PAUL BUCZKOWSKI       Bio       Setting Goals       Respect       Back to School       Professionalism       Those in the know       Turn It Positive       Finding a Job       Eye Protection       Playing Injured       Gearing Up       WCHL vs. CHL       Europe v. N.A.       Specific Training       Training Camps       Road to Success       Dedication       Life in the WHL SANDY LAMARRE       Bio       Season to Forget       College vs. Junior       Sportsmanship       Game Prep       Conditioning FORBES MACPHERSON       Making the Jump BRIAN PATAFIE       Bio       Stretching       ICE PATRICK POWERS       Is Hockey Just a Sport? ANDREW ZOPPO       Be Tenacious
	PlayYourGame.com is proud to welcome Paul Buczkowski as a feature writer. From the WHL to the NHL, Paul will bring insight to every aspect of the game, as a sport and as a career. Life in the WHL By Paul Buczkowski May 12, 2000 Hockey for the most part is a very easy game. Score more goals than the opposing team, skate faster, shoot more, play better defense, be tough, and don't let anyone down. These are only a few things that one would encounter in the Western Hockey League (WHL). I should know. I played in 337 regular season games over nearly six seasons for the Saskatoon Blades and accumulated 350 points. I have watched players come and go in that time. Ones that I thought were not even good enough to be there and others that were so good it was unbelievable. The life of being a junior hockey player did things to players that people would not believe. Life was tough. I remember, first of all, playing bantam hockey and wondering if I would be picked up by a junior team on my 13th birthday. I was, and was chosen to be on the Spokane Chief's protected list. I was on that list for one year when the Saskatoon Blades made a three player deal for me. I was happy to be playing in my hometown. Most players in the WHL do not have that sort of luxury. I was one of the fortunate few. People do not realize that these players are kids, and they are usually playing away from home. It is tough for them to leave home at the age of 19 or 20, let alone 16 or 17. These players are kids, not men, and it is very hard for them to adjust not only to the pressures of playing hockey but also to the pressures of school, driving, and social situations. I saw it happen every year with at least a half dozen players. They would be going through a very tough time for whatever reason and want to go home or just want to quit the game altogether. The only thing that I really found difficult was "growing up". I tried to play high school sports such as volleyball, track and field, as well as wrestling, but the team tended to frown upon these decisions. I knew that if I wanted to be a professional hockey player I would have to give up a lot of things. I complied and decided to only play hockey. I am now a professional hockey player with four seasons of professional hockey under my belt, and I still look back and wonder if the decisions I made were the right ones. I look at the long road trips, the hours on the bus, studying for exams on the bus, sleeping on the bus, going to promotions, dinners, speeches, and all the things that hockey brings. WAS IT ALL WORTH IT??????? I have no regrets with the choices that I have made, but I urge young and upcoming players and parents to take a look at the whole situation, and try to make the best, informed choice. Junior hockey is what some may think - it is the fastest way to the NHL, but the startling fact is that only 1% of Canadian hockey players actually make it to the NHL. The WHL is probably one of the best junior leagues in Canada, but still, one has to look at the whole picture and not rush any situation. I suggest that if there is a design to be made, give yourself or your kids a chance to enjoy their childhood. Don't push yourself or your kids, because if they do not enjoy the game, they will not play it. Let them enjoy things that they like, and they will get better and learn, because they will want to. The one thing that I hate is parents pushing their kids to do things that they don't want to. I hope this article will make a difference, and it will be the start of many to come. Keep your head up, smile, and enjoy, because you never know how long it will last. Paul Buczkowski 1 Year ECHL 3 Years Europe 6 Years WHL
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