I have to admit. Some days are harder than others to accept that I've "retired" from men's league hockey. My reasons, as I've stated before, are family related and it remains the right choice. But I think now it's really hitting me that whoa, I've walked away.
I did get a little hockey fix during the 4th of July weekend, courtesy of my high school reunion. Classmate Joe Cunningham (Grand Island Class of '88), is now rink manager at NU's Dwyer Arena. He arranged for our classmates to have the main rink available for a pickup game. He also provided us use of the visitors' dressing rooms, loaned us NU's home and road jerseys to use for the game, and even had a nice stock of chilled beer in the dressing rooms. Bravo to you, Joe, and thank you again.
Since then, the bag's been packed up, and instead of sticks and skates my hockey involves emails and highlighter markers, as I review and takes notes about the Buffalo Stars' upcoming season. We're opening up training camp a week from Friday, so while the coaching staff works the boys out in dryland training, I'll be busy tending to other team business.
Of course, the most pressing matter in my life is preparing for the arrival of our second baby. While the official due date is Labor Day weekend, my money's on mid to late August. We don't know what we're having yet, though my 2-year-old daughter is predicting a boy. She gets excited when we ask her if she'll be a good big sister! She likes being a little helper, so I'm confident she'll live up to that.
With that in mind, my blog might get a little quiet again. Forgive me, and allow me to apologize in advance to folks who may send messages and don't get immediate responses. I promise, I'm not blowing you off... I just have other pressing family business.
One last thing - longtime junior hockey colleague and EMT Greg Flury just lost his dad unexpectedly. Please think of Greg & family ion your prayers. Thanks, and "Dzien Dobry"!
It's been a busy late spring / early summer so far.
Around the same time I was wrapping up my final senior league season, I was also doing something that several weeks before I thought would be impossible: I trained for and ran in my first (and only) half-marathon. I entered the Buffalo Marathon on Memorial Day Weekend, and while my finish was far from world class, I nevertheless crossed the finish line, 13 point 1 miles later, on my own two legs.
Next up , a job switch. I'm off my overnights and weekends as of this week, and starting a new gig next Monday.
And speaking of gigs... here's where this is relevant to a hockey site: It's official. I'm joining the Buffalo Stars Junior Hockey Club's staff as their communications officer. Part time, but will keep me in the game. I'll be handling communications and certain marketing needs, and will also handle public address for most home games next season at Holiday (the exceptions are Sunday morning games - Sunday AM's are my family time, and we do attend church).
I must say it doesn't feel as strange yet not playing regularly any more, but I'm sure I'll have my moments when I notice it in the fall. There'll always be the pickup games at Depew, though... and, as I end 2 1/2 years of weekend overnight shifts, I will look forward to being able to sit down and enjoy an occasional Saturday night with Hockey Night in Canada at home next season! With a second baby on the way, it's safe to say I won't be getting out much next fall, lol!
It's time for me to be out with it: I'm retiring from my league at the end of this season.
Back in the late fall, when my wife & I began trying to conceive our second child (which we've succeeded!), I agreed that after this season I'd 'retire' from the Molson League at Holiday & Leisure Rinks. The cost to play is going up, and the late start times were beginning to take a toll on me, especially when I had to watch our toddler the next day.
I'm not leaving hockey entirely. There'll always be the pickup games Thursday nights at Depew beginning next October.
And, of course, I've got a standing invitation to come work part time for the Buffalo Stars junior hockey organization, which I've verbally committed to for 2008-09!
It's been a fun ride, but it's also time to acknowledge I'm hitting the "geezer" years.
Sorry I've been so silent. I've been busy on my end, working, chasing a toddler and loving a wife, but I am skating and playing.
The Beavers are struggling a bit in the Holiday-Leisure league, partly because we've been banged up with injuries to various players including our top scorer, but also because we're simply not playing well at all.
I'm also at a crossroads. I'm not at liberty to explain just yet, but I'll be advising my teammates about my immediate hockey future around Easter time. I'll be able to share more than just thickly veiled innuendo at that time.
In the meantime, as Canadian TV character Red Green put it: "Keep your stick on the ice"...
Just getting the profile established. I'll have more updated soon.
Meantime, my team, the Screaming Beavers, will be in action tonight at Leisure Rinks, 10:30pm, vs. Blues. Bring the kids! It's sure to be family oriented entertainment, LOL!
