Well what a season!
Congratulations to all the boys on the Bantam AE Shamrock team. Watching you develop over the season has been
amazing! Learning positioning, plays, how to take and give a check, and how to
play as a team. All of the updates written
outlined the progress and pride I felt watching this group of boys play.
This season the one thing that made me smile is that overall the boys had a good time. Which seems to be a concept harder and harder to find in minor sports. The focus not on winning but on having fun and teaching young men not only skills on the ice but also the skills to function and contribute to society. We witnessed how our boys handled losing (lots), winning, working as a team, dealing with peers, coaches and referees. Witnessed how these relationships changed/developed over the season. You saw the players that understood the attitude and effort you put in, was what you received back. It was awesome.
As the boys move up divisions, some of us have witnessed our boy’s final regular season game in travel hockey as they move on to different interests away from hockey. With our final games approaching at the tournament in a few weeks: take the time and appreciate the sight of them walking into or out of the change room. Remember the amazing experience minor hockey has given them and given us as parents. Look back at all the connections that have formed – friendships made/changed – kilometers put on vehicles and the realization how bad your kid can actually smell.
As I wind down on this last article of my HMHA web writing career, first I promise to get all the goals up to date before the tournament – just need to collect a few game sheets. Second a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to read the game summaries. Thank-you once again to the coaches (head and assistant) for volunteering such a huge amount of time to work with a bunch of kids who don’t always listen, like to voice their opinions, deal with parents who are even louder, debate with refs on calls, and choose to do it all season long. Thank you. To the trainers who care for our boys when they’re hurt and offer guidance when they aren’t. Thank you. To the parent volunteers for stepping up and running fundraisers, keeping the team informed of games, Hockey mom events, and HMHA happenings. Thank-you!
Shamrocks thanks for a great season! You were the team that played with the most heart and had the greatest development within our division and that is something to be proud of!
GO ROCKS GO!