Hey there readers and members of the hockey family. It has been a long time since I have posted here. In part because my ramblings here lead to a great journey in the field of hockey writing.
It have written before about the fantastic and welcoming hockey community that we belong to and the past year has done a lot to reinforce that opinion. I have been able to realize some of my dreams and begin writing in earnest about hockey and continue to do so for a number of outlets. As is the case when we have too many competing interests this blog was left on the virtual shelf, like an unfinished journal to gather dust.
I will make sure to update this blog at least 2 monthly to share my story. With that, lets get the blog proper started, shall we?
I was struck by this photo or Soviet Cosmonaut and hockey player Yuri Gagarin. His smile is infections and is one that we see repeated on rinks everywhere. You can see this in any rink at any time. That set me about reflection on appreciating our relationships and enjoyment of life through the lens of this game.
As I have written so many times before hockey is filled with so many great people. The group that I play with on Sunday night is no exception. We have people from all walks of life, sexes and nations that come to the rink every week to enjoy the game that we love. It serves as a spot to forget about the stresses of life for a few brief moments and focus on putting a rubber disk in a net. We have a crusty old Canadian coach that puts us through the paces and an equally crusty and cantankerous goalie that dresses out every week. This despite the fact that he is in his 70's. #LifeGoals
But the community is so much bigger than that, in the short year that I have been back in the game it has literally opened the world to me. I have been given the opportunity ti write for an and edit a number of sites. I have met some online friends whose friendships are as close as any in the physical world. They include an Ontario cow farmer with a love for the Leafs. His love knows no bounds and he has been given a ration of crap for the blue Maple Leaf painted on his grain silo. An Oklahoman living in Calgary that runs draft tournaments and a podcast. Two dudes from NY that welcomed me, even as an Islanders fan, to their blog. Last but most assuredly not least a certain bearded fellow in Dublin that has become my brother from another mother.
We all have our lives to lead and battles to fight and I am no exception. In the past year my sister passed away. Those mentioned above and many more from the hockey family, both at the rink and online checked in to make sure that I was OK. That in combination with the horrible tragedies in Las Vegas, Toronto and the accident that took the lives of the Humboldt Broncos players, and staff cemented my view of the hockey family.
We take care of each other.
This is true whether you are a pro, an Olympian or a fan. Like we do on the ice, we watch out and help each other. This has been writ large across the hockey family. Be it the #VegasStrong stickers an t-shirts, not to mention donations that were present after the shooting or the heartfelt words from Roberto Luongo before the Panthers game, it shows the strong bond of the game.
This could not have been better illustrated than the actions following the Humboldt tragedy. Sticks began showing up on porches the following day. Many are still out there as a tribute to the fallen members of that organization. Products from hockey lifestyle brands and others began showing up and all of the money from their sales and the GoFundMe were donated to the families. Even the Stanley Cup went to visit the accident site in honor of those Humboldt Broncos.
As we enter the 2018-19 season is quickly approaching my hope is that we will not witness tragedies and that the world is a better place for all of you.
I leave you with a picture of my fellow Sunday player and friend Mike. Taken when he and his girls were able to meet the wonderful and welcoming Lyndsey Fry. It is an illustration of the lack of walls and the care that we as a community share, be that Olympian, mite or beer leaguer.
Take care of each other, be well and come back here for new updates.
- Daniel
It have written before about the fantastic and welcoming hockey community that we belong to and the past year has done a lot to reinforce that opinion. I have been able to realize some of my dreams and begin writing in earnest about hockey and continue to do so for a number of outlets. As is the case when we have too many competing interests this blog was left on the virtual shelf, like an unfinished journal to gather dust.
I will make sure to update this blog at least 2 monthly to share my story. With that, lets get the blog proper started, shall we?
I was struck by this photo or Soviet Cosmonaut and hockey player Yuri Gagarin. His smile is infections and is one that we see repeated on rinks everywhere. You can see this in any rink at any time. That set me about reflection on appreciating our relationships and enjoyment of life through the lens of this game.
But the community is so much bigger than that, in the short year that I have been back in the game it has literally opened the world to me. I have been given the opportunity ti write for an and edit a number of sites. I have met some online friends whose friendships are as close as any in the physical world. They include an Ontario cow farmer with a love for the Leafs. His love knows no bounds and he has been given a ration of crap for the blue Maple Leaf painted on his grain silo. An Oklahoman living in Calgary that runs draft tournaments and a podcast. Two dudes from NY that welcomed me, even as an Islanders fan, to their blog. Last but most assuredly not least a certain bearded fellow in Dublin that has become my brother from another mother.
We all have our lives to lead and battles to fight and I am no exception. In the past year my sister passed away. Those mentioned above and many more from the hockey family, both at the rink and online checked in to make sure that I was OK. That in combination with the horrible tragedies in Las Vegas, Toronto and the accident that took the lives of the Humboldt Broncos players, and staff cemented my view of the hockey family.
We take care of each other.
This is true whether you are a pro, an Olympian or a fan. Like we do on the ice, we watch out and help each other. This has been writ large across the hockey family. Be it the #VegasStrong stickers an t-shirts, not to mention donations that were present after the shooting or the heartfelt words from Roberto Luongo before the Panthers game, it shows the strong bond of the game.
This could not have been better illustrated than the actions following the Humboldt tragedy. Sticks began showing up on porches the following day. Many are still out there as a tribute to the fallen members of that organization. Products from hockey lifestyle brands and others began showing up and all of the money from their sales and the GoFundMe were donated to the families. Even the Stanley Cup went to visit the accident site in honor of those Humboldt Broncos.
As we enter the 2018-19 season is quickly approaching my hope is that we will not witness tragedies and that the world is a better place for all of you.
I leave you with a picture of my fellow Sunday player and friend Mike. Taken when he and his girls were able to meet the wonderful and welcoming Lyndsey Fry. It is an illustration of the lack of walls and the care that we as a community share, be that Olympian, mite or beer leaguer.
Take care of each other, be well and come back here for new updates.
- Daniel
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