If you want to be inspired...

We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we're too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams.
Herb Brooks



It was early in the season when my little guy came home from a Spud hockey game.  Each season if the team wins their game, the boys get invited into the locker room.  Its one of the smelliest locker rooms I've ever encountered, but you can't keep our kids out of there.

The "big" boys seem to understand the our "little guys" want to be just like them when they grow up.  So the big boys, will often give our littles their broken sticks.  But Colton, was especially thrilled when his favorite goalie, Chance Bitzer asked who was a goalie, and Colton said he was.  So Chance gave him one of his sticks.  Chance is known to give his sticks often to lots of kids.  

And with each stick given, a dream grows bigger.

Playing in the Minnesota State High School Hockey tournament is a dream that begins at a young age in our boys.  The tournaments draw crowds of around 19,000 people for each game.  The fans adore their teams.  The atmosphere is electric.  Tons of scouts come looking for recruits for the USHL, NAHL, or one of the major Divison I hockey schools.  

With win number one in the books, the Spuds, were looking for win number two to secure a spot in the Championship game.  Moorhead has yet to win a State High School Hockey Title. 

Friday afternoon, the Moorhead Spuds played the team from Hill Murray for their second game.  It was a nail biter all the way through to the end.  It was hard to watch, the intensity was palpable.  It was a physical and gritty game, leaving us more defensive, than offensive.  And when the last minutes wound down off the clock, we found ourselves with a tie game.  

In a heart stopping, gut wrenching overtime period, Hill Murray scored to end the Spud's bid for the Championship.  The boys were devastated.  

The next afternoon we played for 3rd place.  But the physical and emotional toll of the game from the day before left our boys out of gas.  They gave it all they had, but lost to finish the tournament in 4th place.  See more of the game photos at Spudhockey.  

BUT... there was a really big but... 

Just after the boys came out of the locker room and were loading their bus, Rick got on our shuttle and said he had to return to the venue.  There were a few more photos he needed to take after the championship game.  He encouraged us to be sure and watch the awards ceremony at the end of the tourney.  I was on pins and needles, waiting for the big moment.

Each year there is a special award given out to one outstanding player.  According to the Herb Brooks Foundation:

"The Herb Brooks award is to be given to the most qualified hockey player in the state tournament who strongly represents the values, characteristics, and traits that defined Herb Brooks. This prestigious award will commemorate the unending influence Herb Brooks had on the sport of hockey in Minnesota and throughout the world."

Back at our hotel, the Moorhead crowd gathered around their television sets.  And when the announcer spoke the winner's name, the entire hotel erupted into cheers.  The 2012 Herb Brooks award, was given to Moorhead's goalie, Chance Bitzer!  Coach Morinville did a lot of maneuvering to facilitate Rick going down to the ice to take these photos. 

Herb Brooks' son and daughter, Dan and Kelly, with Chance.  

But Chance wasn't done being honored.  He was also elected to the All-Tournament Team. 

There was a real hero's welcome waiting the team back at the hotel.  I had goosebumps when the crowd erupted for the second time.  The Moorhead fans gathered on their balconies, down on the floor, and anywhere they could find a place to see.  

But the accolades for Bitzer weren't quite over yet.  Sunday, the goalie of the year award was given out at the Mr. Hockey awards banquet.  The 2012 Frank Brimsek award winner, was Chance Bitzer.  

I think my favorite Herb Brooks quote has to be this one:

"You can't be common, the common man goes nowhere; you have to be uncommon."

Earning a spot in the State High School Hockey Tournament is exactly what being uncommon is all about.  We're proud of Bitzer, but equally proud of all of our high school team.  Together they dreamed a big dream. And inspired all of those around them, to dare to dream their own big dream.  

This little guy had his fill of hockey this weekend.  He has his goalie stick between his knees and fell asleep on the floor for over two hours.  I have no doubt his nap was filled with sweet hockey dreams.

When underdogs prevail

Its not Florida, but you couldn't convince our kids there is any other place they'd rather be right now. We packed up Wednesday and headed to St. Paul for the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament. Our Moorhead Spuds earned a spot in the tournament and the kids are all on break from school.

The Spuds played their first game yesterday at the Xcel Energy center against Eagan. The top 4 teams are matched against the bottom 4 teams.  We were on the bottom, unseeded and a bit of an underdog.  I always think its easier to come into a tourney with no big expectations placed on you as a team.  That way you can play to YOUR expectations, and not worry about everyone else's.


The boys were ready hours before the game even started.  Not sure what Colton was trying for, but its the only look he would give me...

We were spoiled in the seat department... although there isn't a bad vantage point in the Xcel.

The spuds warming up...  

And now the pro shots taken by my hubby...  

Our goalie, Chance Bitzer, was unbelievably rock solid in goal yesterday.  He kept us in the game, making save after save.  We had a pretty flat first period.  But once we found the back of the net, we went on to win 4-0.  We upset a seeded team and earned a spot in to the semi finals for tonight! 

We have a large contingency of fans cheering for our boys.  We believe they can!  No team from Moorhead has won the State Championship Title, even though we've played in the final game many times.  We are due for the big win!! 

