Category: hockey

Life is an interesting collage of intended and happenstance events, actions and behaviours.

There are many near misses along that amazing journey, so, so close to success, so, so close to failure, so, so incidental, so, so consequential. There are the nearly won, the nearly lost, the nearly extinguished, the nearly blossomed, the nearly loved, the nearly wedded, the nearly bought, the nearly sold, the nearly died, the nearly lived…….

Stanley Cup Playoffs are a time of near misses. In a seven game series, it is not always that the best team wins. There are so many near misses in shots that go wide, shots that deflect in and shots that deflect out, shots that hit goal posts and go in, shots that hit goal posts and stay out, penalties that are called, penalties that are not called, players that are injured on a play, players who escape injury despite a major collision, coaches that inspire, coaches that don’t, leaders who lead, leaders that don’t. This is a complex collage of personal effort, team effort, near misses, good intentions, and good fortune. It is no surprise that people say winning the Cup is difficult when those near misses fill all series, through four rounds of competition, and potentially 28 games per team in order to win 16 of those games, and the Cup.

With so many near misses in play during this rather thrilling time of the ice hockey year, it is not surprising that there are unexpected winners, unexpected losers, and many unexpected outcomes along the way. We should honour all of those teams and players who play for the Cup.  They all have a chance.  They all want the same result. Some want it a little more. But mostly the winner has been on the right side of near misses.

I had an interesting and somewhat unusual weekend.

It was the approximately 50th anniversary reunion on my undergraduate class from the University of Saskatchewan. I had not seen or indeed heard from more than one or two of my former classmates over those 5 decades. I was inspired to attend given the likelihood that this might really be the last time we all see each other.

I flew in early on Friday, with another purpose in mind.  Since I was going to be in Saskatoon, I thought I would drive out to Humboldt and get a feeling for how people there are doing, now 2 1/2 months after the tragic deaths of over half of the Humboldt Bronchos Junior A hockey team members, including coaches, trainers, bus driver and players. The world has been moved by this loss of life, moved profoundly by the loss of so many young, innocent, emerging people. Although there has been immense support of all types offered to the survivors, their families and friends, the community of Humboldt and the province of Saskatchewan, there is still heavy grief and a sense of confusion as to why this accident occurred.  I, for one, have been moved.  I have not been able to go past the loss yet.  I have read and listened to many tributes, and observed many soulful actions by individuals, by organizations, by strangers, a worldwide response of thoughtfulness and emotion.  But I needed to go to Humboldt….

The drive out was beautifully peaceful. The weather was warm and sunny. The traffic light. The 75 minutes passed quickly. Soon I was at the outskirts of Humboldt, having seen various banners and signs along the road, Humboldt Strong. I was hungry and got some advice from the locals as to where the food was good……a little bistro near the main highway. And, the food was excellent…..a super sandwich and a glass of wine! Sated for sure……. I saw that they were selling T-shirts there in support of the Bronchos so I bought one for Oscar my grandson.  Then it was time to go the the Elgar Peterson Arena. It was impressive to see that the ice rink, a curling rink, an aquatics facility, and gymnasium were all part of a single complex, integrated with the Humboldt Collegiate Institute. A great concept that apparently pioneered in the city of Tisdale nearby. As I entered the arena foyer, there was a quietness there. Another couple, also apparently coming to pay their respects, also arrived about the same time……  There were numerous representations of the honour and sadness related to the team in statements, in signed banners, in a cross with all of the names of the Bronchos members who did not survive, a beautiful wooden and iron bench with their logo, and an artfully constructed eternal flame framed in iron and glass. There were books to sign…….I did…..thick books….. I was happy that the foyer was largely empty of people.  There was time to commune. I slowly left……I felt the town, I felt the people, it felt better.

There was a somewhat parallel sense at the class reunion when we registered on Friday, and had our visits to all of the U of S Huskies facilities and the new Physical Activity Centre on Saturday, and also had our banquet and program on Saturday evening.  We were among the survivors after 50 decades.  There were faculty and former trainees missing, some because of health, some because of personal circumstances, and some because they had passed away. There was a sense of pleasure that the 60-odd people who had come together had indeed survived and were well enough to join in celebration, in laughter, in sharing stories over meals and drinks. There had been losses of many of our most important early mentors, and only one of our former faculty were able to join us at the banquet, Dr Don Bailey.  He was still as sharp and funny as ever before.

I few of us golfed on Sunday morning…….a perfect day on the lovely Willows course. The interesting thing for me is that I had not known the other 5 golfers very well during our undergraduate experience, largely because we were in different years, just ahead or just behind.  It was like discovering a whole new set of golfing buddies.  Great fun for all!

Just now I am boarding the plane on route back to Vancouver. I am at peace.  I am going home to see my beautiful wife and family, my neighbourhood, and to relax. I have had quite a lot of travel this spring.  It is now time to be at home, on the ground.  May all of the living Bronchos heal, may all of my surviving classmates keep pushing forward in their mature years.  Love you all.