APRIL 1, 2014
The end is now here. It's hard to believe but it seems it wasn't too long ago we were out selling steaks and going around looking for sponsors. I still remember when we took the kids in to get fitted for their jerseys. It was awhile ago now but it doesn't feel that way. The season can't go on forever though and is now officially over.
After playing together for the last eight months the kids will now part ways. Some for a very short time, some for a long time. Regardless for how long they will always remember the pals they made and that pals are forever. Some of my brothers good friends to this day are kids he played hockey with. I used to wonder what I missed having never played the game myself but I don't have to do that anymore because I see what bonds our kids have made and the fun they had this year. The kids took down Jack Astors in London and left their mark in the common room in Georgetown (and maybe some of the parents did to). Never once did any of them argue or disagree. There were no groups with these kids just one group and that was the team. All the kids did great being with each other.
The parents were awesome to. When your kid is part of a team, and it doesn't have to be a travel team it can be any team there is the payoff of seeing your child play and have fun but also the payoff from the great times the parents have together. We all laughed and joked and sat together at games traded stories and helped each other out. It was great.
With the regular season games, tournaments, playdowns and playoffs the kids would compete in 61 games this season taking victories in 39 of them. Out of those 61 games they would light the lamp a whopping 283 times!! The kids were finalists in 2 out of 4 tournaments and also being finalists in the end at the Bluewater Day of Champions. Most notable they were 1 win away from going to the OMHA finals losing by 1 goal to Belle River. It would be hard not to say the Novice AE kids didn't have a successful season.
I would now like to thank the staff.
Coach Sean Middaugh thank you for stepping up and taking the time to coach the team. Also for providing awesome tunes in the locker room and your skinny jeans.
Coach Duane Mongeau thank you for your never ending passion and dedication to the team and your always perfect hair. It was like when you slept your head never touched the pillow.
Trainer Jeff Rudowicz thank you for taking care of the kids at warmups and bringing the water bottles to the games and for some reason never bringing them to practices.
Manager Mike Losier thank you for all your hard work. Being manager is truly a thankless job but things wouldn't have run well without you and your insane persistence at having to get things done and not letting anything go for more than 5 seconds.
On ice helper Mike Olar thank you for helping out and making sure every team has an Olar on it.
On ice helper Tony Garro thank you for helping out and showing the kids how not to skate (I'm sure I'm talking about myself more for that).
On ice helper Joe Monette thank you for helping out when you would just randomly showing up out of the blue to practices.
Honorable mention to Angie Rudowicz for being in charge of fundraising. I'm pretty sure the Boston Pizza night cost me money but we all had blast!! Also Jodie Cullen for being the parent liaison. I am also pretty sure everyone just went to the coach anyway but we can't have a team without a parent liaison.
All things a side all the staff did a exceptional job and the 3 medals the kids have around their necks and the improvement from where they were at the start of the season until now proves it.
Let's hope next season is just as good as this one was.
Take care and see you all soon.......wait a minute....let me take a selfie!!