By the end of last night, we watched as all 4 seeded teams were upset by the unseeded teams, including the number one team in the state!  

Rick got a shot of us in our "lucky" seats.  For a tired woman and two active boys, this was a treat that saved the day.  I managed to preserve some energy to get me through the whole day, and I was so grateful to not have to fight crowds and wrangle boys all over.  

My big boys played with the little boys.  These two swear they are BOTH going to be goalies when the grow up.  Oops, sorry Matt.  

And this cutie?  Was so excited to tell me he skates on 2 legs now.  

Thank you to the Cullen's and Mikko, who graciously let 4 boys invade the suite, complete with a knee hockey game, and a  feast of mac-n-cheese. Mikko wasn't necessarily a Spud fan initially, but he did concede at the end they were a worthy team.  

And while we are on "break" I missed 3 calls from the clinic.  Oh well, I'm off the clock for a few days.  I guess cancer will just have to wait... 

Its no Florida, but I am inclined to think like the boys... I can't imagine myself any other place right now.  

Huskies For a Cure

A few months back, we were standing in Barnes and Noble, Rick and I. I can lose myself in a heady rush of freshly printed pages and coffee smells as soon as I cross the threshold of the door. So I know I wandered a bit on my own. But then I looked up and saw Rick talking with someone.

I think it was preordained. We didn't just accidentally meet. Rick was talking with Dave and Lisa Christian. I've briefly talked with them before, but they are better acquainted with Rick.

As I approached them, Lisa turned to me and reintroduced herself. We chatted causally for a minute. It was Rick who sought my eye and quietly told me in a hushed voice, that Lisa had just been diagnosed with hormone negative breast cancer.

I had heard just the week prior that someone from our "hockey" community had been diagnosed and it would become public knowledge soon. My mind had reeled with the possibilities, and yet as prepared as you are to find out who it is, when you put a name and face with it, it cuts just as deep.

Tears sprang to my eyes, and we gushed, her and I. Lumpectomy? Mastectomy? Treatment? Sanford? Mayo? The kids? The vulnerability? The fear? Fresh tears silently creep for the answer to each question.

How do I offer her grace?

Strength?

Hope?

As I search for words, its then I notice where we are all standing.

Can you guess?

Preordained.

Within arms reach is the christian literature book section and front and center is One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp. I grab it and put it into her hands. "This is how I do it... this is how to do it." She reaches for that and as she hugs it to her she asks "what else?" I reach again for Francis Chan, "Crazy Love." We peruse more titles till her arms fill and I know she is fortified with the best.

She'll learn the language of cancer soon enough.  It isn't what she needs from me.  Faith and hope in a steady supply is what she will need.

They have dinner plans with friends and have to rush off. The "sisterhood" has widened by one more. We've gone from acquaintances to cancer sistas in moments.

Thank goodness I know her family and how they will love her through it. And the hockey community will rise up and embrace her as well. But everything she needs filled her arms and then some on that day.

******************************************************************************

So last week Rick showed up with this for me.  Jordy Christian, nephew of Dave and Lisa from above, donated a generous gift of money to breast cancer research in my name.  Jordy plays Division I hockey for St. Cloud State University and we've been lucky enough to watch him all through his high school playing days right up to now.  I had instant tears for the way his own family has now been touched by breast cancer and how his thoughtful gesture touched me.  I apparently haven't eaten enough cookies for it to fit me, so I've attached it to my purse and carry it with me.

Almost every year when he comes home for Christmas, Jordy invites our boys to come and play some hockey with him.  This year the weather made for a perfect outdoor hockey outing.

I could see the excitement in the eyes of my boys as they got their gear ready that morning.  They were going to play hockey on the frozen pond on the golf course behind Jordy's house.  And with the bright blue sky and the sun streaming down, the conditions were perfect for Rick to take photos.  

Colton put on his goalie gear and here he is taking on Jordy's brother Bryant.  Bryant is a Moorhead Spud hockey player and plays for our high school team which is currently undefeated.  Both Nolan and Colton have dreams of playing for the Spuds one day.

Nolan was in heaven just being able to skate outside in temperatures that were mild and warm.  And taking on both a Division I hockey player and a Moorhead Spud at the same time put a little jump in his step.

They even had a rookie skating with them (in white) the entry level for hockey players in our youth program.  

I asked Nolan if he fell since he wasn't wearing any pads... he said a quick no, and then smiled and said once, sort of.  Hmmm, Jordy claims he had NOTHING to do with it... but his stick placed in the blade of Nolan's skate begs to differ... ha ha.  

In photo after photo, all you could see were beaming faces.  Its a rare treat on many levels to play outside in mild temps in December in Minnesota.  Its an even rarer treat to play with a Husky and a Spud both with the name Christian.  

Our younger boys look up to and want to be just like the big guys.  They see all the talent, the skill, the speed they have.  They're starting to understand the hard work it takes, and how you have to increase your understanding of the game all the time.  But what they don't know, is that it takes a big heart to be an exceptional player and a role model.  It takes a mother's eyes to see the bigness of Jordy's and Bryant's hearts- and trust me, they're big, really, really big.