On a roll

Pretty pumped to share that Colin is now three-for-three with his pink stick-blade tapes raising money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Thanks to Jerry, my best bud from back home, Colin has now raised $95 toward his goal of $125.

Still, we have some work to do. The latest auction, found here, went live moments ago. Opening bid is only $5, but you can get it now by making a $20 bid.We'll even cover the shipping for you.

This week's stick tape was used in three practices and a game with the Pinellas P.A.L. Stars. In that game, he logged an assist in the Stars' 11-1 victory.

The top photo shows the stick tape that you're bidding on. Lots of puck marks, wear and tear. In the game-used arena, more is better.

The second photo, albeit fuzzy, shows Colin (#37, if you don't know by now) and the stick he used in that game.

All proceeds will go directly to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, where 91 cents of every dollar is used for research and awareness efforts.

If you'd like, he's willing to sign the stick tape for you for no additional fee.

As always, we appreciate your support.

Also, if you know of anyone fighting breast cancer, a breast cancer survivor or someone who lost a loved one from breast cancer, please, let us know, We have extra tapes we're live to share with them. Thanks.

Two for two

Two weeks into his fundraising effort, Colin has raised $75 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation after Wendy, one of his newest fans, stepped up and donated $40 for this game-used stick blade tape.

Wendy joins Brett, a longtime fan of Colin and our blogs, in getting Colin closer to his $125 goal. Thanks, folks.

For those who don't know, Colin wraps each of his stick blades in pink tape this month. One will be used as an auction piece to raise money. The other will go to someone who is battling or has beaten the disease, or to someone who has lost a loved one or friend to breast cancer. In fact, if you know someone who would like one of these, let us know.

This week's tape, which can be had for at least a $20 donation, should be well used. Between three practices, a Lightning Made Clinic and three games, it should show a lot of wear and tear. In fact, the tip is missing after only two practices.

So, if you'd like to avoid the eBay auction, like Brett and Wendy have, reach out to me through the blog, Facebook or Twitter. Remember, the minimum donation to secure this week's tape is $20. If you want to donate more, it'll be appreciated.

If not, the tape will be put up for auction next Monday on eBay. Minimum bid will be $5 and we'll pick up the shipping.

As always, thank you for your support.

Off to a great start

Thanks to Brett, one of Colin's biggest fans, Colin's fund-raising effort for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is well on its way to reaching its $125 goal. Even before last week was over, Brett, who writes the My Hockey Card Obsession blog, snagged the first game-used stick tape that we'll be auctioning off every week on eBay.

As you can see, the stick blade tape, shown above, received plenty of usage, with three practices and a game with the Pinellas P.A.L. Stars.

It's always nice to get the project started with a bang. Thanks, Brett. I'll be reaching out to provide the necessary information.

Each week this month, Colin will wrap each of his stick blades in pink tape. One will be used as an auction piece to raise money. The other will go to someone who is battling or has beaten the disease, or to someone who has lost a loved one or friend to breast cancer.

We already have the first week's recipient in mind, but will take suggestions for the others in the weeks ahead. Don't worry, too, we'll take care of the postage.

Now, if people want to follow Brett's lead and secure this week's stick blade tape, feel free to contact me through the blog or other social media. The buy-it-now price, so to speak, is $20. If and when it goes on eBay, the opening bid will be $5.

As always, we appreciate your support.

Let's do this

One of my favorite things about Colin playing in the Pinellas P.A.L. Stars organization is that, like no other program we've been with, it's a family. It doesn't matter how long you play; once you're in the family, you're there to stay. It's all about loyalty and looking out for one another.

Each October, and this year's won't be any different, the Stars do their bit to raise awareness for breast cancer research. Throughout the month, players on all Stars teams will use pink stick tape or, like Colin, also wear pink skate laces to raise this awareness.

Because breast cancer has touched our family and friends, we like to take it a step further. That's why, for the second straight year, we'll be auctioning off the game-used tape from Colin's sticks during October, with all proceeds going to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, where 91 cents of every dollar goes to research and awareness efforts.

Last year, he raised $107.50. This year's effort carries more meaning. Jen Boston Baker, one of Colin's hockey friends in Canada, lost her battle to breast cancer earlier this year. And one of my friends back home was diagnosed with it. That's why we're hoping to raise at least $125.

