a : full of cracks or flaws : unsound <they were very crazy, wretched cabins — Charles Dickens>b : crooked, askew mad, insane <yelling like a crazy man>b (1) : impractical <a crazy plan> (2) : erratic <crazydrivers>c : being out of the ordinary : unusual <a taste for crazyhats

Distracted with desire or excitement <a thrill-crazy mob>b : absurdly fond : infatuated <he’s crazy about the girl>c : passionately preoccupied : obsessed <crazy about boats>

How many times as hockey parents, especially travel hockey, have you been asked why you do let your son or daughter play such a long term, expensive and unsupported game, are you crazy?   Too much time, too much money and for goalies, too much stress and/or pressure, cost of equipment.

Photographer, John Mofield, Chicago 2012

Especially in the land of leather and pigskin, why play that northern sport?  They say, “I don’t get it”.  Like many people especially in the south, it was not something that we even considered.   My two older sons, Christopher and Kevin were enjoying baseball as we were.  Only five minutes from home, grab the bat, ball, glove, hat and cleats, ready to go.  Five minutes to the sport, pull out chairs, enjoy the sun and the crack of the bat.  Ahhh, those were the days and I do miss it from time to time.  Let’s see, baseball is $150 to sign up, $50.00 for cleats, get socks and maybe a new bat.  Yep, 300.00 to 500.00 and you are ready for the season.  Christopher, Kevin, John and Jacob did love to play baseball and we loved to watch.  One day, early spring during baseball tryouts, John saw a sign for hockey sign ups at our local skating rink and all was lost.  He wanted to play hockey.   His best friend Gabe also was a fan and would come over with a hockey stick and a puck.  My husband rolled his eyes, “hell, this is the south, no one plays hockey!”  Or so we thought.  I have always been of firm mind that if a child does not want to play an organized sport, he shouldn’t be forced.  With that being said, we moved from loving baseball to knowing nothing about hockey.

Fast forward 8 years, several seasons later and  John is now 18, the starting goalie for Wilson Central Wildcats high school hockey team and several leg pad sizes bigger, John and Jacob play for their high school, Jacob is backup goalie and plays for the Nashville Jr. Predator’s AA Midget Minor travel team.   Gone is the crack of the bat and the kicking up of dust as the player runs to first base, what remains is the echo of the hockey stop; the sound of the puck hitting the glove as a slap shot is denied.  Gone are the days of sweat dripping and suffocating humidity as the dust hangs in the air and hello  cold, freezing ice, long distance drives and Zamboni fumes.

John's butterfly.

In the Nashville area, we have four sheets of ice in about a 300 mile radius.  With approximately 3500 to 5,000 players, practices at 10 pm or 6 am, the relaxing practice sessions become life.   We drive a minimum of 40 minutes with a bag of equipment unable to fit in a compact car, or just barely, we sit inside as the Zamboni clear the ices, fums hang in the air all to watch our boys/girls (yes, girls love hockey too) play.  The equipment smell of hockey with teenage boys is absolutely obscene.  Febreeze should be youth hockey sponsor for sure!  Are we crazy?  Yep.  Are we dedicated?  Yep!   Is it worth it?  More than any nonhockey parent can know or words can say, every cotton pickin penny!

These expenses are overwhelming however.  Rather than 300.00 to 500.00 for a season of baseball, our high school hockey is $15,000.00 for the team or 1200.00 per player and when you have two?  Well, you get it.  With no support from the school system, you must consider all expenses from skate sharpening biweekly for some at $10.00 per, repair of equipment or God forbid, new, gas at $3.50 a gallon 35 miles one way to A-Game (20 miles to Centennial) and this is 4 times per week, estimated mileage 350 miles per week for practice and games.  Then add on travel miles to Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, you are incurring many miles on perhaps your decent vehicle and possibly digging it an early grave.  I love my car, she’s a beast.  It is a 2006 Chrysler Pacifica.  We bought it because two goalie bags could fit in the back.  Now in 2012 and still making payments, I have 125,000 miles on it.  Now, some of you may say that’s not so bad.  However, I work from home.  I probably drive 50 miles in a week for around town stuff, the rest are hockey miles.  Are we crazy?  Nah, we are hockey moms and dads who are dedicated parents taking players to and from practice, games and tournaments.  We know where they are and who they are hanging out with, all the time.  Lifelong friends are made, lessons learned and goals set and challenges met.   The experiences of winning, losing, teamwork, support, anger and laughter, for the most part, these are the friends I want them with, the ones who work hard, have the same dedication and drive that my boys have and most importantly, the love of a sport to play it when no one watches.

