Ever since Ryan began playing organized hockey two years ago, I have feared the beginning of this season. The year Ryan started as a peewee, the sport’s governing body in this country, USA Hockey, made the controversial decision to remove checking from the peewee age group. A generation ago, when I was a youth player, […]
Read more "Timelines? What Timelines?"Hockey is back. You know how I know? Saturday night at 7, just as one of the biggest college football games of the year, Alabama-Texas A&M, was winding down, I was forced to surrender the living room TV for a preseason game on NHL Network. Johnny Football ain’t got nuthin’ on Evander Kane, Alex Ovechkin, […]
Read more "The Seeds of Self-Advocacy"We celebrated Ryan’s birthday this weekend with a wonderful gathering of family and friends. He was socially engaged, guiding all the kids — and even some of the adults — in games of backyard hockey. He got lots of sports gifts. His San Jose Sharks-themed room got even more Sharks-ier with a new team comforter. […]
Read more "A Picture Is Worth 1,000 Clues"It feels like just yesterday I was fighting tears at Riley’s elementary school “moving up” ceremony, having parachuted in between Games 4 and 5 of the Stanley Cup Final. And yet tomorrow the new NHL season kicks off with the opening preseason games. That will be one day after my two middle-schoolers!!!!! finish their first […]
Read more "Ignoring, Not Ignorance"As promised, Ryan held a 9/11 ceremony before our backyard hockey game last night. In fact, it was the first thing he told me when I called to say I was almost home. “Dad, hurry up! Remember, there will be a 10-minute ceremony before the game.” When I got home, changed, and got out there, […]
Read more "Postscript: Ryan’s 9/11 Ceremony"
Pucks and Puzzle Pieces 