The bell rings at 2:55 and I rush to the parking lot to hop into my car. When I get in the car reeks of sweaty smelly hockey gear. I drive the thirty minutes to Arlington. I drive up the seven stories of the parking garage to, “The Rink on the Roof.” I haul my big bag into the area, there is now only thirty minutes to game time. We get all are gear on and are talking about the game day strategy. Our assistant coach walks in the locker room and tells us the ice is ready. At the end of the three periods our team didn’t win the game but we worked much better as a team this game.

Our team is a collection of athletes from Hayfield, Edison, and Annandale High School. Our combined school team plays in a club high school hockey league the CSHL. Most teams that we play are not combined school teams, therefore all their players go to school with each other just like any other high school sport. This is our main challenge to our team because we do not have the same chemistry that these other schools have. Although our  biggest team issue is chemistry another big problem is that the level of play and talent that is on other teams is not matched by our team. We have all these problems on our team and we often struggle to see success on the ice, but I still come every friday because it is the sport I love and as a senior here at Annandale High School I know that this will be the last time I will see Patrick Brown on the back of a jersey.

However at the same time at the highest end of youth hockey, on the day after Christmas, 17 year old Jack Hughes was not using his new christmas gifts but instead was in Vancouver, Canada preparing for the biggest tournament of his career. Hughes was representing his home nation of the United States in the 2019 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.

Every year the world’s best young hockey players come together and compete in the IIHF World Junior Championship. The athletes are all in between the ages of 16 and 20 so most of these young men are very early in their career, and use this tournament as a stepping stone into the world of professional hockey. Although players from ages 16-20 are allowed, the majority of the athletes that compete in this event are 19 or 20. So for Hughes to be just 17 he is much younger than his teammates and his opponents.

Jack Hughes was born in Orlando, Florida on May 14, 2001, meaning that he is still only a senior in high school. When he was 13 years old he moved away from his family in Florida to play hockey in Toronto. He played in the Greater Toronto Area away from his family, while he lived with a billet family for four years. Last year he moved back to the states where he lived in Michigan and played on the United States National Development Team, and he is playing on this team again this year.

“It’s pretty crazy to be honest, the fact that someone could be basically the same age and on a whole other skill level, [of other youth hockey players] showing his dedication to his craft and getting better. It puts perspective on what I have done.” Junior Hunter Westfall said.

Although Jack Hughes and the USA came up short in the world Junior Championship to Finland only earning them a silver medal, Hughes is still projected to go first overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft. “It’s weird to watch Washington Capitals games now, and watch how fast they move and how skillful they are. Then think that the guys out there could [in about six months] be the same age as us and we are only in high school. Senior Hunter Shinstock said.

Jack Hughes However doesn’t see it as such a crazy dream anymore. During an interview with NBC Sports he said, “ You never dream up as a kid going second or third overall, you always dream of going first.” Hughes is showing that he has been mentally prepared for all of these big events coming up in his life and he is ready to take the next step into the National Hockey League.

The level of play and skill of hockey varies greatly at our age. However it is important when playing sports to remember that personal success at what

ever you play at and having fun is the most important thing when competing.