JMS Hockey

Tell us about you and your background with JMS: Like a lot of JMS players, I started skating again as an adult in my mid-40's after playing a little bit in junior high.  I'm always impressed with the people that never played as a kid and started playing as adults.  Especially goalies, you guys are just nuts. Started playing in the Blaine Super Rink league in 2000.  Added JMS in 2011.  Eventually quit playing the Super Rink league when I realized I was getting a lot more ice time at JMS. I thought I would miss out on the 'team' part of playing in a league.  I found that playing JMS on a regular basis, especially the same session each week, you end playing with a great group of regulars. It's just fun hockey.  At the same time, even though you play with the same core each week, it's always nice when new, youngbloods sign up. I have to admit that I sometimes still get butterflies on the way to the rink with anticipation of getting on the ice. Quit playing hockey after 9th grade when I had to choose between hockey or gymnastics in high school.  Ended up doing gymnastics in high school.  I was also the football manager throughout high school. (Tried out in 8th grade, but they didn't have equipment/uniform that fit so I became the manager.) The prime hockey time for me was early 2000's. Gophers were winning national titles. Wild were overachieving. Boys high school won state (Centennial). And my youngest son's team won state U16 Junior Gold (Centennial). Reached 1000 JMS games last week.  My wife likes to remind me that the $18,000 could have gone towards a new car.  I try to tell her that games used to be less than $18 so it's probably closer to only $15,000.   Two of my sons played association hockey and she went to every game. Still waiting to see her in the stands for one of my JMS games...go figure.  Got to play a JMS few games with two of my sons.  They’re not playing much anymore but trying to get them back on the ice. JMS is a blast, but there have been a couple not so great times. Had to sit out 2019 after neck surgery. Needless to say it was a little nerve wracking getting back on the ice and waiting to take my first tumble.  I did go down, got up and everything still worked.  Thank you Dr Kovanda. The following year was COVID. It was bad enough being shut down for several months, but then coming back and everyone having to wear a mask on the ice was not fun. Missed a month last September after a heart attack with a couple stents. Good to go now. My goal is to continue playing and reach the age of some of the old guys (Jim Hall and John Swanberg) but they keep playing and moving the goal posts. Life outside of hockey… My wife and I walk twice a day and Walmart grocery shop in the morning once a week.  Lunch with my mom on Sundays. Not exactly globetrotters but satisfying life. Culvers and Flameburger... yum. Die Hard, Great Escape, 2012, Apocalypto, Road Warrior, Breaking Bad, Ozark, Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Hootie, Tom Petty, Tommy James, Carpenters (yes, the Carpenters).