Beginning Monday, Oct. 6, the auctions will take place on eBay. We'll have weekly updates steering folks to these auctions. Starting bids this year will be $5 and the Buy It Now price will be $20. We'll even pay the shipping, no matter the address. Now, if you'd like to avoid eBay, and are willing pay the $20, we can make arrangements for you to reserve your stick tape and help Colin's cause.

As always, we thank you for your time and consideration.

The Hockey Life: Another growth $purt

Over the past few years, a source of concern within the household has been the apparent lack of a growth spurt by the youngest member of the family. Given the disparity in height between his parents, there has been hope that he'd trend more toward the high side.

Thankfully, over the past year, a growth spurt set in, with Colin adding 4 inches in height. He now stands taller than one of us, a point he makes with great delight. It's good, too, as in playing at the bantam level this year, the competition is bigger, too.

Last Sunday, we experienced another growth spurt. Rather than height, though, this one affected his skate size. For the past 10-plus months, Colin's wheels, so to speak, were a size 3.5. Lately, though, his toes were feeling a little cramped. I was a bit surprised, too, when he measured in at a size 6.

Once he turned 13, I told Colin that Christmases and birthdays would likely bring a big-ticket hockey purchase rather than toys or video games. I was hoping we could hold off for another couple of months before buying him new skates, getting a full year out of his most recent pair. Well, that didn't happen.

All told, we spent about an hour looking at skates before settling on a pair. Of course, he wanted a pair, more advanced than his level of play, that tickled $300, before tax. I spied a pair, more fitting to my wallet than his skill level, for $150. In the end, we chose a pair of CCM Tacks, at a little less than $250, tax included. He'll play in them today.

A wise hockey dad, one who has been at it a lot longer than me, told me to never skimp on two things: helmets and skates. Those items, he said, are the most important pieces of equipment. You have to protect the melon and skates form a solid foundation. It was, and remains, great advice.

Merry Christmas, buddy boy, Santa came early this year.

The Hockey Life: Doing its job

Before every one of his games, I say a prayer for Colin, as well as his teammates and opponents, that the powers above and our family's angels watch over and keep him safe. Even though we do our best to protect him, from head to toes, in upper-level gear, it never hurts to ask for a little extra help.

Last Sunday, in the Central Florida Hockey League opener, those prayers were answered. Don't believe me, take a look at Colin's helmet. The two colors and the scuff marks, I'll say, were not planned.

Though Colin has a newer Bauer black helmet, one he wears while playing for the Pinellas P.A.L. Stars, he tells me that it bothers his head after a while. That time, it always seems, comes about halfway through a third period. Rather than thinking about the game, he's often fussing with the helmet.

That's why, a few days before the season opener, I bought some matte black paint for his older, but still functional, Cascade M11 helmet. He finds that bucket, if you will, much more comfortable and, as a result, doesn't get distracted. So, I painted the helmet and let it cure for five days, hoping the time would help the paint bond to the plastic.

Sure, I know that painting a helmet nullifies the warranty, among other things. The helmet, though, was three seasons old. Plus, given that he switched to an organization that wears black, red and white, the decision to paint it was one I was willing to live with. I must admit, too, we thought it looked pretty good.

Near the end of Sunday's second game, Colin, skating without the puck, took a hard hit along the boards. The contact, which drew an interference call, sent him crashing into the boards, his right hip hitting first, followed by his upper body and, ultimately, his head.

He got up and headed straight for the bench, a sign I knew hasn't particularly good. I flashed him the OK sign. He replied with the so-so gesture. His coach spoke to him, asking him questions to test for a possible concussion. Colin's answers eliminated the coach's initial concerns, and allowed him to return to the game.

After the game, Colin told me we'd have to repaint the helmet. I asked why. He showed me the side. That blue patch? That's where the paint came off from the hit. Even though he answered my questions, which required him to use mathematics and sequencing to answer, I couldn't help but think he was pretty lucky. That was a hard hit to the head.

Thankfully, the helmet did its job. And, after hearing from a family friend who supervises referees here in the Southeast, we determined it was best to retire that helmet. No need to ask that helmet to do its job twice.

A few days later, I readjusted Colin's black Bauer helmet. He has worn it a couple of times now, in practices only, without any complaint. In a few hours, he'll play his first game of the season for the P.A.L. Stars. We'll see how he and the helmet feels.

And, yes, I'll say another prayer.

