Hockey: A year round sport!

It is very hard to believe that five months have passed without a post. There are no excuses outside of the season coming to an end, the summer, work load and working on a novel at the behest of an agent. Yes, I said agent. One has requested my novel and a couple of changes were accepted. This is an incredible opportunity, finally, so my friends, please keep your fingers crossed.

Sponge Bob Knows…

Now, as far as hockey goes, it continues to be busy for Jacob in Michigan. He has had no break in the venue and has even taken his lessons to three out of four weeks with a private coach. He has made the goalie position for the MDHL, Team West (Green). He is fighting for the top spot of this league and fighting hard; currently at 93% saves ratio with 1.89 GAA.

Here is the site for stats: http://mdhl.goalline.ca/statistics.php?league_id=9375&lang=1

There are three games left, one of which is Saturday, 10/11 at 9:00 in Detroit. That means, he has to drive two hours to get to the rink. He get’s up at 5 AM and meets his buddy Abel at 5:45 at the rink, they carpool there and we did it last weekend (waving to Abel and Terra). In fact, put 2200 miles on a rental the entire weekend. From his house, driving 85 MPH it takes every bit of two hours to get to the rink in Detroit! The practices are located at his high school rink, so that works for him and is able to keep down his miles.

UPDATE:  Green lost to White 4/3.  Jacob had approximately 25 shots with one goal allowed.  Two games left.

The green team is in a three-way tie for first. They were actually considering dissolving the Team West (Grand Rapids area) because they were not doing well competing with the Detroit boys. I was told they hadn’t had a winning team since Abdelkader, until this year. Hey, guess what!!!! There’s a TN boy in goal, one of two anyway. However, he is holding his own in stats and presence. Now, they have periodic tournaments where the best of the best are invited to play. This is pretty important to be chosen. They play in front of scouts, coaches looking, colleges, NHL reps, they are playing to be noticed and the whole reason Jacob’s up there, is for that reason. Even though he is or has been tied for first, he has not been invited to play, they do ask two goalies. Hmmmm. Well, he talked with his coach and he kind of explained that he was given serious consideration, but in the end wasn’t asked. Well, they don’t know him we assume. “So?” I ask!!!! Get to know him. He’s awesome. Let his stats speak out clear and strong, he should be invited. The goalies that have been invited, we assume again (you know what that does), are from Detroit. Jacob was disappointed for sure. I asked him what could be done? He said, “I need to introduce myself to the coach.” That is exactly right. Get that invite!!!! Will let you know how it goes!

UPDATE:  Jacob believes there are no more tournaments left in the MDHL season.  He still plans on introducing himself to the coach and is waiting for him to come out of the crow’s nest.  Certainly can’t hurt.

Now to the goalie mom (dads too), are strong.  I often hear from other parents, hockey and otherwise, “I don’t think I could be a goalie parent.  It is certainly not for the faint of heart.  But, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and many people know, the goalies themselves, are often times, a different kind of player.   As I cannot speak for others, I know that Jacob and I both find friendship among goalies, parents and players.  Such a unique group of individuals and only a goalie parent/player knows the pressures they endure and hence, understand, they do become friends for the most part.  Many of us stand at the net, seeing the rebounds that are stopped but never recorded, sliding with him as he snags an attempted snipe, being there when the red light and fog horn erupt.  I so miss standing there. I enjoyed watching Jacob play the game last weekend, it was worth each and every of the 2200 miles we drove from Friday through Sunday night.  Think about that:  Left Nashville, TN area on Friday to Grand Rapids, MI Friday night.  Saturday morning drove to Detroit (two hours) and back for game.  Saturday night went to downtown Grand Rapids for Art Prize.  Sunday morning, drove to Detroit and back to Grand Rapids for game.  Sunday afternoon, drove from Grand Rapids to Nashville to home.  Fortunately,  John (#3 of four sons) went with us and we had a blast. He even got some filming in as a last minute idea hit him, here is the debut of Joey as he and Jacob work at John’s direction to complete his idea for a racing promo for Corey Rowland: Check out his video at:   http://vimeo.com/107509095.

In closing, we had a great time!  The picture below is from the Art Prize and is Alexis, Jacob, Me and John standing on the bridge over the Grand River. To Rox, Jacob’s new Hockey Billet Mom, there are not enough words to thank you for making his life an adventure that he loves!  Hugs!!!

