This last Thursday Tyson started hockey through the Rushmore Hockey League. It was a long 2 &1/2 month wait after breaking his arm last fall, but we finally made it the "big night". There was a lot of nerves and even a little crying, but in the end he toughened up and went out on the ice, and skated like he had been doing it forever!
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He didn't get his jersey until today, so all he had Thursday were his pads.
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There were several "new" kids; most of which were using chairs to push around to help balance. When the coach came over and asked Tyson if he wanted a chair he quickly shook his head no and went to skating around the ice like it was nothing!
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They spent the 45 minute practice doing different drills to basically get "used to the ice". They played "red light-green light" and tag. Most of the practice was just skating without their sticks. The puck never even came out on the ice...that was what today was for!
This morning came early...we had to leave the house at 7:30 am to make it all the way across town to the rink for his game at 8am. He was quickly given a jersey, which just so happened to be #30 (for those of you not obsessed with the RUSH-that would be Danny Battochio's number (aka-Batman!) How awesome is that?! I know Tyson thought it was pretty cool!
There were 7 kids on the "white team", so only 2 had to sit out at a time. They played for 2 minute stints, and then would take turns going in and out. Tyson jumped right in there like a pro. He did a great job of keeping his eye on the puck when he was out on the ice...always doing his best to chase it down so he could make a shot.
He was really close to scoring a couple of different times. He was definitely never far from the action. If the puck was hit down the ice Tyson was doing his best to get there as quick as he could.
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Check out these skillz... Doesn't he look like a pro?
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Again...in the center of the action...
He did a great job for his first game! We are so proud of him! He seemed to have a lot of fun as well. In fact, when Dad was helping him get his gear off Tyson told him he wanted to go back out on the ice and play some more hockey with next age group. Even though he had sweat literally dripping down his face he wasn't ready to be done for the day!
I was able to get a quick pic of him after the game before he went to the locker room to change!
He is already counting down the days until next Saturday when they have their next game! Look out Sidney Crosby (Tyson's favorite player for the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team), you have some competition coming up!