The sport took him away from home and brought him to a unfamiliar Canadian town when he was 16.
It earned him a scholarship to a major university where he receives just 10 precious free days to return home each year.
It taught him how to play through and rehab a devastating injury.
It taught him how to deal with being separated from a caring family for his entire young adult life.
For Natrona Heights native Jason Crain, it would be easy to hate hockey at this point. Instead, he still is enthusiastic about the sport that forced him to grow up faster than most of his peers.
"It's the one thing in life that I love to do," said Crain, a senior defenseman at Ohio State. "If you don't love it, it's not worth as much work as we put into it. We maybe get one day off every two weeks, and I probably like it more now than when I was younger."
For as many reasons as Crain, 22, has to be burned out from hockey, he has dozens of reasons to still love the game. Obviously, the biggest is where the sport could bring him after he completes his senior season in Columbus, Ohio.
"Jason has a bona fide opportunity to play at the next level," his father, David Crain, said.
Crain was a third-round draft pick by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. He was the third player ever from SHIHL or WPIHL to have his name called by a NHL squad.
The Kings hold Crain's rights when he graduates, and they have the option of signing him to a contract. Crain said when the Kings travel to play the city's NHL entry, the Blue Jackets, members of the franchise have been "nice and cordial."
"I want to play somewhere, but where is still up in the air," Crain said. "The Kings have my rights, and obviously, I want them to sign me. I'll just wait and see. I'm still playing hard every day."
Even if the Kings fail to sign him, Crain will likely get looks from other NHL clubs. In hockey, there's usually a market for a 6-foot-4, 210-pound defenseman who displays significant amounts of wit and grit.
"Everybody thinks he can play at that level," Ohio State coach John Markell said. "It's up to him whether he catches a break."
After 18 games this season, Crain led the Buckeyes with a +8 plus/minus rating. He also led all Ohio State defensemen with seven points.
The burden Markell has placed on Crain has been higher this season than his previous three. Last spring, he was selected as the Buckeyes' captain, and he's the leader of a team with just three seniors. He's also received more ice time during crucial situations than he did in his previous three seasons.
"He has been very consistent," Markell said. "It's a big leadership role being captain, and there's a lot of responsibility. He has handled it very well."
Crain almost has seen as many peaks and valleys as a tourist driving through West Virginia since arriving at Ohio State in 1998 after two years playing for the St. Thomas (Ontario) Stars. He was named to the Central Collegiate Hockey Association All-Rookie Team after recording 17 points in 1998-99. The season, however, ended with Crain tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament before playing Maine in the NCAA tournament.
Crain had surgery following Ohio State's 4-2 season-ending loss against Maine, but the injury didn't deter the Kings from using a third selection to obtain his rights.
He recovered to play 35 games as a sophomore, recording 11 points. Last season, Crain recorded a career-low six points. The Buckeyes failed to qualify for the CCHA Tournament both years.
Both Crain and the Buckeyes have rebounded this season. With Crain as captain, the Buckeyes were 10-7-1 through 18 games. For the first time in three seasons, the Buckeyes have an opportunity to finish above .500 and qualify for the NCAA tournament. Currently, Ohio State is ranked in the Top 20 of every major poll, and it consistently plays in front of more than 6,000 fans at Value City Arena.
"This year is flying by," Crain said. "It's my last year, and it's pretty amazing that it's half over."
