The Iceboy Cometh

Many Canadians are passionate about the game of hockey. When children play organized hockey for the first time, it is a momentous occasion.

Mrs. Wonders and I don't have children, but we have seen this rite of passage occur with extended family and friends. Both of us have gone through this when we were kids, as well.

There have been a few times where we've heard about Sack kids playing hockey for the first time. Their parents, of course, were thrilled.

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Oscar was elated when his son began to play hockey.

He says he's enjoying how much his son likes to play. But he hopes Dorian won't be too good at the game. When kids excel at hockey, Oscar points out, it starts to become a very expensive sport.

It looks like Doo's mom won't have to worry about this.

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Mrs. Wonders was chatting with Doo's mom the other day.

Apparently, Doo will start hockey on Saturday. This means that his hockey/bike helmet has been repaired and will be of use, after all.

Doo's mom says her son is "rarin' to go". Even though he's never put on a pair of skates, Doo can't wait to get out there.

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I ran into Doo this afternoon, when I arrived home from work.

He was playing road hockey with another little Sack kid. Actually, the pair of them were standing around wearing their helmets and holding their hockey sticks. There wasn't a ball or a net to be seen.

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I walked over to Doo and asked if he was excited about playing hockey tomorrow.

He nodded his head quickly and then said something unintelligible. Waiting lists for speech therapy in the old town are quite long.

I told Doo that he should expect to have a great deal of fun. He responded with a big smile and said, "I'm gonna bwake my schtick over everybody's head!"

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Then Doo performed a rehearsal for his big hockey debut tomorrow. He swung his hockey stick at shoulder height and performed a complete 360 degree turn.

As he swung his stick, he said, "Kapow, Kapow!"

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Mrs. Wonders noticed me speaking with Doo from our front window. She asked why he was swinging his hockey stick like a machete.

I told her Doo is planning to go out for Halloween dressed as a Japanese samurai.

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Meanwhile, I've said a silent prayer that someone at the local hockey rink has their first aid training up to date.

I think they'll probably need it tomorrow.

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