The Hockey Hero
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| Goalie
version | Forward Version | #523 Hockey Hero (Goalie
version) was created especially for James Scott Powers at the age of 8 With Love From, Mom March 1, 2002 The
championship game was only hours away.
The San Angelo Raiders, Jamie’s favorite team, were just one game away from
being the champs. Jamie
had already invited Alysa, Gary, and Charlie to
watch the game on television with him. All that was left to do was check the snacks
and, for the fourth time today, study the team line-ups. 4 Unknown
to Jamie, the San Angelo
Raiders were in trouble. The
coach had just learned that the star goalie had
a sprained ankle and could not play tonight.
The team needed another goalie. 7 “What
about that kid, Jamie so-and-so, who you just
signed,” the coach asked the team’s general manager. “You
mean that kid who live in Bronte, Texas?”
replied the G.M. “He’s a little young
and inexperienced!” “Call
him,” replied the coach, “and get him here any way you can, even if you have to rent a
private jet. 8 The
general manager, a bit nervous about tonight’s game, still couldn’t remember
the goalie’s last name. “Was it Leroux, Lamante, Powers? Yes, Powers, I think that was it”, the G.M. said and he quickly looked through the Bronte, Texas phone book for the number. 11 For
Jamie, time was moving slowly. When the phone rang, Jamie answered. “Hi,” said
the G.M. “I know this is unusual, Jamie, but we have a game tonight and we need you to
play. I’m sending someone to pick you
up.” “Sure,”
Jamie said somewhat reluctantly, knowing he would miss the big game on telelvision. “But I’d like to bring along Alysa, Gary, and Charlie”. “No
problem,” replied the G.M. Jamie quickly gathered his
hockey gear and waited to be picked up. 12 In
no time an official hockey-looking guy rang the door bell. “Is Jamie
here?” he asked. “Right
here,” Jamie replied. “Where?”
said the hockey guy looking around the room. “Right
here,” said Jamie again. “But!
But! You look like you’re only 8 years old,”
replied the surprised official. “Are
you that good of a goalie?” “Yeah,
I’m pretty good,” Jamie replied. 15 “Where
are we going?” Jamie asked as they jumped into a
limousine. “To the home arena of the San Angelo Raiders,” replied the hockey-type guy. “The
game is sold out. There will be
thousands of people at the arena and another 10 million watching on
television.” “Sure,
10 million watching and me playing at the home of the San
Angelo Raiders! Does he really think I believe him?”
Jamie thought to himself. 16 When
they finally arrived at the arena, and Jamie saw
all the fans rushing into the building, he
didn’t know what to think. “Follow
me,” said the hockey-type guy. “And
don’t sign any autographs – we haven’t got enough time.” Jamie
followed, but now he was nervous. Alysa, Gary and Charlie looked
nervous too. 19 “Here’s
the kid,” the hockey-type guy said to the coach when they reached the dressing
room. “Where?”
asked the coach. “Right
here,” he replied, pointing at Jamie. The
coach looked down at Jamie. “You can’t be serious?” the coach asked. 20 The
coach looked at Jamie again. “Did the G.M. call you?” he asked. “Yes,”
replied Jamie. “You
must be the best young goalie in the whole
world,” the coach said in amazement. “Yeah,
I’m pretty good,” Jamie replied. 23 Jamie
quickly put on his hockey gear and went out with
the team for the pregame warmup. As
soon as the coach saw Jamie on the ice he knew a mistake had been made. Jamie was
pretty good, but no 8-year-old had ever played goalie in this league. “It’s lucky that I can just keep the kid on the bench,” the coach
thought to himself. 24 The
game was incredibly exciting. There
were hard hits, scoring chances galore, end to end action and great saves. As the third period wound down, the score
was tied 2-2. Jamie
was happy. These were the best seats he had ever had to watch his
favorite team. The game ended in a
flurry with both goalies making incredible saves. Overtime was next. 27 In
the dressing room some of the San Angelo Raiders
started to complain about their stomachs.
One by one, they went into the trainer’s room. The flu bug had hit the team! Alysa,
Gary, and Charlie
whispered to Jamie. “You may have to play.” “Awesome,”
replied Jamie. 28 Winning
seemed impossible. With most of the
players sick, the team was wearing down.
And then it happened! The goalie skated over to the bench and came off the ice. “Get
another goalie on the ice,” the referee yelled
to the coach. The
coach looked down the bench. “Jamie – just how good are you?” he asked. “I’m
pretty good,” Jamie replied. “Out
you go,” said the coach. “Do your
best.” 31 Jamie
was a pretty good goalie but these players shot
the puck harder than anyone he had ever played
against. The first shot whizzed by the
net, missing by inches. Jamie never saw it. The
second shot hit him in the glove and stayed
there. The crowd roared in approval but
Jamie never saw the puck either. Jamie’s
team played even harder. With a rookie goalie in the net, they knew they had to score soon to
win. Then it happened! Jamie’s team
got caught up the ice. The other team
had a breakaway! 32 The
player skated in and blasted a shot – high to the blocker side. Jamie flicked
out his blocker and made the greatest save of his life. The
shot glanced off the glove, into the corner, and around the boards. One
of the San Angelo Raiders took the puck up the
ice and scored. They had won in
overtime! Jamie
was interviewed on television. He only remembered answering one quesiton. “Yeah, I’m pretty good,” he said. 35 for this year: ________________________________
Team ________________________________ Coach’s Name ________________________________ Goals scored ________________________________ Assists ________________________________ Penalties ________________________________ Trophies won ________________________________ #523 Hockey Hero (Forward
Version) was created especially for James Scott Powers at the age of 8 With Love From, Mom March 1, 2002 The
championship game was only hours away.
