Hockey Sticks and Holiday Dinners

After my last blog posting there was a comment from longtime Portledge Hockey friend, Neil Bliss. Evidently Neil had been reading the preview of this year's Varsity Ice Hockey teams while he was watching a professional game. Low and behold two Portledge alums, Doug Murray '99 and Eric Nystrom '01 were both playing in the game. Neil's comment was that he couldn't believe that he was seeing former Portledge players in the NHL. When you really think about it, however, it makes perfect sense because these two individuals were part of some very important Portledge traditions. Things that have gone on since the school's early days, and are still happening today. An obvious tradition that both were part of is Ice Hockey. We have been playing Varsity Ice Hockey at Portledge School for almost a half century and I have mentioned many times all the great players that have been part of this tradition. Certainly Doug and Eric are included in this group. The thing about a tradition though, is that it goes on and on in perpetuity, meandering through strong showings and some meeker ones. Sometimes the meeker showings might actually be the most important, because of the effort it took just to keep the tradition going that year. This can be true of hockey programs, as well as family celebrations

I am blessed to be part of a great family that cares very deeply for one another. Some years we have had a small table at holiday time because people were living in other parts of the country or were traveling to see other friends & family, and sometimes we have had very large and boisterous tables where the conversations were so plentiful you could always find something to listen to and comment on. Many times the table was so large because we had included friends who were visiting, or we had extended an invitation to someone who didn't have anywhere to celebrate that year. Regardless of their size of the table, however, is the warmth, inclusiveness and dedication that those who participate always bring to the tradition .

Just as break started I traveled north to Boston to watch the Varsity Boys Ice Hockey team compete in the 39th Annual William E. Barber Tournament held at the St. Mark's and Middlesex Schools. To people at those schools this tournament is an important tradition and I was very proud that Portledge was being included this year. Free from the focus of being behind the bench I was able to mingle in the crowd of Portledge parents, and the parents and friends of our opponents, and see just how special everyone felt to be there. Just like the size of the holiday table, the strength of the Portlege Ice Hockey program has been evident at times and yet not so apparent at others. In some ways this is an inevitable cycle at small independent schools like ours, but at this time, during this celebration of ice hockey tradition in Boston, Portledge Hockey was not only alive and well, but dominating the competition in a way that would bring great pride to our community. We skated fast, moved the puck beautifully, played with tremendous support for each other and displayed outstanding overall sportsmanship. Every player who took the ice contributed to the whole, and those that did not get a chance to play were there with tremendous spirit every step of the way. The heartbreaking 7-6 overtime loss in the Championship game was not really a loss as much as it was a vital celebration of tradition because more important than who won or lost was that it added another great chapter to the ongoing story of this wonderful tournament and to the tradition of Portledge Ice Hockey.

Meanwhile, there was a storm brewing, which would eventually force myself and the Varsity Boys team to stop in Danbury, Conn for the night. This turned out great as I was able to go to the Canterbury School the next day and see the Portledge Varsity Girls team play for third place at the Mike Oronato Holiday Classic. This tournament is named after a beloved member of the Canterbury School community Michael Kevin "Mo" Oronato who passed away in 2007. Thus, I found myself right in the middle of a new tradition that was just taking shape, and one that the people at Canterbury School were giving great respect and pride. Once again I realized how our tradition of playing this incredible game was bringing us in contact with a whole new group of people and how the desire of people to include others was creating a great experience for these Portledge athletes.

As I was driving home my mind wandered through many subjects - one of them was Neil Bliss' comment about how incredible it was that these two former Portledge players were playing in the NHL. My thoughts turned particularly to Doug Murray who came to Portledge from Sweden for his Junior and Senior year. Doug wanted to go to college in America, but at that time he couldn't speak English too well, and was unknown to American college coaches. The Portledge community embraced Doug in a very inclusive way. Students spent time tutoring him in many subjects and helping him understand the language. When Doug's parents and siblings came to visit during the Holiday Break of his Senior year, I remember they commented about how much Doug felt a part of the Portledge community, and how good they felt about him being here. Portledge certainly played a big part in Doug's life as he was accepted to Cornell University, where he went on to captain the Men's Ice Hockey team.

Thus, there was a certain symmetry to the whole thing. Inclusiveness and Ice Hockey, two strong traditions at Portledge had both been a part of Doug's experience, and had also been a part of everyone's experience this past weekend . I am indeed happy that our Portledge athletes and coaches could join with all those participating at St. Mark's, Middlesex and Canterbury, also that Mrs. Schwam was smart enough to reserve some rooms in Danbury for us, and finally, that I was able to see so many of my family members and friends at our holiday table this year. I hope everyone has a great Holiday season...Happy New Years to all.... and we'll see you soon.