One Day All Together - 2010 Flames - 2023-2024

March 17, 2024 – One Day All Together – 2010 Flames – 2023-2024

Imagine a day when the entire team is in uniform together to make their final stand as the family that they have become. Then, for one day all together they unite, perhaps like never before. Banded together, as only a family can, they appear as one mass of skating, skill, and effort. They beat, shift after shift, as one heart, and literally produce actuality beyond expectation.

Here’s the deal. This version of the 2010 Flames is a great group of kids, with engaged coaches, and a big hockey family that is quite supportive. I have heard players say things like, this was their best season yet, or their favorite season so far. That is pretty awesome. They also just love to be together which is a luxury that many teams never even get to.

That is the 2023-2024 team. The 2010 Flames. This team was not about wins and losses as much as it was about the constant battle to improve, to get it right, and to wear their hearts on their sleeves, win, lose, or draw. For the fifth straight season, the 2010 Flames were about development, and celebrating successes together, like each shining moment was the most breathtaking event to date in their young lives.

I mean, what else do you want? This is the team that parents and players don’t want to leave. But some will, I am sure.

I know that next season will be different. They all are. Some of the kids will enter high school and try to play for their schools, as they should. Rosters for travel hockey will be inflated (if they can be) to accommodate the players that might miss practices and games, as school hockey comes first.

And I know that as the kids get older, the perception becomes that winning games is somehow more important. I suppose that’s true to a certain extent, as high school coaches are expected to win, especially in some programs. But there’s a part of me that strongly feels that personal wins, as in person by person, or player by player, are way more important. And in most cases those types of personal accumulations usually mean a stronger team, and more wins in the standings too.

I guess we will cross that bridge next season.

As for the 2023-2024 season, there were 177 days from start to finish, but I think I’ll prefer to remember one day all together, when they played like they do in their backyard rinks dreams.

2010 Flames. 2023-2024 GSL T4 NH State Champions! This was the one day all together. The smiles, the celebration, the long road to the moment. Awesome. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

I will get into some numbers and statistics at some point soon. I want to make something very clear about the numbers though. In my opinion, there is no chance at all, that the players on this 2010 Flames achieve the wins, goals, goals against, and spread out scoring across the entire lineup if it weren’t for the approach of this team over the past five seasons.

If every “crunch time” moment were saved for the best players, the special players, the coaches kids, etc. the team isn’t even close to the team that they have become. Not to mention that there are coaches out there (a lot of them) who define all moments as “crunch time” except for the glaringly obvious ones that anyone would figure out. In these cases, some of the team develops on the ice but probably not anywhere else, as others develop resentment and grow stronger for sticking around and overcoming adversity.

Instead, for the most part, this team rolls its lines and pairings, and everyone gets to play in key moments. Nobody is perfect, and there isn’t complete balance. Compared to other programs and teams, it’s very well balanced. Not only that, this 2010 Flames team wins games by applying the depth of their roster against their opponent, shift after shift. Furthermore, the team continued to improve, and grew in confidence, player by player, as a result of playing in all of the moments.

At these ages when everyone is trying to get better while still ‘trying on the sport’ if you will, winning at all costs usually costs more than everyone is willing to pay. Unless the winning, is player by player buying in to the team, the effort, and the accountability to one another. With the cost being sacrificing some wins on the scoreboard in order to build something far more important than a win-loss record.

One Day All Together – I chose this title because of the number of days during the season that the team was not all together.

With the injuries, health issues, sicknesses, concussions, you name it, this roster of players missed a lot of game and practice action throughout the season. Still, they plugged along. They played hard. They won. They lost. They had no chance. They came back. They gave it all that they had.

Then, on one day in February, they played two games against teams that they went 1-3 against in the regular season. This was in the playoffs, where every play weighs a little more, no matter who you are. All 17 players were dressed for the games, and the team played their best game of the season in the SemiFinal. It was so awesome to watch.