The Hockey Life: Catching up

Yes, I know it has been a long time since filing a post. Three months and six days, to be exact. The hiatus, which, surprisingly, I failed to announce, simply took over. I'll blame summer vacation, a 4,308-mile road trip and, quite honestly, my own laziness. Know what? It felt good.

The blog, too, wasn't alone. There are still signed pucks, cards and photos sitting on the dining room table. I'd walk past them, take a quick look and say, to myself, some other day. Well, here we are. It's time, I suppose, to bring the handful of you up to speed.

It has been an interesting spring and summer. Two unbeaten Pinellas PAL Stars rec league seasons. A lackluster tryout. A summer showcase. A pretty significant email. A fellow hockey dad helping out. And, now, we're a week away from the 2014-15 Central Florida Hockey League season, where Colin, now playing at the bantam A level, will suit up for the Tampa Bay Scorpions.

Actually, the "season" started last week, when the Scorpions, with only a single practice under their belts, posted a respectable 2-2 record in the Labor Day tournament. That photo above? Probably Colin's finest moment of the weekend. Playing on a penalty-kill unit, he beat a defender to the puck, sidestepped him, tried a wraparound, drew considerable interest and, finally, got sat upon to draw a whistle.

Over the summer, though, there were two big highlights.

Colin represented Team North Florida in the Hockey Night in Boston Summer Showcase tournament. Though he's not the most skilled player, the coach saw enough to add him to the roster. And while there were some folks and teammates who questioned his presence on the roster, he learned to take a check (getting rocked more than once), overcome the resulting and understandable timidity and, ultimately, earned a spot, as well as heightened expectations, on next year's squad.

The other highlight, which I'll remain very vague about until it becomes a reality, came in that email. Within it was an opportunity that carries with it a very important decision. Life-changing, if you ask me. All I can say now is that, should this happen, the reward of the investment of time, money and his efforts could be very, very handsome. We'll see what happens.

As for hounding, I'll do my best in the weeks ahead to close the books on the 2013-14 campaign. Looking ahead to the upcoming NHL season, we'll make morning-skate trips, as time allows, for a number of NHL teams. To this day, hounding remains a hobby, one that we're not ready just yet to give up.

As always, folks, I appreciate those of you who stop by to read my ramblings and accommodate my penchant for showing off autographs. Hopefully, we'll have some good stories to share in the months ahead.

I'll be in touch.

By the way, we're now on Instagram: cms37 and flahockeydad.  Feel free to check them out.

The Hockey Life: Spring break

No, no, no. I'm not taking off this Sunday. In a way, I wish I was. It has been a busy week, all capped by a road trip we made this morning to Kissimmee this morning for a benefit hockey tournament.

Today started around 4:30 a.m, when we all woke up, trudged around the house and made it to Largo, where we caught a ride with one of Colin's teammates on the Pinellas P.A.L. Stars squad. From there, around 5:30 a.m., we headed east, watching the sun rise. Haven't done that in a long, long time.

The kids are playing in a round-robin mini tournament, with four 15-minute games, to raise money for the family of a fallen police officer. So, not only does Colin get in some more ice time -- after scoring a goal Saturday in his first game since breaking an ankle six weeks ago -- but it's also for a good cause.

That's one of the many things I love about living the hockey life. This is the type of event where winning games and scoring goals isn't important. Helping out ... that's what's important.

I must say, though, that this was about the earliest I've ever gotten up for a game. We've had alarms go off at 5 a.m. a time or two, but that alarm came pretty darn quick today. Remember, too, my job keeps me up late at night. I seldom get to sleep much before 2:30 a.m.

So, if I seem a tad grumpier than normal or particularly whiny today, that'll be my story. And, yes, I'm sticking to it.

Off to the races

With two NHL teams visiting Hockey Bay last week, it's no surprise that we added another 65 autographs to the collection. We did real well with the Ottawa Senators and the New York Islanders. The biggest thrill of the week, however, didn't come from an NHL player.

Instead, it came from racing legend Mario Andretti, who we saw the the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. As you can see, Colin had his photo taken with him. I'm not sure, though, who was more psyched about it -- Colin or me.

What was funny, however, was after Mario signed Colin's ticket stub (yes, we were under prepared), Mario raised his fist, wanting to give Colin a fist bump. It took Colin a few seconds to recognize the offer and, thankfully, took full advantage of it.

"I can't freaking believe I just fist-bumped Mario Andretti," he told me.

