Embrace Life

Hockey | AAA Reflection

On our way to power skating | 2003

I haven't really said much about hockey this year.

A lot has to do with the fact Cole is no longer playing the game: the cut, combined with the bursitis and appendicitis, conspired to keep him off the ice. Though Caden continues to play the game, it is for fun. Hockey is no longer an all-consuming part of our days, our thoughts or the mileage on my truck.

I don't have much love for the game, indeed, I never have had much passion for it. The boys played the sport because hockey, in this country, is a rite of passage. Their father played hockey so my boys would play hockey. I am from a family of girls and with the exception of my one season of ringette, we had little exposure to ice sports as a team experience.

This blog is a way for me to record what is going on in our lives and a reflection of how events affect and effect us. I would be remiss not to address what was, at one time, an all-consuming aspect of our lives.

Last year, Cole's Oakville Rangers '97AAA team did not fare well at the AAA Championship weekend in Kingston. They came in 4th out of 5 teams in that championship weekend. The loss had nothing to do with the heart of the players. It fell squarely on the continuing inability for the coaching staff to motivate and coach. The classic do the same thing over-and-over-and-over again expecting a different results - and, no surprise, getting the same one each time. It confirmed to me things I knew all along, but never voiced outside of my home.

Cole, along with a couple of boys, got cut from the team. Clearly the loss was their fault. We heard of stories involving illegal imports of of players - kids living in basements, improperly registered for school and all manner of monkeying with the rules. Cheating and underhanded tactics are not foreign to this particular coach. Whatever.

My only thought was that the spirit crushing of my son, and of the other boys cut, had better be worth it.

Well, this past weekend was championship weekend again. Guess what? The Oakville Rangers '97AAA team - again - came in 4th out of 5 teams.

I showed the stats to Cole. He reacted with little interest, he's moved on. Far along. He expressed no joy, no sadness. Just a question about how this kid did or that kid did but no real curiosity.

If anyone asked me a year ago I would have thought I'd be pleased if the team didn't fare well this year. The truth is, I do not feel any joy. I feel terrible for those boys who have worked so hard, those parents who have sacrificed so much. I feel sad for what was "chemistry-wise" a fabulous team that was torn apart for a win that never materialized.

Life moves along.

A year later? I am happy that the events of last year have changed the dynamic of our home and the direction of our interests. I am happy my son is able to be so full with the joy in other events that his focus is on only the positive in his life. I am happy that I am not happy to hear about the misfortune of others.

Life is no longer synonymous with hockey.

Life is full.

Life is good.

Hound Dog Happiness

Caden plays hockey too.

I know it's hard to believe with all of the focus on Cole and his activities. It is representative, proportionately, on the time spent with each boy persuing his interest in the sport. Caden's team routine is a bit less intense but no less meaningful. They practice on Wednesday evenings, they play on Saturday mornings and there is the occasional extra ice on Monday and Off Ice training in a local gym on the occasional Tuesday.

The Atom Hound Dogs are also signed up for three tournaments this season. They just participated in their first and they won!

THAT is a happy group of 10 year old boys! And a happy foursome of older boys, too :)

It was such a fun weekend we almost didn't want to come home.

The best part of the weekend away:

Lee getting to know the parents, what a lovely group
Chloe the water slide and taking care of the little kids
Caden playing hockey, winning the tournament and the morning breakfast buffet

Caden continues to wear his championship medal and will likely sleep with it. As for the rest of us? A few days rest and then we're off to Cole's tournament in another direction!

Team Spirit (+ a colourful no-sew tutorial)

I am a cheerleader. I've always been one. I enjoy going to my kids activities and encouraging them, along with their teammates, in all the games they persue. From football, to baseball, to hockey, to rugby, to basketball and everything in between, I've always been there making plenty of noise and finding the good even when things mess up.

Cole and his hockey team are doing very well this season, coming out victorious with tight, low-scoring, nailbiter games! This season our regular games are very quiet. As this is a new team, I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but Cole has mentioned that things are too quiet on the ice. He and his teammates would like some noise. After being at a few Maple Leafs games lately, I know for sure that even a (traditionally) losing team has plenty of positive noise coming from the stands so why not our boys? After all, they're effort is incredible, that's something to cheer, right?

