Score One for the Team

"When things are going good, you just keep working hard. Things are bad, you keep working hard. So . . . my main focus right now is just to . . . help this team make the play offs. Regardless personally of what I do or what happens, my commitments are to the team and, the team comes first."
~Jamie Tardif (#25)

Last hockey season, my fencing partner got me started attending a few of our local Griffins' games. Sorry to say, they lost almost all of the ones I saw and many I didn't see.

This year in keeping with our new tradition, we went to see our team on February 25th. Because of some positive stories shared, we kept our eyes especially out for any time #9 Francis (Frankie) Pare was on the ice. Thankfully for the team, it was frequently.

What a difference from last year! The previous season, the team appeared to make up for lack of skill and teamwork with numerous fights. Hockey fans may call me out for this, but the fights usually look to me like immature, bullying boys throwing a tantrum.

In contrast to this (only one fight this game, which was a fist-fight between only two players), this year's Griffins were focused on the game. That doesn't mean there weren't reasons to fight.

For example, my new favourite player—As I watched, the Lake Erie Monsters players (the bad guys) held on to Francis' shoulders (but were never called) and made an obvious (but not to the ref) effort to trip him with a hockey stick, along with the usual slamming and pinning to walls. Instead of concentrating on the person impeding him, Francis worked his way free and concentrated on the goal, becoming the number one player for the evening (and not that evening only).

Last year, the Griffins teamwork stunk, and I used them as an negative example. This year, they are all about the team and working together. They have not only shown it on ice, but declared it in every interview. It's not about themselves, although the pats on the back are appreciated. It's the team that matters. It's helping each other meet the goal.

The Griffins' attitude reminds me of what our Coach has told us:

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22)

Pass the puck, guard your teammates, help those who fall down, honour those who score, but do it as a team, aim for the goal, and win it for the glory of our Coach.