It’s hardly a surprise that ice hockey is one of the hardest sports out there. Communication, moving in bulky gear and skating at high speeds are just a few components of the sport, while so many more aspects contribute to the game. One goalkeeper and numerous outfield players face their opponents for 90 to 120 minutes in an attempt to land as many pucks into the back of the net as possible.
Freshman Charles (Charlie) Sacchetti began playing for the SPFHS Boys’ Varsity Ice Hockey team this year and has experienced first-hand what it means to play hockey. Sacchetti reflects on what it’s like being a hockey player.
“I first started playing hockey when I was around four to five years old,” Sacchetti said. “My favorite part about hockey is being able to spend time with my teammates.”
Hockey is largely a team-oriented sport. Shifts (or the durations of time a player is on the ice) move at such a fast pace that teams must always be on the same wavelength with one another, reacting quickly to split-second decisions and making every move as a team.
“I’ve played on teams that aren’t very close and don’t have a great bond and I can easily tell the difference in how good we play as a team,” Sacchetti said. “It is so important to have good chemistry as a team.”
Sacchetti plays both high school and club hockey, meaning the majority of his free time is spent on the ice. Practices range from one hour to one hour and 15 minutes, and games are anywhere from one hour and 30 minutes to two hours.
While the game can be thrilling, it comes with its challenges. Hockey requires strong legs, arms and core as well as stamina and alertness.
“The hardest thing in hockey are the mental and physical demands. There is so much pressure to perform at a high level every shift, but having consistency can be hard mentally and physically,” Sacchetti said. “[Hockey] is a combination of both upper body and lower body strength.”
Making mistakes is inevitable in any sport or activity, and in life in general. On a sports team like hockey, what one player does affects the entirety of the team. Learning to brush yourself off and recover from mistakes is a huge part of this sport.
“There are so many mistakes made in hockey by everyone. It can be difficult at times to put it behind yourself and get on the ice for your next shift,” Sacchetti said.
After high school, Sacchetti is still undecided about playing hockey at the collegiate level. As he is a freshman, the next three years are for him to make that decision.
“I would still love to play college hockey and continue after high school,” Sacchetti said.
Hockey has long been part of Sacchetti’s life. From his early years, he has seen what being a hockey player entails, and he has stuck with the sport he knows and loves.
