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.

Open for auction

After the first two stick blades tapes raised $75, we're using an eBay auction for the third installment of Colin's annual fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

The auction, found here, went live moments ago. Opening bid is only $5, but you can get it now for making a $20 bid.

This week's stick tape saw a lot of use. Three practices, a Lightning Made Clinic sponsored by the Tampa Bay Lightning and a hockey tripleheader with games with the Scoprions and Pinellas P.A.L. Stars, In his last game of the day, he scored a goal with it in the Stars' 7-4 victory.

The top photo shows the stick tape that you're bidding on. The second photo, albeit fuzzy, shows Colin 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.

Addendum Oct. 22: Thanks to my buddy Jerry, the auction ended today. Thanks again, sir.

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: 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: 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: 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.

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.

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.

The Hockey Life: Catching up

A number of dispatches, mostly to bring everyone up to speed and, perhaps, explain the lack of posts over the past few weeks:

~ The meeting with the Event Development Institute, affiliated with the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, to bring an international youth hockey tournament to the Tampa Bay area in the next year to 18 months went as well as could be expected -- they let me in the building and didn't call security when I sat down at the table.

Seriously, though, it was a thrill to share this idea with people in place to potentially make it happen. They asked great questions and, hopefully, my answers were good enough. With some luck, we'll move forward with this project. An answer should arrive in the next week or so.

Either way, I'll share the news.

~  A few years ago, I made a deal with Colin. Any time he logged a hat trick, I'd buy him a hat. Earlier today, I kept that promise for the second such time. Eight days ago, in a rec league game for the Pinellas P.A.L. Stars, he scored three times, including the game-tying goal, in a 4-4 game.

What did he get? A knit tuque with headphones built into the ear flaps. Oh, yeah, he also earned his second Player of the Week hard hat from the Stars.

~ On the travel hockey front, Colin scored his first goal of the 2013-14 season. Took him 12 games, mind you, but it wasn't for the lack of trying. At first, he had to get some opportunities at this level. Then, he started hitting goal posts and crossbars. But, on Saturday, he finally lit the lamp, so to speak, with a wrister that eluded the goalie.

It's nice to see his hard work and persistence pay off.

~ The biggest reason I have written much lately? I'm heading into the home stretch of working 23 out of 26 days. Counting up my freelance work and some OT shifts, this is my last of three straight 63-hour weeks. Money's nice and I need to sleep, so something had to give.

Still, it's what this hockey dad has to do.

~ Yes, I also have to catch up with hounding reports. I've been out for the Los Angeles Kings (not so great), Minnesota Wild (the best, so far) and Boston Bruins (not so bad). This week alone, Colin and I will put in some hounding adventures with the N.Y. Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and, quite possibly, the Pittsburgh Penguins.

You can look forward, too, to the return of Colin's hand-drawn team sheets.

~ For any of you keeping track, you may have noticed that I completed my Long Walk Home earlier this week. More than a year ago, when I started walking on a consistent basis as a way to shed tonnage, I set a goal of walking the 1,254.10 miles from our home in Hockey Bay to my hometown of Machias, N.Y.

With that goal reached, I've set my sights on Machias, Maine, the hometown of my hometown's original settlers, a trek of nearly 800 miles. On Thursday, Colin and I will participate in another father-son adventure, the Tampa Bay Times Turkey Trot's 5K Fun Run.

We'll walk, not run. That, alone, will knock out another 3 miles.

Fundraising auction No. 5

With this fifth fundraising auction at eBay, featuring this hockey stick blade tape wrap, we're wrapping up Colin's efforts to raise money for breast cancer research. So far, we've raised more than $76 with the past four items.

The fourth auction, which came down to the final hour, ended successfully, when Jim, a Pioneer Central High classmate, stepped up. He joins Brett, AJ and Jerry in helping to support Colin's efforts, both on and off the ice.

This week's item saw plenty of action: one recreational hockey league game and three practices. Tthe tape comes from the Reebok RibCor 23K stick that Colin used to score one of two goals in his rec league game.

The starting bid remains at $2.49 as does the $3 shipping fee. Remember, we're not doing this to make money for ourselves. We're even donating the shipping fees. All proceeds from these auctions will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

As always, we appreciate your support.

