J.J. Watt's hockey skills didn't go unnoticed last week when the Pro Bowl defensive end tweeted a video of himself playing hockey to the Chicago Blackhawks and Team USA Winger Patrick Kane.
Just in case @88PKane calls from Sochi... http://t.co/vjA0U6mb4y — JJ Watt (@JJWatt) February 11, 2014
Watt's love for hockey began long before his football-playing days.
"I started skating when I was three years old," Watt said in an interview with Texans Radio. "Being a hockey player at such a young age, I was learning to skate just as I was learning to walk. Having to balance your body on a half inch blade and learn how to control your body on the ice, I think it definitely helped to build my fine motor skills at a young age. It taught me balance and it taught me how to handle my body. That definitely gave me a jump start on athletics moving forward where I feel like I wasn't as awkward because I kind of knew how to handle my body from learning how to stand up on skates."
When he was 13, Watt switched over to playing football, mainly for financial reasons. Hockey was expensive but he continued to follow it and skate when he could. I asked him if he ever thought about what his life would have been like if he had stayed on the hockey path.
"I'd probably be in the NHL instead of the NFL," Watt said. "That would be the goal obviously. I'd probably have more stitches than the six I have in my nose right now. And I'd probably have a few less teeth. I love hockey and I used to love watching it. I love any chance I can to get on skates and get out there and play. I try to. And I really love the game."
