What sports have given me
First and foremost, if I hadn’t played hockey, my life would have been completely different. I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to wear the national team’s jersey or live overseas, in all likelihood.
Ever since I was little, whenever I introduced myself, I always said, “I am Yuki Miura. I play hockey.” Even now, at the age of 26, that hasn’t changed.
Playing hockey came with sacrifices. I often missed school trips and had to skip many activities because of hockey tournaments. During those times, I always felt disappointed, but I never once thought, “I wish I hadn’t played hockey.” Never. Because I genuinely loved playing hockey, and it brought me immense joy.
Hockey has always been my most important teacher. It taught me not only skills like skating and shooting but, more importantly, it enriched my life in many ways.
The joy of practicing hard, spending time with teammates in the locker room, respecting opponents, setting goals, and giving my all towards achieving them, the frustration of defeat, and the thrill of victory — hockey taught me everything.
Through hockey, I’ve had the privilege of meeting incredible people such as coaches, fans, and those who support me. Being a hockey player has allowed me to share invaluable moments with so many individuals.
Among them, the time I’ve spent with my teammates is something I treasure and will cherish for a lifetime. My teammates from the youth hockey team taught me the joy of skating together. My high school teammates accepted my desire to go abroad and chase my dreams. My teammates in Kladno, Czech Republic, and with the Waterloo Black Hawks welcomed me with open arms and helped me when I faced difficulties. My teammates on the Japanese national team fought alongside me with pride in our home country. My teammates from Lake State, with whom I spent four years, shared both joyful and frustrating moments. And my teammates at the Iowa Heartlanders, who helped me become a professional hockey player.
My teammates are truly remarkable. They are not only friends but also become family. Through our shared experiences, facing challenges, and celebrating triumphs together, our connection becomes something even more special — a bond that words cannot easily express, growing stronger over time.
The amazing teammates, or rather, the amazing family, that I met through hockey are the greatest gift this sport has given me.
Hockey has allowed me to experience failure
One of the things I have gained from hockey is the encounter with failure itself. I have failed numerous times, and to be honest, I have never experienced success without first encountering failure. Things never went well right from the start, but I kept striving to move forward.
Lately, I have been reflecting on how rare it is to have the opportunity for trial and error, immediate feedback, adjustments, and another chance in everyday life. I consider myself fortunate to have something that makes me think, “Let’s give it a try for now,” and for me, that something is hockey.
What I truly appreciate is that during my childhood, I had the opportunity to experience failures that were just right for my development. There were always individuals around me, such as older players, who were moderately better and motivated me to improve. If the gap between myself and others had been extremely large, it might have completely shattered my self-esteem. However, it wasn’t too big, which allowed me to keep striving for improvement.
When I played against better players, I knew I couldn’t reach their level with my current skills, but at the same time, I believed that I could possibly reach them if I worked really hard. In that environment, I learned how to rise above failure. Since things never went smoothly, I wasn’t afraid to try new things, and I developed the patience to endure even when results didn’t come for a certain period of time.
These experiences instilled in me the belief that there would definitely come a time when I would overcome difficult challenges. I learned to persevere and keep trying. This philosophy, which I discovered at a young age, is still the primary reason why I can continue to be a challenger today, and I believe it will be a valuable asset in my future life.
What is the true value of sports?
I believe that the greatest value lies not in sports itself, but in what sports bring about for people. The impact and emotions that sports generate, rather than sports themselves, are the most precious things.
For example, I feel intense nerves when someone takes penalty kicks in a soccer game, and I get excited when someone hits a home run, even though I’m not playing. I find myself unexpectedly moved by the emotions that arise when I watch sports. I believe many people have had similar experiences.
When I score a goal during a game, I celebrate, but I am not alone. There are fans who celebrate even more passionately than me. We share happiness together. Is there anything more wonderful than this?
I believe that sports can be a bridge for everyone, connecting individuals with others and with the world.
Another power that sports possess is the ability to foster interaction with other people when you engage in them.
Whether it’s at the professional level, among amateurs or beginners, or in individual or team sports, you will inevitably have interactions with people other than yourself. It could be teammates, coaches, referees, fans, or staff members. Regardless of the nature of the relationship, the fact that “sports” becomes the common language between us and connects people is truly remarkable.
If I hadn’t met other people, there is no doubt that I wouldn’t have been able to play hockey where I wanted to. There were always many people around me who reached out to help me when I was in trouble, and there were many of them. That is why I am able to continue playing hockey today. It feels almost like a miracle.
Because of this, I naturally value meeting new people and helping those in need. I see it as a way for me to repay the many kindnesses I have received from various individuals throughout my life.
In conclusion, I have experienced a wide range of emotions throughout my life. There were days when tears flowed with frustration, and there were days when my heart was filled with joy. I vividly remember the feeling of disappointment when my number wasn’t listed on the roster on game day, the exhilaration of receiving the news of being selected for the national team, the frustration of being unable to practice due to an injury, the sheer elation of scoring a goal, and the immense joy of celebrating a win with my teammates, coaches, and fans.
Every moment that hockey has brought into my life is a treasure. Regardless of the circumstances, hockey has always been a part of me.
I sincerely want to express my heartfelt gratitude to this sport which has undoubtedly enriched my life, as well as to all the people I have had the privilege to meet in the past.
THANK YOU!
Yuki Miura