It's memories like that that last a lifetime.

The Hockey Life: Working his way back

In case you missed it, there was an update on last week's column that told of Colin having the cast removed from his fractured right ankle during Monday's visit. If everything went OK, we had considered having him skate that night, just to see how it felt. well, one sentence from the orthopaedist changed those plans.

"No hard sports activity for two weeks," he said.

After watching Colin walk, it was very easy to appreciate the doctor's wisdom. After having the muscles around his ankle and foot locked into place for a month, they were pretty stiff. Even with the cast removed, he walked -- for a few days -- like he was still wearing it.During the course of the week, though, after walking around school and taking some shots out back, the limp was a little less pronounced.

A few weeks ago, Colin was invited to take part, serving as a shooter,  in a goalie clinic run by his Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning coaches. It would be a low-key return to the ice. No quick starts. No sudden stops. No, it would just be getting back on the ice.

So, less than a week after having the cast removed, Colin was back in his skates and on the ice. Sure, he looked rusty in the first few minutes. Tentative, too. That's understandable. By the end of the hourlong session, however, we could tell that his comfort level was growing.

Even better, he had very little pain and no swelling.

This week, we'll increase his activity level. We'll take some walks. He'll skate for an hour at least once, maybe twice this week. We have plans, too, to attend another goalie clinic on Saturday. Each activity will test the ankle. How it responds will determine the next step he'll take.

Also on Saturday, the Pinellas P.A.L. Stars squirt-peewee team that Colin captains plays its final game of the rec-league season. To his credit, he's hoping his ankle feels good enough to play. Maybe, it's only a shift or two. Maybe it's just a period. After all, it'll be close to the two weeks. Again, we'll see how he and his ankle feels.

From what I've seen over the past five weeks, Colin doesn't have to prove how tough he is to me. I'd rather see him get ready for May tryouts and regain trust in his ankle and restore his wind, rather than risking anything for a few 45-second shifts.

Bottom line, it's his call.

The Hockey Life: One more day?

Exactly one month ago today, Colin's travel hockey season got shut down when he fractured a bone in his right ankle. Since then, he has learned how to use crutches, used the school's elevator and, as you can plainly see, added a ton of signatures to the cast.

Well, in about 24 hours from now, we'll learn whether the fracture has healed enough to remove the cast and allow him to avoid using a walking boot. Hopefully, this doesn't jinx anything, but I believe he will be good to go, so to speak, once we leave the orthopaedist's office. To me, all signs point that way.

He has spent the past two Saturday afternoons on the bench at his Pinellas P.A.L. Stars games, making his way from the stands back to the ice. He's taken quite a few shots out back, planting hard on his right foot. We've even taken a few walks. And, yesterday, while hounding the New Jersey Devils, he ran -- without pain -- to chase some of the players.

Should the cast come off, he'll skate for the first time in a month at the Stars' practice tomorrow night. Not in full gear and certainly not at top speed. Instead, it'll be to see how it feels and, more importantly, how it responds Tuesday to the activity. If all goes well, I'll have him skate Wednesday, this time a little harder. Another test, if he progresses, could come Friday night.

The first big test will be deciding whether to play in a game for the Stars on Saturday. I won't expect him to go as hard as he can, but we'll see what he does. If not then, the Stars close out the rec season on March 29.

Between then, he has been invited to help his two Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning coaches at their goalie clinic. No, he's not making the switch, but they need players to take shots on the kids crazy enough to man the pipes. Beyond the ice time -- a low-key way to work his way back -- these sessions will let him work on his shots.

Honestly, we're in no rush to get him back for the final two games of this rec season. If he can play, that's great. If he can't, there's little we can do. More than likely, especially as the doctor bills roll in, he'll skip the spring travel season.

Instead, we'll turn our attention to May, when tryouts, for more than the fall travel season, are expected to take place. By then, the ankle should be fully healed, he will have regained his wind and he believes he has something to prove. Until then, all we can do is wait.

Update, March 17: The cast came off and will stay off. Doctor advised to take it easy for a bit, so we're delaying a return to ice.

The Hockey Life: 'Best autograph of my life'

Any time a body part ends up in a cast, especially when you're a kid, part of the deal is getting your family and friends to sign your cast. It's a rite of passage.

For the past three weeks, Colin as been collecting autographs on the cast for his broken ankle. Kids from school have signed. So have his hockey teammates and friends. Mama signed it. I have, too.