Click here to check out the current auction

Hockey snapshot No. 1

It's just a moment within a rec league game, but this photo, taken by The Missus last Saturday during Colin's Pinellas P.A.L. Stars game, has become one of my favorites. Why? Because it shows Colin doing what he does best, getting ready to swoop in on an unsuspecting opponent, gain body position and take away the puck.

All along, we've said we were raising a complete hockey player, not just some one-dimensional goal scorer. Granted, I'd like it, and so would he, if he scored a little more in his travel-hockey games. But, it's doing the little things like this that tell me he's headed down the right path.

Where will it take him? Who knows? I'm just along for the ride, no matter how long or how far it lasts.

Fundraising auction No. 4

With an old friend and hockey teammate stepping up, it's time to begin another fundraising auction at eBay, featuring this hockey stick blade tape wrap, to raise money for breast cancer research.

So far, we've raised more than $53 with the past three items. We're very appreciative of Brett, AJ and Jerry helping to support Colin's efforts, both on and off the ice.

This week's item saw plenty of use: two travel hockey games, one recreational hockey league game and two practices. Even better, the tape comes from the Reebok RibCor 23K stick that Colin used to score two goals in his rec league game.

The starting bid remains at $2.49 as does the $3 shipping fee. Remember, we're not doing this to make money for ourselves. We're even donating the shipping fees. All proceeds from these auctions will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

As always, we appreciate your support.

Click here to check out the current auction

The Hockey Life: Moments of a season

There are moments in any hockey season, whether watching or playing, that can last a lifetime for the parties involved. For skaters, it's a first goal or point. For goalies, it's the first win or shutout. And, for a team, it's a first win. Each is a special moment.

On Saturday, during Colin's rec hockey game with his Pinellas P.A.L. Stars squad, we had the privilege of watching three young players -- all in their first year of organized hockey, I believe -- register some important milestones in their respective journeys. Two players scored their first goals and the team's goalie notched his first shutout.

It was great seeing the smiles on faces, from the players to the coaches to the parents, with each moment. So was watching the hard work these kids have been putting in over the past month or so be rewarded. In games like this, especially at this level and in this particular season, the highs can only temper the lows as kids learn how to play this humbling game.

Take a look at the photo, please, shot by The Missus at the conclusion of the Stars' 6-0 win over the Leafs. (Technically, the score was 8-0, but the scorekeeper stopped keeping track after 6-0.) Yes, a team is celebrating. It's celebrating more than a win, though. It's celebrating milestones.


I'm hoping, too, that each of the boys has a puck to commemorate their achievements. Years from now, those black rubber disks will serve as tangible reminders of a single game they played on an October afternoon on a rink in Florida.

We should know. One such puck sits in a plastic case on a baker's rack in our dining room. Dated March 14, 2010, it's Colin's first goal while playing for the Stars. For him, it's a milestone. For me, it's reason to smile.

Fundraising auction No. 3

 

Here we are, nearing the end of October, and we have yet another fundraising auction at eBay, featuring this hockey stick blade tape wrap, to raise money for breast cancer research.

So far, we've raised more than $30 with the past two items. We're very appreciative of Brett and AJ helping to support Colin's efforts, both on and off the ice.

This week's item saw plenty of use: one recreational hockey league game and four practices.Even better, the tape comes from the Reebok RibCor 23K stick that Colin used to log an assist in his rec league game.

The starting bid remains at $2.49 as does the $3 shipping fee. Remember, we're not doing this to make money for ourselves. All proceeds from these auctions will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

As always, we appreciate your support.

Click here to check out the current auction

The Hockey Life: Great save, Patrice

Save for two years out of the past nine, the annual highlight of our hockey-hounding season has been getting  a photo of Colin with his favorite NHL player, Boston's Patrice Bergeron. Sure, the autographs we get are nice and, as always, are welcome additions to the collection. What we're really after, though, is what you see above.

It's a chance, as it has always been, for a young hockey player who, like many others, dreams of playing in the NHL to meet his idol. Even if only for a few moments, the memories created last a lifetime. For Colin, Patrice, whom he calls Petey, is the reason why he wears No. 37.

