Mark Nessel

Player Bio

On the occasion of completing my 13th MGHA season and my 50th year of playing ice hockey I've decided to rewrite my bio (for the fourth or fifth time).
Some things that were different about ice hockey when I started playing at the age of 4 (in 1970).
There were no public indoor rinks, I learned to skate in city parks that flooded their basketball courts during winter. My youth league played on Northwestern University's outdoor stadium rink.
We didn't wear cages, they hadn't been invented yet (they came along by the time I was 8 and were mandatory not long after that).
Skate blades were attached to the boot via two metal posts.
Hockey socks had stirrups.
All hockey was full check, even for four year olds.
Sticks were all made out of wood and mostly had straight blades.
There was no Velcro.
Most importantly, ice hockey as a vehicle for empowerment wasn't a thing. At least not that I ever was aware of until I got here.
That's the genius of the MGHA. The hockey is great, and it's also sort of beside the point.
I'm thrilled to be playing here.