The Puck Stops Here

Growing up in an all girl, artsy-fartsy household, the only contact sport I was ever thrust into as a kid was the physically demanding My-Sister-Has-Me-Pinned-To-The-Floor-And-Is-Dangling-Gob-Strings-Over-My-Face-While-I-Thrash-Frantically-For-Fear-Of-One-Landing-In-My-Mouth game.  Not the road to Olympic glory let me tell you.

Given my background in fringe living room athletics, I have, at times, felt wholly unprepared to be raising a hockey-rabid son.  Yet here we are, five years after Bodie’s first little scrimmage, facing the ultimate in house league ice cred, Select Hockey.

We didn’t really think much of it when Bodie asked if he could try out this fall.  Turns out ignorance is bliss as our once a week schedule has now morphed into a four times a week commitment, some days starting as early as 6:30am on the ice … before school!  Of course, I don’t personally do that shift, but if I did, I’m sure I’d say it was hell.

I got my first taste of hockey culture long before my own kids were born through my sister Cyndi (yes, the Silver Sputum Medalist).  Not only did her two sons play, but her daughter played as well, so from my non-parental high horse, I looked down on their harried weekend schedule as a waking nightmare of endless minivan jaunts from one arena to the next.  I just couldn’t imagine what kind of parent would willingly sign up for that.

Then a few years later I had my own son, who one day looked me straight in the eye and told me how much the game meant to him (well, at two it sounded more like “I wahn pay huckey!”, but you get the idea).  And so the cycle continued.

I know peewee parents can be a tad overzealous, and I definitely support the use of tranquilizer dart guns on any adult in the stands screaming “PAAASSSSS!!” and “COME ON, DIIIIIIGGGG!!!!” to their struggling little champions.

So for now, we’ll just ease our way into the big leagues.  However, I do think it’s important that we upgrade the hockey mantra in our household for the brand new Titan in our midst:  NHL, HERE WE COME!  (That stands for Non-House League, right?)