A Day to Remember

My son had been wanting to ply ice hockey for a couple years and we finally relented 2 years ago and put him in skating classes. He learned it was not quite as easy as the NHl player make it look. He took his falls and got a few bumps including an enormous egg on his head when he fell and his helmet slid up. His black eye was nasty, but he did not stop. It was hockey he wanted to play not be a skater. We progressed to hockey classes and it was fun, but not games so this past year we put him in a house league. He did surprisingly well for a first timer and was rated one of the better players in the league and was rewarded with being traded on the night before the season started. He went from being around teammates he knew to knowing nobody and being last on the list at his new team. Not what he needed at the time.

When the season started he was declared a defenseman  and playing time was slim. As the season progressed it never changed. His coaches did not know him and never really gave him a chance. He made mistakes and was sent to the bench while watching the coaches kids make the same mistakes and remain on the ice. He wanted to score a goal. He just wanted a chance. Unfortunately it just never happened. He was asked to try out for a select team and did not make it so somebdy felt he had the skills. He was very willing to get physical. Something not really permitted at this level. He seemed to do so much right, but not get any respect from his coaches. I managed to keep my mouth mostly shut, but my frustration grew just as his did. During a really bad stretch of losses he played less than 10 minutes out of the 36 minute games. This is on a team with 2 offensive and 2 defensive lines. Not really fair for a house league. He just wanted to score a goal. As the season wound down he got a few chances to play on the forward line as a backup. In one game he got a few shifts at center and won 5 of 6 faceoffs. Of course next game and back to defense he went. It really made no sense as all the other kids were getting a chance to play up front. he even spoke to the coach after practice. The next game he played only 7 minutes out of 36. The team just never could play well. Losses mounted and the coaches kept changing lineups. Occasionally he would get a few shifts on offense and then go back to D. Last week the season ending tournament started and it started off poorly. A team we had never played in the regular season kicked out butts an we were in the losers bracket. Of course my son played D, but he played a great game. Friday night we played and won as my son played defense with a boy who had played goalie most of the year. They played really well and we assumed that this morning he would play D again.

As the game started this morning my son took his normal spot on the defense end of the bench and the coach said they were going to play the starters most of the game. Oh well I told my wife. At least he knows that position well and does not make mistakes. Surprise surprise! They put him out on offense and what a game they played. It was so close with little scoring until we took a lead in the 2nd period. The other team came back with 2 goals and I said thats it. A timeout was called and play resumed. A goal got waived off on a bad offsides call but they did not quit. On a faceoff the coach did not have enough players out and we were shorthanded 1 player. Stupid! On the faceoff the puck went to the other team and somehow my son then got it from the point and drove to the net and put up a wrist shot at the goalie. He instantly started jumping wildly and pumping his fist in the air. No call from the ref and then suddenly his arm went off.

GOAL

He scored a goal. His first in Squirt. The joy he had and relief was so awesome to enjoy. The weight of a whole season had left in that few seconds. And shorthanded too! This tied up the game and it remained that way until a minute and 10 seconds to go in the game. A 3-2 lead and just over a minute to play. Wow! The atmosphere was incredible in the rink. Unfortunately they tied it up with just 20 seconds to go. On to OT for the first time as we normally have ties. 3:00 on the clock and the starters were tired. The coach road his horses til they couldn't play anymore. With 19.7 seconds to play in OT the other team got a freak roll of the puck into the net. Game-Over. Season over. Tears aplenty. I just could not say or do anything to make him feel better. On this day he has been waiting for. The day he said that when it happened he would not care whether they won or lost he did care. He gave his all and while he got that goal he wanted so bad he learned a lesson.

I couldn't be any more proud of him than I am right now. Not for the goal-I knew that would come, but for the fact he grew up today. He's becoming a young man and a caring one at that.