At the link below is a great column for any parent whose kid plays minor hockey. It’s by Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun and as he tells it here the column was written some time ago. You may have read it already. Simmons likes to re-publish it every year because his recollections remind him that when he gets behind the bench of his minor league squad each season the young heroes on the ice are just kids. He tells a poignant and funny story of a boy who was too embarrassed to tell his parents or Simmons himself that he was frightened and sometime hurt by the crazy dogpile antics of his own teammates each time they won a game. Above, we see just such a frenzy as joyous players treat their goalie like a beanbag. Simmons was finally able to get this secret out of the lad and restore his ace goalie to the lineup. Clearly, the kid was no cream puff. He faced down searing shots on goal but his own teammates scared him. That’s actually all too human. Steve Simmons
