"It's Hockey Day in America!" the Kid exclaimed. Practice in the morning, a scrimmage in the afternoon and the Caps game in the evening. Add an encounter with a hot Russian ice dancer and BOOM! the Kid had a perfect day.
Actually, it got off to rough start. It was the Kid's first practice with his new team, so he didn't know anyone. To make things worse, we forgot one of his shin guards. Yep, just one. The Kid got on his equipment and I dropped $25 at the pro shop. (That pro shop is making a fortune off parental mistakes. Mostly mine.) The mix up had the Kid all out of sorts but once he got moving he was fine...ice time makes everything better.
I thought after lunch we could drop off his stuff in the locker room and then check out the other hockey games. To my surprise, he wanted to watch the super-talented ice dancers. And then it happened...Elena* saw him. She didn't just give him a casual smile and a quick wave, she got off the ice and walked over to him.
"You look good! How is hockey?! You look so good! You like hockey?!" she asked, shaking him playfully by his shoulder pads. She was all Russian-supermodel-gorgeous. He looked up at me with shining eyes and bright red cheeks, then shyly started to hide behind me. Suddenly my son, who usually can't shut up, was speechless.
More and more hockey players arrived, impatiently stalking the open door to the ice. Hockey parents commented that the figure skaters were "very cool" but the mites thought it would be "very cool" if they'd get the hell off the ice. Several players, my son included, decided to sit on the players bench.
"Okay," I shrugged. "But if you get in trouble by the figure skating coaches, it's your problem, not mine."
Finally it was time for the scrimmage. The players raced around, miniature versions of their NHL counterparts. It's particularly hilarious seeing the tops of their helmets peeking out over the boards as they sit on the bench. Off-sides was challenge. At the end of the game they lined up and shook hands just like the pros. The locker room was full of adrenaline-fueled children excitedly recapping their game and yelling, "See ya tomorrow!"
Because yes, we were doing it all again tomorrow.
*Elena taught the very first skating class he ever took. She was also his first crush.
Them's fighting words. Somehow, figure skaters have to get off the ice exactly on time, but no problem if a hockey game runs over. They get to use their own clock. I can't tell you how many skating sessions I've been on that have been 5 or 10 or ****30 minutes**** shorter than what I paid for because hockey didn't get off the ice when their rental time ran out. Those parents can take their cutesy "it would be cool if they got off" and stick it where the sun don't shine.
ReplyDelete/rant
Xan -- Oh! Stop ranting on my blog! :-) If there's any place on the Internet that has equal respect for hockey and figure skating it's here. Sheesh! Besides, do you think it's happenstance that the figure skaters get the ice BEFORE the hockey players? With Nationals right around the corner these figure skating coaches are going to get their ice time.
ReplyDeleteI once joked with one of the figure skating coaches that our hockey players would run his ice dancers right off the ice. He laughed and said, "Your hockey players would have to catch 'em first." Perfect answer! Figure skaters for the win!
Now...cant't we all just get along...