OK, so I just turned 50 in March. I've been playing hockey since I was about 5 years, skating since I could walk. Never got to a high level, just played house league, had to take about 2 or so years off as a 12 year old do to bone cancer (ribs) I had, so that was the end of super competitve aspirations I would have had. Once cleared by doctors it was back to hockey. Post high school, I was playing up to 4 times a week, and really pushed myself and took some adult clinics, and considered myself a step about good, but nowhere near junior calibre, let alone pro. Basically I loved the game, loved playing, coached, helped other guys I was playing with improve, did the whole rec league stuff, tournaments, etc.
FFWD to now....... I realize at 50 I am not going to be the same player I was in my 20s, into my 30s even......you slow down, and such is life. The group I have been playing with for probably the last 10 years (once a week), minus the 1.5 years of covid down time, are a great bunch of guys, all age groups, all skill levels. We play Wed nights at 9pm at an arena 10 minutes from my house, and sometimes get extra ice, so on the ice sometimes until 10:30. I will say 2/3 of the group love to hit the pub after, but for me that is much too late on a Wednesday, my wife and I have to get up for work the next day. I can still keep up with the play no problem, am honestly middle of the pack skating wise, playmaking (hands) is among the better, but it's my energy level that is holding me back.
I have a feeling, and I am getting this investigated, that my turn with covid a couple years ago, may have caused some of the issues. My lungs just aren't there anymore like they were. I am also having 1 minor heart related thing getting looked at (heart is fine, but something about resting heart strength is a touch below what it should be for someone my age and background), so doctor and cardiologist are saying no high intensity activity (hockey is one) until they finish all the testing. Also, I will admit that I am about 20 lbs over what my ideal weight is.
So.... playing hockey is becoming more like a chore, not a fun time on the ice with the guys anymore. It's like something I just do, more than something I get super excited about. I sometimes think it's the group I play with, but at the same time until 2 years ago I'd be looking forward to our pick up ice time starting in September - I'd still get those super excited butterflies (you all know what I mean by this), but not anymore.
Is it time to hang 'em up and just cheer on my team? What have my fellow HF boarders experienced like this? Will I feel bad for not playing....I don't know, and am not so sure. I will never just go through the motions, as that is a waste of money and my time.