The P season is upon us and this one will be my last……
I came into this league 21-year-old drafted in the second round by the very man who got me in the league, Campbell. That would be the last time I went in the second round, till now. So being drafted second round this year seems only fitting to go out how I came in, I didn’t even threaten to hold out or demand a trade, or my famous” I want to play D”. Perhaps another cliché of it being better to burn out than to fade away. Considering all the young talent coming in, nature is taking its course (*coughs* guys over 40). Watch out for that Walsh kid.
Spending over a decade in this league has been an honor and a privilege. There’s been hockey highs and lows as every season presents a new cast to play out the season. What looking back on this is what’s changed in these very important years. You’ve seen your friends grow, marry, have children. I don’t think I can count on just 2 hands the times I’ve had a conversation where a friend has broken news of a life change with a beer in hand in the locker room. Remember kids I’ve been playing on Mondays before Facebook. Some key moments I’ll never forget have gone down around Monday night hockey. The phrase “he told me on Monday at hockey” is a phrase I’ve said many times.
As I see players retire each year it’s like losing an older brother, which I can’t name how many players were to me. The P is indeed a family, a family of characters. As some of my favorite line mates can’t go by their real names, Maj, Disco, DH, Ryz, Creegz, Ticker, slopper, Big Marco and I’ll never forget the K-MAN. I’ve had some good opponents, always one to embrace the target on my back with the many showdowns with Hammy and the Jets as well as what is doomed to be an eternal dual between me and Gogo. I can’t forget the shadowing job Rich Parmentier laid on me, if only someone could have picked up the slack on the last 3 minutes of my shift. Thinking back on all the times Colin Kemp used to come in and check if the points were right, most didn’t care, I did. Now to see his daughter Kristy taking over is just a sign of how the P is a family. She never offered to correct the stats, but she humored me by disagreeing with any call that put me beside her in the box.
As the league seems to be thriving as good as ever, I sometimes shake my head, I never thought I’d play long enough to see expansion or games played at Dorval?! But the league has grown to a new generation to embrace the fond memories of Monday’s. I always wondered why a guy like Duker hung em up when he was still good, but all these years later, I got my answer. Things change a lot in a decade. I was just a kid in university when I started, getting hammered on Mondays heading out for beers(Topaz) after we got the boot from the arena. I thought I’d play in this league till I was 50. Now the thought of an 11pm game in January gives me the shivers. Scoring goals on Mondays meant a lot to me, now I’m just pissed I need to actually go to Calzones to get pizza.
It’s been some great hockey with great teammates and better friends. I’d be remised to not mention it hasn’t been the same without my best friend screaming his lungs out in profanity at me to move my ass… I’ll miss you the most Kneestore.
To the new generation, don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t hang up at the red line and that if you’re under 30 you can hate Coors light.
Rourkey
Ps. To the all my centers, thanks for always back checking.
