Well after being involved in Hockey in one way or another my entire life, i have to say today was a great day to be in the bleachers watching my son and his team play. Playing as a goaltender for the better part of 20 years, and working through the ranks to major juniors i realized the amount of mental strain, and focus it takes to acheive this level of play. Now i get to watch my son suffer through the challanges of it as well, as he plays the same position. Throughout the weekend we played through the games, with a loss in our opener. Kiddo played the second game and pulled off a convincing 10-3 win, although he wasnt tested very often in this match. Today was a different story, the email came at about 9:30 pm last night that he had finished 3rd in the tournement, and that the team would be playing for the B-pool final. Leduc was to be their matchup. Before the game while walking into the arena i reminded him," focus on your job, and what your their to do" , that and good luck was all that was said. the game lead bounced back and forth for a while and then setteled down in the 3rd period with about 4 minutes left tied 6-6. ........ Chit ref calls to penalties against us, so its a 5 on 3 for 2 min, and a 5 on 4 for 2 min because of the double minor. This is when things got a bit hairy, leduc came at the net hard, and often, bodies flying, sticks, everywhere, kiddo lost his own in the process... and i thought this cant be good, 5 close range shots, and a crossbar, but nothing got by him. 60 minutes of play and the game was tied 6-6 still, so tournement rules state 4 on 4 for 1 min, then 3 on 3 for a minute, and so on. Kiddos team had the advantage going into the 4 on 4 challenge as leduc took a penalty with 1 minute left in regulation time, so they played 4 on 3 , and couldnt find the twine. leduc managed a couple shots on goal, but no dice. ... 3 on 3 solved nothing a couple shots on goal each, 2 on 2 and the nailbiting began, a fancy little move by one of our smallest forwards, and off to the races on a 2 on 1 where the game finally ended. A finish of emotions, and cheers, and a big hell yeah from me watching my boy perform to the best of his abilities, and focusing on the task at hand.... Chance favours a prepared mind............a little something Grant Fuhr told me one blustery morning in the early 80's just prior them ending the Islanders dynasty years.