Friends, Mo and Kristjan

Yes, there is a commitment as parents and the demands in time can be overwhelming, especially nearing the end of the season when burnout sets in; and for me and travel, this year is challenging as after the travel team placing 2nd in the Nation last year, this year we struggle to score a goal (this year I am not sure that we have scored 20 goals total), much less win a game in travel, although our goalies are having a great season facing minimum of 40 shots a game.

There are some who tell me that they would not do what I do, too much money, money we don’t have.  I solicit donations, beg, borrow, cheat (not really), work three jobs, husband works as much overtime he can to keep these boys in a sport they love.   There are times when I just wish I could stay home and write, my latest novel (my dream of being an author),  update my blog or just write a letter, (yes, some of us still do that), but then John or Jacob skate out on the ice; they make a big save, support a player, make the day of a little guy who is there to hit gloves as the big high school boys come off the ice.  The money becomes irrelevant.  When my son steps on the ice and glances back to me, it takes me back to John’s first ice hockey team, the first time he stepped on the ice.  He skated over to me and said, “I’ve been waiting for this my whole life.”

Are we crazy?  Maybe, but then, who decides the definition of crazy?

Once again, thanks for stopping buy and remember to hug your teenager, no matter how much they hate it!  For hockey players, good idea to have them shower first.  :D

Happy hockey!

Lori

I will admit that I struggle a bit with the apps, games on phones and the fact that the phones are no longer phones, but true personal communication devices or as J.D. Robb refers to them in her Eve Dallas, “personal links” (year 2050 time frame).  I love this series because I can totally relate to the main character’s “non girlie attributes”.   Check out her “In Death” series.  Okay, okay, back to my subject.

As far as phone technology, I am not as behind as my darling husband who still clings to his flip phone, but I do not have internet access with my little  Envy.  My boys who are far more advanced than I, 15, 18, 26 and 27 years old who live and die by their smart phones.  My problem with the phones is their durability, or lack thereof.   I bought their phones last year for Christmas and they loved them; for about a month.  Now, they abhor them and want the next 4g phone that is out there, the batteries no longer work for more than a couple of hours, they are out of date, yada, yada, yada.  Technology moves at the speed of light and we try to buy the boys something from this decade, but the day you buy it, it’s out of date.  There should be an app for that!!!

For Thanksgiving, we went to my moms for the day (about 4 hours).  The next day while driving home, my boys were talking about getting an updated television.  As always, I argued that ours was working fine; it was a 35 inch tube television fondly referred to as the beast from hell as it weighs about 75 to 100 awkward pounds.   John (18) says to me, “Mama, it is pretty sad when both our grandmothers are more technologically advanced than us!”  Ah, the disposable generation.  That is an expense that we didn’t need to do right now; you  know, our tv works just fine.  Still paying for hockey equipment, hockey fees and now Jacob needs a glove and blocker, oh, did I mention food?  However, I was outnumbered once again when my husband also was in agreement.  They would say, “Just think of watching the Nashville Predators and Detroit play on a high def.  It would be like being there!”   I am always the bad guy; I finally relented and for our Christmas present, we bought a high def 55″ tv with surround sound.  Not too bad of a deal, total at Walmart (with one year warranty from Wally world, remember, have boys) $1200.00, ouch.   John got the beast for his room which he took reluctantly.  He’s saving for his own high def TV when he moves out while going to college, paying for expenses and working (ROFLOLOLOLOL, such a dreamer).  However, again, I digress.   I planned it as our gift for Christmas and budgeted per person; a few things for under the tree; no shopping.  For me, a great great great Christmas present.  I hate shopping.    We got the tv, the blue ray and surround sound.  Took it home and set it up.   Rut row!!!  It was HUGE!!!!  Too big, but with encouragement, I slowly got used to it engulfing our living room.  John bought an inexpensive movie to show us how good the picture would be and I must admit, the quality was outstanding!   The cable channels were a little better, but not worth 800.00 for the tv, plus blue ray.  What did I know?

