Gold Medal Champs!

What a weekend! Between our 2 older boys we had 5 hockey games in 2 days. City wide playoffs were happening, actually still are in some divisions. Both of our boys made us so proud, they played their hearts out. So did their teams, they played their best games of the season, really brought it together as teams. So amazing to watch. Neither team had an easy season, so it was the best ending. The nine year old's atom team was in a double loss knock out situation and had 2 wins 2 losses. The second last game they won 9-1! Gramps, Grandma and Grandpa, a very special Aunt, and Grandma's cousin all came to watch this game, making the victory even sweeter! But the final game they played was a complete knuckle biter, final score 7-6. By the end of the 1st period they were down 4-0. But they pulled it together and fought back. It was exciting to the very last second, they scored with a minute or 2 left and came very close to tying it up in the dying seconds. Unfortunately it was the end for them, but all the parents were very satisfied by the end of their season-we saw such incredible growth in our kids, and it was thrilling to watch every second.
Our oldest son's team had a very hard season, their first win didn't come until their Christmas tournament, and were still few and far between for the rest of the season. They were slowly starting to build their confidence, with lots of coaching staff encouragement, as the season was drawing to a close. I have been so impressed with these kids attitudes, they are almost always good sports and encourage one another. We have seen them learn to work together and pull the best from each other.
They played the final game of the playoffs on Sunday. Grandpa, Gramps, and an Auntie came to watch. So did B's youth pastor and another youth leader, such a special thing for all of us-what great guys! It was an awesome game, they came out hard right from the opening minute of the game. Daddy was on the bench cheering and encouraging and yelling encouragements to the boys and girls, he has been on the bench quite a bit since Christmas. He and B both love having him there:)
The opposing team opened the scoring quite early in the first period. All of us parents got a bit nervous, but our goalies were amazing! All the kids played as a team and went full out all game. It ended in a 2-1 victory for our kids! We were all bursting with pride in our bad news bears team! The kids and parents were all so excited, just about in tears-the coaches were more excited than the kids I think. They posed for pictures and received their gold medals, and passed around the trophy.
We would have been just as proud if had been a loss, because of how they played and their indomitable spirits, but the win was super sweet.