They played the #1 seed in the Final, and beat them, 3-1. The team was all there. All the hearts were beating for one another. They all smiled, and jumped, and celebrated, together. This was a team achievement, and they were all there. These situations wouldn’t even exist if they weren’t all together. One day all together.

Top half: Christmas Secret Santa 2023 (missing Cooper). Bottom half: Christmas Secret Santa 2022. There you have it, the kids didn’t grow at all. Well, except for Soucy, he looks much taller than a year ago.

– September – 2010 Flames – 2023-2024 –

September games: 9.
September record: 8-1-0.
Goals for: 64.
Goals against: 18.

The season started way too early, as I say every year, but I am slow to change. Or slow to accept change. The season got off and running in a hurry. The nature of Coach Nick’s teams are based on effort, accountability to one another, treating each other with respect, and teamwork on and off the ice.

I remember talking with other parents after the first few games, and remarking on how we all loved the passing and teamwork on the ice. The players were making passes and setting up shots and goals all over the place. It was so refreshing to watch.

– October – 2010 Flames – 2023-2024 –

October games: 11.
October record: 9-2-0.
Goals for: 52.
Goals against: 23.
3 shutout wins.
DC SemiFinalists.

October was a strange month. Not because of Columbus Day or because of Halloween. It seemed strange to play the big travel tournament of the season so early. In October, only 10 games into the season. Either way, the team traveled to Washington, DC to play games in Virginia. The Flames did very well. They had shutout wins against Richmond, VA and the Delaware Ducks. They lost to a Florida team that travels all over the country to play tournaments. Then they got crushed by a Connecticut team in the SemiFinals.

There were excursions into the city to see the sights of Washington, DC. And the team even went to a Capitals pre-season game which was a lot of fun.

Many of the players and families visited the Smithsonian National Zoological Park while in town. From (L-R) – Garrett, Lucas, Teddy, Jordan, and Ian. It was a fun visit, with plenty of wonderful animals to see. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2023.)

: I have always loved the red, white and blue. This was quite a beautiful presentation. Preseason hockey at Capital One Arena, Washington, DC. (C) 1inawesomewonder.com 2023.

: Inside the U.S. Capitol Building. This tour was excellent. They should do tours the same way at the White House. Anyone who really knows me also knows that I really do love our flag, as seen here. (C) 1inawesomewonder.com 2023.

: A tiger, not an LSU Tiger, but a tiger nevertheless. This tiger was pacing the water’s edge at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park. It was a pretty neat place to visit, and way more hilly than you might think. (C) 1inawesomewonder.com 2023.

: Looking at the Washington Monument from the rooftop of the Cambria Hotel. (C) 1inawesomewonder.com 2023.

: Words don’t seem appropriate here. Just hats off, look, read, and feel the weight that most of us never had to carry. Walk around. Look Veteran’s in the eye and smile, or thank them. And pray a prayer of thanks. (C) 1inawesomewonder.com 2023.

: The next morning, we were approaching the Washington Monument after a visit to the White House. It was warm already so I made a line for the monument, in the shade. (C) 1inawesomewonder.com 2023.

– November – 2010 Flames – 2023-2024 –

November games: 11.
November record: 9-2=0.
Goals for: 51.
Goals against: 20.
Outscored opponents, 15-2 in the 1st period.
3 shutout wins.
1 shutout loss.
Happy Thanksgiving!

November is normally a tournament month, but not this season. Instead, the 2010 Flames played games up here in New England and a very solid month. With some lopsided scores here and there, there were rumblings about the team possibly having to move up in tier’s or competition, or both.

: Yes, the celebration of team each doing their best, doing their thing. It demands one’s all from each, collected and constructed, the joy it brings. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

: Waiting in Woodstock for water to dry, or rather, water to freeze. Or waiting on the rail for the refs to show, hurry stripes. Please. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

: Just a cool moment when one Flames team creates a celebratory human tunnel as a younger Flames team leaves the ice after an exciting win. I love when kids do friendly, uplifting kids things. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

: Travis and a few of his friends just mixing it up over at JFK on a Sunday morning. What a great time. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

: The Flames greet each other in celebration on the ice at JFK after their 3rd win in roughly 24 hours. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

: Coach and his players. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

: (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2023.)