Grand River, September 2014, Alexis, Jacob, Me and John at Art Prize

Thanks again for stopping by even after all this time.  Remember to hug your teenager, it could be the difference in the road he or she chooses.

Happy hockey!

Lori

http://www.Lorikolinmofield.wordpress.com

And to Michigan he goes…

I know that it has been months since I have posted to my blog and so sorry about the delay (Mom plus one reader), things have been hectic.  My client base has increased thank God, have steady income for the hockey stuff and the extreme cleaning jobs come in, crime scene, hoarding, you know, the good stuff.  Jacob has finally started playing for his team in Michigan; after waiting for half the season to play. I am excited to report that he is doing very well and we have won the last three games including his first Michigan shut out.  He is settling into his new role well and I believe, has shaken off his debut jitters.  I was fortunate enough to be able to see him play his first game, but was late and arrived at second period.  They were tied at two and eventually won the game 6/3.  He did look nervous, but maybe only to me.  He has since played three games; the second game, the team won 4/2 and the third, he recorded his first shut out with the team winning 7/0.   Having to wait to play was difficult, but I believe will pay off in the long run.  The team has become a cohesive unit and as they skate toward playoffs, I am confident that under the guidance of Coach Jensen and his staff, we will have the opportunity to play for the state championship!

It has been hard being so far away for me.  I am THAT mother, the one at every practice, every meeting, never miss a game, in town or out-of-town, but this has been good for Jacob and even me to a certain extent.  I noticed him maturing into a find young man, a greater hockey player, teammate, friend and indeed becoming a brother to Sherman and Hannah.  His surrogate family has taken him in, and indeed me as well, and stepped in to help mold him in these final years we have to influence the man he will become, is becoming; grateful is not a strong-enough word for this family.

On the lighter side, Nancy says she is not sure she likes being a surrogate goalie mom.  Recently she felt the stress and heart pounding dread/excitement as he performed a move she was unsure about and although it worked, she didn’t realize the relief until she let out the breath she hadn’t realized she had been holding (a little bit of literary license here :D).   I told her that the apprehension does get easier, that is until there is a “scrum” at the net and your goalie can’t be seen.  That’s difficult still, but probably is for Pekka Rinne’s mom too. It does sound as if Nancy has experienced GPA, an affliction associated to those who are emotionally tied to that net-minder, GPA is not curable nor is a blood born pathogen; it cannot be transferred by hand-to-hand contact or body fluids, but is life-long affliction.  GPA (goalie parent anxiety) can only come from an emotional attachment to said player.  GPA is easily treatable by watching an amazing save, a graceful and/or a not-so-grateful move or the perfect butterfly and is only enhanced when followed by a referee’s whistle.   On the other hand, should the horn blow and the red-light illuminate, the GPA escalates to GPHS (Goalie parent hugging syndrome, when one wants to run on the ice and hug the goalie expressing it wasn’t his/her fault).  Should that happen, it is more difficult to control; the only ease of symptoms is an answering goal on opposing team and return to excellence by your goalie.  I could go on, but the syndromes tend to become a morbid look into the unique personality quips of parents, surrogate, adoptive and biological, it would cause you nausea and not entice you with morbid fascination.  Just know this, there is no effective cure, only the temporary fix when said teammates answer back in triumphant waves of goals.

As a long-distance goalie mom watches from afar, the hockey player excels, he moved in to the #3 position within the MIHS stats site (http://www.mihshockeyhub.com/page/show/649078-regular-season-leaders) .  I am proud that he has continued to work hard, but prouder still that he is holding his ego in check.  Well, at least as far as I know he is; however should that become an issue, in the words of Bill Cosby, “I brought you into this world and I can take you out!”.     Trying to balance an athlete in this competitive youth venue is difficult; raising a son who confident yet humble, coach-able yet knowledgeable and a person who is strong and will stand for those who cannot is a challenge for the most able of parents.   A question for the ages, I suppose and just hopeful, maybe for all of my sons, I have given them the tools for success in all areas of their lives.

As for me, I am writing again.  I have had a request for one of my novels so I am in a frantic edit mode for which I dread daily.  I love the creative process of writing and telling the stories to ease the voices in my head.  As their lives spill forth onto the pages of my manuscript, we can only hope to see them on the bookshelves; stories to make you tingle (inside joke).

Once again, thanks for stopping by my blog.  I have to edit more pages today so I must run for now.  Always remember to hug a hockey player and keep the antibacterial hand wash close!

Go Falcons!

Lori Kolin Mofield