Flames lose but I had a good time anyway

Team Mascot, Harvey the Hound and my hubby have a Halloween Hug.

Peggy's hair matches the C of Red

At the Speed of Life

Monday's hockey report: Andrew was selected for the Midget 1 team. He's the only 15 year old. The rest are 16 and 17. It's weird to walk out of the arena and watch the boys he was on the ice with get into their cars with their girlfriends and drive themselves home. He won't even be 15 until November.

Ah, they have to grow up fast.

But I'd never stand in his way.

Revved up

The deadline may be over but I want to keep writing. I'm attending a writers' conference at the end of September. Cool. I always wanted to write but it was more of a romantic notion that looked a lot like work.

Now I have a job that is all about writing. Go figure. I'm getting paid to write.

And design.

Do you know how much fun it is to design? In the past two weeks, I produced a 24 page magazine, including the cover design. Today I created an index, altered a logo, removed a background from a portrait, and printed the contents of the catalogue.

I also had great conversations with most of my coworkers and finished in time (the last two nights) to watch my son at hockey tryouts.

Tonight was the goaltending skills evaluation.

I am so proud to be watching him play at this level. He played his best tonight - allowed no goals against during his stint in the game, and then pokechecking and stonewalling the shooters trying to score on him during evaluations. He's not a standout star, but he's solid and he's passionate. Growth continues.

I love that he's found his own strength and is finding his way.

Saw it all the way!

A mother's proud moment: her son, the goaltender

AGB

Awards Night

On Wednesday this past week, our hockey association held their year-end awards banquet. It was a terrific way to end off the year; a great night full of wonderful surprises.

• Our captain was voted Best Defenseman out of 73 defensemen in the entire league.


• Our assistant captain won the scoring title (66 points: 33 goals and 33 assists in 33 games).


• Our goaltender (AGB’s partner) won the “Best Bantam Player” award, given by our association to the person who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

And most important of all,

• Our team won the Glen Patrick Memorial Award for Team of the Year! It is awarded annual to the team that best exemplifies the Association’s qualities in sportsmanship and dedication.

It was an exceptional year. The team got along unusually well. The parents enjoyed each other’s company. As goaltending parents, we really liked the other goaltender’s parents. They are the kind of people I would enjoy being friends with for the rest of my life.

After losing their first six regular season games stalled in last place, our boys battled back, securing 4th place with a season record of 16-12-5. We are proud of them and thrilled we got to be there and watch it happen.

Alberta Cup

"SHHHHHSSSKKh shsk shhhskh ...."

Skates striding along the ice

Royal Purple

The colour of AGB's jersey as he competes, flashing post to post with lightening reflexes.

"THWAK!"

A slapshot.

"PHWNK!"

The sound of a puck hitting goalie pads.

This weekend is a Zone Camp for Alberta Cup tryouts. This year, any male born in 1992 is eligible to try out. We have a wide array of skills but by far, the bulk of players on the ice were on Bantam AAA teams this year.

For those who are selected, the Alberta Cup is a whirlwind two week long preparation for a 4 day tourney involving 8 teams selected in similar zone camps across Alberta. It is the first rung on the ladder toward much more... ultimately the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge.

While the chances are slim of being selected (20 goaltenders vying for 2 positions, 59 forwards for 12 slots, and over 40 defensemen for 6), it is a wonderful experience and great way for a 14 year old to spend the weekend.

I love the sounds of the arena. I love sitting with friends to cheer our boys. I love to see our boys exerting all of their energies to perform at their peak. I don't love the chatter of gossip, the suspicion of how "They" choose the final 20 team members. I have learned through the years that suspicion is simply fear of the unknown by one who is not part of the decision-making process. It is hard for a parent. They've done everything they can to prepare their son for this moment and they must now take their hands off and wait.

I even experienced some creative juices as I tried to determine how one spells my favorite sound:

"Phwnk!"

One more puck stopped by AGB's pads.

My Camera is Broken

My camera is broken, alas, alack! It contains most of the last hockey photos and the day at Sunshine. I go again Thursday and need a camera - I shall be condemned to use the old one until the new one is fixed. In the meantime, my not so mega-pixel phone camera will have to do. It does show what good seats we were privileged enough to enjoy at Monday's game!

A little quieter

The season is over. Except for practices, parties and a year-end tournament, the games are all behind us.