: (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2023.)

– December – 2010 Flames – 2023-2024 –

December games: 13.
December record: 5-5-3.
Goals for: 41.
Goals against: 32.
Winter Classic SemiFinalists.
1 shutout loss.
1 shutout win.
Merry Christmas!

December was the busiest month of the season, with 13 games. The team lost various players for a combined total of 43 games missed due to health issues, or injury in December.

After December 9th, the 2010 Flames played Fed games in an upper subdivision, with all remaining games against the five other Fed teams that were the top teams in the division. This made for two plus months of playing Fed games against top level competition. After this move, the 2010 Flames went 1-9-1 in Fed play, losing 6 of those games by one goal.

The Flames played in the Winter Classic in a higher tier and still went to the SemiFinals. Along the way, they shutout the Maine Gladiators, 3-0. They tied the 13 and 14 year old Islanders, and beat King Philip Walpole, 4-3. In the SemiFinal they played the Biddeford Nor’Easters. Both teams played exceptionally. The Flames lost, 1-0.

: Flames win, 4-2. Some skated, some walked, but all are 2010 Flames who really enjoy being together.

: In an uncoordinated effort four of the seven players unable to play, at least wore the right team jersey. Then, if great minds think alike, what does this say?

– January – 2010 Flames – 2023-2024 –

January games: 9.
January record: 4-4-1.
Goals for: 41.
Goals against: 23.
1 shutout win.
Happy New Year!
Had an 0-4-1 record in Fed play.
Went 4-0-0 in GSL play.

How competitive is this development team from the Flames? The Flames won four games and tied one. Each of their four losses was by one single goal.

The 2010 Flames are the #2 team, the everpresent underdog with a team first attitude. The players play in all of the situations of the game. Guess what, they score up and down the lineup. Other teams just don’t do this. They really don’t. They have each other’s backs, on and off the ice (and that can still improve).

: This is Coach Nick in action at the Coaches vs. Coaches game. Notice the defense gives him plenty of space as he is a known offensive threat. On a different note, a random poll of youth players attending the game gave the coach a loud bit of advice, “HIT THE NET!” Also of note, Coach is wearing his authentic Bowling Green Falcons socks from his storied college days. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: In this shot we see an injured Andrew at the helm. He had just laid down some deep, deep wisdom. The other coaches broke into groups of two to discuss. Good thing that warm-ups are only 3 minutes long. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: Assistant Coach Johnny Hawkes. Johnny keeps busy by coaching hockey on 13 different hockey coaching staffs. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: The 2010 Flames line up and shake hands after a 7-0 win at JFK. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: Tyler spent all day Friday riding his horses and breaking them out on his ranch. Saturday morning was cold, and despite not yet being loosened up, he scored here. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: Travis is set in front of the net. The game was delayed while waiting for one of the refs. But everything worked out in the end. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: A sheet of ice amid the symmetry at New England College. Lee Clement Arena. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: Finishing January with a game up at Union Arena. It’s a great place to watch hockey. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

– February – 2010 Flames – 2023-2024 –

February games: 12.
February record: 8-4-0.
Goals for: 33.
Goals against: 23.
2 shutout losses.
2 shutout wins.
Only played 4 home games, and went 1-3.
Went 7-1 in games away from home.
All 15 skaters had at least one point.
GSL Tier 4 Champions!!!

February was a tough month of hard-nosed, playoff style hockey for the entire months. With the teams all playing their best, or taking runs at teams ahead of them in the standings. The 2010 Flames were 4-4 in the month, and had allowed 20 goals while scoring just 19 goals themselves, entering the playoffs.

And we know that the Flames played four outstanding games out in Rochester, NH on their march to a 4-0 playoff run to the NH State Title.

