Just returning home from what may be my last hockey game coached. I've been coaching these boys for 12 years and tonight we lost in overtime to get eliminated from the playoffs. My boys are 17 & 18 year old Sr. A players and most will be going to University or College next year, so it's done. Calling them boys is really a misnomer because they are built like men, they're ripped actually, kinda like David Craig in Casino Royale. It was a heart breaker. Before the game I read them Al Pacino's speech from Any Given Sunday and the room fell silent, after there were a few tears shed. Hard to explain just what Hockey means to a Canadian boy other than to say it's something we grow up with, carry through our lives, it's always with us, it unites a country, teaches us the good and bad in life. Maybe it's just a game, yes........But it's our game, andwe love it so. I salute my boys for keeping a tired old middle aged man young at heart. God Bless them all!

 

Hey there KC: From one tired old middle aged man to another. Sounds like it's and end of an era for you. And be sure a start of another. Your kids have a very short time at home and a very short time as being kids. They have the rest of their lives as being adults. It's hard to let go when you have been involved with them so long, but it's almost time to set them free. You have done your part to bring them up as decent, respectful human beings and now they have to go out and share that with the world. Enjoy your posts as you look at things from a " simple things first" point of view. It's great that you have the time to be CF and share your insight and experience with the younger caddy crowd. I guess when the nest is empty it will be harder to fill the days. Good luck with that. Chow from B.C.

 

Katz, nice post. You will have the rest of your life to enjoy the memories and knowing how you helped develope some young guys in to men. Also know that they will never forget you. I remember all my coaches from hig school and college, and to this day remember things they told me, and reflect on how they affected my life.

I'm also a big hockey fan being from Philadelpia, origianlly (this is not the year for the Flyers, no comments necessary) and have been a season ticket holder for the Florida panthers since their inception (also not having a good year, actually they suck). Love the sport.

Good luck to you good buddy.

G.A.R.Y.

 

Thanks for the kind sentiments brougham1 and G.A.R.Y., they help ease the pain. I had a team that lost only 5 games all season and then in a best of 5 quarter final we lose in overtime. Three losses in 5 games to a team that lost 21 games and was below 500. A hard pill to swallow. At the end of the game I had my boys do the "European Salute". This is common in the pro leagues in Germany, Austria and Findland but rarely seen here. My captain skated towards the crowd of parents and supporters with his teammates following in a line behind, then as they near the boards they raise their sticks in tribute as a way to say thanks. It is a classy way to say thank you, shivers up the spine when you see it. BUT Tommy didn't stop at that, he proceeded to the opposing team's parents and supporters and did the same, then to the team that had just defeated us for a final salute. I do not believe the other team and it's supporters had ever seen this because they were awestruck and impressed. So was I, and never prouder of the team. As G.A.R.Y. said, they had now become men andin some small way I know I have contributed to that.

 

awesome .. but, where is the video clip?

wanna see it ...





awesome .. but, where is the video clip?
wanna see it ...

[sm=massbounce.gif][sm=massbounce.gif][sm=massbounce.gif]

 

Hey Stealth, you are not going to believe this. Toronto is so left wing it is actually against the Law to take a video camera or other recording device into a City owned facility and most Hockey rinks we play in are owned by the City. This law is to protect against sexual predators who might prey on kids by going into the change rooms and taking flicks of them. No video available...sorry.

 

Speaking of "so left wing", have you ever bumped in to a guy with the handle bcop or uranus? I hear he might have spent some time up there when the US had a draft.

You know cell phones have had video capabilities for a while now. Check around someone from the winning team might have something.

 

....that law covers cell phones too. There are plenty of guys my age here who were born in the USA and just decided to come up here and live when they were 18. I try to avoid them.

 

Katz C.,

Gary has a point. i got a phone video clip of the hanging of Saddam
now i'm waiting for the investigation to complete and see who they
hang for using the phone camera.

i have to say that our system in CA is not so severe (yet) as
we can still tape games.