We Go Again Together

Good evening, and welcome back to the High Road, or as this is going out on the club website wherever in the hockey world you are reading this from.

We return to action tonight, after a week where the shadow of tragedy has loomed large over the hockey world. And right now, we are all still processing the events in Sheffield in our own way. Everybody deals with grief in different ways, you who are reading this have decided that you are ready to return to the rinks and to watching the sport we all love.

And that is ok, that is how you are dealing with this. Just as for anyone you know or any player who has decided they still need time away that is ok, that’s how they are processing this. At a time like this, self-care and empathy for others are vital to us all. And lastly, It’s also ok if you have come along tonight, to not feel ok at times. You are most welcome, and not alone in that right now. 

This past week has seen tragedy do what it always does with UK hockey fans, and that is bring out the best in us. We have been there for one another, some may find it strange that an event that happened between 2 teams probably no one in this building has any connection to, has affected so many of us.

No doubt many of us found it hard on Monday morning, being bombarded by inquisitive non hockey fans who had seen the various press articles, a tragedy in of itself that once again our wonderful sport was in headlines for reasons other than on ice action of the kind we enjoy. All I could say to you if you endured that, is that I am sorry you had to go through it, its little comfort I know, but you were and are not alone on this.

Tonight, our lads will ice with these events still in their minds, and with reminders of it on their bodies as clubs have instituted rules on neck guard use in the wake of the tragedy. They will need us more than ever tonight, yes hockey players are known to be tough. But they are all humans, with emotions and feelings. The fact the teams voted to not play last weekend underlines that.

So, give them every bit of support you can this evening. As the saying goes, you don’t know the battle someone else is fighting, its hard enough to live day to day with something weighing heavy on your mind. It can only be imagined how playing a game of hockey feels with such thoughts to push through.

Though our teams have always enjoyed a feisty on ice rivalry. I think I would be forgiven for saying tonight regardless of if you wear the red and white of Streatham or the blue and Grey of Invicta or any of the myriad of colours in the hockey world. That we are all one team tonight, and teammates look out for each other.

So, if you see someone struggling tonight, who has decided to come here, but has realized it is too much for them. Look after them, tell them it’s ok, and let them get out what they are feeling. We all go through grief differently and having teammates supporting you helps every step of the way.

Growing up every player steps onto that ice with the dream of one day being the next Maurice Richard, Mario Lemieux, Sydney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Jaromir Jagr or Wayne Gretzky and being remembered amongst those names. They envision careers that take them to places such as Maddison square Garden, the Calgary Saddle Dome and the LA Staples centre.

They don’t envision a career that ends tragically on a Saturday night in Sheffield. But Adams name will be known now, as the player who’s tragic loss hopefully saves lives with the instituted the use of neck guards in leagues the world over. Something if he’s looking down from the beyond, we can all hope he would be proud of. Because it has opened the debate on player safety from here on in, and that can only be a good thing for the game’s future. 

The harsh realities of ice time availability and contracts with the rinks mean we have to play on. You can say, as a player Adam would have wanted that, that he wouldn’t want the sport he loved to stop on his account. Only those who know his could say that for sure, but we should leave them alone for now to grieve. Instead let’s focus on the boys playing for us tonight, be loud, bring the noise and back the boys. Because they will need that extra energy from us.

Remember its ok to not feel ok, and its ok to let someone know that. From here we never forget, and we go again together.