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| OUR GRANDSON, NICHOLAS |
Number seven. Centre. Goal scorer. On the way to Kenilworth Arena — an old community barn, oozing with character nestled in southeast Edmonton — Nicholas told his father Darren he was going to score a goal that day for his mom. We had some concerns if Nic would even play that morning. But when he went to bed the night before and tucked his hockey stick and puck under his blanket, we knew he would be in the line-up.
It could
have been easy for Nic not to play. Understandable, too: on March 2 his mother
passed away after a six-year
cancer battle. Nic, 10, was at her hospital side when she died.
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| NICHOLAS AND HIS MOM ANNA MAI IN DECEMBER |
He said he
wanted to play the very next day.
Nic had
many family vmembers in the Kennilworth stands cheering him on.
Midway
through the second period he had the puck in front of the net and picked the
right hand corner for his second goal of the game.
Many of us
watching had tears in our eyes: it was bittersweet of sadness and jubilation.
Nic was so excited when he threw both hockey gloves in the air before taking
the following faceoff.
After the
game, Nic’s coach Shaye Ganam closed the dressing room door to have a private
meeting. Shaye told the team about Nic’s mom.
On his way
out of the rink, Shaye stopped and we shook hands. I asked how Nic was.
“After our
team meeting I asked Nic if he wanted to say anything,” said Shaye, who is a broadcaster
for Global TV Edmonton.
Nic got up
and said, ‘When you say goodnight to your Mom, give her an extra hug — because I
don’t have on anymore.”
Two goals
and a profound statement.
It may have
been two months ago, but it will remain with me the rest of my days.
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| SIMPLY PUT, MY HERO |
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