Final hockey thoughts (for now)

As I look at this picture of AJ celebrating one of the eleven goals he scored yesterday, I can't help but come up with my own caption. Something like, "Yes! Another hockey season is OVER!!!"

Following the game, we had exactly one hour and 10 minutes of a sports-free life. That's right, we had seventy minutes between the time when we got in the car to leave the hockey arena, and the start of a meeting to sign AJ up for baseball. Just enough time to drive home, serve up supper and eat. Quality family time.

In reality, baseball practice won't begin until summer. But also reality, we're not done with hockey. Not by a long shot.

AJ is already looking forward to the 3-on-3 league that we signed him up for. That starts next month. He's also reminded me that we can still go to the rink and skate. I'm not sure how often it will be shoveled or flooded now that hockey season is over. But yes, we may have to go skating at least once more in the next week or so.

In Sunday's game, AJ scored the final goal. To his way of thinking that means he scored the winning goal. And since this is the last game of the season, that means it's the championship game. Therefore, for those of you following his logic, he scored the winning goal of the championship game. And that's two years in a row he's been able to make that claim.

How different it will be next year as a Mite II when they really do keep score and have actual play-off games. But for now, he can savor the moment as he skates off the ice with his medal.

And he and his teammates can say they're #1.

L-R Back row: Max, Carter, Wyatt, AJ.
Front row: Joel, Riley, Talon, Daniel

I do have to agree with AJ that this was the best season so far. The kids really gelled, more so than they seem to have done in years past. The families, too. But never fear, we'll be seeing them again soon. And often. That's the blessing and curse of hockey.