A weekend of love. Hockey love, that is.
Land of the free. Home of the brave.
America was celebrated this weekend. Hockey style. There’s sales to prove it. Check your local ads.
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Love #1
The Gopher men swept the Beavers from Bemidji right out of Mariucci. A win, a sweep, deserves love any weekend. Especially this weekend. A critical weekend for the Gophers who were on the “bubble” in the pairwise rankings, but whose sweep this weekend worked them up to #8 (tied with Maine – coincidence?).
All four Gopher lines were clicking; creating chances and capitalizing on them. They showed up for a big weekend – in America and the WCHA. And I’d like to think that they were showing off, just a bit, for members of the 2002 National Championship Gopher team in attendance on Saturday night. Gophers who were honored and applauded for what they did 10 years ago this April. Against Maine (coincidence?). Of course, this celebration was missing a few Gophers who were unable to attend because of their pro careers (Contributing to the stats: Minnesota born-players active in the NHL = 46).
I hope it was inspiring for the current boys wearing the “M.” Boys who were literally boys back in 2002. To see some incredible Gopher greats walk out onto the ice and stare up at the crowd that cheered them on 10 years ago. Although, the Gophers on the roster right now have only to look behind them at their coaches for insight and inspiration into that championship team.
Lucia, Guentzel, and Poultony were all there in 2002.
They lived the moments that we watch highlight after highlight, re-broadcast after re-broadcast (speaking of Gopher and American hockey, did anybody else watch the re-broadcast a few weeks ago after the special on Herb Brooks?!).
I’m not going to jinx anything or speculate about what could happen this year. Frankly, a lot could happen. The WCHA is full of movers and shakers; any one of the contenders could easily play the role of underdog and take the jackpot. We’ve all seen it before in this league of extraordinary men.
All in all, it was a weekend to celebrate; former and current Gophers who know what it takes to survive and thrive in this cut-throat world we call American college hockey.
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Love #2
Golden boys were not contained to Minneapolis only this weekend. They were all over this great nation. Representing their franchise and country.
From the lakes of Minnesota, born and raised, hockey-bred and groomed, players who cut their teeth on Minnesota ice skated and scored in important NHL games.
Names that are so familiar to Minnesotans were called around the league by Doc and Eddie, Pierre, and crew.
T.J. Oshie. David Backes. Zach Parise. Nick Leddy. Matt Cullen. Chad Rau. Stu Bickel. Ryan McDonagh. Michael Sauer. Paul Martin. Alex Goligoski. Jeff Taffe. Dustin Byfuglien. Mark Stuart. Blake Wheeler. Keith Ballard. Erik Johnson.
All of those guys were born into greatness right here. In Minnesota.
A mid-western state in this great country. A state that knows hard work and determination.
And all of those guys were on the ice today. Playing alongside fellow Minnesotans. Playing against former teammates.
Minnesota was present and accounted for in an all-American hockey weekend.
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Love #3
A town in southern, Minnesota is on our maps. Our Minnesota maps. But due to exposure – print, television, and online – this town is quite possibly on your map, too.
Fairbault, MN. According to neighboring towns, attempting to arouse a response, this town smells funny. I have heard debates on such a matter from young and old, male and female. Unfortunately I cannot vouch for either side. My recollections of Fairbault contained no smell – good or bad.
Smell is hardly the reason this town is on the map.
It is on the hockey map because of the players the hockey programs (girls and boys) produces. A hockey program I have blogged and blabbed about at some point.
The NHL Network featured the college-NHL-player producing program by featuring some of the most notable players presently in the NHL.
Zach Parise. Jonathan Toews. Sidney Crosby.
Before they were Devils, Blackhawks, and Penguins; they were Sabres at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in our up-for-debate-smelly-town of Fairbault, MN.
All were noted (in today’s NHL feature) as hard-working (like we couldn’t tell), serious students, who were likable guys around the historic campus (that may or may not smell funny).
Parise’s last season (2001-2002) opened the gates for Crosby’s only season (2002-2003) which made way for Toews (2004-2005).
And those stars, at the prep, college, and pro levels, have paved the way to Fairbault, MN for countless other boys and girls (Crosby’s little sis is a goalie at SSM).
Smelly or not, you have to admit that Fairbault is a pretty great town.
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There you have it. A measly three reasons why I was feeling the love this weekend.
If you know me at all, you know that I could go on and on about the love thrown out for Minnesota by Liam, Mike, and Pierre.
I won’t spend sentences talking about the college hockey alums (Gopher, Sioux, Badger, and other WCHA notables) playing in this great American weekend. Against or with teammates, these former NCAAers suited up to play the game that got them through their college years.
This was a great weekend in the state of hockey. And for the game. All the players who wish to play for the Red, White, and Blue.
In honor of Hockey Weekend in America, I believe tomorrow is a holiday.
Christmas came early
Wild Vs. Blackhawks 12-14-11 MN Meditations Original Photo
Santa came early this year. And though he didn’t bring me a pair of hop-along-boots or a pistol that shoots, I will forgive him. For what he brought me, was far superior. Far superior.
The gift. Oh, the gift. Hockey tickets to last Wednesday’s Wild Vs. Blackhawks game (I realize how non-news breaking this post is).
Scratching plans for Wednesday night was a no-brainer. I communicated my cancellation. Some objected, but I wasn’t going to budge. Not on this gift.
There have been too many missed games, on all levels, this season. Holiday season. Hockey season. Cancer & Chemo season.
