| A professional hockey player will | | | | United States find it hard to take |
| achieve many goals during their career, | | | | certain shortfalls in stride but still |
| and if they stay in the game long | | | | manage to play the game of hockey every |
| enough, they might even earn several | | | | day of the week anyway. A Stanley Cup |
| titles that they can look back on with | | | | victory is an elusive dream at this |
| fondness and pride many years after they | | | | point in the life of a veteran player |
| have retired from the sport. One of | | | | who has pursued this championship title |
| those titles might be as a member of the | | | | perhaps several times in their career |
| over the hill gang, which old timers of | | | | and has never experienced the thrill of |
| hockey take in stride and carry with | | | | it. |
| them with pride each time they get on | | | | Getting a playoff berth might relieve |
| the ice for a professional level game of | | | | the ache somewhat that veteran hockey |
| hockey. | | | | players feel but that pursuit is what |
| Some professional hockey players take | | | | makes playing hockey so thrilling. The |
| this title very seriously because they | | | | pursuit of forming a championship team |
| have spent a number of years perfecting | | | | will also take players to the point |
| their game and enjoy being admired and | | | | where most of the tension in a hockey |
| respected by team players and the fans. | | | | game would escalate to sheer agony if |
| The fans are what motivate them to play | | | | the team failed week after week to make |
| the best games of hockey in their life, | | | | the goals and assists that are needed to |
| because the number of games left to play | | | | reach that championship status. The use |
| might be very limited. When veteran | | | | of veterans during the training phases |
| hockey players take to the ice, they | | | | of each hockey season might be the |
| take with them an air of confidence and | | | | smartest decision a hockey coach could |
| a grain of wisdom that many players will | | | | make all year. |
| not possess. | | | | A veteran hockey player will take |
| Some hockey players might spend their | | | | setbacks in stride and try to convey to |
| entire life with skates on their feet | | | | hockey players in their rookie year, |
| and their parents might swear that they | | | | just how important teamwork each during |
| were born with them. Most hockey players | | | | each game. One player on the team might |
| must get accustomed to the bulky gear | | | | have an extraordinary game and achieve |
| that comprises the team uniform because | | | | more goals and assists than anyone else |
| it can be quite cumbersome when they are | | | | on the team. If those goals are counted |
| moving at fast speeds on the ice. After | | | | on their own merit, they will not |
| a time though, the hockey player will | | | | usually be enough to qualify a win for |
| take that additional weight of the | | | | the team, and the pursuit of the Stanley |
| uniform in stride. | | | | Cup could very well end when only a few |
| The veterans of hockey teams across the | | | | games of hockey are played. |