From my right defense position, I swivel my head to the right, to acknowledge the AMHL’s version of Mr. Hockey (who just lost a nomination for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy). I don’t say anything but smile my yellow mouthpiece smile through my metal cage. Then I snap myself back to the task at hand: beating the Bruins.
The score is 2–2 as we start the second period, but my Avalanche teammates and I— seven skaters—are all but out of gas. Chasing Losier, an AMHL Hart Trophy candidate and keeping pace with Scott Keith, a Norris Trophy contender, is wearing us down. Bruins’ goalie Brian Monahan is holding us at bay.
We surrender two goals in the second period and three in the third to lose, 3–7. More numbers:
-Jim Dwyer: no points, no penalties because there were no referees this morning…one broken hatchet (Bye-bye Lady Byng)
-Dave Losier: one goal, two assists (I hope Mr. Hockey is happy)
“A lot of leagues have their Mr. Hockey…and we’re lucky to have him here tonight,” said Alan Patterson said on May 12, 2006. Patterson operates Fort Collins Adult Hockey Association, and he introduced FCAHA’s “Mr. Hockey,” to players who had gathered for the league’s end-of-the-season awards ceremony.
My dad graciously accepted an award, which is inscribed with these words:
“Presented to James M. Dwyer in gratitude and appreciation for making the Fort Collins Adult Hockey Association an extraordinary and unsurpassed adult hockey association to all those who participated.”
Taking credit for working so hard to bring hockey to the Choice City, my dad also acknowledged that he didn’t do it alone. He told his adoring fans about the time Gordie Howe came to town to help promote youth hockey, only to learn that someone had stolen his registered trademark.
“Mr. Hockey?” Gordie had questioned my dad. “This happens in every city I go.”
“Every town has one,” my dad replied, “but there’s only one Gordie Howe.”
My dad’s favorite hockey player of all time, Gordie Howe, hasn’t read my blog—as far as I know. But if I write his name enough times in this piece—Gordie Howe, Gordie Howe, Gordie Howe—and link his Web site to mine, maybe the original Mr. Hockey® will notice too.
