Super Bowl Party

 Every year we host a Super Bowl party since our boys were youngsters.

This year was extra special because my son, Zachary's favorite team is the Broncos.

 He was confident the entire time that the Bronco's would win!!

The end of the hockey road

This is Brandon's last year of playing hockey.  I was grateful to watch him play at least one more year, for Elizabethtown College.  Next year he is transferring to another college. One that doesn't have a hockey team.  I feel like I am in mourning.  Brandon has played hockey since he was six years old.  To suddenly end, when it seems like yesterday he was learning how to skate, is heartbreaking.


I want every new hockey parent to read this and tuck it away and reread it when their child no longer plays. 

The very first thing Brandon's hockey coach told us was that none of our kids will be going to NHL. Here's a few things he forgot to mention that first year: 

You WILL go to the wrong rink. You will get thrown out of a rink.

There will be times you call another players mother an asshole. You will hear other parents call YOUR child an asshole. There are times you will agree with them. The first time you hear your child curse will be at the rink. It may be the first time you hear his church going grandma curse too. You will be threatened with jail time. You will threaten other people with jail time. You will get in arguments with strangers. That six year old that you called an asshole will STILL be an asshole when you play him again at 16. So will his mother. So will your son. So will you. So is every ref you will EVER meet. Especially when you lose.

You will plan strategies for the championship game after you consumed a six pack. You will be so frustrated after a game that you just may leave your player at a rink in another town. You might even do it on purpose. 

You will think the coach can't coach. You will think you CAN coach. You will believe this even more after a few drinks at the hotel bar. (It doesn't matter that he played D1 hockey, YOU have watched thousands of games.) 

You will spend more money on one stick than your current car payment.  

Your child will play with an ear infection, he will play with strep throat and he will play with 102 fever. Heck, he probably got it from a teammate . Illness spreads through a hockey team quicker than a line change. 

There will NEVER be a reason your player deserved that penalty. You will defend your son to referees, coaches, other parents but mostly to hotel security in other states. Your entire house including your back porch and garage will be decorated with hockey gear 12 months out of the year, not just during hockey season. 

You will share hotel rooms, car rides and every childhood illness. Your player will miss more school then all of your other children combined. Most of those "sick" days will be tournament Fridays. When the Elementary school principal smiles smugly on a Monday morning and asks your child how he's feeling it's because he KNOWS you were in New York on Friday for a game. 

Most weekends you will wake up with six or more players sleeping in your living room. You will know these players by number and birth year, not always by name. That mom you called an asshole just might end up as the manager on your team the following season and her asshole son will be one of the numbers asleep on your living room floor. 

You will refer to 7 AM as midday. You will laugh and happily pay the 90 registration fee you used to complain about for little league. You will try to convince your hockey player to go out for little league. You will quickly realize the Stanley Cup isn't the most important cup. 

You won't realize how fast the time is going, you won't appreciate it and you will miss it. No your child is NOT going to the NHL. He probably won't even play D1. (Thank God for men's league.) But he will learn how to lace up his own skates and in the end, those tiny little skates will be bigger than a squirt parent's ego after a championship win. And that coach, the one who you swore couldn't coach and offended you by saying your little cherub wasn't going to the NHL, you'll want to thank him. Thank him for his time, his talent and for his help in turning your son into a man.

Conversations with Zach {Basketball}

When Zachary was 10 years old he began playing basketball.  The first team Zachary joined was at the local YMCA.  Basketball was the perfect sport for Zachary because his wardrobe consisted of basketball shorts or sweat pants.

10 years later...

 Zachary is asking me why did he wear sweat pants during the basketball games.

Zachary:

Why did I always wear sweatpants when I played basketball for the games at the Y?

Me:

You refused to wear jeans. You always wore sweatpants.

Zachary:

Why would I wear jeans during a basketball games. That's more Redickulus than sweatpants. 

                                           {Re-dick-u-lus} ????

Me:

That's not what I meant. Just that you preferred to wear sweatpants.