One interesting note for February’s games. The Flames played 12 games, and only two of those games was against a team based north of Quincy, MA. while being south of Gilford, NH (that’s a 110 mile drive). The teams were the Cyclones and Top Gun on back to back days.

Below are pictures from February where my hockey loves all collided and overlapped. Give and take. Hockey family all around to help carry the load. I am busy, but so very blessed. Thank you.

: Waiting for cold weather to get a couple more skates in before the season ends. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: Goffstown vs. Alvirne-Milford. A night to raise money for the Flutie Foundation and to raise autism awareness. Very cool, special jerseys were worn by both teams for the game. It was a 2-2 tie, but the cause was the winner. (Photo by Meagan Tarrier).

: “Hey partner. I look over, and, dag nab it all, I think your head is on fire again! Gets me every time!” (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

: 2010 Flames families and fans gather in Rochester to watch their favorite team in the playoffs. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: Everyone I talked to thought the same thing, this was the best team execution in a game all season. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

: When you are team. It is only team that you want to share all of the moments with. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

: The Flames scored first and like the Christmas spirit at the end of Elf, the team’s belief multiplied. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

: When you are ready. And you are prepared. The waiting is the hardest part. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

– March – 2010 Flames – 2023-2024 –

March games: 3.
March record: 1-1-1.
Goals for: 5.
Goals against: 10.
1 shutout loss.

The playoff run in Rochester was something that I hope this team remembers for the rest of their lives. Then the following weekend, to finish the season with that 1-1 tie, that had the other team not quite believing the force they were up against. That was a great way to finish a long season. The team’s “limiting steps” still get in the way, but that is part of growth. Fail better the next time. It’s okay. Failure is a part of life, but shouldn’t be a defining part of life. In a season of growth, the 2010 Flames absolutely grew! I look forward to more growth. I look forward to more 2010 Flames Hockey.

I consider myself fortunate to be a part of the 2010 Flames family for the past 5 seasons. I also am fortunate to be a part of the Goffstown Grizzlies hockey family (9 years and counting). The seasons most definitely overlap, but I love these two teams. I get so much joy watching the kids on these teams play. I’m fortunate.

And, of course, I look forward to more time with our hockey family. I look forward to watching our kids having the times of their lives, alongside friends from near and far. The hockey family is a special dynamic, but it’s not the same everywhere. Nor is it the same every season. I have personally witnessed a loving, nurturing, fun-loving hockey dynamic change to toxic and destructive in one off-season all because a few adults wanted to “WIN” more.

What’s worse is that the damage was done primarily to the kids. THE KIDS! Are you kidding me?!?! The KIDS ARE THE REASON the sport is even offered. I mean, come on! It IS NOT about the Coaches (even though we love ours). It IS NOT about the parents or their agendas. If you find your kid playing a sport they love in an environment that they literally cannot get enough of, then stay out of the way. IT’S ALL ABOUT THE KIDS.

: That’s me at SNHU Arena covering the four NHIAA Hockey Championship games. The games were amazing! The players were awesome! (Photo by The Hawkes Spycam)

: Everett Arena. NHIAA D1 Girls Hockey SemiFinals. One more chance to watch, all-time Astros great, Riley Dunn play. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: My hometown, Londonderry, won their first ever NH Hockey Title. I happened to be there to see the third period, 2-1 deficit, turn into a 5-2 victory. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: NHIAA D2 Boys Hockey Final. Spaulding vs. Oyster River. Pete Harwood and the Bobcats won their first ever NHIAA Hockey Title. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: The firm of Ingalls and Rosenbeck. These two, I can’t say enough good things about them. They are so completely different, except for one thing. They would do anything to help their 2010 Flames team win. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

: In a season there are countless split seconds and little spaces. These make up moments that can be larger than life in the moment of a kid. So, they battle the only way they know how, hoping always to live up to expectation first, and improve second. They’re growing. They’ll get it. Draw it up. Drill it. Reinforce it. Then expect it. They are the asset. It’s about them. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

: My Grizzlies fell in the QuarterFinals to the eventual Champions, Oyster River. This was an 830am playoff game at UNH. (Photo by Meagan Tarrier)

: The 2010 Flames line up and shake hands with the Providence South team after a 1-1 tie at the Fed Playoffs. The game was played at Governor’s Academy. This version of the 2010 Flames skated off the ice together for the last time. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

After the 68th game of the season. The players and parents, friends, and family all waited for the coaches in the foyer of the Whiston-Bragdon Arena at Governor’s Academy. When the coaches walked into the foyer, there were some pretty awesome gifts and gift bags assembled for the coaches. The gifts were fantastic!

