MaineToday.com | Checking in: Happy holidays...

Checking in Eric Weinrich, a player for the Portland Pirates writes about his experiences with the team.

December 26, 2006

Happy holidays...

Happy holidays, everyone! This one is especially happy for me. I am in Maine, at home, with family, with days off. Sounds normal. Not so. In all the years I played through youth hockey, highschool college and pro, I never experienced a Christmas break like this one. And, I am not saying this looking for sympathy. I am just letting you know what some of the guys sacrifice in this lifestyle. Kevin, having been there, saw the opportunity for guys to go home and spend the holidays with family, a luxury that doesn't happen every year. With players coming from all over the continent and other countries, going home is quite an undertaking. We all know the time with family is invaluable...
I have spent Christmas away from home twice due to hockey. Both for the World Junior Tournament. But, I look at it this way. How many players get the opportunity to reresent their country at an event like this as a senior in highschool? In Finland. What an experience!
Tim Brent is doing just the thing in Davos, Switzerland, reresenting Canada in the Spengler Cup. this tournament is held in the spectacular ski village set in the Swiss Alps. I know because I took a bus during the night coming from Russia back in the 80's and woke up in what I thought was paradise! If you've seen the Alps, you know what I mean. And Tim will never forget the hockey experience as weel as the opportunity to spend time in a magnificent setting...
So, how do you feel about the games during Christmas for certain athletes? Should they not schedule these events on Christmas day or is it a priviledge to get this chance? Look at it this way. The life span of an athlete may not last more than 5 years or so. If you are one of the players who is on a team that does, you can always tell people you played on national TV on Christmas day. Or maybe if you get the chance Tim Brent did, you may score the winning goal on Christmas morning... How cool is that!
All in all, I don't think any of our guys would ever complain about the sacrifices they make to play the game they love. I'm living proof of that...
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow, PLEASE! See you soon, Weino

Posted by Eric Weinrich at 04:42 PM

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Comments

My opinion lies not so much on how I feel but rather on how the players view it. They are the ones who to make the sacrifices of time with family and friends to pursue their dream. If it's important to them, that is what matters.

Posted by Andrew of South Portland
December 29, 2006 12:38 PM

How could they do this? Parenteau has been the only consistent scorer we have and ST. Jacques has been a good steady defenseman. In fact he was one of the last cuts the Ducks made. We picked-up journeyman hockey players to replace reliable potential future Ducks. The goaltending is fine with Marsters & Morris, in fact Morris has been impressive. The Ducks situation will remedy itself over time. They panicked. In fact, don't the Ducks has a promising Junior goalie that will be available this spring? As a season ticket holder I am very disappointed The offense will be degraded with this lost as well as the defense. I hope you can prove me wrong. I have great respect for the coaching staff, but I think they've been dealt a bad deal.
A.M.

Posted by Andrew Michaud
December 29, 2006 01:10 PM

60 minutes of performance. Hmmm, let me think...Nope, can't do that for 60 minutes straight. (Fun trying though.) My workplace demands 8 1/2 hours a day 6 days a week, 50 weeks a year from me. Granted I don't have to run full tilt up and down the hallway for an hour each day carrying a 30 lb box over my head! So? as a fan what can I say? Do I have the right to ask for 60 minutes of running up and down a huge sheet of ice carring an extra thirty pounds? hmmmm....YEP! I work more, I make 1/2 your salaries. I put thousands of dollars into your sport a year. I put time that I shouldn't/don't have into your sport each week. You have the talent and the coaching and management staff depth that any young club could ever ask for! I sure wish I had the likes of the knowledge of Kevin Dineen, Eric Weinrich and Bruce Crowder to get me through my running of the hallway each day! Heck my boss feeds us donuts a couple times a year and we say THANK YOU.. WOW...what a guy! My point? Make an old girl happy and be my sixty minute men! 40 days and 40 nights are almost upon you ..sixty minutes each?...don't get me started..we are getting into cups at that point..and hey..well, to us fans.. that’s just personal!!

LETS GO PIRATES

Posted by Jacey
December 29, 2006 11:44 PM