SEATTLE — Hockey is always one of the can't miss events at the Winter Olympics. So naturally, we had to try our hand at the sport.
We showed up at the brand-new Seattle Kraken Community Iceplex, where Player Development Coach Katelyn Parker taught us the basics of the game and how to perform a few different shots, including the slap shot, snap shot and wrist shot.
It goes without saying these shots are much harder than they look and take quite a bit of coordination and biomechanics to nail them.
Parker, who played Division 1 hockey in college and also coached Division 1, gave us good marks for getting outside our comfort zone and trying a difficult sport.
"It's challenging no matter how good you are," explained Parker. "There's always something you can improve on. It's fast-paced. It's not dull or boring."
The Kraken Community Iceplex, which opened in Sept. 2021, is not only the Seattle Kraken’s training facility and team headquarters, but it’s also a place the public can ice skate and learn more about the sport.
If you want to try your hand at hockey, the Kraken Community Iceplex has programs for kids and adults that will teach you how to play.
If you're ready for some competition, you can sign up for Drop-in Hockey to play a game or Stick & Puck, where you can connect with hockey players around the community and enhance your skills.