On Christmas Eve, Kevin (26 yo) and his family came over and low and behold, we did not have the cable connected for hd and suddenly, there it was.  A beautiful picture, sound, the detail so enthralling that I could hardly tear my eyes from the picture.  Watched “Planet Earth” and the part about the baby elephant going the wrong way, it was suddenly too real for me.  The boys took advantage and changed it to something stupid that they think is hilarious; Workaholics.    If there was ever an app needed to get rid of a show, it would be that one.  I would create the Nielsen Rating app like years ago.  Click an app for stupidity and poof, that show we evaporate into the stupid zone.  But with it, another would come and then another…   There is no app for that.

I do like the high def TV, although I get to watch very little of it.  Not a fan of surround sound all the time, a movie would be great, but no desire to hear Tosh.0 booming throughout the house.  However, the question is do I like the TV?   Yes, totally.  I love hearing the boys laugh, family getting together to watch a redbox movie together.  The expense, not as bad as I thought and would have been an eventual expense when our tv went out, but kind of nice having the technology of THIS decade.

Tonight, the Nashville Predators will play Detroit Red Wings and it is televised.  I will be at the game working a fundraiser, but the boys will be watching it on television.  There is nothing better than being with family and friends; enjoying the laughter and the companionable competition.  I hope that there will never be an app for that.

Happy hockey, stay thirsty my friends!

Lori

Our high school hockey team played last night and unfortunately, we (the team) didn’t show up until mid way through the second period.  Hard to win hockey games that way; or indeed, even be competitive.   A previous contest between these two teams gave us a win last time; but that changed as we went down 9 to 5.   Jacob was playing his 3rd hockey game for the high school this year (backup goalie).  The team was going to be tough, but Jacob has friends on that team and indeed, a coach on that team is also on the Jr. Preds and we have known for years.  Our coach allowed Jacob to be in the net against  SC.   He faced 47 shots with 38 saves, just wasn’t his night.

After the game in the locker room, Jacob apologized to team for having a bad game.  Well, as much as I appreciate the fact that my boys place much importance on their position, it also hurts to think they hold that pressure on their shoulders.  The TEAM lost 9 to 5, not the goalie, although also as a goalie parent, I know what people see in the end.    We will face them again.  My heart sings however, that through all of this, there is a bright side.  My boys who both are goalies, that they support each other pretty well, I just don’t see it.   They fight and argue and are as different as night and day; yet when the chips fall (goals scored), they have each others back.  I was so proud of John in his supportive comment to his brother and on Facebook nonetheless, I could just cry.  This is when being a goalie mom is at its best.

John and Jacob

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I look forward to sharing the seasonal exploits of the “Mo Bros” and family in the next few days.  We host Chicago Hawks Saturday and Sunday, I work a fundraiser at our NHL Nashville Predator’s game Saturday night for high school fees, and wonder about decorating the house for Christmas.  Hmmm, suppose I should also start thinking about Christmas shopping.

Stay strong my friends, now, where is my egg nog!

Lori

Enjoy!

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Remember, hug a teenager today no matter how much he hates it and if he is a hockey player, have him shower first!

Happy hockey!

Lori

During the weekend of hosting the Jr. Chicago Bruins, I watched our players struggle against a strong physical team that out skated us, out shot us, passed the puck crisp and hard and many times took the puck from our players thereby out scoring us.  Are we in over our heads here in skill level, heads in the sand?  The goalies did well, but we went down in game one, 4 to 0 and in game two, 5 to 1.  Michael and Jacob (Mo) did well, not Mo’s best game, but I believe they were all a little intimated.   I thought “what bad sportsmanship” when the other team came off the ice telling our players they suck at hockey.   We would never do that.

This past weekend, the Jr. Predator’s hosted Vernon Hills Chicago team for two games.  Game one, Michael was a beast in the net keeping us to a score of 2 to 0.  He had saves that even the other team let loose a wow now and then.  During this tournament play, I was able to secure an announcer and he did a great job, playing music, announcing goals, penalties and playing music in between plays.  We announced a little too much (our first experience at this level), including positive goals for the other team.  In hosting another team, I, we (parents), have been receptive, kind, wishing them luck and including them in the announcer stuff.  This is the southern way, southern hospitality if you will.  I would share with moms where the good bathrooms are, fun things to do in our city, helping them.  This all changed midway through game one as the learning began for this southern goalie mom.  I do hate the word ignorant, but it may apply in this case.  Brian who was the announcer heard the coach of the other team tell his player who was in the box for slashing, the following:  ”If you are going to slash, break his arm.”   What?????  This is the coach of the Chicago team.  I was appalled and a window opened to old school hockey, today’s hockey and if my son wants to continue on his road to the NHL, his hockey.

