On Hockey Days in Saskatchewan . . . and Manitoba

January 31, 2009 by maureen.ulrich.

It’s been a bittersweet hockey season to be sure.

The clock is slowly winding down to Robin’s last games wearing a Huskie jersey. It’s been a great ride for the last five years, but it’s nearly over.

Five more league games. And then – hopefully – playoffs. One doesn’t ever get too cocky around the Gods of Hockey because they have a way of humbling you when you least expect it.

And speaking of humbling — we’ve had a few very humbling moments in the past few weeks.

First, let’s travel back to the 2^nd annual Hockey Day in Saskatchewan. This year’s event was held in our hometown of Lampman.

Ten games and hundred of volunteer hours later, the event is over, but the people who participated will remember it for years.

I have so many favourite moments. Where to start?

How about – kids and adults playing shinny on an outdoor rink on the baseball diamond? The midget team showing up to manhandle the plywood floor into place in the curling rink.  The variety of delicasies served up by the Lampman Kitchen Committee –from perogies and sausage to a hearty chili (served with pickle). Richard driving the zamboni in a tuxedo. Lamp Man, our mascot, being present for the ceremonial puck drop. The initiation team going out for a skate and O Canada at the same time as the SJHL All-Stars.

Let’s not forget $42000 raised at the jersey auction on Friday night.

The interdenominational church service on Sunday morning.

All our minor hockey teams playing at home that weekend. 

And – most importantly – the arrival of the U of S Huskies at our farm on Saturday afternoon. I couldn’t believe it when the entire team climbed off the bus. Keep in mind these girls are fulltime university students. Randy and I were overwhelmed that they would come to Lampman on their weekend off – to play an exhibition game in Robin’s hometown. It was very humbling indeed.

And their game against the AAA Midget Westman Wildcats, which boasts two members of the Canadian Under-18 Team, was a fast-paced contest which concluded in an overtime 3-2 win for the Huskies. Many people in our area had never seen a live women’s game before, and they were some impressed.

Afterwords the Huskies and Wildcats gathered in the lobby to sign autographs.  All those children – gathered around our Huskies – were thrilled to get an autographed team poster and tattoos. But in the end, I’m not sure who enjoyed it more – the kids or the Huskies.

Fast forward one week later to Winnipeg. It was a bitterly cold weekend, but our memories of it will keep us warm for a very long time.

After going down to defeat 5 –2 in Game One, the Huskies rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat the 17 - 0  Manitoba Bisons in a shootout.

The Huskies’ game-tying goals can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg9zy9tfy70.

And if you’re concerned about it taking a long time to watch, don’t be. The Huskies score both goals within the last 14 seconds of regulation. It was their Miracle on Ice.

Women’s hockey is a beautiful game. It’s hockey at its purest – and in my humble opinion – at its best.

And we are sure going to miss it.

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