Quote:
I know. Unfortunately, in my experience, hockey is both the most mature and most juvenile sport at the same time.
QFT.
Came across an article in the Halifax Herald today detailing Cam Russell's NHL career and how it took it's toll on him emotionally..
Quote:
The Cole Harbour native had learned much about the protector role by the time he started his 10-year NHL career in 1989.
When Russell recalled this week what he had to do to get to hockey’s highest level and stay there, he immediately talked about the stress.
"From the time I played junior until age 24, I threw up before every game because of the stress of what I had to do," Russell said of his fighting role.
"Every morning on game day, you couldn’t eat. You were playing on coffee and Sudafeds. We (enforcers) become masters at hiding our emotions."
and..
Quote:
"It’s a tough job," Russell said. "When you’re playing that role, you spend most of the winter looking at the schedule, realizing that three days from now Detroit is coming into town and you’re going to be fighting Bob Probert and the next night Tie Domi is coming into town. It’s a stressful job. It’s like getting in fights at school every day.
"(Winning fights) is your job security. If you’re not (winning), it’s all for naught. After a while, you’re replaced by someone else. It’s very stressful and very dangerous."
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1261402.html