This is a nice story that someone sent me in a email today. I thought it was worth reading, it's a nice story.
It's also, proof there are good parents teaching their kids life lessons as well.
It's also, proof there are good parents teaching their kids life lessons as well.
My son plays on the Bantam A hockey team in East Grand Forks
(one of his teammates is the younger brother of current NTDP U-17 team member
and future Denver recruit Gage Ausmus). They battled through the MN State
Bantam qualifying tournament in St. Cloud this past weekend. One of the
highlights of the grueling weekend was the fact that not only was my son’s team
in the tournament, but the East Grand Forks Bantam B team had also made it into
the qualifying
tournament and managed to play at the same time in the rink next
door every game all weekend long. Sunday evening was the final game for both
teams – if they lost they were done for the season, and if they won they were
going on to State.
The A team played a good game but didn’t have too much
trouble, winning 3-0. The B team on the other hand, fought a very tough battle,
taking a 3-3 tie into first one overtime, then a second. Late in the period the
action was in the opponent’s zone, and the other team managed to incur a minor
penalty – tripping I believe. The ref threw up his arm, signaling the delayed
penalty, but before the other team could regain possession the puck was put into
the crease area and a desperate scramble ensued.
The next thing we knew, the
ref was signaling another infraction, this time with arms crossed and then
pointing to center ice. PENALTY SHOT for our boys, called for covering the puck
in the crease! Nerves were on fire as the young men – goalie and forward –
lined up for the shot. The arena erupted in cheers when a deke was stopped by a
good pad save, and overtime continued. The atmosphere was electric, and finally
the East Grand Forks team got a solid shot during the power play and scored the
game winning goal.
The winning team’s bench emptied in a wave of exuberance, as
they always do in these kinds of games. We’ve all seen it a hundred times – the
champions hog-pile each other while the other team collapses in sullen defeat.
This was no exception, and the teams played their roles as they were supposed to
do. The losing goalie lay face down in his crease, overcome with sadness. I
watched from ice level in the corner of the rink, only a few feet from the
distraught young man. As the winning team celebrated, their goalie separated
himself from the pack and skated over to the other netminder. He gently patted
him on the shoulder and helped the other player to his feet. The two shared a
few words – I couldn’t hear anything over the noise but the emotions and message
were clear: you played your heart out; you were a worthy opponent; keep your
head up because you have nothing to be ashamed of. Instead of savoring the win,
the victor shared the spoils as best he could, choosing to lift the spirits of
his foe as best he could. Not because he was told to, or because it was
expected, nor did he even consider if anyone else was watching. But I was. I
knew I was witnessing the best moment I have ever seen in youth sports. I wish
I could have that kind of heart every day. This 15 year old kid showed me the
meaning of sportsmanship in a way that I never could have
scripted.
Congratulations Connor Shea for being a fantastic human
being. His parents are Chip and Kristen Shea and they deserve as much credit as
anyone for raising a child who knows the meaning of respect.
