Center Ice

Hockey.

In January, the teams were mixed up again for in-house hockey.

The very first game of the spring season was a blowout for my son. I can't even remember the score or maybe I don't want to, but I will acknowledge the opponents were in the double digits as my son's team struggled to score one or two goals.

The following weeks were just as grim.

A new goalie who barely stands as tall as the net struggles to stop the puck. By the end of the games, the referees pick him up after the scored points and pat him on the back and utter words of encouragement through the face mask.

Resourcefulness slowly emerges from all the players on the team, though admittedly the frustration bubbles up.

Truthfully, it is even hard to watch the games as the scoreboard rolls ahead rapidly for the opposing team (just for the record hockey is a low scoring game). My heart lurches for the little goalie every time. He is learning to hold his own with the younger kids, but as soon as the older kids skate out, it is a struggle.

It is hard to lose without even a fight, but my son is learning some important lessons about character.

A couple weeks ago, he skated off the ice, grinning despite the beating. He had played hard and he had a good game. He knew he had done a good job, and he was proud. Later he commented, "Is it really that hard to score against a little goalie half your size and then celebrate like it was an amazing victory?"

He is right it really doesn't take much skill to score under those circumstances. He also recognized that sportsmanship is important. Trompling the little, inexperienced guy and then dancing your superiority is not cool.

Now guess what?

The team won last week.

Yep, it was a tough victory, but they did it! The score was 4-4 with 30 seconds to go and his team scored a goal. A close victory, but it was so sweet. It was a movie moment of emotion as the boys gathered in center ice. Gloves flew, hands enthusiastically slapped helmets, and finally genuine hugs--all topped with beaming faces radiating utter joy.

My heart smiled just as big as I watched the boys regroup for the handshakes.

The strategy is simply. Teamwork is paramount. Skate hard. Work hard. Turn the puck around immediately--don't even let it cross center ice. The sole responsibility for stopping the puck does not lie with the goalie. It is everyone's responsibility.

In the end, it wasn't the victory that was so sweet. It was seeing the boys come back week after week and work harder.

It was a reminder that the best lessons in life are hard won.