I know that several people contributed to these gifts (thank you all), but Nichole Mooney needs to be recognized. Her energy and efforts, along with 27 million pictures taken this season, have added to the experience of the players, coaches, and families this season. Thank you so much.

In between the games at Governor’s Academy during the Fed Playoffs, a few of us went to lunch in Newburyport, MA. I had found a place online that looked cool to me. So we went to Park Lunch to eat and kill time between the 10:15 am game and the 3:55 pm game.

The little diner was very cool, with pictures, pennants, and all sorts of memorabilia all over the walls. Of course there was a picture of a 1949 Newburyport High School Championship Football team hanging above our table. The name Fred Hawkes was listed on the picture. I asked Coach Johnny about the team, the picture, and the name. He is quite certain that Fred is a relative of his. Pretty neat.

We had a great lunch and then took a walk across the street to Cashman Park. We killed a couple of hours over at the park while the kids ran around, played hide and seek, climbed on a playground, and swang on every conceivable version of a swing that they had. The park is on the shore of the Merrimack River where it runs under the Gillis Memorial Bridge and dumps into the Gulf of Maine just beyond Plum Island.

: The Hawkes family heritage runs through this neck of the woods.

: This is how my wife and I spend our anniversary every year it seems, as part of some hockey thing going on. It’s okay, it’s our choice.

– One Day All Together – 2010 Flames – 2023-2024 Season Totals –

Comparing some numbers from the 2022-2023 season versus this season, 2023-2024.

Record at home: 19-8-2.
Record away from home: 25-11-3.
All Playoffs Record: 5-1-1.
All Tournaments Record: 4-3-1.
Incredible plays: Countless.
Adversities overcome: Countless.
Awesome player and team achievements, big and small: Countless.
Incredible memories made playing for the same logo: Countless.
Smiles and celebrations: Countless and priceless alike.
One Day All Together when the #2 Team knocked off Two #1 Teams back-to-back: Yes! That happened.
Realizing you were smiling throughout the entire season: Priceless.
Number of hearts on the team: One huge heart.

Here’s something to think about when it comes to games, winning, and kids. If I, or we, count so many categories listed above as ‘priceless’ or ‘countless’ and we count wins at 44, then what should this all be about? It’s all about the kids.

2010 Flames 2023-2024 Roster

00 – Will Rosenbeck – Goalie

: Will makes a save down in Virginia back in October. He had another great season between the pipes.

: Will was wonderful. Like all season, wonderful. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

02 – Ian Kaveney – Forward

: Does anyone remember when the Ford Flex came out? Me either. In other flex news, Ian had to get a new stick recently. He wanted a picture of him shooting (for an ad campaign). Here you go.

: Kaveney aligns the defender to screen the goalie and lets a shot fly. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

06 – Teddy Beal – Forward

: Beal splits the D. Big T from the bench, “You’re my boy Beal!” (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

: Be the breeze. Be the breeze that lets untied laces dance to the rhythm and feel free. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

07 – Gavin Petrie – Forward

: Gavin circles the net at Bay State, looking for Hawkes on the other side of the net.

: Petrie, much better known as Rooster Pear Tree globally, delivers a pass to spring Mooney in to the clear. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

08 – Andrew Drumm – Forward / Defense

: Andrew cruises through the corner in early season action for the 2010 Flames.

