The holiday season is upon us, and we celebrated Thanksgiving at home with 5 of the guys and some family. It was a nice, cool, November day in Maine. Unfortunately for us, not all our family was here. My Mom, Dad and my brother Jason and his family went to New Jersey to spend it with my Dad's nephews and their families. And my brother Alex is living in Denmark, so we don't spend many holidays with him.
We had all the fixings, and the guys enjoyed the meal and company. In case you didn't know, the Canadians celebrate their Thanksgiving in October. Why, I don't know. So, some of the guys we had over were clebrating the day late. They stayed for some football, dessert and more football. After they left, I watched more football. Alot of time on the couch...
The next morning, I woke up with a little back soreness. Nothing unusual for me. I've had some issues from time to time, but it usually works itself out. So, morning skate, back home for pregame meal and get ready for the bus ride to Providence. As I was leaving the bus, I was struggling to straighten up. Uh-oh! Not good. In the past my problems would work themselves out over the day. This one seemed to get worse. I went right to Rick, our medical trainer, and he went to work. In about a half an hour he had me feeling much better. I tried to warm up in the hallway by the room, and it was not bad. The real test would be the ice.
I stepped on and, well, it was so-so. I felt like it would loosen up as the game went on, so I told Rick and Kevin I was a go. I made it through, but it wasn't right. Here's the thing, folks. Without sounding like too much of a hero, I was not use to feeling injured enough to miss a game. At least, I could tough it out and then the next day I would be fine. In our sport, there is an old term we use for guys who pull themselves for whatever reason. We usually say the guy didn't want to face us and has the "Pirate flu" or if he has had a run in with a guy on our team, he is suffering from say the "Hoffman flu". If you follow, I learned from many of my early teammates to play through the little ailments and for the most part I have been able to find a way. Mostly because I know other guys are going through the same kinds of bumps and bruises I am and because I hate to miss games.
But, in hindsight, I may have overdone it this time. But I was only doing what I thought I could handle. But, the next morning it was no better and the next day, it was the same. I had been hit with the "Thanksgiving flu". So, for the first time in years, I was out of the lineup do to an injury. Maybe if I hadn't plated I would have been OK for the other games, but I am still hurting and it is Tuesday. I'm on the rebound, and hopeful for the weekend. And more good news, Joe Callahan is getting healthy so we may see him in the near future.
It has been a solid year so far, and our team is winning alot of games. But, the one thing I notice more than anything, is how the guys, mostly the young ones, continue to battle the same obstacles game after game. I should not be surprised, though. I still make mistakes I have tried to correct my whole career and the only difference now is I am a little less apt tp make the high risk plays.
When I started playing in the AHL, it was a veteran league, many guys winding down their careers. Now, guys like me are very few and far between. Mistakes in those games were a little more glaring with some former NHLers there to pick up the turnovers and convert them. I learned the hard way. I'm not saying those mistakes aren't as costly now, but the number of pure scorers is down a little from then. But, back to my point, it is a slow learning process. And the guys who learn quick, stand out. I would say overall, our guys don't make alot of glaring mistakes and throughout the course of a game, only the purist will pick out the little things. As a group,we are still grasping the concept of how to win.
Watching an elite NHL team can be boring at times unless you are playing against them. You don't see the play go back and forth. Usually you find the good team is in the other end for the majority of the game and it appears that the opposing team cannot generate anything. This becomes a habit and a reputation. As the game goes on you look at the shot clock and find it so onesided it starts to become deflating. Our team has yet to find the secret, although at times we show flashes. I think with our personnel we can achieve this type of identity but again, it is a learned skill and attitude.
Lastly, I recently told you of my son's new sport, hockey! He had his first ever game at age 13, playing alongside some kids half his size. I told him before the game not to let anyone take the puck away from him, with his size and all. So, wouldn't you know it, he gets the puck at the line, skates through a few kids and fires a low shot off both posts and out the other side. The goalie barely moved and I think Ben was in shock that the puck went so fast off the posts and out. As the game went on, I thought back to my first ever goal which came on the last game of my first season. If he scored his first goal in his first game, without ever really playing, how would he react to that? I was thrilled to see him out there, and hope his passion grows. I know he is starting late, but no one told my friend Robert Esche, former Flyers goalie, that he couldn't make it when he started at age 12. I just hope we get some outdoor ice this year so we can share some fun like I did with my Dad and my buddies growing up...
To Matt Duffy, up at Orono, I admire your willingness to contribute however you can by sacrificing playing defence and moving to forward to try and help your team win. That is what being a teammate and team player is all about. Best of luck to you and the rest of the team... Go Bears! Weino

E-mail this entry to a friend