A high school ice hockey game being playing at the New York State Fairground’s Coliseum Sports arena in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/500s, f/2.8, ISO 8000, EV +1.7, 95mm focal length.

Specifically, my ice hockey history.  Last Friday night I photographed a high school ice hockey game between the Baldwinsville Bees (my high school Alma Mater) and the Liverpool Warriors in the Coliseum arena at the New York State Fairgrounds. During the decade of the 1970’s, I played hundreds of hockey games and even more team practices on the Coliseum’s ice surface and the outside rink attached to the building.

Players take to the ice before the start of a period inside the New York State Fairground's Coliseum in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/500s, f/2.8, ISO 8000, EV +1.7, 75mm focal length.

Try to imagine the feeling of nostalgia I got by being inside the Coliseum watching high school boys play a game I loved playing at their ages.  The old barn, as we used to call it, no longer has broken glass windows and is decorated with red, white and blue flags and stars in the rafters.  The flags hanging over center ice representing the State of New York, Canada and the United States of America are still there (though I am sure they are replacements of the ones I skated under some 40 years ago).  The sounds, sights, smells and even the feel of the boards brought back memories of former coaches, teammates, opposing players and their parents.  All bringing a smile to my face.

Players and their coach watch the game action from the bench at the New York State Fairground's Coliseum in Syracuse, New York. Nikon D700/70-200VR, 1/500s, f/2.8, ISO 8000, EV +1.7, 200mm focal length.

As I looked across the ice at the players and their coach watching their team and teammates playing, I remembered what it was like to lean against the inside of that very same bench, watching and urging on my friends to score a goal.  Heart beating in anticipation of when the coach would tap my shoulder or say my name to enter the game by jumping over the boards and onto the ice.  Pumping my legs as fast as they could to get into the game as fast as I could.  I miss playing the game but I enjoy watching and photographing today’s players as they create their own memories. Ah, the good old hockey game. (Not the best video quality but the song and clips also brought back very fond memories. Enjoy!)