More Hockey Drama

Just when I thought the picture couldn’t get more muddled, it went and got more muddled, and it took me completely by surprise. A month or two back when we weren’t sure what the future of N’s hockey team was, we were toying with the idea of finding another program, mainly because we were a bit incensed at the atmosphere on his team. Now I have no illusions about loyalty when it comes to playing with one program or another, though it sounds nice in theory.

The problem arises when people are completely self-serving. It’s not unlike economic theory. The whole free market approach sounds appealing, but in reality, it not only does not exist, but it is not the best approach, and leads to problems. Some cooperation has to occur because life does not occur in a vacuum.

The same is true for anything, when you are so fixated on your own interests at the expense of everything around you, everyone suffers. Plus, it makes the world a selfish, cold, and callous place. Why not think of others now and then?

Case in point, hockey. Now everyone thinks the world of their own kid, but some people feel their child is the best thing to happen to hockey since the invention of the Zamboni. Best of all, we get to hear all about how their kid’s needs are not being met by the painful inadequacies of the team. With this in mind, I had some sense that some people would be looking for greener pastures, I just didn’t expect that it would be on this level.

Several people have been caught up in the same seductive lure of promise that the big city program offers, and the other night when we got together to talk hockey, it came to light that these guys are thinking of defecting over. I was a little floored because I figured their needs would be met the next season in our own program, whereby their kids will be graduating to the next level. The team will be strong. In addition to the senior members of N’s team moving up, they have a strong core of returning players, so they will be really good.

However, there was much discussion of moving their kids over. I was surprised in both instances, which is not completely warranted given that we were thinking the same thing. Our motivations, however, are based on the existence of a team, or lack thereof. Since so many people are pursuing their own interests, the team itself is in jeopardy of not coming to fruition. This is a bummer, but the writing is on the wall. At some point, we are going to have to re-think the organization of hockey in this area.

In retrospect, the fact that one of the players is thinking of moving makes sense. He’s very talented, compounded by the fact that all season, his parents indicated that the he was “suffering” from playing on a team that was completely beneath him (at times they went as far as to say he cried because he was so frustrated). I.e., what a waste of his time and talent. These are things I heard firsthand on a continual basis, and granted, the kid is a really good player, but that’s not a very team-friendly way to view things, not to mention unsportsmanlike. I really like his parents, too, but it just added more drama to an already dramatic situation, though I wonder if they felt the same way when the team went undefeated and were viable candidates for the state championship.

As much as I’d miss them, it might be the best thing for him to just transfer over to the big city program. Better team, better resources, better coaching, more of what they may be looking for in a hockey program. Plus, the big city is sound in terms of money and numbers. Our program suffers greatly on all counts.

The other friend, however, really surprised me. He is thinking of putting his son in the big city program, and for what, I’m not sure. His son will be moving up, and the team is going to be good. He will fit in perfectly, and then have a second year on the same team. These guys just don’t strike me as the proto-typical big-city hockey team family, but again, they probably view it as the best thing for the kid in terms of hockey. Who can say?

It is interesting that the people who are toying with the idea of moving over have all been exposed to the same influence, mainly big-city coaches. They are top notch hockey instructors, no doubt, but sometimes I think they nudge talented kids over to the big city, as if they need the people. I think they just want talent, and the reality is, hockey in this area is moving in that direction, with one big association.

Anyway, I’m interested on a number of levels where this will lead. Unfortunately, we have to make some decisions in the coming week, and they hinge a bit on what other people are thinking. I hate when that happens.

Stay tuned for more. Until then, thanks for reading, and thanks to Xarquar for the pic.