by forces for which we have no defense? Aimlessly moving but in no purposeful direction? How did things go so wrong? Why was I treated so badly? What did I do to deserve this?
In hockey, “icing” occurs when the defensive team hits the puck down the rink and across the red line without anyone touching the puck in its transit. It’s considered a delay tactic. A waste of time.
It’s no stretch to think each of us sometimes ends a day thinking about what we failed to accomplish, as though we shot through the day–like that puck aimlessly sailing down the ice–just waisting time. Mucking it up by not doing anything of significance. And then we have to face (off) the penalty for that failure.
Hockey’s other common penalty, “offside,” is when an offensive player gets ahead of the puck and crosses the blue line. Don’t we sometimes have people in our lives who get ahead of us? Achieve a task? Get a promotion? Steal the limelight? All while we’re hopelessly chasing after them? Then, we find ourselves resenting them, as though the fact that they accomplished what we didn’t makes them a yucky, offensive person.
Ah, but then there’s the goal. In hockey, of course, that’s when the puck crosses the goal line and enters the net area. That’s what every hockey grinder is shooting for, literally.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14 NIV).” Of course, he was talking about an eternal goal–one all of us believers are shooting for. But we also set earthly goals, and with determination, strive to reach them, no matter who gets in the way and tries to block us.
And once scored, oh, how we celebrate! Like hockey players, we dance on the ice of life.
* For those who remember that Olympics, can you believe Mike’s now seventy years old?
18 Comments
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Tim, I can relate to the analogy of the puck being tossed around. I do set goals for the day and find myself disappointed that I have not met these goals. I think God is more interested in what we do to help others , instead of what we want to accomplish on our “list”. I struggle to control my blood sugar daily , trying to “control” it. But , ultimately, all I can do it try to eat right and exercise and settle for the best I can do. I cannot truly control this, but I can control how I make other people feel.
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I love this analogy!! Oh, so true. It also brought back sweet memories of watching an older iteration of the Charlotte Checkers at the old Charlotte Coliseum back in the 70s.😉
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Tim, thanks for this post. Hockey is a great and exciting sport. Once you learn the basics of the game, it is easy to follow and fun to watch because of the speed, strength, fight, and a game of continuous play. Glad you are a fan. Let’s go to a Hurricane’s game and some Checker’s games next season.
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Hockey is indeed a great sport and an excellent metaphor for life!
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I know nothing of hockey or red and blue lines. But I do relate to the puck!
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Great analogy , Tim! You are spot-on!
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Well said!
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Hello Tim. I was privileged to see the U.S. hockey team play in St. Paul, Minnesota before the 1980 games were held. During a rare visit to see my grandmother and favorite Uncle Bob, my uncle took me to an exhibition game. I didn’t know hockey, but being with my uncle was going to be fun. Once the game started, I was hooked. And my aggressive side came out as I cheered on this young team. Young then. We are the same age so, yes, I can believe Mike is seventy, but that game seems like yesterday.
I appreciate your analogies and how you’ve captured the essence of these verses in Philippians. Thank you! -
I’m with you and Brad on the ice hockey. I’ll add. it’s the most fun sport to play (at least as a kid). I’m all in for arranging a trip to the lake (which is an hour from Raleigh) and then going to a Canes home game. Let’s DO IT! Rock
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Tim, I can relate to the analogy of the puck being tossed around. I do set goals for the day and find myself disappointed that I have not met these goals. I think God is more interested in what we do to help others , instead of what we want to accomplish on our “list”. I struggle to control my blood sugar daily , trying to “control” it. But , ultimately, all I can do it try to eat right and exercise and settle for the best I can do. I cannot truly control this, but I can control how I make other people feel.
Excellent point, Pam. Thank you!
I love this analogy!! Oh, so true. It also brought back sweet memories of watching an older iteration of the Charlotte Checkers at the old Charlotte Coliseum back in the 70s.😉
We moved to Charlotte in 1979. I remember the old ECHL Checkers!
Tim, thanks for this post. Hockey is a great and exciting sport. Once you learn the basics of the game, it is easy to follow and fun to watch because of the speed, strength, fight, and a game of continuous play. Glad you are a fan. Let’s go to a Hurricane’s game and some Checker’s games next season.
Sounds good, Brad. The invite means you’re picking up the tab, right?!?
Hockey is indeed a great sport and an excellent metaphor for life!
Thanks, Joy. Are you an Admirals fan?
I know nothing of hockey or red and blue lines. But I do relate to the puck!
I love your comment, Dianne!! Well done!
Great analogy , Tim! You are spot-on!
Thanks, Lissa!
Well said!
Thank you, Heidi!
Hello Tim. I was privileged to see the U.S. hockey team play in St. Paul, Minnesota before the 1980 games were held. During a rare visit to see my grandmother and favorite Uncle Bob, my uncle took me to an exhibition game. I didn’t know hockey, but being with my uncle was going to be fun. Once the game started, I was hooked. And my aggressive side came out as I cheered on this young team. Young then. We are the same age so, yes, I can believe Mike is seventy, but that game seems like yesterday.
I appreciate your analogies and how you’ve captured the essence of these verses in Philippians. Thank you!
That’s such a cool story, Karen. What a memory that must be! Thanks for commenting, and for your kind words.
I’m with you and Brad on the ice hockey. I’ll add. it’s the most fun sport to play (at least as a kid). I’m all in for arranging a trip to the lake (which is an hour from Raleigh) and then going to a Canes home game. Let’s DO IT! Rock
Sounds good, Rock! Go Checkers and Hurricanes!