Since Dec. 10, the team only lost twice in regular season play - their record since Dec. 10: 11-2-1. Then came playoffs. A squeaker loss 2-1 in second round of playoffs Sunday against the team we edged out for 4th place. Tonight we were defeated 7-5 by a team to whom we did not lose all season. AGB was in net only for the second half of tonights game, allowing only 2 goals.

It's been a good year. There is a great deal of satisfaction in seeing that grit, determination and staying power secured a final standing in 4th place. That is a better reward than just getting the adrenalin going for playoffs and pulling off a skin of the teeth victory!

Sure we would rather win playoffs. But I don't mind the break. Those young men did great. I thoroughly enjoyed being hockey mom this year.

Busy and At Peace

Four speaking engagements and five singing engagements in these two weeks. And you wondered why I wasn't posting.

It is not a quiet life, but overall, I have a quiet heart.

How do I trust in God, let me count the ways:

AGB's team* secured fourth place in the league with a decisive 8-3 victory in their last regular season game. Their record is 16-12-5, giving them a bye for the first round of playoffs. Excellent results and amazing progress from a group of boys who were in last place, 0-6, at the beginning of the season, ending the year as a cohesive team of young men last Sunday.

I arranged a beneficial and motivational talk by friend and Olympic medalist for the hockey team. We renewed our house mortgage, with the attainable target of being mortgage free at the end of the 3 year term. Entertained my nephew from Nashville; an amazing young man of God. B, my husband, valentine and lifetime soul mate, is sick in bed.

And, what was to have been spring break in Hawaii has, instead, become a weekend of hockey tryouts for Alberta Cup and the prognosis of AGB requiring pricey oral surgery with general anesthesia for all four wisdom teeth. Not the way I wanted to spend a week of vacation, but certainly well within my top personal priority of looking after the needs of my family.

"ALL I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!"

*AGB = amazing goalie boy (and only child) in AAA Hockey.

One Track Mind

Perhaps you believe I think of nothing else but hockey. I must admit, it fills a great deal of my time. However, it is one of the few things that are not mundane in my life. One doesn't write about the laundry or other chores. One doesn't write about the necessity of prioritizing the workday. One just does it and moves on.

But the pause in my day, the selah, if you will, is the 2 hours spent watching excellence in action. We are incredibly privileged that AGB is playing in this league. The play is fast and entertaining. Tonight these young men kept themselves in check and took very few penalties. AGB was excellent in net again. We won over a higher ranked team 6-3. My husband finds it interesting that two former NHL players were in attendance as their sons were on the opposing team. The opposing team also lost two players to suspensions due to major penalties, one of which (boarding) required in stitches to our player. We're grateful he could return to the game, he's a tough defenceman.

Two wins in a row for my son in net. The last win wasn't credited to his stats due to a computer glitch. That is an entirely separate rant I have decided to set aside. It's painful, however, not to receive credit where credit is due. I will leave it at that.

Another Win

AGB had a very good game Sunday, one of his best so far. The entire team performed well. To quote a Sports Illustrated article about an NHL goaltender: "Does the player make the team? Does the team make the player? Does it matter?" We won 6-4 over the team who had just taken top spot in the Minor Hockey week tournament and has been buzzing around top spot in the league all season. Our team is now at 500. Pretty good after losing the first six games of the season.

Fame is fleeting. At this level of hockey, opportunity for great success lies in every team, every player. However, the exceptional skill found in a Gretzky or Crosby is truly a near-miraculous gift. Psychologists and coaches constantly seek the right words, best formula, the perfect line for success (read: win). They try different drills, video review, motivational speeches, team building, social connections, strict regimens. Ultimately, in the final moments, it may simply be about attitude and perseverance - never say die.

Though the stats don't encourage hope, I believe some parents on the team fully expect their children to be in the NHL someday. Perhaps they will. It is not mine to disparage their dreams.

What do I dream for my son?

I pray that he will consistently give his best effort to noble causes. That he will laugh and dance and sing. That he will love God and care for others. I pray that his life is free from the bondage to ego1 and that he will invest himself in those things that count for eternity.

Minor Hockey Week Game 2

It was a more competitive game than what the score would indicate (as most of them are). AGB wasn't in net but his goal partner played excellently. However, the boys lost 5-2 to a team ahead of us in the standings. So our week will be a little lighter.

In the last three years, instead of Minor Hockey Week, our experience has been that it becomes Minor Hockey Weekend. We've been ousted annual in the second game ever since Andrew's team won their division four years ago.