And so, on Wednesday night, I was at the X. Traffic was conquered. Parking was successful. Tickets were picked up. A program was purchased to support youth hockey. Seats were found.
And I was there. Fully engaged.
As a Hawks fan in Wild territory, I had to watch my back. Not that Wild fans are animals, but this is Minnesota. I’m smart enough not to mess with Minnesotan’s and their hockey. I’ve been in that position before – cheering for the opposing team in their barn; hiding my true colors. So, I knew my place at the X on Wednesday and sat tight-lipped all night.
Especially after Hossa scored the Hawks’ first goal. Or was it after Frolik scored the second Hawks’ goal? Or maybe it was after Toews’ scored their third goal?
After whatever goal was scored by whoever it was who found the back of the net, the Hawks fans in my section jumped up and cheered. About to join them, I stopped dead in my tracks when a Wild fan, unprovoked, lit into the Hawks’ fans with F-bombs and a “Want to take this outside?” threat.
This was not a guy to mess with. He looked like the kind of guy who makes his own moonshine, sits on his porch with a rifle and a mutty-dog ready to shoot whoever walks by, skins his own squirrels for stew, and bathes once a year in the creek. Not to mention the images I conjured up of him sitting in a county jail, drunk and disorderly for illegally shooting the neighbor’s cat. And I don’t even like cats.
Tight-lipped, cold (there was fan that blew cold air on my face all night long – I felt like I was watching an outdoor game!), and completely content, I watched Chicago battle along the boards in my hometown. I didn’t completely root against the hometown boys. Grins spread across my face at the sight and sound of Minnesota fans singing their anthems and cheers; booing their boo’s (especially after the refs called Cullen for “unsportsmanlike”). Cut me some slack, I’m not un-Minnesotan. I just happen to cheer for the Blackhawks.
Though I do not know what gifts I will open up on Christmas morning, I do know this: tickets to the game were the best gift. Yes, it involved hockey and the Hawks. But it was more than that. It was the gift – the gift of time, the thoughtfulness that went into the gift.
It was the gift giver – my mom, sick with fighting cancer with chemo, drummed up the idea. She was the genius behind the tickets. She knew that it would make my day. She knew what it would mean to me. A silly game.
Wednesday night was the night before her Round 3 of the Red Devil drug that makes her seasick-y and exhausted. And she stayed up for all three periods, OT, and the SO, so she could send me a text after the game telling me she was glad I was able to attend. That’s a mother’s love.
While she had chemo administered via IV on Thursday afternoon, I thought of her. Of how she puts my needs above her own. That’s a mother’s love.
When she called me after her treatment, she shared news. News from my mom has been tough to swallow this fall, but not Thursday’s news. Her oncologist delivered an early Christmas present to my mom – to my entire family – when he told her that her tumor has shrunk. That’s right. The chemo is working – it went home from work one day and told its chemo family, “Honey, I shrunk the tumor!” And the bow on top of the Lexus for our family is that my mom is not the carrier of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
Hawks won in a SO. Mom’s tumor is shrinking.
That’s all I wanted for Christmas.
That’s a daughter’s love.
MN Meditations original photo
MN Meditations original photo
MN Meditations original instagram photo
Like this:
I committed a fashion violation…Don’t report me.
- Hiding from fashionistas and HR! istockphoto.com
I committed a fashion faux pas.
Twice last week.
What lifts my spirits.
Fishing Has No Boundaries photo
Many things make me happy. But something that always makes me happy: time with family.
Developmentally speaking, I never really went through a phase where I preferred to spend time with friends over family. Given the choice in middle school and high school – I chose family. Even in college, I chose family. Losing two grandparents (one on each side) my sophomore and senior years, played a major role in my desire to see family whenever the opportunity presented itself.
Thus, it’s no wonder I still prefer to spend time with family over anybody else. No offense if you’re not related.
With family spread out all over the states, all over the world, time together is rare. So, when I had an opportunity to see relatives this past week, I made it a top priority on my calendar.
And I’m so glad I did.
An aunt and uncle arrived in town – they’d traveled many miles and hours from their Canadian bordering town – for a short visit before moving on to their next destination. Still, our short time together was, as always, full of family fun.
We talked about family – my cousins and their kids.
We talked about work.
We talked about memories.
We talked about fishing – boats, fish, summer, and lakes (the health of our lakes, the thickness of the ice on our lakes still, etc.).
We talked about hockey.
Lots of hockey.
Girls hockey. Boys hockey. Women’s hockey. Men’s hockey. Coaches and the teams they coach. Coaches and the teams they may coach. Coaches we like and coaches we don’t. Players. Injuries. Hits to the head. NCAA Regionals. MI’s controversial goal over UNO. Predictions for the Final Four. Hobey Baker talk. Players who used to play on MN rinks. Which college players are ready to turn pro. Which college players didn’t develop or produce much for their college teams. Why college players are leaving early. Recruiting. USHL and major juniors. Girls’ MN high school hockey. Chicago hockey – Blackhawks, AAA, and CYA (Chicago Young Americans). Big Ten conference – pros and cons.
That’s what my time with family looks like. That’s what we talk about. That’s what we laugh about. That’s what our time together has almost always looked like.
And through all the stories, I smile. My spirits lift with every laugh and every hug.
Time with family – any family – always lifts my spirits.
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I ask. You answer.
- What lifts your spirits?
- What do you talk about with family?
- Did you ever go through a phase where you didn’t want to spend time with family?
You can also find my thoughts on hockey (covering Minnesota WILD) over at The Hockey Writers (thehockeywriters.com).
