We Are The Champions!

I was so proud of how Cooper and his team played Sunday. It was the last tournament with 5, 20 minute games against all the teams they have played through the season. They went 5-0! Undefeated! If they were actually part of the Canes Cup they would have been the U8 Intermediate champions. I love to see his determination and watch him play! He loves the game of hockey!
It was a great season. It is sad to see it come to an end with this group of kids. They played so good together. It also becomes part of a family since you spend so much time with each other at the rink and those early morning practices and games. You spend almost 6 months with them.
I know it is a huge commitment of time and money, but when your kid loves something and is actually pretty good at it, you want to foster that and encourage him to continue. To see him happy out there and that smile when he takes off the helmet because he's had fun out there playing the game it makes all the miles, time, early mornings, and money all worth it. Nothing could top that! Fortunately, we can continue to do it.
One would think youth hockey in North Carolina can't be that good....but with all the transplants that moved down here from New York and New Jersey they have some dads that are great coaches. Also with the NHL presence here in Raleigh has helped the sport of youth hockey grow. We knew some people that went back to Michigan for Christmas break and they put their kids in a holiday camp while they were there to visit. Their boys were skating better than most of the kids in the camp the same age in Michigan and when the director asked him where they were from he was floored to find out they were from NC!
Here is a picture from this weekend after all the games. They were all so excited to finish the tournament undefeated.
Great Season Bruins!!