The coach said, “We give that team NO respect, none!  We give them a broom closet for a locker room, we provide no support, give them no guidance, no advice and no wins!”  This was a near impossibility for me, always trying to assist, help in anyway I can; to be nice.  This was a new concept and I began to consider this new way of being a hockey mom.  I had to find out more.

A teammate of Jacob’s spent the night, originally from Michigan and on our team by way of Kentucky, who  has played hockey since he was a mite.  I began to question him as I tried to understand the difference.   From Mites, they are out to do whatever it takes to win.  As an example, Jacob’s friend told me that during International Silver Stick, he was making a run to the net and the opposing team’s player slashed him so hard across the knee, fractured it, taking him out of the the game and out of hockey for months.  I believe he said he was PeeWee age, 10, 11?  These are just kids; rather they are hockey players and those who are serious, play the game to win and in doing that, with all the risks, absolutely love the game of hockey, broken bones, concussions, the whole kit and kabootle, they love it at all ages.

On game two of Vernon Hills, our team changed overnight.  No longer intimidated, out skated or out shot.  They were aggressive, physical and crisp passes they had done a hundred times in practice.  What? Where? Huh?  I was dumbfounded.  However, they were strong in all areas and Mo was in the net.  We scored first and it was like it was the championship win after being beat the last three games.  When we scored our 3rd goal at full strength, again, it was as if we won a championship and we were holding them to no goals.  They were getting mad, making stupid mistakes, losing tempers and then, they tried to take out the goalie.  The puck racing to the net, Mo skated out and played the puck against the boards.  Mo was worried when he saw the opposing winger taking the puck and he began skating back, knowing it would be shot quick; another player however approached him and checked him with elbows (? not sure as I did not see the actual hit) but next thing I knew is Mo’s helmet flew off and he fell on the ice, hitting his head.  Seconds turned into minutes when he did not move.  You knew he was out.  I inhaled deeply and waited for him to move and noticed the coach leave the bench.  The coach has never left the bench in a game, well, this was the first time, so I knew my concern was justified.  Ten seconds, maybe more, maybe less, he finally moved, my hearing returned as sounds grew louder as I heard parents yelling, the coach asking for water.  I exhaled the longest breath I had held in some time when he finally moved.  The player I believe got a 10 minute misconduct.  They were trying to take out the goalie, and it is nice to admit he was having a pretty good game.  Nice to have such a promising tandem goalie team as Michael and Mo.  However, I never expected this; welcome to old school hockey.

Jacob finished the game assuring the coach he was fine.  I caught the coaches gaze which was unreadable, but I thought there was a hint of relief and I felt a little better.  Jacob continued his strong performance in the net only letting in a goal on the 4th rebound during a penalty kill with the Jr. Predator’s winning 4 to 1.  Jacob won the 1st star, his teammate who spent the night won the 2nd and I did not even hear this, but took full credit for both players doing well, stating it was the pancakes and turkey bacon.

On the advice of our doc (who also is a hockey player) took him to ER just to have him checked as his headache continued with nausea and dizziness.  CT scan was good, neurological was good and finally got his appetite back, (Jethrow is my  nickname for him) and finally ate, looked better.  He went to school this morning, still not feeling up to par, but okay.  I would have let him stay home, but he said, No school, no hockey.  He was planning on going to practice which I cautioned him may not be the way to go. He said even if he has to sit the bench during practice, he needs to be there and he would play.

As parents, we worry about their safety in all sports, football, baseball, soccer, they all have physical liabilities and I thought that sometimes the violence in hockey was overrated, at least in the younger leagues, I am no longer ignorant.  At this level of midget AA hockey, the teams are competing for the top spot.  I think that our boys will be a team to be competitive and indeed, much to the northern team’s chagrin.  This old school hockey is still new to this southern goalie mom and will be a process to learn how things work; however perhaps, it will be new to the northern teams that we are not rednecks from the hills, but hockey players from the south.

I am proud of our Midget Minor AA Jr. Predator’s

Happy hockey and thanks for stopping by my site.

