This was a tough spring. Things for Joe were not going well with the Little Flyer Organization. Although he did fine with the older team this season he had wanted to go back to his age group. Still, there were a handful of parents who really had it out for him. Their prima donna brats were so high strung and wired by the constant bashing that they got from their insane fathers and mothers about their play left them like ticking time bombs. Dont get me wrong, there were a lot of great kids and parents on these teams. The handful of crazies could ruin the good vibes in an instant if something was possibly interfering with their kids path to the NHL. He wasn’t the only player to feel the wrath. Joey had a carefree, joking demeanor, always trying his best and could chirp with the best of them. He mainly saved it for intimidating the other team but some of these high strung, stressed out, teammates couldn’t handle any of it… if Joe decided to kid with them or they with him. So be it. We decided to have him try out for a different club in New Jersey. The tryouts went well. Joe was polite, followed the directions of the coach and kicked ass on the ice. By far the most talented Defenseman on the ice. After the week, the coach posted the players names on the bulletin board while the kids got undressed in the locker room. I went out to the car prior and watched as the coach exited out the side door. About 15 minutes later, Joe came out carrying his bag with this sullen and shocked look on his face. His name was not on the list. He slammed his bag into the trunk while other parents walked by telling us that they were in disbelief that Joe hadn’t made the team. Without saying a word, he climbed in the passenger seat and stared forward in silence. I could see and feel the hurt consuming him inside. The frustration was overwhelming him as he threw the door open to the car and he marched into the arena. I knew that the coach had left quickly before the players would look at his post. What a coward. After realizing the coach had left, Joe left my phone number at the front desk and told the receptionist that he deserved an explanation. Joe rode home in complete silence. The pain was oozing out of him. He knew that he was the best out there. This had nothing to do with hockey. It crushed me too seeing him wronged like this. His maturity amazed me.
A few days later the coach felt the need to call me and explain the situation. He was getting a lot of questions about Joe’s departure, from teamates and parents. He told me that the season before he had so many problems with bad actors on his team. Two players that horribly attacked another player in the locker room after practice. These were 13 year old boys. This among other nasty incidents committed by other players throughout the season. These players were released but made their way on to other AAA teams. “Why Joe”, I asked? “Well, I got a couple phone calls from some parents from his former team saying that Joe could be a handful, an issue.” I asked him if he ever displayed any derogatory actions ever during this time with you and any other times he was in your presence? “No”, he said. “But after last season I don’t want to take any chances”. So these prima donna ahole parents took it upon themselves to go out of their way to blackball a 13 year old kid? I hoped that they were proud of it. I felt bad for their kids. Stressed out “superstars” who never really got to enjoy the game. It was pathetic. It was sad.
So the next email I got from this coach was to make sure Joe was at the All Star festival tryouts the next weekend because he was sure that he would make the team. He put in a good word for him. Are you kidding? I showed the email to Joe and for the first time in his life he declined the challenge. He was broken. I emailed this guy back, such a renowned coach, and basically told him to screw off. How dare he come back a week later with this shit. Joe already had other offers within the week.
The Old York Road Raiders were a AA hockey club in Montgomery County that played out of an ancient arena, old time hockey and a friend of mine offered Joe to come out and see if he liked the team. Now, Joe was 13 years old and the team was all 16 years old players… 16AA in the DelVal hockey league. They were some big boys but Joe’s talent was right there or above the level. Size was an issue but he was a tough kid, and really quick. This turned out to be a good fit and he was really enjoying himself as his skills were welcomed by the team and they very much enjoyed his chirping skills. I got to help coach too. It was going to go well.
About a week in, during practice, I received a cell phone call from…. Guess who? The Jersey coach. He had a change of mind, or conscience, or came to his senses and wanted to know if Joe would like to come back to the team. I gave the phone to Joe and almost peed myself as he politely told the coach ” Absolutely not!”. “Thanks, but no thanks”. I was so proud of him.
While this drama was playing out, I was told that I would be playing chauffeur to Nick’s seven upcoming proms. I had to buy the tux, it was cheaper. He had one Holy Ghost Prep prom and six sister school proms coming soon. Very eventful. A handsome, well loved, polite young man. I was very proud of the young men that I was raising. As 2010 was moving on, my two guys were settling in with their lives, Joe bobbing and weaving through some big big boys, scoring goals and causing mayhem. And Nick excelling in his Junior year and preparing for his college plans to come. Me, just another year of daily chemo meds, another season of cheer and playing Santa Claus. Lor, doing her library thing and watching her guys grow. Things were working out well. Joe was also recruited to play hockey at a private boarding style school, The Academy of the New Church this year. The fall of 2010 would be a great adventure as well as the new year 2011…Exciting stuff….
So anyway, we were playing at the Grundy arena one Sunday morning against the Grundy Senators. There was a woman in the stands that was emulating some of the past parents bad behavior that we had unfortunately become accustomed to and was relentlessly berating her own team and ours. By the third period it was really out of control. Constantly screaming at the top of her lungs, from obscenities to insults to you name it…it was very Ugly. There was a face off near our bench where this nut was sitting behind at the top seating row. Before the face off, Joe skated up to the center, his friend Jamie Crane, and they spoke for a second. When the referee dropped the puck, Jamie drew it back to Joe. Joe spun around and sent the puck whizzing over our heads, past the bench, and within inches of the crazy, screaming woman’s head. She immediately sat down and shut up. The referee then escorted Joe off of the ice for the remainder of the game to a standing ovation from the entire crowd. An ovation of appreciation as the woman stormed out of the arena. I wasn’t upset. I knew that he wouldn’t hit her, he knew it to. He was too skilled. The referee actually thanked Joe for shutting her up but had to penalize him. She was a bully. Joe always fought against the bullies. He fought for the underdogs, for the picked on kids. On the ice and off. He stood up to the crazies and wired wannabe superstars and never backed down. If that’s what the “issues” were Mr. Coach, I’ll take him on my team any day…. Any Day.
Next Up: ANC, ADHD and Tara