On Saturday, though, Colin got the person he most wanted to sign his cast to do just that - his best NHL buddy, Boston's Patrice Bergeron. For a few minutes, though, we weren't sure it would happen.

The Bruins, in town to play the Tampa Bay Lightning, were leaving a downtown hotel for the team's morning skate when Patrice walked out. He didn't hear Colin amid the shouts, signed a few autographs for people on the other side of the hotel's entrance and hopped onto the team bus.

I told Colin to walk around to the side of the bus and look for Patrice. Once he found him, I told him to start waving at him. One of Patrice's teammates spotted Colin and alerted Patrice. Patrice looked at Colin, who then pointed to his cast, pointed to Patrice and moved his hand like he was signing something.

To his credit, Patrice nodded "yes," got up from his seat, walked down the bus' aisle and steps to the street, where he found Colin waiting. And, with one simple act, shown in the photo above, Colin got the autograph he wanted.

"This is the best autograph of my life," he said. "The best."

So, not only is that a season highlight, but it's the leading contender for autograph of the year.

The Hockey Life: Captains lead

Much has been written and said over the past week on the news that Tampa Bay's Marty St. Louis requested a trade after being left off Team Canada's initial roster for the Winter Games in Sochi. St. Louis, the reports said, was miffed at Team Canada's executive director Steve Yzerman, who, as Lightning GM, is his boss here in Hockey Bay.

The news, that St. Louis would waive his no-trade clause only for the New York Rangers, hit hard. For the Lightning, St. Louis is not only its captain, but he is the team's heart and soul -- and has been for years. As Marty goes, so goes the Lightning.

Most troublesome, though, were St. Louis' comments when asked about it after his return, an Olympic gold medal in hand thanks to being named as an injury replacement for Lightning teammate Steve Stamkos, from Russia less than 10 days before the NHL trade deadline. All St. Louis would say was that he and Yzerman had a conversation about it. Nothing else, other than that was all he'd say, as he didn't want it to become a distraction and affect the guys in the locker room.

Really, Marty? This is what a captain does?

The Lightning is gearing back up, pushing hard to make the playoffs for the first time in a few seasons and St. Louis didn't come out, when the opportunity first presented itself and since then, to say that, yes, he was ticked off about the initial slight, but that's in the past and it's time to focus all of his efforts, especially as the captain, on helping the Lightning. But, he hasn't.

To his credit, St. Louis has continued to play his heart out since the NHL resumed its season. Four goals in two games are pretty impressive, just like his play before the break. This is a case, however, where his words would be greater than his actions. No team needs a distraction like this.

Look at it this way. What kind of message does this send to his Lightning teammates, especially Stamkos, the Lightning's captain-in waiting. That it's OK to pout and be a petulant brat just because you didn't get what you wanted? Sure, his teammates offer public words of encouragement for St. Louis. I wonder, though, what they say to themselves and others when the media, and Marty, aren't within earshot.

Furthermore, what kind of message does this send to the legions of young hockey players who idolize St. Louis? It's no secret that Colin idolizes Boston's Patrice Bergeron, but he holds St. Louis in pretty high esteem. Because Colin will likely grow no taller than the diminutive St. Louis, I've encouraged Colin to model his game after St. Louis' -- all-out tenacity, the will to win and to lead by example.

But, now, after this drama of St. Louis' boo-hoo trade-me request, as well as his lack of publicly committing to the Lightning, maybe pointing out St. Louis' example of leadership might not be the best advice. In fact, it's a teaching moment -- on how not to be a captain.

For the past two weeks, as Colin's ankle fracture heals, he has attended his squirt-peewee Pinellas P.A.L. Stars games. Even if he can't help them on the ice, he cheers for them from the stands. As the team's captain, that's his job.

All hockey teams, from rec to the NHL, need captains who lead, not ones who want to run away.

The Hockey Life: Sidelined -- again

In case you haven't noticed or heard yet, Colin's fall-winter travel hockey season came to an unfortunate close a week ago, when he fractured a bone in his right ankle during a tournament game in Brandon with the Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning. He got hurt going hard around a net, helping out on defense, and his right leg buckled outward.

I'd been recording his shifts lately on video, at the suggestion of a friend in Canada, so I caught the whole thing. It wasn't pretty at all. To his credit, he tried getting up not one, but three times, before he knew something was wrong.

