My new hockey blog

This is just a quick post to let you all know that I’ve started a new Buffalo Sabres fan blog for the 2022-23 NHL season. If you’re interested, please have a look here: Montreal Sabres Fan

‘New perspectives are welcome’: An eye opening experience with letter boards

New perspectives are welcome!

That’s one of the things my son Matthew was able to tell us this past weekend when my wife and I attended an outreach session for an autism therapy called ‘Spelling to Communicate”. What Matthew was able to express by using letter boards was truly an eye-opening experience for me; one that makes me see him in a different light.

Juicing – An experiment to reduce inflammation

As some of my readers may know, I play recreational hockey a couple of times per week. I’m a goaltender and at 49 years old, this is a position that is hard on the body, especially the hips because of the way the hips must rotate to play the ‘butterfly‘ style.

Remembering Dad – 10 years

This is just a repost of a note in remembrance of my Dad. He passed away 10 years ago today at the age of 77. I can still vividly recall his almost-nightly phone calls. We’d chat about all kinds of things; things like family life, health, religion, and sports. It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years already.

Rest in peace, Dad. I miss you, yet I know you’re spirit is still near…

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep

I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glint on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumn rain

When you awake in the morning hush
I am the swift, uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight
And the soft stars that shine at night

Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die

– A poem read at Dad’s funeral

My Dad and I with the Stanley Cup at Rendez-Vous ’87 in Quebec City

The day I met hockey legend Jean Beliveau

Hockey great Jean Beliveau passed away earlier this week. His reputation on the ice was of a player who was respected by fans, teammates and opponents alike. Off the ice, he had a reputation as a classy gentleman who was always willing to take the time to make the people he would meet happy.

Me and Jean Beliveau

I had the pleasure of meeting him once. In 1998, I was playing goal for the Eicon Technology hockey team and Mr. Beliveau came out and coached our team during a charity game we were playing. In the brief moments when I spoke with him, he certainly lived up to his reputation. In the two hours or so that he coached our team, he made me, and I’m sure my teammates, feel like we were important to him.

I left the arena that night feeling grateful for having met the 10-time Stanley Cup champion. Plus, I was happy to show my Dad, who was a huge Canadiens fan, the picture you see on this post.

Oh, by the way, we won the game… 3-2. 🙂