A Battle of Epic Proportions

You know, as a child you always dream about those big moments in life. For many American kids the picture is painted as 4th and long from the twenty yard line with 10 seconds to go. For the African or Brazilian the moment takes place on the soccer pitch with time running down and, of course, the Canadian youngster dreams of a tie game in double overtime for the Stanley Cup win.

Well, on December 26th, 2006 I was able to participate in such an event. It actually happens every year for me. It's called the Michel hockey game. You see, every year my uncle rents the ice for one glorious hour that puts family against family and the winner takes home all the glory. But before I get to the bone crushing details, let me paint the background picture.

My mom grew up in a family of nine children, seven of whom were brothers. Naturally, these siblings gained a great deal of rivalry. This was picked up in the form of hockey. With nothing else to do during Canada's winter the brothers started playing hockey at a very young age. Even my Mom plays hockey, and is quite good.

Now, fast forward a few decades and all these brothers have children who, naturally, play hockey as well. Thus, you have about twenty able bodied nephews who play hockey. So, that's what we do every Boxing Day. We have the Michel Cup.

However, this year was different. For one hour it would be a full equipment, backs to the wall, gladiator against gladiator ESPN epic event. Pride was on the ice and everyone was ready. Our family, who has three hockey players started with the pregame meal the night before. Always pasta and chicken.

I couldn't sleep, because the thoughts were running through my mind of massive open ice hits, glorious goals, feathered passes, and third period heroics. I was ready, both mentally and physically, but I couldn't sleep. So, I got up and visited the photo albums that we kept around the house of our younger years. Pictures of my brother and I in minor hockey, playing pond hockey, and skating at young ages. I realized that there was a family dream that I needed to carry. It was on my shoulders as a young man to keep this dream alive.

Finally the moment came. After an energy boosting breakfast, my mom, my brother and I went downstairs to get all our equipment together. There was a twinkle in each eye and the moment was almost magical. For the first time all three of us would play on the same line, skating with the same goal in mind.

An hour later we stepped on the ice. The cold rush of wind was on my face as I took those first strides. It was perfect. Each person had their own warm-up routine. My brother and I skated side by side staring each of the rival cousins or uncles in the eye. We had a look of pure intimidation and determination. We were here for business.... but so were they.

And so the puck dropped. I took the opening face-off and dropped it back to our defenseman. The game was on. It was quick. No gliding here. On the ice, hard skating, passing and shooting. This was perfect for all those TV viewers. About halfway into the first period they scored their first goal, a nifty move by one of my cousins who stepped in from the blue line and rifled a shot in the top corner. Then we scored and back and forth it went for the next hour. However, with a few seconds left they were up one goal on us.

I jumped on the ice determined to change fate for our team. The puck was behind our net and I circled waiting for the pass. Click, it hit my stick, and I was gone. One move, past the first defenseman, and two strides later I was in one-on-one with the next defenseman. He drifted my way and I saw, out of the corner of my eye my cousin streaking towards the net. So, I slowed drawing the defenseman my way and I floated a perfect pass to my cousin and got leveled. When I got up it was glorious, my cousins hands in the air skating my way in a victory lap. We had tied the game with just seconds to spare. So, it ended, with pride being saved for both teams and brothers were still brothers at the end of the game. It was epic.