Perspectives...
Isn't
Minor Atom AE a great place to be?
Well, all things are relative of course, and there is nothing wrong with dreaming of bigger and better. As I am moving up the food chain in rep hockey experience with my eldest in Bantam AA this season, and have seen some awesome moments, and some disturbing moments along the way, I find myself constantly questioning the pros and cons in this National Sport which I love, but which sometimes turns spectacle, and not infrequently, turns dangerous.
Admittedly, there is schizophrenia involved in the love - disgust equation over hockey, and let's face it, it is not wholly dependent on age nor level of play. We love to watch great moments of skill and team play when it all comes together; we love a great win and even love the bitterness of a close loss in a tight game; we love the smiles and skill development. And with sobering second thoughts, we're amazed over uber-competitiveness, the cheat-like dirtiness and unsportsman-like behaviours (more often the parents!!! in the stands), the injuries, ... and in truly sober moments, the financial excesses that mount up in hockey.
In our somewhat insulated team experiences, I think the Minor Atom AE Clippers have been on the winning side of the love-disgust equation this season, and I am wholly grateful to our coaches role-modeling and the great group of parents shepherding our kids. Still, we're not immune, and we're early days in what most of us rightfully hope will be a long 'career' in minor rep hockey. For some perspective of life on the other side of the looking glass, I thought some of you might have a read of this recent article in the Toronto Star (on-line) about rep hockey, in particular in the GTHL AAA world. It's an eye-opener and definitely helps keep perspective.
MEANWHILE - GO CLIPPERS GO!
Let's do our part to keep LOVING the game & moreover, keep our
KIDS loving the game!
Toronto Star - Is Minor Hockey Worth It?