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VB Hockey: Friday Night Ice
The weather has not quite turned to real hockey weather here in Stanstead. The leaves are beginning to change colours and there is a distinct chill in the air at night, but days have been filled with some late September sun and warmth. Despite Mother Nature’s desire to hold onto summer, this past weekend was time for the Pat Burns Arena to open its doors to Varsity Boys Hockey action. With a 4-game week, the boys began by dropping their first CPSHA game to rival Bishops College by a score of 7-5 in a high energy, offensive game.
High energy and offensive hockey seemed to be a theme of the week, as we continued to outscore our opponents in the final three games of the weekend, beating Upper Canada College and Rothesay Netherwood School by matching 6-5 scorelines and Ridley College by a score of 7-5.
To put a visual on the weekend, I will go back to our Friday night game vs. Upper Canada College. A late Spartan goal tied the game up at 5-5 and set the stage for overtime. Throughout the OT period UCC was able to sustain a lot of puck possession and turned some of that possession into scoring chances. However, as much as we bent in our defensive end we did not break, and with just over 30 seconds to go, Zack Michaud retrieved a puck in front of our net and began making his way up the ice.
For such a seasonally warm September night, the arena was packed like it was a -30 evening and the arena is actually the warm spot to be. It was a perfect storm type of night. No other Stanstead sport team was playing, the game was an 8 pm start, and the back-and-forth action kept everyone in their seats… actually, maybe it really brought them out of their seats. As Michaud headed towards the UCC zone, the Stanstead fans lifted from their seats in anticipation of what was to come. He carried the puck on his forehand, those on the ice were chasing, and those in the stands were rushing to bang the glass, as if they knew what was coming.
As the puck hit the inside of the net, jumping the goalie’s water bottle in the air, the Spartans student section erupted with joy, a coach fist-pumped with relief, and the Spartans in uniform joined the fans at the glass.
Friday night was the type of boarding school sporting event that can be harder to come by than we think at times. With so many students busy in so many ways, it is rare to have one sports game and everyone else enjoying a completely free Friday night. When this happens, it creates electric energy. What a start to our season, what great energy by all our fans, and what a fun weekend of hockey for the Varsity Boys Hockey team. Beyond that, what a great reminder to every student to make sure that when you have a chance to watch your friend or fellow advisee play a sport, you should make the time. Social media can wait, because sometimes it’s better to be in the moment than to just like the moment when you see it on your phone.
Thank you to everyone who came out over the weekend. Friday may have been the gold standard but the sunshine and beautiful fall days on Saturday and Sunday didn’t keep you away either. Go Spartans!
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