The Long Road

The weekend was for the boys.
Players, tossed together like dice in a Yahtzee cup,
colliding bodies, sticks on the ice and in the air,
legs pumping, hearts racing
Stripes annoying

The long late drive up in the dark, rain

Sleeping son beautiful in tired innocence

The longer slow drive back in the sun

Soaking in the prairie

Basking in victory's glow.

The buzzer sounding, we cheer - game 1.

The triumphant thunk of goalie pads ending the shootout - game 2.
The unlikely hero dangling the puck netward 30 seconds into overtime - game 3.

Midget Tier 1 Tourney Champs