So many
times I see youth, high school and just sports in general get bad
mouthed for one reason or another, but always wish that people would
get to read and hear about the “nicer” side of things. Sports play an
important role in my life and people need to read about these good
stories– I play hockey for the Ice Devils hockey family. Yes, family,
NOT team. We are more than a team with 22 players, 3 waterboys, and 6
coaches in this big family. We even have distant family members
who come to our practices and events when they can (alumni). Everyone
feels like they belong and we enjoy being together, and this goes far
beyond the ice. We have family dinners, go to other sports games
together and even hang out at each others’ houses as a team (at least
the houses that can fit us all!!). Most of all we stand together when
one person is in a time of need.
Recently our family lost some important members. A former Ice
Devils captain was killed in a car accident and left behind his family.
At the memorial service our coach spoke and asked for everyone who was
there from the Ice Devils family to stand up. Nearly half (maybe more)
stood up in the crowded hall. It was unbelievable! This showed the true
family relationship that there is within our hockey program. People
from the family came from all over including different states. People
who were at the service were so amazed that they even wrote to the
local newspaper to comment on the “family”.
This is not the only death that our family has experienced this
year. About a month later one of our assistant coaches,
Jack, died at age 76 of cancer. Jack was not only a coach to us but he
was a fighter and an inspiration. His wife told us she believed that
the only reason he kept fighting the cancer was because his hockey
family kept him going. When planning his funeral his wife had one
special request. She wanted all of his family members to be involved.
This didn’t seem like a hard request to grant until she explained that
it included all 22 players, 3 waterboys, 5 coaches and as many alumni
that were in town which totalled close to 15. She said that everyone of
these people were just as important to him as his children and
grandchildren were. Her wish was able to be granted even with all of
these people. All of the people who spoke were Ice Devils and the
pallbearers were Ice Devils alumni and coaches. At the end of the
service all of the players stood in a line at the outside walkway as
the casket was carried from the church to the hearse and then as
everyone exited. It was an emotional ending and it summed up the Ice
Devils family– a family that will continue forever!!
This is something that I am proud to be a part of… the “good sports stories”. This is how sports should be.
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I too am an athlete and I too believe that sports teams are families. I have played softball since I was 4 years old. The girls on my teams have supported me through my parents' divorce, my grandpa's death, and all the troubles that come with school. Sports have made a huge difference in my life. They have taught me perseverence, sportsmanship, loyalty, and teamwork. Without sports, I would not have learned the many great qualities I now possess as a college woman. Thank you for standing up for athletes!
Unfortunately this is not the norm anymore. I too understand the connection that can come from a group that works together to make a more solid whole. You bond on a level that goes beyond friendship and makes life a little easier to deal with because you know you'll always have their support like they know that they have yours.
Maybe we can make this idea and epidemic that will spread and push out the unfortunate turn that sports teams have taken over the years.
Dream + Effort = Reality
Don't give up - determination is just a fancy way to be stubborn!