To every hockey player out there, a formal apology from a former Rugger.
Sports have always come fairly naturally to me. From High School to the Military, to D1 Rugby. It's been challenging but never humbling. Hockey has humbled me to the point of embarrassment. We Rugby players used to make fun of the Football team (only girls need pads) and every other sport for not being "bad" enough to play a real sport. This included the hockey players. Although we considered them closer to brothers than any other sport; but they still wore pads.
Rugby is a simple sport which takes about 20 minutes to learn, but a lifetime to master. The only real difficulty is being have to deliver a crushing hit without breaking yourself. Hockey however, takes a lifetime to learn just to skate! Then you throw in the actual game? I gotta say, I'm enlightened and embarrassed. So from a humble former Rugger, I salute you Hockey players. I'm sorry, I never knew. I do now.
Edit: spelling.
Edit 2: I'm sorry I ruffled some of the community's feathers. Especially our Women Players. It wasn't intentional and I'm sorry to have soured your evening. I played D1 Rugby when I was in my 20's when I first got out of the Military. Needless to say I was full of toxic masculinity back then. I thought I shit ice cream. Ten feet tall and bullet-proof. We Veterans have a very different sense of humor than civilians and it's difficult to fit in. Sometimes we assume we're in a safe place and we let the mask slip. My mask slipped. I'm sorry. I hope my daughter and I can continue to learn from the group and the advice and information you provide. Again, Sorry. I'm gonna stop talking now.