Junior hockey is huge in my town. My Step-Father "Poppa" and I often took my kids to the friday night home games.
He passed away suddenly Jan 02/2020. I took my kids to the game a few days later, in his honour.
He was a bit of a fixture in the community. A veteran. A retired city-worker. Involved with the Army & Navy. A member of the Police Pipes and Drums. He knew a lot of people, and you would always run into someone he knew, everywhere you'd go with him.
At the hockey game, people stopped us and offered condolences. Word gets around small towns fast.(I'm tearing up as I write this)
The 1st period was winding down. 3 minutes left. Usually Poppa would give the kids $5 at this point, to hit the snack booth before the intermission rush started.
I was digging $5 from my wallet, and there was a play on the ice. A hard pass got deflected over the glass. The puck hit a seat in the section to our right, and rolled to my feet.
We always sat in the same seats for every game over the years, and never got a puck anywhere near us. Not before, not since. Glad Poppa's spirit made it to one last Friday Night Home Game!
He passed away suddenly Jan 02/2020. I took my kids to the game a few days later, in his honour.
He was a bit of a fixture in the community. A veteran. A retired city-worker. Involved with the Army & Navy. A member of the Police Pipes and Drums. He knew a lot of people, and you would always run into someone he knew, everywhere you'd go with him.
At the hockey game, people stopped us and offered condolences. Word gets around small towns fast.(I'm tearing up as I write this)
The 1st period was winding down. 3 minutes left. Usually Poppa would give the kids $5 at this point, to hit the snack booth before the intermission rush started.
I was digging $5 from my wallet, and there was a play on the ice. A hard pass got deflected over the glass. The puck hit a seat in the section to our right, and rolled to my feet.
We always sat in the same seats for every game over the years, and never got a puck anywhere near us. Not before, not since. Glad Poppa's spirit made it to one last Friday Night Home Game!