This is a bittersweet weekend. After 11 years in minor hockey, it's the last tournament for my older son. Wins and losses, first goals, learning to bodycheck, championships lost and championships won ... it all fades to black after this weekend in Toronto.
This season's team was a good one, but prevented from advancing to the Ontario championship because we were parked in a combined AA-A midget league. The playdowns yielded the predicable results: An excellent AA team from the London Jr. Knights organization is playing for the provincial AA title. And the AA team from Sarnia gets to play for the Ontario A title.
When I entered our team in this week's tournament, I was hoping for great things - to exit minor hockey in a blaze of glory, winning one last tournament against a field of excellent opposition.
But one by one, key players bowed out for one reason or another, from choosing golf instead to hockey fatigue after playing in a high level high school tournament to injuries or school priorities. So we're left with a short-staffed team where the kids will at least get a lot of ice time, if not a trophy.
This season's team was a good one, but prevented from advancing to the Ontario championship because we were parked in a combined AA-A midget league. The playdowns yielded the predicable results: An excellent AA team from the London Jr. Knights organization is playing for the provincial AA title. And the AA team from Sarnia gets to play for the Ontario A title.
When I entered our team in this week's tournament, I was hoping for great things - to exit minor hockey in a blaze of glory, winning one last tournament against a field of excellent opposition.
But one by one, key players bowed out for one reason or another, from choosing golf instead to hockey fatigue after playing in a high level high school tournament to injuries or school priorities. So we're left with a short-staffed team where the kids will at least get a lot of ice time, if not a trophy.
It goes too quick! Guys like yourself brought sanity and morality to the rink which helped make it a wonderful journey as a parent. Thanks for the memories! Great blog.
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