Oh, there is a list of things a mile long that need to be done around the house. We still have unpacking and organizing to do...still need to hang pictures on the walls...still some furniture moving. But, it all takes a backseat to the kids soccer games and the Winterhawks.
This weekend we were treated to back to back to back games on Saturday and Sunday.
Saturday morning we headed to Sherwood for the kids soccer match...this was the first early morning match he had since joining the team. I forget the score, as it was a rout (the 3rd in a row) without a goal scored by his team (the 3rd in a row, also). They are playing hard and getting the opportunities, just sometimes you need some 'puck luck' and they don't have it right now. They are all smiling and having a good time...and thats the great part of it.
Saturday night was a decent game against Seattle...although the outcome wasn't what was expected. The Hawks jumped out quickly in the game, peppering the Seattle defense and goaltender with shot after shot....then, Seattle breaks, gets their first shot on goal and score. Shots were something like 13-1, Portland, but the score was 1-0 Seattle. It all ended in a shootout, which was appropriate given the somewhat uninspired and selfish play Portland was showing towards the end of the game. It's early yet...the team really hasn't been together that long.
The surprise of the night was the return of Ryan Johanson, the number 4 pick in the NHL draft. We learned earlier in the morning that Columbus had sent him back to Portland, but were surprised to see him on the ice for the game...he came out firing in the first. Then, I think his body reminded him that he had just flown cross country and it was time for sleepy.
Sundays game against Lethbridge started at 5pm...which meant an early dinner at the house and on the road by 5pm for the game. Afterwards, the team invited all season ticket holders to a bit of a party. Well, they had some grub (which I wasn't too interested in after having the heaping of Golden Curry before we headed out to the game), pops and an interview session with the president of the club as well as the coach/GM. The night was to be topped off by a meet and greet with some of the players.
As 'luck' would have it, the kid came down with one of his infamous headaches midway through the game. He struggled through the 3rd period of the game and then as we were sitting through the interviews after the game, he got up to head to the toilet, as those headaches make his stomach squirm. A few minutes later, he came back and said the players were all out there and that he wanted his poster and a pen for signing; off he went. Adreniline firing through him, the headache was gone.
After the interviews, we shuffled back up to the lounge to see where he might be...and he was just about to visit Ryan Johanson for an autograph and picture...then 3 other players. After he was done, I told him the queue for the other players was massive and we might want to forgo it for now, 'Thats OK, I already got them!' So, in his quick sprint up, he was able to meet the other players before anyone else. Sweet.
There are some things that big time sports bring out in all of us kids through the years, make us feel great for just a moment in time while we are able to meet and speak with our 'heroes'. Back in the car for the ride home, the kid just lay his head on the door and closed his eyes, wishing for his head to feel better. Thanks to the 'Hawks for making it go away for just a short period of time.
