A Late‑Blooming Passion
Graham Nichols, a Canadian who moved to South Korea a decade and a half ago, once felt his connection to home slipping as years passed abroad.
The birth of his son reignited a yearning for the cultural touchstones he had left behind, and a childhood memory of road hockey sparked a plan to reclaim them.
In late October 2025, Nichols laced up his first pair of skates on an ice rink just outside Gangneung, a city known internationally for its hockey heritage.
Though his skating was tentative and his puck‑handling rudimentary, the rhythm of the game soon became a bridge between his past and present.
Finding a Place on the Ice
A local team welcomed the newcomer, offering a community that valued effort over experience. The camaraderie extended beyond the rink, giving Nichols a chance to practice Korean and forge new friendships.
His son, eager to follow in his father's footsteps, now watches each practice with wide eyes, dreaming of taking his first stride on the ice.
Through the sport, Nichols has rediscovered a sense of Canadian identity while embracing the unexpected friendships formed in a foreign land.
The story also highlights the growing, though still niche, popularity of hockey in South Korea, a sport that remains a curiosity for many but is slowly gaining traction.