Keep Your Head Up Kid

Tall Tales from the Time Box

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Chrismas.” This is crazy, but we do live Alberta so you know winter can come anytime. Some years we don’t even have this much snow at Christmas. It could melt of course, but what is the chance of that, don’t bet on it!

Thankfully we have 6 months of hockey to look forward to help past the time. Without hockey it would be a long cold winter for sure. The North East League scheduling meeting was held this past Saturday in Vermilion and now all the teams are gearing up for their first game this coming weekend. Some of our hockey players may still have a little conflict with the football playoffs, like one of the St Paul Bengals, Odin ‘ the Wall’ Smith who is playing in the semi  this coming Saturday against Bonnyville.  If they win they go on to the final. If they lose the football season is over.

His hockey team the Elk Point peewee Avalanche play at home this Saturday also, against Plamondon. The ‘Wall’ a second year player is one of the biggest players in the league for sure, if not the biggest. Avalanche head coach Robyn Moroziuk mentioned his team has some big brusiers on the blue line this year, but since they took body contact out of peewee hockey it is the speed, not size that wins the game.  But he does have some faster skilled players in the line up too, like today’s birthday boy, Kobe’ the Cobra’ Warawa. He’s not a very big guy, but has a huge heart and desire to learn.  At one time moving up from Atom to Peewee was very intimating for the first year players. The second year guys always went head hunting, getting a little payback from when they had moved up the year before.

Now you have to wait until bantam to see some body checks. Hockey Alberta is hoping this will keep kids in the game.  I suppose time will tell if it works or not. Tough to referee these games too, a little pushing and shoving usually turns into something a little rougher after awhile, especially in a competitive provincial or playoff game, and once it gets out of hand, the fans start to chirp and then its too late to turn back. Much easier when it black and white. Its either a clean body check or rub out or a high stick or elbow or some other infraction. For better or worse, its here to stay, but being from the old school, I prefer a little bit of clean body contact. Like watching the midget Avalanche, they also play their first league game this coming Saturday at home at 8pm against the big bad Bisons from Wainwright. The midgets have a new head coach, Gerry Kjenner. He coached here 20 years ago when he never had a kid on the team. Our bantam Lightning, who by the way my son played for won the provincial gold in 1995. Gerry knows what it takes to win, he’s been there and will work the boys hard at practise, but I promise you they will be in shape by the end of the year to take on any team.

The first game of the year is always exciting, not only for the players, but coaches and parents too, and the odd old timekeeper. And now for the K. A. Campbell quote of the week. ‘ Never apologize mister, it’s a sign of weakness’ – John Wayne