Cole and his team are off to the Bauer Tournament in Chicago a bit later today. I have to miss it, but I'll be there in spirit. How? The next best thing - I've sent along some cheer. If I can't be there, I can send along the means to make a lot of noise! At least my boy will know the team is being encouraged from the stands.

I placed an order and a box arrived:

In it were a bunch of tambourines, pompoms and cowbells (yes, cowbells):

In team colours: red, white and blue, of course. Cole's teammates were happy to receive their cheer packages and anxious to give to their fans! I had grand plans to send along some more gear, but I ran out of time. I did manage to make colourful no-sew scarf:

Start by choosing the colours:

Then gather all of your (minimal) materials:

9 pieces of felt (3 of each colour) mine measure 12" x 9" each
1 pair of very sharp scissors
1 ruler
1 marker

Measure out your cuts. In my case they are 2" cuts spaced 1/4" apart:

Cut all of your felt:

Tie your first knot:

Top over bottom, bottom over top - top to bottom, bottom to top, doesn't matter.

They all have to be the same:

Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. And, after nine pieces are tied together, you get a spirit scarf:

This was done using cheap $0.49 felt pieces from Michael's. I'm sure a far more plush product would be created by going to a fabric store and getting a few pieces of polar fleece. I may do that next time around, after I'm finished with our spirit scarves for Caden's Hound Dog team and Claire and/or Cole's school teams:

This was a GREAT project. My kids enjoyed piecing together the fabric and loved the idea of showing team spirit by sporting the colours of the teams their sibs represent.

Lessons learned: my fingers are not as nimble as they once were, my eyes are not as sharp either, but I love the colourful result.

In the end, the scarf measures about 72" x 9". Even better? It cost a grand total of $4.98 in material plus taxes. Perfect for sporting at any (winter season) event!

I've given the scarf to Louis to wear - I will cheer our boys vicariously through him :)

Go RANGERS Go!

Rink Update

Cole and I are back to the rink this morning. I'm letting him sleep as long as possible! Here is a bit of an update from yesterday:

• If you want to follow a play-by-play of the games, you can follow our team on Twitter.
• The new uniforms are hard for me to read. Good thing I know the team name! I'll post a photo when I take one!
• No, I took none! Chesswood Arena STINKS for vantage points and there are no photographer cut-outs in the plexiglass.
• Yes, I'll bring the little camera today and maybe get a quick shot or two of our boys. Okay, I just re-read that and leaving my camera would be the same as leaving my right arm. I'll bring it. I may not use it, but I know if I left it there would be an opporunity and I'd miss it!
• Results are not being updated on the Red Wings site. Very disappointing. So, for you Guy (my father in law) the games looked like this: we lost a tight game 2-1 to a strong Vaughn Knights team and followed up by winning a penalty-heavy (us) game 7-2 vs Barrie Colts which we had beaten previously this pre-season at the Nottawasaga "friendly" event.
• Further proof that I know *uck all about hockey: I wasn't sure about Cole's play the first game and expressed that to a couple of the mums and to Louis. Cole comes out of the change room and tosses me a t-shirt. Game MVP.
• If you ever have a chance to invite another boy to come along with your boy for the day, do it! You will be delighted and surprised. Boys are really the best. I love this age. Not quite men but think they might be then the ideas scares them. Charming :)
• I had forgotten how LONG the days are at tournaments. Today I'm better prepared and I'll spend more time sitting on the grass with my laptop than in the parking lot chatting!
• It is always so nice to see friends, and meet new ones, and congratulate them on the success of their children on their new and old teams. Catching up on the stories makes for the time to go faster.
• So nice to return back to Oakville and have a glass of wine and lovely company ready to chat about everything and nothing.
• Louis took all 17 pairs of skates we were no longer using to the Skate Sale. I feel good that some purging was done.

Cole's up and showered so after his bowl - or two - of Vector cereal, we'll be heading to the wilds of North Toronto. We play a team from Rochester (they lost to the Barrie Colts and beat the Mississauga Senators) in the morning and then the Mississauga Senators in the afternoon (they lost both games yesterday).

Fingers crossed we play on Sunday!