Lori

http://nashvillejrpredators.com/index.php?team_id=237568

Six years ago, John who is now a senior and the starting goalie for Wilson Central, had the opportunity to step on the ice as an ice hockey player.  I felt tears burn my eyes when he skated over to me and said, “I’ve been waiting for this my whole life.”  You see in the South,

John 2009

the opportunity to play this sport is so far removed from most of us, the cost, the time, the travel just to practice (my hat is off to those in Montana), it is unrealistic when you have a baseball field 5 miles from you, football and soccer even closer.  The closest rink is 20 miles (Nashville) and hosts two sheets of ice; A-Game is 35 miles from us and hosts two sheets of ice.  We practice and play on both and travel hockey we head north.   Winters are not cold enough to have an outdoor rink; other than two winter’s ago we had “redneck ice hockey”.

Redneck ice hockey 2009

Therefore, the over 5,000 players in the area vie for ice time, economics come into play as games are scheduled for our beer league at midnight and the squirts begin at 6 am for practices.  Then contending with our community wondering what the hell you are doing playing ice hockey, this is the south!   We were once one of them.   Now my 15 yo Jacob is the backup goalie to his brother and finally had the opportunity to skate on our pro team’s ice, the Nashville Predator’s.  As I watched him skate out, look up and around, his brother’s words echoed through my mind and I know from both of them, our time, money and energy are truly worth it.

Jacob first time on Professional ice

Our high school is absolutely a rural area quickly growing to suburbia and proudly screams football champions.  When my sons and their cousin go to play a game at the Pro facility graciously gifted from our Nashville Predator’s, can you guess who was there (free parking) to support us?  The parents, the siblings, those of us who are always there and as far as I know, it was not even on the school announcements.  With this type of support and the fact that we are middle class, raising funds to play hockey is more than a challenge, it is an uphill battle.  Friends and family do what they can but as we potentially are facing a double dip recession, things take priority and ice hockey is not one of them.    However, everything melts away, the negative comments heard, the money, the time when your player skates out there playing a sport they love.

In our dash for the cash, we have to be creative and must be strong of heart with determined perseverance.   The other school sports and travel teams have hit up the public already and because of that, I go for friends of friends, social media, bake sales, corporate help.  My latest hope is going to a local dealership and for either both, one or the other nonprofit teams, asking them to donate a car for a raffle.  They can write it off and what a deal, $20.00 ticket to win a car?   Will keep you posted on that one.  It is much more difficult to raise the $20,000 plus/minus that is needed for an individual to play travel hockey.  We have just struck a deal on some new/used pads from friends for our youngest goalie, Jacob.  He has once again grown and needed 37″ not to mention that we wore out the previous set of 35″ as they had been through both of my sons.  Can you say Jethrow???  Anyway, we have offered to have a company name embroidered on the top front of the leg pads.  I sell advertising patches for my Pred’s jacket that I wear to every practice, every tournament, every game to advertise our sponsors.  I have a facebook page and provide social media advertising, webpage and even offer to set up the company on Google Places and SEO (search engine optimization) for them.  I work three jobs.  I am a medical transcriptionist by day, I clean houses with a good friend and I run a Crime Scene Cleanup Company which is in its infancy.  My husband works hard as an aircraft mechanic and works every bit of overtime he can to keep our heads above the financial strain of ice hockey.  So, I will do the bake sales, car washes, set up booths with hot chocolate and BBQ sandwiches at our local fairs/school fairs.  I will have my boys dress in their hockey gear during these functions and wear inline/roller blades to solicit players, get them interested in the sport.  I will ask our inline coach if he would help me by having an exhibition game to help promote the sport.  Yes, I will pick up a penny from the ground, heads up and thank God every day for my ice hockey players; however if the penny is tails up, I will pick up, turn over and leave for another.  I will promote a snail mail campaign for fund raising and help our USPO.  I will share ideas, make blankets, sell them, pray for peace world wide and on ice and never forget when my son skated over to me and said, “I’ve been waiting for this my whole life.”

John and Jacob

Happy hockey!

Lori

This is a once in a lifetime high school hockey year for us.  This year will be the only year that John (Senior) who is the starting goalie for Wilson Central and Jacob, (freshman)  the back up goalie and their cousin Joseph (Junior) who is a winger will be on the same team.  How cool is that?  Well, perhaps not rare in the north, but a phenom in the south.  As I see both John and Jacob playing the game they love, playing well and actually getting along, I am filled with pride.  I absolutely cannot wait to get pictures of them in their jersey’s.  Their numbers are Jacob is 28, Joseph is 29 and John is 30.  Life is good, now if we can win a game…  Go Wildcats!!!

