Team Blue

SUBMITTED BY: Mila Oh

TEAM CITY: Dollard-des-Ormeaux
TEAM NAME: Team Blue
ADDED: March 12th, 2010

Why My Team Should Bring Home the Cup! Mila Oh Team Blue West Island Saturday Night League Women’s Hockey Dollard-des-Ormeaux Community Civic Center My hockey team deserves to bring home the Cup because we are a team of women who love hockey to the bottom of our souls. We are a motley crew of women of all different ages and backgrounds who have been brought together by a mutual love of the game. The members of our league include women who have played at many different levels, some who are beginners, and some who have competed at the provincial level. Many players are mothers and wives of avid hockey players. We have several mother/daughter combinations. Some of our women coach hockey, and many of them are hockey moms who drive their kids to practices, games and tournaments. One of our members even has a son who plays in the NHL! We are obsessed with hockey, and it is women like us who help drive our nation’s dominance of the game. We talk hockey while we suit up, while we’re on the bench, and as we change to get back to watching hockey. I’ve played with and against some of these women for over 15 years, and it is still a great pleasure to suit up with them. The league consists of 3 teams, Team Blue, White and Red. This year, I am on Team Blue, but we mix up the teams every year. Our fearless leader and my captain, Bev Beauchamp, is the driving force behind the league. She organizes the ice time, coordinates the team rosters and schedules, and gets subs as needed. Every week, two of the 3 teams take to the ice to play a game of competitive, yet fun-hearted game of hockey. We want to play good positional hockey, but we are also very careful to play fair and to avoid conflict and injury. We are all out there to have fun, not to get hurt. But it is still good quality hockey. Our stronger players can be very tough to cover, but they still make an effort to share the puck with the weaker players. Good-natured trash talk is encouraged. I really enjoy playing with competitive players who clearly understand the game, and who play smart, fast hockey. I’ve been playing in this league for the last 5 years, and although Saturday night is a tough time slot, this game is the priority of my week. I’ve played in many other leagues and with many other teams, but this team is really special. I was diagnosed with breast cancer almost 3 years ago, and it has been a real battle. I’ve been receiving treatment almost constantly since I was diagnosed. I am always tired, and I have a lot of pain. One of the most precious things in my life throughout this battle has been my love of hockey. When I am on the ice, I forget about all the pain, all the treatments. I feel the icy wind against my cheeks, I hear the clash of blades against the ice, I see the puck on my stick, sailing over the ice. My teammate calls for the puck, I make a pass. They cheer when I make a good play, and if I score… watch out! We all go crazy. These games make me feel stronger, but more importantly, they make me feel normal. These games make me feel like I can beat this disease, I can make it through this terrible time. Hockey makes me feel invincible. Team Blue, and all the other teams in this tiny house league have been very supportive of me during my battle with cancer. They encourage me to play as much as I want or can. They make sure to involve me in the play, they cheer me on, they write me supportive emails during periods I cannot play, and they welcome me back with hugs and smiles when I can come out. When I fall on the ice, they surround me like mother ducks, making sure I am ok. “No, I’m fine guys, I’m just too tired to get up…” I say, and they laugh, but I see the concern and love in their eyes. I’ve slowly had to give up playing sports as I’ve continued to fight this disease. I have become weaker and I’ve lost strength, speed and skill. I have to be very careful not to hurt myself or break a bone, as it might interfere with my treatments. So one by one, I have stopped playing with various teams and in various leagues. This is the one team whom I trust enough to continue playing. They let me play at any level I am capable of, but they are never condescending, and they continue to play competitively even if I am on the ice. They allow me to play the game I love with pride and joy. Team Blue deserves to bring home the cup. These are the women behind our nation’s hockey stars. These are the quiet, tireless volunteers who support hockey at all levels. It would truly be an honour to meet Mark Messier, one of our greatest hockey heroes, a hockey player who epitomizes smart, intense hockey, a leader who can bring his team to the final goal. I’ve watched him play hockey since I was a kid, and he has always been one of my favorite hockey players. He is an inspiration to hockey lovers all across Canada. And who wouldn’t want to party with the Stanley Cup, the Holy Grail of hockey? I would love to reward these wonderful women with a once in a lifetime experience, a memory they would cherish for the rest of their lives. We don’t have a championship game in our league, we play for love of the game. And surely, love of the game is a worthy reason to share the Stanley Cup for one special night. Plus you’ll throw in the Frito Lays, Pepsi and Gatorade? And you might show our party on TSN? Yowsa! We might be a bunch of older women, but we still know how to party! Bring it on….