The San Angelo Raiders, Jamie’s favorite team, were just one game away from
being the champs. Jamie
had already invited Alysa, Gary, and Charlie to
watch the game on television with him. All that was left to do was check the snacks
and, for the fourth time today, study the team line-ups. Unknown
to Jamie, the San Angelo
Raiders were in trouble. The
coach had just learned that the star player had
a sprained ankle and could not play tonight.
No other players were available.
The situation seemed hopeless. “What
about that kid, Jamie so-and-so, who you just
signed,” the coach asked the team’s general manager. “You
mean that kid who live in Bronte, Texas?”
replied the G.M. “He’s a little young
and inexperienced!” “Call
him,” replied the coach, “and get him here any way you can, even if you have to rent a
private jet. All we need is a back-up
in case of injury. He’ll just sit on
the bench.” The
general manager, a bit nervous about tonight’s game, still couldn’t remember
the goalie’s last name. “Was it Leroux, Lamante, Powers? Yes, Powers, I think that was it”, the G.M. said and he quickly looked through the Bronte, Texas phone book for the number. For
Jamie, time was moving slowly. When the phone rang, Jamie answered. “Hi,” said
the G.M. “I know this is unusual, Jamie, but we have a game tonight and we need you to
play. I’m sending someone to pick you
up.” “Sure,”
Jamie said somewhat reluctantly, knowing he would miss the big game on telelvision. “But I’d like to bring along Alysa, Gary, and Charlie”. “No
problem,” replied the G.M. Jamie quickly gathered his
hockey gear and waited to be picked up. In
no time an official hockey-looking guy rang the door bell. “Is Jamie
here?” he asked. “Right
here,” Jamie replied. “Where?”
said the hockey guy looking around the room. “Right
here,” said Jamie again. “But!
But! You look like you’re only 8 years old,”
replied the surprised official. “Are
you that good of a hockey player?” “Yeah,
I’m pretty good,” Jamie replied. “Where
are we going?” Jamie asked as they jumped into a
limousine. “To the home arena of the San Angelo Raiders,” replied the hockey-type guy. “The
game is sold out. There will be
thousands of people at the arena and another 10 million watching on
television.” “Sure,
10 million watching and me playing at the home of the San
Angelo Raiders! Does he really think I believe him?”
Jamie thought to himself. When
they finally arrived at the arena, and Jamie saw
all the fans rushing into the building, he
didn’t know what to think. “Follow
me,” said the hockey-type guy. “And
don’t sign any autographs – we haven’t got enough time.” Jamie
followed, but now he was nervous. Alysa, Gary and Charlie looked
nervous too. “Here’s
the kid,” the hockey-type guy said to the coach when they reached the dressing
room. “Where?”
asked the coach. “Right
here,” he replied, pointing at Jamie. The
coach looked down at Jamie. “You can’t be serious?” the coach asked. The
coach looked at Jamie again. “Did the G.M. call you?” he asked. “Yes,”
replied Jamie. “You
must be the best young hockey player in the
whole world,” the coach said in amazement. “Yeah,
I’m pretty good,” Jamie replied. Jamie
quickly put on his hockey gear and went out with
the team for the pregame warmup. As
soon as the coach saw Jamie on the ice he knew a mistake had been made. Jamie was
pretty good, but no 8-year-old had ever played goalie in this league. “It’s lucky that I can just keep the kid on the bench,” the coach
thought to himself. The
game was incredibly exciting. There
were hard hits, scoring chances galore, end to end action and great saves. As the third period wound down, the score
was tied 2-2. Jamie
was happy. These were the best seats he had ever had to watch his
favorite team. The game ended in a
flurry with both goalies making incredible saves. Overtime was next. In
the dressing room some of the San Angelo Raiders
started to complain about their stomachs.
One by one, they went into the trainer’s room. And, they didn’t return. Alysa,
Gary, and Charlie
whispered to Jamie. “You may have to play.” “Awesome,”
replied Jamie. The
game seemed out of reach. With only six
players, the team was wearing down. And
then it happened! The referee called
coincidental minor penalites. “Get
another player on the ice,” the referee yelled to the coach. The
coach looked at the trainer. “Anyone
ready yet?” he asked. “Sorry
coach – no one can even stand up,” the trainer replied. “Jamie – just
how good are you?” he asked. “I’m
pretty good,” Jamie replied. “Out
you go,” said the coach. “Do your
best.” Jamie
was a pretty good hockey player but these
players were the biggest, strongest and fastest he
had ever played against. By the time Jamie skated into one end, the puck was already back
in the other end. Jamie was still struggling out of the opponent’s end when one of his teammates shot
the puck down the ice. The other team
had forgotten about Jamie. He had a
breakaway! Jamie
skated as fast as he could. A defenseman was breathing down his neck. As he reached the net, Jamie
looked up and saw the biggest goalie he had ever
seen in his life. Jamie let go with his best shot.
The
burly defenseman took Jamie into the boards with
a thud. As Jamie
got up, he heard the fans cheering and saw his teammates (all 6 of them) skating towards him. The game
was over. Jamie
had buried the shot in the top corner.
They had won in overtime. Jamie
was interviewed on television. He only remembered answering one question. “Yeah, I’m pretty good,” he said. for this year: ________________________________
Team ________________________________ Coach’s Name ________________________________ Goals scored ________________________________ Assists ________________________________ Penalties ________________________________ Trophies won ________________________________ Best play of the year
“The Hockey Hero”
Jamie’s Hockey Statistics
Best play of the year
“The Hockey Hero”
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Jamie’s Hockey Statistics