Saturday, January 27, 2007
Small-Town Hockey
by Greg
Missed this the first time 'round -- Patrick McGrath in Friday's New York Times, with a feature on high school hockey in northern Minnesota.
It's a worthwhile read, though there's some odd editing (there's a mention of a legendary high school championship from 1969, but no further details are provided). And, it won't seem revolutionary to anyone who's read that subset of American literature that deals with small communities that orbit around sports (cf "Friday Night Lights").
Still, it's a nice little feature, and it contains this insight into the life of Minnesota hockey legend Henry Boucha, discussing representing his town in that 1969 state championship:
"Just playing for your community, that's the greatest gift for an athlete.... It's an immense feeling, like having sex for the first time."
Missed this the first time 'round -- Patrick McGrath in Friday's New York Times, with a feature on high school hockey in northern Minnesota.
It's a worthwhile read, though there's some odd editing (there's a mention of a legendary high school championship from 1969, but no further details are provided). And, it won't seem revolutionary to anyone who's read that subset of American literature that deals with small communities that orbit around sports (cf "Friday Night Lights").
Still, it's a nice little feature, and it contains this insight into the life of Minnesota hockey legend Henry Boucha, discussing representing his town in that 1969 state championship:
"Just playing for your community, that's the greatest gift for an athlete.... It's an immense feeling, like having sex for the first time."
Labels: high school hockey, Minnesota
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"Just playing for your community, that's the greatest gift for an athlete.... It's an immense feeling, like having sex for the first time."
You mean, like total awkwardness and nervousness and a lot of fumbling around? errr 0_o
You mean, like total awkwardness and nervousness and a lot of fumbling around? errr 0_o
"Brush With Greatness," Chapter 1:
Henry Boucha was a customer of mine, in Westland, MI, when I had my Detroit Free Press paper route. His parents lived in the little house, too. Several times, when I was there to collect, there were other Red Wings in the living room and kitchen.
At the time, he had the record for fastest goal scored after the opening face-off. The puck was mounted on a small wooden plaque near the front door, and his mother showed it to me, with great pride obviously.
http://www.couchpotatohockey.com/Records/Reg_Season_Ind_Records/Fastest_Goals_Assists.asp
I always figured he was a French-Canadian. Well, I was only about 13, and we didn't have the internet, back in those days. We didn't have a color TV, in my house, but that's another story.
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Henry Boucha was a customer of mine, in Westland, MI, when I had my Detroit Free Press paper route. His parents lived in the little house, too. Several times, when I was there to collect, there were other Red Wings in the living room and kitchen.
At the time, he had the record for fastest goal scored after the opening face-off. The puck was mounted on a small wooden plaque near the front door, and his mother showed it to me, with great pride obviously.
http://www.couchpotatohockey.com/Records/Reg_Season_Ind_Records/Fastest_Goals_Assists.asp
I always figured he was a French-Canadian. Well, I was only about 13, and we didn't have the internet, back in those days. We didn't have a color TV, in my house, but that's another story.
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