As hockey parents, it's our job to do whatever we can to support our child's dreams. Yes, we stress the value of education and remind him often that good grades and a college degree in a growing field will most likely take him further in life than most anything else. Within that, one of the lessons we preach -- in life as well as in hockey -- is being in the right place at the right time.

That's why we found ourselves in Tampa early Saturday morning, waiting and watching for the Bruins. Seeing Patrice, or so we thought, would be a good way to start a hockey-filled day and provide some motivation, through an invitation to Patrice to come watch Colin play for the Pinellas P.A.L. Stars later that day. After an hour of waiting, however, we weren't so sure.

Though Colin stood near the hotel's entrance and called out to Patrice as he headed to the team's bus for the morning skate, Patrice walked past without acknowledging his little buddy. Colin called out again, but Patrice didn't even look back before climbing aboard the bus and settling into a seat near a window close to where we were standing. Even waving at him drew no response. Needless to say, Colin was bummed.

"I was heartbroken," he told me later.

A quick stop at the Krispy Kreme on Kennedy Boulevard, as we headed to Oldsmar for Colin's game,  helped eased some of the disappointment, but I could still tell it was bothering him. To him, Patrice is his buddy. Actually, to Colin, he's more than that. He's someone else to look up to.

Patrice is one of the the first NHL players that Colin, then 4 years old, really first spoke to at any length, back in September 2005 outside the Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington, Mass. Since then, they've shared a hug during Patrice's first trip to Tampa following that horrific hit he took in 2007. They've talked about school and hockey as they walked down trolley tracks while Patrice made his way to a morning skate. Heck, they're even on a hockey card together.

All of that, I suppose, has led to an expectation that they'd have their annual moment, so to speak, on Saturday morning. And, when it didn't happen, especially when we missed last year because of school, the disappointment was shared among the three of us. I told Colin he'd have another opportunity to see Patrice later in the day. Deep down inside, I knew (or, at least, hoped really hard) that it wouldn't happen again.

Thankfully, and I do mean this, Patrice more than made up for it as the Bruins left the hotel for the game against the Lightning. He apologized to Colin, decked out in his "Keep Calm and Bergeron" T-shirt, for not speaking to him earlier in the day. They also engaged in a conversation in French. He even signed Colin's team sheet and a Stanley Cup champions puck.

Even better, we got what came for, getting the traditional photo. By the smiles on their faces, I'm thinking the day turned out just fine.

Fundraising auction No. 2

As promised, we've started another fundraising auction at eBay, featuring this hockey stick blade tape wrap, to raise money for breast cancer research.

Despite getting nearly 100 views, the first auction ended without a bid within a week. Thankfully, though, we received one for $25 after the auction closed. Thanks, Brett, for doing that and continuing to support Colin's efforts, both on and off the ice.

This week's item saw plenty of use: two travel hockey games, one recreational league game and three practices. Even better, the tape comes from the Reebok RibCor 23K stick that Colin used to score a goal and two assists in his rec league game.

We've also lowered the starting bid to $2.49 and shipping to $3, beginning this week, in our bid to get you to bid on the item. Remember, we're not doing this to make money for ourselves. All proceeds from these auctions will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

As always, we appreciate your support.

Here's a link to this week's auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=231074726706

Raising awareness and money

Each October, CMS 37 wraps his hockey stick blades in pink tape to help raise awareness for breast cancer research. Last year, he gave away the wrappings to people who have defeated breast cancer or felt the loss of having someone they love die from the disease.

This year, CMS 37 is again participating in his project, but we're adding a different element. Each week, through Saturday, Nov. 2, we'll change the tape on his two sticks, making one available to someone we know and putting the other up for auction on eBay.

If the item sells, and we hope it does, you have our word that all proceeds from this week's auction will be donated, through eBay's Giving Works program, to the Breast Cancer Research Fund.

The auctions, which will be listed every Monday afternoon, will last seven days, with the final one ending Monday. Nov. 11. The opening bid for this week's pink hockey stick tape wrap, shown above, is $2.49 with a Buy It Now price of $9.99. Shipping and handling is a flat rate of $3.

Remember, we're not making a penny on this. All proceeds will go to charity. This week's auction, if successful, will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Here's a link to this week's auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=231069455689

As always, we appreciate your consideration of participating in this event. Thank you.