The present can be so painful, I just want to retreat into my memories sometimes. No, not the violent memories of growing up in the 50's and 60's. I want to go back to my playground days.
The other day, on Facebook, I saw one of these "do you remember?" pictures. It was a picture of a nok hockey game.
At this point, either you are going to leap up and say "Yes!" or ask "what the heck was that?" If it was the former, chances are you grew up in the Northeast United States. Or maybe not, as my spouse (who grew up in a city just to the north of New York City, had never heard of it.)
Yes, nok hockey was a "thing". In fact, it's still "a thing".
From the company that introduced Nok Hockey in 1942.
Nok hockey is basically a board, a puck, and two sticks. Two players. Nothing electric. No special skills, unlike something like jumping rope (or, worse, Double Dutch).
This is what playing it looks like. We didn't have plastic hockey sticks, though.
In my 1950's youth, we went to the local playground (in my case, across the street from the housing project where I grew up in the Bronx) and asked if the nok hockey board was available for takeout. Chances were it wasn't. So we'd wait patiently.
Then, when we finally could get a board, we faced off. The rules were simple: drop the puck onto the center circle. We would hit sticks together, chanting "Hockey One, Hockey Two, Hockey Three". On three we would try to gain control of the puck. There are variations but we would take turns trying to hit the puck into the "goal".
Playing it is all about angles. And once you can get into it, you could play for hours (except on the playground, because people were always waiting eagerly for you to finish.)
With all the pandemic shutdowns, I wonder how many modern families have discovered how much fun nok hockey is. It's perfect for indoor play, unlike something like hopscotch or potsy, or the Indian Stapu.
It made me wonder how many games of the past have regained popularity during our pandemic, and how many will continue to be popular after it is over.
Do you have any childhood game playing memories you'd like to share? I'd love you to comment below. It might take your mind off what is happening today for just a few minutes.
...our kids (ages 45 to 49) played Nok Hockey in grade school.
ReplyDeleteI went to day camp every summer from the time I was 3 through the summer I was 12. Now hockey was one of our wuiet time activities. I played more games than I could possibly count.
ReplyDeleteI have to proof read better. Nok hockey was a quiet time activity.
DeleteNope, never heard of it! Until I saw the photo I couldn't imagine what you meant when you played it on a board. Like a tiny air hockey? We played mostly four-square at recess. There was a special four-square ball. That was girls. I have no idea what the boys were doing, just running around loudly I think. We had some hop-scotch and throwing the ball against the ... I forget, it was a tall wooden wall to throw a ball against. Oh! Tether ball, but I wasn't any good at that. Honestly, I wasn't very good at sports at all! Ever.
ReplyDeleteNope, never heard of it. Funny you consider Double Dutch "worse". I finally mastered Double Dutch 'round about the time I started middle school. I was so proud of myself.
ReplyDeleteI remember playing Nok Hockey every Spring and Summer in the Forest City Playhouse. (Twas really a barn...) From when I was 4 to about 10.
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