Thankfully, it wasn't a serious break. In watching the video, especially frame by frame, I was surprised it wasn't worse. We'll just leave it at that, OK? He'll be in a cast for four weeks.

I'll be the first to admit I took it pretty hard. No one wants to see their child get hurt or be in pain. Watching him try to get up and falling back down struck a nerve. So did when he looked at me after his second attempt. That's when I knew something was wrong, as he has always gotten back up, even after a hard hit.

Last year, about this time, in a season darkened by repeated instances of bullying, Colin got rocked by his Brandon Jr. Bulls team captain in the final practice before the state tournament. The hit, which the kid's father (a lawyer, by the way) claims was an accident, broke one of Colin's collarbones. We didn't know that, though, until the next day, as Colin finished that night's practice.

This injury, however, was different. He was hurt in a game, working hard and it just happened. It wasn't a cheap shot. I've also pushed Colin to go hard, not just in hockey, but in school and life. I worry now that I've pushed him too hard. And I continue to wrestle with the guilt.

I've told him a couple of times since last Sunday afternoon, after we left the hospital emergency room, that he could walk away from hockey. After broken bones ended back-to-back seasons, who could blame him? Not me. His response? He told me I was crazy for even bringing it up. I will never again question his resiliency and toughness.

In many ways, Colin has handled this far better than I have.

Hockey snapshot No. 5

After breaking an ankle Sunday in a tournament game, these crutches had been a near-constant companion of Colin since leaving the hospital's emergency room.

This morning, however, he felt confident enough that he wouldn't need them to get around at school, relying solely on his walking boot.

 Last night, he even spent a few minutes taking shots out back in the hockey lab.

Though it'll be a month or so before the cast comes off, he has told me many times that he won't let this setback keep him from playing hockey.

"Are you nuts?" he asked me after telling him if would be OK if he didn't want to play hockey again.

Hockey snapshot No. 4

After four games in two days last weekend and the possibility of another five or six this weekend, I figured today was a good time to wash Colin's hockey sweaters, from his Pinellas P.A.L. Stars teams (left) and the Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning.

Rather than run them through the dryer after the final spin cycle, I took advantage of today's sunny conditions and light breeze to dry them outside. And, yes, that's Goalie Dude hanging out in the background.

As I was hanging them, I realized that it might make for a good photo. I liked it so much that it's now the cover photo on my Facebook page.

I've also updated Colin's page on YouTube with some videos from this past weekend. Feel free to check them out.

Hounding report: Boston Bruins

Aside from the potential "drama" of a snub from his favorite NHL player, Boston's Patrice Bergeron, the two-part hounding adventure for the Bruins, interrupted by one of Colin's games, went as well as could be expected.

Primarily, the team was staying at a downtown Tampa hotel, one that has become more favored by visiting NHL teams, that employs a more vigorous defense against hounds. That doesn't mean, though, that you can't get autographs, it just means it takes a little more work. As a result, the bar of having a good day lowers.

That's why, despite getting 15 autographs, we'll chalk up the Bruins' visit, way back in mid October, to be a good day, with greater emphasis on quality than quantity as well as the first appearance of the 2013-14 hockey-hounding campaign of Colin's team sheets.

Signing picks were, from left, Bergeron, Zdeno Chara and Jarome Iginla.

In what was the biggest surprise of the day, Shawn Thornton signed multiples, including these three cards.

Among those signing the team sheet, shown above, were Bergeron, Gregory Campbell, Jordan Caron, Chara, Iginla and Thornton.

The Hockey Life: More important than hockey

When Colin first started skating and playing hockey, we asked ourselves the question, like most hockey parents do, what if he is good enough to do it for a living. Would he be big enough? Talented enough? Strong enough? Smart enough?

In those early years, we heard from other parents, coaches and other "experts" that no kid out of Florida would ever make it. Don't get your hopes up, they'd all say. Yes, it was good advice and something that has stuck with us since first hearing it.

All along, and I told The Missus and Colin this a long time ago, I'd know by the time he turned 12, maybe 13, whether he had that proverbial snowball-in-hell's chance of doing anything else than be a beer-leaguer. Nothing wrong with that, mind you, as hockey is a great game to play. And, at this time, I'm not making  plans to attend the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, though it's still thousands of days away.

