But it didn't start out that way...
When Brett found out Scott had signed him up for hockey in the fall, he was mad. He did not want to play. As much as he loves watching hockey, and playing hockey (off of the ice), he had never learned to skate. Brett has always been uncomfortable doing things that he isn't great at. He likes to do well at everything, so if he thinks he won't excel at something, he avoids it completely.
Scott told Brett that he needed to give it a try and that after 10 games, if he didn't like it, he could quit. He reluctantly agreed. The very first practice was a scrimmage to determine where to place players on the various teams. Brett couldn't go more than 2-3 seconds on the ice without falling down. Scott said he was like a baby giraffe, which is pretty accurate.
Kids 2-3 years younger than him were literally skating circles around him. Jesse scored 2 goals during the game.
I was in the stands worrying about what Brett was going to say when it was over. When they came off the ice, Brett was grinning. I asked him on a scale of 1 to 10 how much fun he had and he said 9.5!
From then on it was an uphill battle each game and practice. He worked so hard to learn to skate forwards, backwards, to stop, to turn. He gave it his all, and did his best to master the defence position he had been assigned on the team. Even though he still couldn't catch up with the other players, he started to become more solid. We could tell that mentally he knew what to do, and it was just a matter of time before his body could follow through.
Within a few months, there were some changes and Brett got a new position - winger. He was nervous but he tried really hard to learn the position.
One Saturday about 3 months into the season we had 2 games in one day. It was during the first game that Brett scored his very first goal!
Right now we are in the final round of our playoffs. First team to 6 points wins. (2 points for a win, 1 for a tie)
We are up against a really strong and well-coached team from Strathroy.
In Game One we were down 2-0. Jesse played amazing and managed to score not once, but twice, giving our team the tie.
Game Two: We're down 2-0 again. Jesse scores, then a teammate scores and the game is once again tied at 2-2. Then we had 2 horrible line changes, resulting in a 4-2 loss for our team. It was such a close game and a tough loss.
Then we took a break from the playoffs for a few days and attended a March Break Tournament a few hours away. As luck would have it, we faced this same Strathroy team in Game 3 of the tournament. We played hard and beat them 2-1. Unfortunately, this game didn't count in our Playoff Series.
Also, I would like to mention that in Game 1 of this same tournament, Brett scored his second goal of the season! I think both Scott and I were having a hard time holding back the tears in the stands. Jesse didn't do too bad either - scoring 4 goals in one week.
Then with only 1:24 to go in the Third, we scored a goal and got back in the game.
Miraculously with 59 seconds left, we pulled our goalie and scored again! I could not believe we were going to tie! What a game! Only a few seconds left to hold on...
Then, somehow, with 12 seconds left, one of our defencemen found himself alone with three Strathroy players charging the net. He tried to swipe the puck away but fumbled, or got disoriented, or something. He ended up putting the puck right between the goalie's legs and into our own net!
What a devastating loss that was. We have Game Four coming up later this week and I think the boys are pretty discouraged going into it with the series now at 5-1 for Strathroy.
But no matter what happens, it has been an amazing season and so much fun to watch. I know they won't go down without a fight.
Going to watch the boys' games has definitely been one of the highlights of my week, every week! We have been so blessed to have Samantha watch Nathan & Clara to allow both Scott and I to watch each and every game.
I look forward to another great season next year!
