What Hockey is all about!
Let me introduce you to the Murphy Family!
This past weekend the NMHA held its Wrap Up Day for all of our House League players (Shannon is going to share all of that excitement with you), but I want to share a special a story that will help remind us all about what minor hockey is truly about!
My job this weekend was to help take care of our U5 Division as they concluded their very first season as Nighthawks!
This group of players who hit the ice with us this season as 4 year olds, many of whom were trying on skates for the first time, are always our most excited and cutest players by far!
To celebrate them and their accomplishments, they all had their last hurrah on the ice, then received their Timbits medals and toques before they sat down together, to a pancake breakfast.
I was happy to be a part of this groups celebration and felt very fortunate to the meet the Murphy Family at the U5 breakfast. Jay, Nicole, son Jack and daughter Emily truly represent what hockey really is all about.
Jay happily volunteered to take on the big task of helping to coach this group of young players along with a few other remarkable volunteer parents! Nicole stepped in to become the Division Convenor when we were left desperately trying to find one, Jack is the big brother hockey player who comes to the arena every weekend in tow and is an on ice helper when needed while his sister Emily is the star of the show, as she made her debut as a Nighthawk this season.
After their pancakes, I watched as every sticky, little player went up to thank their Coach. He didn't just pat them on the back and say "good job", he knelt down and gave personal praise to each of them; "great job on learning to skate with both feet", "you were the best listener all year", "do you know how excited we all were for you when you started to skate by yourself"! This was absolutely perfect! Those kids proudly wore their medals and left the arena smiling ear to ear and feeling pretty darn accomplished!
Minor Hockey truly is a family sport, a community activity! Our organization is run completely by volunteers who generously donate their time to make sure that the kids in Northumberland have a fun and safe outlet to share with their peers. We are truly blessed to have such an abundance of amazing volunteers!
Hockey is a game! As our players get older, as they get more and more competitive, as we might begin to feel jaded, we can lose sight of the big picture. You only need to attend a U5 hockey game to be reminded that: Hockey is a game! It is a a physical activity, it is friendly competition, it is skill development, it is a social opportunity, it is FUN!
The Murphy Family is the epitome of a good hockey family; dedicated, generous and all about teamwork!
Many thanks to them and to ALL of our outstanding volunteers - every single Nighthawk player appreciates you!