: Drumm missed a few months of hockey with an injury, but he came back, flying. He had a goal and an assist in this game against Rochester. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

09 – Jordan Hawkes – Forward

: Jordan was all smiles after the game when he addressed me in Portuguese. I smiled and later had his quote translated to these words, “I have a disease called I can’t hit the net with a wide open shot.” Or something like that, but he was in fact smiling.

: Hawkes celebrates a goal with his 2010 Flames family against the Islanders. He had a goal and an assist in the Fed playoff game. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots).

12 – Tyler Mooney – Forward

: If there was a Moon over Miami, can there be a Mooney over Skate 3? Tyler had a pair of assists in this Flames victory.

: On this play, 7+6=12, for the goal. Tyler scored a goal on this play in a 6-2 win in Hudson, NH. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

20 – Jacob St. Pierre – Defense / Forward

: Jacob works free for a moment to let one of his slapshots fly. No one looks to excited to stand in the path.

: St. Pierre settles the puck and regroups as the Flames renew their attack. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

22 – Chase Giampa – Forward

: Chase was everywhere on the ice against the Richmond Generals. He scored a shorthanded goal in the opening game of the DC Tourney.

: Teddy mutters to himself, “Dang! Chang, we got a problem. I could have sworn that ref dropped the puck but I have no idea where it went”. Chase (a big Phil Hartman fan) thinks, “I have no idea what Teddy is saying, it’s all pops and buzzes over here”. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

24 – Jaden Booth – Defense

: I captured this photo while Jaden was in the midst of recording one of his instructional videos on shooting the puck. He accentuates the sequence of movements in this shot for the betterment of young players everywhere. This did lead to a goal.

: Just some action in front of the net, up at Plymouth State U. 24 is no stranger to contact, and hustling at full throttle. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

27 – Joey Santitto – Defense

: This is Flames 27, I mean Joey. He goes about his business in a quiet manner on the ice, but he can be a force when the time is right. In other news, the fans were many, and they were riveted to the action as you can see.

: Santitto plays D first then asks questions later. He improved so much this season. Love to see it. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

31 – Travis Ingalls – Goalie

: Take it for what it’s worth, I mean the picture, which in this case is roughly words 1,000 words. Imagine how valuable that could be on a school paper.

: Ingalls gets a good look at the shot headed his way. He was solid in net all season. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

33 – Lucas Ouellette – Forward

: A close up of Lucas because Dad wanted pictures “of the weekend”. You know how us Dad’s are.

: Powers shoots wide. St. Pierre get the puck and centers. Ouellette taps it in. #33 was around the net all season long. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

37 – Cooper Lazzaro – Defense

: Here we see the defenseman, Lazzaro retrieve a puck that was not going to create an ‘icing’ situation. If you don’t know what that means see me after class.

: Cooper got better every month. Here he has his eyes up as he gathers the puck behind his own net. With his speed and improved vision on the ice, he is a threat to make a big play in any zone. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

63 – Andy Soucy – Forward / Some D to cover injuries

: Soucy takes a shot against Bay State back in October. He was a force on the ice all season.

: Soucy recounts in real time, “That’s exactly the way I dreamt that play could work. That’s pretty cool. Wait. Did my awesome teammates have the same dream?” (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots)

86 – Garrett Warren – Forward

: Garrett goes to the net and is rewarded with a backhand power play goal off the rebound.

: GSL Playoffs – Garrett, Booth, and all the boys were ready for absolutely anything. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots).

87 – Caleb Powers – Defense

: Here’s how this is going to go. We have the lead. I will have the puck. You won’t. Smile.

: Caleb is usually in the middle of things that go well for the 2010 Flames. Consistently good, and even-keeled. He had a great season. (Photo by Mooney’s Moonshots).

Stats. 2023-2024. None of these numbers add up to the awesomeness of this team and each player on the roster.

First, Thank you. Coach Nick. Coach Dave. Coach Johnny. Coach Adam. Second, Thank you. Always, Thank you.

