super saturday

I will sit in the stands at Lawfield on Saturday, the very proudest hockey mom ever. Win or lose.... I know my Josh has already won this year.
Super Saturday is the day of championship games for all house league divisions of Hockey throughout the city. Each rink hosts their own and a flashy display of our love for hockey comes out. Josh has wanted to get to this game each year and this is his first time! He is thrilled beyond measure. Josh would love to win but says he is really mostly excited to be playing in the game. That's my boy!
But a conversation we had later that night when Josh could not wind down for sleep showed me how my very sensitive boy has learned the real gift of hockey....
He has admiration for the really good players. In his first year of a division there are half the kids who are a year older than him.... these guys are like his heroes, suiting up right beside him, playing on a team WITH him. He has some really cool dressing room conversations with these guys. One of his team mates has really left an impact on him. No, not the guy who scored 5 goals last night and is a damn good captain.... Josh's inspiration runs way deeper than skill. There is a kid named Matt who he always speaks highly of and who is a really good player. He seems a really well rounded kid... plays hard but is not a big flare of temper out there either. They were talking after the game while changing and waiting for the final word on the standings. They spoke of their dreams about the championship game. Matt told Josh, that he "would give anything to have that one big goal. The goal that wins the championship game for their team." Josh later told me that is his wish too.... Josh is hoping that Matt gets that one big goal! When I asked Josh why he wishes this for his friend (and not anyone else including him)... he told me... "because he REALLY wants it Mom!"
Josh has learned about glory. He has learned about sportsmanship, he has learned about passion..... my baby has won!!