Hockey Day in Canada

Sam is a five-year-old boy living in the capital city of Hockey Nation—it's high time he strapped on the blades. Actually, it's been high time for about a year, but he tends to edge slowly towards such athletic endeavors, trying the idea rather than the equipment on for size. Then came Hockey Day in Canada, and Jeremy decided to get himself suited up for a return to the sport. Sam went along on the shopping trip, agreeing to a new helmet since he was thinking maybe he'd consider walking on the outdoor ice rink in his boots. Something magical happened at Play it Again Sports, however, and he came home with the helmet and elbow pads and shin pads and a new pair of cool hockey skates. And a big smile.

On a gorgeously sunny afternoon, Sam laced up his first pair of skates for the first time and crawled to his feet at the edge of a snow-dusted rink in McGregor Easson park. Carter, who's been taking lessons this season, confidently made his way across the ice, step-gliding its length and tossing back pointers. Sam was initially reluctant to field too many instructions from his cousin and his parents, pleading in his characteristic way "Can I do the lesson later? I just want to skate!" But he was far less frustrated than I expected him to be, picking himself up from falls, never complaining that it was too difficult simply to keep his balance nevermind put one foot in front of the other. I knew he had an Alfredson-inspired vision of himself making effortless loops of the rink, but he didn't seem to be disappointed by these baby step towards the NHL.

On the contrary, Sam was happy to hold on tight to Daddy as he gradually got a feel for the ice and a sense of how to move on it. Then he watched from a sideline snowbank while Jeremy "put on a hockey show," as Sam put it, marvelling at his fancy footwork, backwards skating and quick stops. That's when Trace and Anabel and I made our way back to the house. The boys spent another hour on the rink together, like good Canadians.

Check out the video!