They are up against the top team in the league on Sunday. AGB is scheduled to be in net. Cheer them on!

Minor Hockey Week Game 1

AGB was not in net. We played the team just ahead of us in the standings: they were #6, we were #7. Though we were tied for points, they had one more win than we did.

Not any more.

We won in overtime, 5-4.

Hockey Tourney Update 2

It was a dark and stormy ... arena. The visiting team swept through the home team like a tornado in a trailer park. Final score: Calgary 6, Kindersley 1.

They were tourney hosts but ended up in 6th place. I'm sure the Kindersley mothers love their children too. A loss is always sad.

Our team was happy for the victory and only sad for our goalie that due to a final surge by the host team during a power play, the shutout was lost in the dying seconds. The adjacent picture is of a previous game when my AGB was in net.

As for our team, since it was New Years eve, most slept the way back to Calgary. I was glad to ride home with my hubby in our vehicle - he had come up just for Saturday/Sunday, his trip bookended on both sides by tickets to the Flames game.

Our New Year's eve was spent as follows: B to Flames game and then he and his neice & her hubby came over and we watched a movie. A went to a friend's house for a "sleepover" which was a wakeover until about 4:30 in the morning. Since that's not the first time a sleepover at that home ended up with no sleep, I think that's the last overnight visit there.

New Year's Day the guys attended the final of the Mac's Midget Tourney at the Saddledome while I shopped for groceries enough to feed 10 for dinner. We had a nice evening and all enjoyed falling into bed by 10:30 p.m.

I worked the next day. I'm very tired.

Hockey Tourney Update 1

AmazingGoalieBoy was in net for the first game and first win of the tourney. We won 5-3. We also won the "fun" shootout after the game by the same score. The boys got free pizza as a prize.

The second game was a 4-3 loss. AGB was not in net. We won the shootout again.
The third game was a 6-3 loss. AGB was in net and played well but penalties killed us. We lost the shootout by 1 goal. These Saskatchewan teams are tough.

Our last game is tomorrow. For 5th place. :-)

As for me, I've had a great weekend connecting with the parents. We had a great afternoon bowling with the boys and I found out from AGB that their "punishment" by their teammates for stealing all the towels was having their hands and feet duct taped and being tossed in a bath of ice water. After a parent reception at the arena, we gathered in the manager's suite. Karaoke was the first entertainment option and we enjoyed a dozen or more songs. One of the parents sang quite well, and of course hubby and I sing, so it was a good time.

I am completely blown away by what people will share with you. The singer was also a poet. The sweetest, kindest, softest-hearted dad used to be a drug runner. The most annoying man buys his wife the most thoughtful, loving gifts. The quietest dad is terribly hard on his kids. The most gregarious mom loves to hug her hockey boy, no matter who bugs her about it.

And I had a good conversation with my son at bowling. :-) I can go to sleep happy.

On the Road Again

For the first time, I have taken the bus along with the hockey team. We are in small town Saskatchewan getting ready to play in a tournament for the next three days. It wraps up on New Year's Eve and we hope to be home no later than 10 pm, so we can still see the new year in at home and drop off to sleep shortly thereafter.

About half the parents rode the bus along with all the players. The coaches/managers chose to place the boys and coaches in a different hotel and it's a different experience for me as a parent being forced to let go. The only battle is in my heart.

The parents had a meal together once we arrived and then migrated to the team manager's suite for visiting. I'm on my own and not quite sure what to do with myself. My son is 'tucked in' with the team at the Super 8 across the road, so all I can do now is pray for him and release him to God.

He's having a ball of course... already played the first practical joke of the trip by allegedly snitching all the towels from the other players' rooms. Somehow I think he'll make out just fine.

After the Cut

Team pictures were in October. Here's a casual one of AGB (before the haircut).

The Shutout

For a goaltender, there is no higher prize. While every win is cherished, a shut out is the crown jewel. Today, in a 2-0 victory, AmazingGoalieBoy obtained his first shutout as a AAA Bantam goalie. The team played very well and one amazing save resulted in a turnover to our team that saw an immediate charge to the other end to put the puck in the net for the second (insurance) goal. He got the game puck and was awarded the "WWE" belt for "hardest working" team member. (Like the haircut?)

If the helmet fits

I wonder, with short hair, if the helmet fits differently?