Another principle we've followed since Colin started to play dictated that good grades would ensure he'd have every opportunity to prove me and others wrong. That's why I work the hours I do, deal with a car that lacks air conditioning and get after him to play as hard as he can. Bottom line, education will always take people further in life than most everything else, unless, of course, your last name is Gretzky, Crosby, Ovechkin, Stamkos or Malkin.

Up until this year, though, good grades hadn't been much of an issue. By getting more A's than B's, making the honor roll was a given. Occasionally, he'd make high honors, even to the point where the financial rewards of good grades were costing me a bundle six times a year. But, like I said, up until this year.

On his most recent report card, which came out after the holidays, he brought home the grade that no parent wants to see. Granted, it was in advanced algebra, where, as a seventh-grader in a STEM magnet program, he finds himself working at least one grade level above traditional students. Still, it was a cause for concern.

So, we had our little chat, encouraging him to buckle down, take his time to do his homework correctly and remember to turn it in, and bring up his grades. A pep talk, so to speak, with a little grit, as I told him that anything but that would lead to a benching.

Want to know what happened? He missed three practices last week and, quite honestly, faced the prospect of not playing any games until his grades improved. The result? He improved his grades in three classes. Not to where they need to be, mind you, but headed in the right direction. For that alone, he was able to participate in a rec league game yesterday, when he logged two goals and an assist.

I can be strict, but I try not to be a prick, if you know what I mean.

To me, it is important to reinforce the message delivered a long time ago. To not hold up my end of the deal (get good grades and you'll play hockey) after he failed to hold up his end would, to me, be the worst message that any parent could send. That, my friends, is the difference between being a father and a daddy.

As much as I tell Colin that practice and repetition will serve him well in hockey, the same holds true -- even moreso -- in his education. If this "hockey thing doesn't work out" (his words, not mine), he wants to design ships, especially "green-technology" naval warships, or become an architect. To me, each is a worthy goal.

In each case, though, from playing hockey to building a battleship, getting good grades will open far more doors than anything else. That's why I tell him all of the time: His education is far more important than hockey -- if he makes it or not.

Hockey snapshot No. 3

Granted, the photo is a little fuzzy, but it is one of my favorites pictures, if not the favorite photo, of Colin from any of his hockey games. Taken by The Missus, it came at the end of the Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning Pee Wee A White squad tournament-opening loss at the Hemby Cup tournament in the Greater Charlotte area.

The Hockey Life: Tournament souvenir

Coming down with a cold at least once during a youth hockey season is a given, much like weak rink coffee and that one old referee with a personal agenda. Why? Let me tell you. Any time you bring together a bunch of children, especially those who play hockey, as well as their parents and siblings, millions, if not billions, of nasty cold-causing germs are soon lurking about.

So, as we made our way north about 10 days ago, taking three days to reach the Charlotte, N.C., area, I could feel my first cold of the season coming on. A slight cough. Scratchy throat. Increasing thirst. The tell-tale drip of a runny nose. Singularly, no cause for concern. Combined, though? Houston, we have a problem.

The big difference this time, however, was that I'd go into the tournament with a cold, rather than taking one home as a souvenir. You know what? I didn't feel the least bit guilty, too.

Far too many times, especially when Colin first started playing organized hockey, I'd pick up the sniffles at some rink. Over time, I learned to avoid touching door handles, snack bar counters and pretty much any surface below my shoulders. If this tournament meant, even despite my best efforts to stem the passing of my germs, that someone else caught a cold, so be it.

Trust me, there was far more serious nonsense that went on in Charlotte than the potential for a random passing of a head cold, but you'll have to wait for the book -- a humorous fictional account that may (or may not) draw from facts -- that's kicking around in my mind.

Either way, I digress. This is about a cold, my cold to be exact, and the ability to survive the weekend and nearly 1,500 miles of driving. Please know, though, you don't have to feel sorry. In a way, save for one unforgettable 12-hour period, the weekend wasn't as bad as it could have been.

Of course, cold medicine was a constant companion. Pills filled with an orange-colored liquid for the day, and ones filled with a green-colored liquid at night. So were numerous glasses of orange juice, consumed during breakfast hours at the hotel. If memory serves, I even took an afternoon nap. The biggest help, though, was working the team's penalty box through the four games. If I ever had a fever, I certainly didn't feel it, much like some toes and fingers.