: Head Coach, Nick Warren and his son, Garrett. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: Assistant Coach, Dave Soucy and his son, Andy. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: Assistant Coach, Johnny Hawkes and his son, Jordan. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

: Assistant Coach, Adam Ouellette and his son, Lucas. (Photo by 1inawesomewonder. 2024.)

This team. These kids. Who wouldn’t want to play for, with this, group? They show up where and when they are told to, and exceed our expectations time after time.

Way back at the very beginning of our hockey life with Teddy, the beginning was very much in question. Teddy tried out for the Flames and the Monarchs in March, 2019. This was his first tryout for a hockey team. He had not played on a hockey team, or in a hockey game, in his brief time learning about hockey. He had done ‘learn to skate’ through the Southern NH Figure Skating Club.

The 2010 Flames team tryouts were on Monday and Wednesday nights, March 4th and 6th. After the tryouts, Teddy was not picked for the Flames team or the Monarchs team. We didn’t know exactly what we were going to do.

Then, we were alerted that on Tuesday, March 12th, there was a special, third tryout to try and fill the roster for the 2010 Flames. So I took Teddy to West Side Arena for the final hope of making a hockey team.

This was not what we would call a normal tryout. This was two players skating against each other, one-on-one, full ice, with one goalie (Travis) at one end of the ice.

There were exactly two adults, or parents, or fans in the bleachers at West Side Arena that night. Two dads. Two grown men who didn’t know each other were watching two 8-year old kids that didn’t know each other play one-on-one hockey against each other. Both kids were looking to make their first hockey team.

While all of this was happening, my wife was visiting colleges with our son, Sebastian, out in Michigan, and Ohio. He wanted to play hockey in college and ended up picking Ohio University. He played four years of ACHA Hockey at OU, and had a great career there.

After roughly an hour of two 8-year olds skating for longer and further than they ever had before, the time on the ice came to an end. I thought to myself, “There is no way in the world that Teddy makes this team after watching these two little warriors skate as hard as they knew how”.

I went down to the locker room and met the other dad, Johnny Hawkes, and his son, Jordan. We helped our kids get out of their gear. The kids were both soaked in sweat. And I don’t think either one of them thought they had made the team.

Then a coach popped in and said, “I have good news! Both boys made the team”. The coach was Tim Ingalls, and he shared that Coach Warren was going to round out the roster with Jordan and Teddy. I was thinking, “Did you watch what I watched? Are you serious”? Jordan and Teddy, the last two picks.

He was serious. Jordan and Teddy made the team. They have been wearing #9 and #6 ever since. They are both right-handed shots, and have been difficult to tell apart on the ice for even the parents, at times over the last five seasons. But they both made it. As Teddy says when asked about potentially playing for a different team or coach, “I don’t think I would because Coach Nick took a chance on me”. He loves playing for Coach and the 2010 Flames.

The last two picks. Jordan Hawkes and Teddy Beal, their parents, and Coach Nick gathered together for a picture at Rochester Arena. They celebrated their humble beginnings on the team, and of course, the team’s first GSL NH State Championship. Thank you Coach, for taking a chance on these two boys.

You can find more 2010 Flames material in these pieces, here. 2010 Manchester Flames.

The current look at my ‘hockey office’. So many hours spent in this space, tracking numbers and capturing season after season. (C) 1inawesomewonder 2023.

The beginning of every article. (C) 1inawesomewonder 2017.

The thoughts and opinions expressed here are those of the individual contributors, mostly mine, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the schools, coaches, players, or characters listed in any of these blog posts. Or, maybe they do, but you would have to ask them directly.

Either way, “It’s a great day for hockey” ~ the late “Badger” Bob Johnson.

“We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we’re too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams.” ~ the late Herb Brooks.

“To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. Number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it: If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that’s a full day. That’s a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you’re going to have something special.” ~ Jim Valvano on how to live life, during his ESPY speech.

“I started writing sports stories 20 years ago. I still do. I write because somewhere, in some game, a kid might be having the time of his or her life. That’s awesome to think about. It’s all about the kids.” ~ Steve Beal Sr.