Zachary:

Yeah but I saw pictures of when I played at the Y.  I mean why would I wear basketball shorts all the time except when I'm actually playing. 

He has a good point.

Thank you Coach

Coach Thorp, all you have done for me and the hockey team these last four years has not gone unnoticed.  You have taught us key lessons in life: specifically, how to be a team player… how to work towards a common goal with teammates… how to cope with both winning and losing… how to deal with unexpected adversity… and of course, the overall benefit of being physically fit.

It’s a lot to ask of a volunteer, absolutely. There must be times when you ask yourself if you really have time to coach, or if you are making a difference, or ...

if you do, it’s in silence. Because we never see it or hear it.

Coaches, like you, are the bloodline of high school sports. Without your involvement, practices and games would never happen, never mind the life lessons countless of young kids learn.

Fun is the key ingredient to high school hockey.
...

I sincerely hope you have as much fun as your players do.

And coach. 

Thanks for all you do.  

Brandon

Hockey Game / Date Night

Friends of our gave us tickets to the Flyers game.  Sweeeet seats 13 rows from the ice!

Game day came after a huge ice storm the night before.  Luckily it was a warm, sunny day (if you consider 35 degrees warm) and the ice began to melt on the roads. The parking lot is a considerable distance from the rink. We had to walk in a lot of slush and my feet were wet and cold by the time we made it to the rink.  Wet and cold feet are not a good thing to have when you are sitting in a cold, ice rink.

 There is something about a hockey game that makes me feel alive.

The smell of the ice, when the team comes on the ice, the cheers from the crowd, the red light and horn blare when my team scores a goal, Pepsi, soft pretzels and greasy pizza.

 The view is practically the same as when I watch Brandon play, 

but we were a lot closer than the pictures depict.

most importantly -

 Flyers won!!

 It was a good day in Philadelphia!

HS Hockey Champions!

Daniel Boone Blazers was the highest ranking team throughout the season, only losing one game.

Tonight they played the third seeded team in the league, Twin Valley.

Twin Valley played an excellent defensive game that shut down our top scoring players. 

The game was a nail biter! It was 1-1 the entire game and went into OT.

2-1 OT to win the East Penn Scholastic Hockey League Tournament!

In this picture Brandon is skating away from his teammates, wearing the C on his jersey.

Brandon is in the first row, next to the goalie with the blue jersey and under his coach.

When Brandon was a freshman his team only won one game.  By his senior year they were the top team in the league.  It couldn't have been a more sweeter victory for Brandon. Winning the championship his final hockey game for his high school hockey club.

Aiden, Frank and Brandon holding the trophy.

One of the Dads was took a video of the game.

You can check out some of the highlights.   If you want to look out for Brandon is number is #54.  VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS HERE

 Newspaper Article in the Reading Eagle HERE

Congratulations to Daniel Boone Ice Hockey League

2014-2015 Champions

A little fan with a big heart... and big mouth!

I don't think Brandon expected to see this little fan (who adores him) attend one of his hockey games.

I thought it was cool when he came up to the glass to acknowledge her 

and waved to her from the bench!

This little one has the loudest set of lungs I've ever heard.

She would scream "Bran-DON!" and (I kid you not) everyone in the rink heard her!!

She was the hit of the game with all the players and fans.

  Brandon, you are her favorite fan ON and OFF the ice.

Hockey High School Senior Night

Brandon is a high school senior.  His ice hockey club recognized each senior who has played hockey for Daniel Boone HS.  What a wonderful memory for the boys, coaches and parents.

It was nice that the parents were included in the ceremony. 

The icing on the cake was winning the game that night beating their top rival team!!

 I'm so proud of Brandon and his team.  They are headed to the championship next week!!

Happy Birthday Zachary!!

Zachary is 20!

but 10 years ago....

Zachary asked for TWO things for his birthday.

 A baseball glove............

 ..... and MONEY!

 He was polite about it and ready every single birthday card.

 Then counted the MONEY!

 Oh Yeah Baby!  I'm rich!

Happy Birthday Zachary.

February 28, 2005.