The Hockey Sweater

Jeremy suffered a heart-wrenching moment a few weeks back, when Sam made this stunning announcement out of the blue: "I like the Maple Leafs hockey team, now ... more than the Senators." Betrayed Papa couldn't speak for a moment, but tried hard to remember the tenants of unconditional love as he regained his composure. In the calmest voice he could manage, he enquired, "Why? WHY would you want to cheer for the Leafs instead?" He wasn't prepared for the answer from one so young, but there it was: "I like the Leafs now because they are Caitlyn's favourite team." Ahhhhh. There's a girl involved. A sweet-faced, smiley girl with blonde ringlets. An SK girl whose school cubby is just a few doors down from his. Nearly understandable. But, even still: all of those future father-son hockey cheering moments left uncelebrated flashed before Jeremy's eyes. A Leafs fan! It was almost too much to bear....

But the agony was short-lived. Dropping Sam off at Tracey's the next day, Carter came flying to the door in a Team Canada jersey. "Hey!" says Sam. "You like the Maple Leafs, too?" Well, that explains it. The Team Canada logo is a hockey player silhouette emblazoned on a red & black maple leaf. Not the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Canadian Maple Leafs. And when it comes to Team Canada, the Sens Army and the Leafs Nation are on the same side. Reprieve! It'll be a while yet, it seems, before Sam's interest in impressing the girls overrides his allegiance to father, to city and to (good) hockey....