The hockey smell takes a life of its own in a heated garage. You learn quickly to never leave skates and gloves inside a car with sunshine beating down. Washing jerseys and equipment finds a regular spot in the laundry rotation and there are just some smells that linger regardless of what you do to get rid of them.
The skate sharper professional becomes your go-to errand on the way home from work. You are thankful for the player’s siblings. They are willing to spend their time at the rink, hanging out and cheering for their favorite player. Simply because “we are a hockey family and hockey is our way of life”.
You are unintentionally now on the outside looking in. But, if you are lucky, the passion will pass onto the next generation. Once again, you will travel and cheer and tell everyone about your grandchild and their team. That crack in your heart will scar over with love for that little soul whose jersey hangs to their knees and ankles wobble as they scurry down the ice. It is when you realize the full magnitude of the blessings of this wonderful game.