Why I love hockey, the memo

(Ryan Getzlaf, 2009. Photo by me)

Remember in the movie Jerry Maguire when he stays up all night and writes his Mission Statement (not a mission statement, a memo). Then almost immediately regrets distributing 150 copies to his colleagues. 

Well, after the Ducks lost game 7 of the playoffs on Thursday night, I wrote mine about hockey. It turned out to be about three pages and then, knowing most of the readers of The Mom Blog at the OC Register (ahem… and here, I suspect ) are largely uninterested in my amateur thoughts on hockey, chipped it down to this short, mostly related to momminess, blog post called, "Why I love Hockey."  

One thing I didn't end up including, but I'm going to impress on you now, is this; I love that in hockey, there is no spin.  When a losing players is interviewed after a game they will say, "We weren't good tonight" or "They were better then us and that's why they won."  

In a world where most everyone is trying to sell you something, trying to tell you they're the best, their product has no equal, or you didn't just see what you know you damn well just saw, hockey is the real thing.  The real heartbreaking thing…and that's good. 

If you don't want to click over, here it is  (But all the comments on The OC Register are worth a read.): 

My team lost last night. The Anaheim Ducks are my hockey team.
I became a hockey fan two years ago after attending my first game at The Honda Center. I was hooked almost the instant I stepped foot inside its doors. (Read about it here). I have spent the last two years learning the game and deepening my devotion to hockey, and to the Ducks specifically. 

As a mom, the strange thing about hockey is that much of what goes on in the game is the opposite of what I teach my kids. I tell them to be a good sport; just walk away when someone is mean; respect authority; don't hit people in the face with your elbow or a long, heavy stick. That sort of thing. Not exactly a hockey player's marching orders. 

But there are other things about hockey that are exactly what I DO want my kids to learn and to replicate in their lives. And, in a surprising way, I think these lessons are even more important. Just as an example, in hockey, you never give up no matter what the score, you always stick up for your teammates and come to their defense, you don't turn your back on your opponent, and you shouldn't spend too much time admiring your pass (looking back). 

In the sport of hockey, you take some time to celebrate a victory and then quickly look ahead to the next battle.
Speaking specifically about boys, I know moms who won't let their sons play hockey (or wrestle or play football) because it is "too violent." But, I don't see it that way. Boys need to learn how to push through the hardships and pain that life is sure to hand out. I believe it's good for boys to get a little rough and tumble. And though I don't know if I want to see my son spitting teeth or being checked by an angry Swede (they actually have those in the NHL) as a professional hockey player, we plan on putting my son in a hockey program as soon as he is old enough. I look forward to him learning some of the lessons taught by the game. 

The Ducks game last night was a prime example of intestinal fortitude (cough) and perseverance. Sure, we lost. We all lose sometimes. But the Ducks can be proud of the way they fought to the very end, even in the last second of play they were still in the game focusing on the win. I'm proud of each and every one of those guys.
And that, my friends, is why I love hockey.

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A word about being a Ducks fan. I love going to games and sitting around the same people every time. This is my view at all the home games. Nice.

Ducks fans are devoted and love the game.

You can ask them "what just happened?" and they will take the time to shout over the crowd to tell you.

They will let you know if they spill their beer into your purse–not just quickly rescue the remainder of their drink and let you discover the soggy mishap later.

These fans let it loose when we do something awesome. I shot this video at a moment just like that. Don't miss my friend Cathy's face at the end of the video–classic. 

The Anaheim Ducks: Why I love hockey from Suzanne Broughton on Vimeo.

I can't wait until the new season starts!