I was well into puberty before I learned how to ride a bike, but the bike was still there for me. I got my first Sega Genesis a year after the rest of my friends, but the game was still available if I really wanted it. The majority of sports and games I craved growing up were lingering if I decided to embark on them.

Just don't ask me to skate.

And don't dare try to put a stick in my hand and tell me to go check someone.

A little over a month ago, the Collegian's Winter Sports beats were released to all staff writers. On that list were sports like basketball (men's and women's), wrestling, and men's volleyball, just to name a few. I would have been content with covering any one of those sports if given the chance.

But that would have been the easy way out.

I've always had an attraction to the game of hockey, contrary to what my geographical background might indicate. Growing up in West Philly, there aren't too many people who are playing or interested in this sport (my guess would be none). And if you've ever been to or seen a hockey game, you probably haven't seen too many people on the ice that look like me.

Do I have all the answers to why this is so? I don't. I can only tell you what I feel most people would agree with me on. Hockey is an expensive sport and the venues available to play in are few in numbers.

There are more opportunities in urban, city-based areas where sports like basketball and football are more accessible and affordable to play.

Whether that's a sad story, I'll leave that up to you to decide. But one thing I do know about hockey is it's a great sport--diversified or not.

I do know that everytime I walk into the Greenberg Ice Pavilion to cover an Icers game, I leave telling myself "that was the best hockey game I've ever seen in my life."

Ok, so maybe I don't say that everytime, but it has happened twice this year -- on successive days.

It was when the Icers beat the No. 1-ranked team in the country, Ohio University, in dramatic fashion on Oct. 29, winning 4-3 in overtime. I left that game convinced that it would be impossible for the next game against Ohio to top that one. As you can probably figure out, it did. It's a fun game to watch and probably more fun to participate in.

"I'm telling you, once you play the game, it is just infectious and you end up with a passion for it ... and it's just unfortunate that a lot of kids aren't exposed to it," Icers coach Joe Battista said.

It is.

It's a shame that where you grow up will most likely determine what sport you'll play if you decide to be an athlete. If you were raised in western Pennsylvania, I'll bet that you're a football player. Growing up in Canada, if you didn't play hockey, you were probably looked at as the weird kid. And if you were from inner city Philadelphia, like me, the best chance you'd have for a scholarship would be through basketball.

Maybe that's just the way things are. It's not because the sport is too sophisticated for some to understand, though.

"I always say if guys can run 10 different formations and memorize 100 plays in football, they can learn a couple forechecks and powerplay systems," Battista said.

Who knows if more opportunities will open up for minorities to play the game of hockey.

I would say it's a long shot right now, conceivably because the NHL can't even get its professionals on the ice right now. I have a feeling that it may someday.

"The skill of skating is the biggest thing ... you have to be able to skate," Battista said.

I guess that disqualifies me.