Writing Self Story 4: The Ponytail

It was a cold December day, I had a hockey game in Churchbridge tonight. I always disliked playing that town because they played so dirty, but you gotta do what you gotta do. I went to school that day and all day I was eagerly waiting to put my skates on. School came to an end, and I walked home from school. Once I got home I had something to eat, good old pasta before a game always gave me lots of fuel to play 60 minutes. When I finished my food I rinsed my dishes and put them into the dishwasher and pressed start. All you could hear was the click of the lock and the rush of water filling the machine. I then went to my room, plugged in my i pod and shuffled a playlist and turned up the volume. All I could hear were the loud voices singing the lyrics, the loud vibration carrying out through the house. I then proceeded to check my hockey bag to make sure I had everything. Check all good!

When the clock read 6pm we hit the road. I put both my headphones in and pressed shuffle one more time on my i pod. Having music flood my ears with sound and vibration. The drive was about 45minutes, but it seemed shorter than that today. We finally pulled up to the rink and got out of the warm car to feel the brisk cold December air. I hauled my bag over one shoulder and carried my two hockey sticks with my other free hand. Continuing my walk to the dressing room, and as I walk into the room. It is filled with hockey players putting on equipment, the sound of pounding music through the stereo and the brief smell of sweat from someone who didn’t air out their equipment from the past weekend tournament we had.. We all know there is at least one person you know that does that, don’t deny.

As everyone lasses up their skates and throws on their jerseys and helmets, me and a fellow teammate put our hair in a ponytail and put on our helmets. We hit the ice! gliding on the fresh cleaned surface, shooting pucks in the net seeing who can hit top shelf in warm-up haha. The referees blow their whistles and it echoes the rink as they yell ” captains” I skate over for them to fill us in on the rules of the game. We shake hands and get started.

The first 20 minutes go by and the score was 3-2 for us, we then go to start the second period. During my rush down the ice into the Churchbridge zone, I get body checked into the boards and my ponytail gets pulled. I lost my balance a bit but didn’t fall, all I hear is yelling from my teams bench it’s atom hockey! No contact! What a ****** Joke! The whistle is blown but no penalty is called. As I skate by the player that hit me he says “ Get off the ice! girls aren’t meant to play hockey” After hearing this I was mad. I went to the bench and told the coach put me on forward next shift he is out. My coach said “Are you sure?” I said “YES!” The next shift he was out, I hit the ice and taught him a lesson. In this moment I realized that just because hockey is somewhat a rough sport doesn’t mean women can’t play it. It’s no different than any other sport. Women are portrayed in society as fragile, gentle and caregivers. This player on the other team was only one of many in this world that think that. Even though he had no proof to say what he did, I played hockey, I defended my goal tender, I pushed people out of the way, I was captain on a mixed team. How do any of those show the stereotypes of me being told to get off the ice, girls can’t play hockey. I don’t see any letter on your jersey that proves hard work…..