@guyfelicella Born and raised in Parry Sound you were either Bruins or Leafs fan. Now I’m just a fan of the game. The Habs certainly entertained hockey fans this playoffs. 👍👍
As a lifelong fan of the Montreal Canadiens, this season was unforgettable.
But the best part wasn't the playoff run, it was watching every game with my 5-year-old son and sharing those moments together.
Those are memories we'll carry for the rest of our lives.
A huge thank you to Alex Newhook for signing his jersey and making a young fan's dream come true. Small gestures like that mean more than you'll ever know! 💕🙏🏼
@MuskokaCoach18 I remember as well. A friend said to me “they grow up so fast” as I was holding my daughter for the first time in the delivery room. That was 24 yrs ago. I sure with it woukd slow down.
Happy graduation. 🍀🍀
A PARENT’S JOURNEY THROUGH YOUTH SPORTS:
Age 5: “He’s got a cannon.”
Age 6: “He’s the fastest kid out there. Coach said so.”
Age 7: “Rec ball isn’t challenging him anymore.”
Age 8: “We tried out for select. Obviously made it.”
Age 9: “$2,800 for the season. Plus uniforms. Plus tournaments. Plus hotels.”
Age 10: “Cooperstown is basically a family vacation, right?”
Age 11: “He needs a hitting guy. And a pitching guy. And probably a mental performance coach.”
Age 12: “I’m not a crazy sports parent. The OTHER parents are crazy.”
Age 13: “We changed schools. For academics. (And also baseball.)”
Age 14: “Showcases are a requirement at this age.”
Age 15: “Ya his ranking just ticked up. We’re cooking.”
Age 16: “He just needs to get seen by the right school.”
Age 17: “The D1 schools want him to walk on. He’ll earn a spot by sophomore year.”
Age 18: “Okay, D2 is actually really competitive.”
Age 19: “He’s redshirting. Strategic.”
Age 20: “He’s focusing on school now.”
Age 21: “You know what? He’s so much happier.”
Roughly 7% of high schoolers play in college.
About 1.5% of those get drafted.
Less than half of draftees ever play one day in the big leagues.
The odds of our kids going pro are somewhere between “struck by lightning” and “find a $100 in old shorts.”
I love youth sports (all my kids play a bunch of them) just keep a good perspective my friends. ✌️
Big news: Ted Nolan, NHL Coach of the Year, will keynote the NOHA Awards Dinner on June 12 at the Quattro Hotel in Sault Ste. Marie. Join us in celebrating the volunteers who keep hockey strong across Northern Ontario. Details: https://t.co/2v5OmWIrAB #NOHA#TedNolan#Hockey
WOW, WOW, WOW 🤯 Homelessness exploding.
ERs breaking.
Families drowning in costs.
Doug Ford buys… a $28.9 MILLION private jet.
They’ll tell you there’s “no money” for people.
Just not for YOU.
KIDS: Hunter McDonald just played his first NHL game where he had an assist and was a +3. I coached Hunter as a U16 and he was probably the 3rd most talented defenseman on our team and maybe 5th most talented overall player. At U16.
But three things Hunter had:
-Absolute love for the game
-Insatiable work ethic
-Old school compete and toughness. Total throwback.
Talented at 16 but had the intangible skills that lead to massive development. Eventually that led him to Northeastern as a 20 year old and now the NHL.
We say it all the time, but everyone has a different path. If you're a kid reading this, chances are your path will have to be the long way like Hunter. And if your path is the long way, it's non-negotiable that have those three intangible skills (love for the game, work ethic, compete).
One of my favorites and an incredible example for any kid out there with a dream.
@MuskokaCoach18@SalmingandMe Such amazing items to have from your grandfather. I want to stand nxt to you one day while you’re wearing it at the BOCC. 🤣🤣