John's beautiful butterfly!

I noticed this year that my 15 yo travel goalie is not playing as much inline hockey as he used to on our driveway.  He would spend hours shooting the puck into the net and I can prove it by the dings, dents and now glass windows have been replaced by plexiglass.  At first I thought maybe he was losing his passion for the game, but I have not heard one complaint about practice, camps or anything.  He is still spending time outdoors and as his friends, although they like hockey, play basketball, football and other things around the houses, he is joining in with them rather than getting them to play hockey.  This is a good thing and adding variety to his regimen.  Or perhaps his friends just said enough hockey!   Who knows.

I believe I have experienced a little burn out as my excitement level is not as high this year for the team, high school or travel.  Although I am still both my boys biggest fans and try not to miss anything (embarrassing to my teenagers), I find I am a little apprehensive this year.  Certainly concerning is the money for travel and the like, I am working two jobs plus another new business to try and keep our heads above water financially, but the time for our family to commit to the season is very, very demanding.  Need tires, (anyone wish to donate a set???) need tune up for my car and my hatch hydraulic mechanism needs repair; have to hold the heavy hatch door with head to pull out gear (Pacifica).   These are the things we deal with, sacrifice so they can reach for the stars.

Jacob and John 09/2011

I called Summit Hospital about sponsoring Jacob or Jacob’s team; this is where he was born, 11 weeks premature at 2.5 pounds.  Now he is a good looking 6’1″ ice hockey goalie; this would be a great add for their neonatal facility and help him achieve his dream by not stressing so much about funding.  Alas, they declined.  However, if you know me, you know that I won’t give up that easily.  I am going to try and find out who their advertising agency is for HCA and approach them!  We shall see what perseverance actually can accomplish!  :D

My message today is that although it is financially draining, time stealing and never ending sport, we do what is needed to help our children know that with hard work, determination, perseverance and talent, they can do anything they want, including strive for the NHL.  Then, we will take one hell of a vacation!!!!

Vacation; a 7 to 10 days cruise.

Until then my friends, keep the faith, tune up the car and always remember to hug a teenager no matter how traumatizing it may be for them.  :D  Happy hockey

Jacob and me 2011

So, here we are two weeks later and only one team parent has acknowledged our omission from the roster (he was as well).  You know, this upset me.  It was like, since we didn’t make the team, well you know, we were not part of it.  I have seen all the parents throughout this timeframe, some waved and walked away, but no one acknowledged that Mo was not on the roster.  I told the other goalie congrats, I was proud of him and I did mean it.  He was sooo uncomfortable, I felt bad for him.  I only had this one parent who took the time to send a note and two friends, Linda, Guna (made 1997 AA Jr. Preds and AAA Thunder).  They couldn’t believe he had not made it, when I explained, they agreed it was not right either, glad not to be the coach.  LOL.  So, as a parent, I must decide what to recommend to Jacob should he ask, tell him my honest opinion or keep it to myself.  Keep in mind that we live in TN, a very slim hockey market and the 1996 team is very strong, the only strong birth year and the strongest, IMHO in the southeast.  Nothing else available, but does that make it okay?  I say no, but I also know that Jacob has set goals and those goals require exposure to those who can help along the way.  That he be recognized by scouts and such.    I am not just being bias, he is good enough.  Last year his GAA was 2.16; our professional goalie was 2.07.  Anyway, what did I do?  I let him think about it on his own until and if, he asked my opinion, I would try to discuss it with a cool head.   I admit it, I had a couple of drinks and shrugged and reminded him that everything happens for a reason.

Here we are three weeks later and still teamless.  We just got word that Mo is the goalie on the Jr. Preds, great news, shrugg, now the work begins.  Work for Mo to show the coach why he should have picked Mo the first time around; him and Kess are a great team.   We will forgive him for now as he “aint from around hir”, but from Chicagoland and may not be familiar.  However, he was being advised by local coaches.  To me, this was personal affront to my son’s abilities, but was it?  There probably is not one personal thing about it from the coaches side, just trying to put together a solid AA hockey team.  It becomes personal when emotions tie in, I am guilty of this, I will admit it,  however my #1 priority are my boy(s) and all else be damned.  LOL, I am a hockey mom!

Happy hockey everyone!!!   Now, where’s the alcohol!  LOL