As the tournament wore on (let's just say the highlights weren't plentiful, though Colin did put together a three-game point streak, including a nice breakaway wrister from 20 feet out that beat the goalie on the low blocker side), I felt better, even to the point of enjoying our side trip into downtown Charlotte to watch an American Hockey League game.

As always, there's more to a tournament than your team's games.

By the road home, which touched four states in less than nine hours, the cold was becoming, or so I thought, an afterthought. I wasn't taking nearly as much cold medicine. Tall cups of steaming-hot McDonald's coffee replaced the orange juice. Sneezes, thankfully, were minimal.

Since then, however, the cold has lingered. Can't say that it got any worse, but still. Cold medicine, orange juice and chicken soup are, once again, near-constant companions. I've even taken some daytime naps.

Gee, maybe I did bring home a souvenir cold after all.

The Hockey Life: Short shifts

Call me a hockey purist or a grumpy old man, but I have some issues with the "fans" who call Section 307 of the Tampa Bay Times Forum their home during Lightning games. They're loud. They're raucous. They're spirited. And, really, that's good to see.

But that's not the problem.

After sitting in that section last Thursday, in the Lightning's 4-3 loss to the Washington Capitals, it'll be a long, long time before we buy tickets in that section for one simple reason: their emphasis, to me at least, is on turning the hockey game into a soccer match rather than celebrating the beauty of the game.

Most of the chants and antics (wearing bandannas over their faces) are borrowed heavily from soccer fans, especially ones we've heard on more than one occasion, (minus the f-bombs, thankfully) from the overzealous Ralph's Mob group at Tampa Bay Rowdies games.

Sorry, folks, but if I wanted to listen to that (and I don't), I'd go to Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg. No, when I go to a Lightning game, I'm there to watch the game, share lessons with Colin and enjoy myself. I don't want to listen to sophomoric sayings from people who couldn't tell the difference between icing and offsides.

To their credit, they would engage in traditional "Let's go Lightning!" chant as well as the "Tampa!" and "Bay!" cheers at proper times, but most of their other noise, and that's all it was, came at inopportune moments.

To me, being a hockey fan is more than making lots of noise. Cheering has to fit the game, make perfect sense and, honestly, be funny, pointed and, more importantly, original. In time, I'm sure this group will get that. Until then, though, bring some earplugs because all you'll hear is noise.

A far better example, if you will ...

During Thursday's Capitals-Lightning game, Washington's Alex Ovechkin started complaining to one of the referees about a non-call. Of course, the knowledgeable segment of the pro-Lightning crowd, as if almost on cue, cascaded a chorus of boos upon him.

Once the roar subsided, and well out of his earshot up in Section 307, I shouted this condolence: "Sorry, Ovi, but your last name isn't Crosby!"

Thankfully, it drew more than a few laughs.

An update

It's not that my plans to bring an international youth hockey tournament to the Tampa Bay area have fizzled, it's just that I haven't had much news to share. Over the holidays and between major hockey announcements, I maintained my effort. Late last week, it may have been rewarded.

Though short of getting a green light and confirmation of some much-needed assistance, I heard from the Event Development Institute, an extension of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, that the group would like to continue our conversation of making this dream become a reality.

In the days ahead, I'll be reaching out to an organization that appears to be the final piece of the puzzle.

Given the news that Hockey Bay will host the 2016 Frozen Four and the Tampa Bay Sports Commission is considering a bid to bring the IIHF World Juniors Hockey Championship to the region, it's easy to see this youth hockey tournament serving as a complementary event.

As always, stay tuned.

Here we go ... again

If doesn't seem all that long ago, but it has been about five years, when Colin first suited up, as a 7 year old, with the Pinellas P.A.L. Stars Squirts/Pee Wee squad. Now, more than 100 games later, he's the squad's captain and finds himself, based only on his age, nearing the end of this run.

This morning, he'll take part, as a 12 year old, in his first Bantam-Midget game for the Stars, playing against kids as old as 16. It's a step up, definitely, but one he has to take as he'll make the move, should he make a travel-team roster, later this fall.

Just like his first-ever games, when his jersey fell below his knees, he'll have plenty to learn. Hopefully, his game and confidence will grow each time he steps on the ice.

On a personal note

Between a visit last week from one of my favorite journalist friends, which included taking in a Tampa Bay Lightning game, to this week's road-trip tournament, when we'll see some relatives, it's very satisfying that we get to share our hockey journey with others.