U13 Select, Select, 2021-2022 (Guelph Minor Hockey Association)

What makes a professional athlete a hero to kids? Is it the ability to skate fast, score goals, make great passes or saves? What about what they do off the ice and in their communities? When Theoren Fleury played in the NHL, I didn't think much about him except that he was small, tough, fast, and he could score. I paid very little attention to him throughout his career, and I wasn't at all a fan of his - I just thought of him as a chippy, tough little player. So why do I wear his jersey at hockey practice now?

February is Black History Month in Canada. 

Two news articles I bring to your attention, about incidents of, well, pretty disgusting behaviour by players and spectators.

The Original 6? The NHL was created in 1917 and there were many teams in the first 25 years of the league, before the NHL became 6 teams. Then, it was a 6-team league for another 25 years before expansion in 1967 to 12 teams. Expansion has continued pretty consistently since then, up to this season with the Seattle Kraken.