VB Hockey: The Tale of the Kid and the Stick

As I walked onto the bench for our final game to watch warmup, a young boy stood over my head in the first row of seats and he quickly got my attention with a simple ask: “Hey coach, if a lefty breaks his sticks can I have it?” I could tell right away that we had a new fan for the day, and I told the youngster that if someone broke a stick, it would go to him. Right then and there he started yelling and cheering for the Spartans and he stuck to us and supported us every minute the rest of the way, staying in that same seat right over my shoulder, loud and proud.

 

It might have been the first game of the year that we made it through without a broken stick; despite the high cost of hockey sticks, they tend to break like toothpicks at times. Even though the game ended and we had not been able to pass a stick up to him, our new buddy came down to the dressing room area and was happy to see the boys as they came off the ice to cheer and congratulate us. I felt the need to find a hockey stick.

 

I went back into the room after and asked the group, “Does anyone have a stick?” Everyone knew why I was asking, and all of a sudden the volunteers were rushing to the door, and it was not just one or two. I am proud to know that our group understood the moment and their responsibility and privilege to be role models. Over walked one of our players to hand the young boy a stick, and his face showed every emotion you could possibly want to see, but most importantly I could see appreciation mixed with a little shock when that nice hockey stick hit his hands.

 

As a group we were successful on the ice this weekend, but we also helped to make someone we don’t know go home with a smile, and as a coach, seeing our group understand this moment was an early sign of building true Spartans.

 

As I walked out of the rink, our new fan came back up to me, smiling ear to ear, new stick freshly signed and held with pride in his hands. He told me that he would keep the stick forever and couldn’t wait to see the player who gave it to him show up in an NHL video game someday so he could play as his character. I too hope that comes true one day!

 

My friend and former Stanstead parent Paul Stewart gave a tremendous speech (and song) when he was inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Paul both played and refereed in the NHL and beyond. I think he would agree with me that he became more famous for his whistle and stripes than his goals and assists, but he certainly learned that rulebook — even if he played without thinking about it a whole lot. In his speech, he talked about how his hockey skates were his passport to life and the world. Through his highs and lows in life, those skates kept him moving forward, seeing the world and growing the game. Paul’s story of his first hockey skates is well published, and of course well spoken by Paul himself.

 

Here’s to our young fan in Cornwall loving sport and hockey for life. We may not all skate in arenas in front of tens of thousands like Paul Stewart was so lucky to do, but we always have to remember that even in a rink with mostly parents and families, we have influence and responsibility to share our love for hockey to the next generation, even when we may not remember they are watching.

 

I am happy my skates, whistle and coaching board continue to show me the power of sports and the never-ending growth in our students.

 

- Coach Thompson