In the cutting cold, skate slowly. Now think about him, skate harder, weave between people, stop hard, turn the other way, skate a small circle and feel your inside skate slip out from under you as you fall and slide recklessly into the boards. Think about why you lost control of that outside edge. Don’t try to understand it. Feel the ice soak into your pants and the dull throb in your hip. Get up methodically. Stand and stare up at the snow that appears from the darkness, illuminated by the lights, landing softly in your eye. The flakes melt in your eyes and trickle out the corners, but don’t worry, because those aren’t your tears. Leave the rink, go home, lay down, but not on your right hip. Rub your eye and feel it warm and damp around the edges. Go to sleep, hurting.

- J. Mignone, How to Have a Hockey Player