We just completed the MN State Adapted Floor Hockey tournament this last weekend. It was the 3rd time we've been involved with Matt and Josh on the team.
The first two years we were State Champions. This year's finish was not first, but still an impressive 3rd place.
The teams we had to play to get 3rd place were tougher than in previous years because we were not the number one seed.
This year was special for a different reason. In the first game, we were tied with Rochester 0-0 going into the third period. Around 5 minutes into the 3rd, Josh scored the first goal. He followed it shortly thereafter with his second tally and we led 2-0. The reason he scored those two goals was his dogged persistence in the corners. He worked so hard to earn those goals.
In the semi-final they lost a heartbreaker to Dakota 3-2 in OT. Let's just say that I don't want to talk about the officiating. However Josh once again led the way with one goal and one assist. Once again he was often the first player to the puck digging hard to gain possession for a shot or a pass.
In the third place game, he and teammate Jacob Wiehle were gunning for top honors in the scoring department. They played a formidable Brainerd team, but with these two "hot shots," Brainerd struggled to get the puck in our end. Josh tallied 4 goals and 1 assist and his teammate scored 5 times for a 10-3 victory and third place honors.
I mentioned that this year was special for a different reason. For the first time, Josh made the All-Tournament team. A dozen players are selected for this honor based on effort, sportsmanship and productivity. In past tournaments, Josh has been in the shadow of other deserving players from our team who won the honor. This time his hard work paid off.
I told him after the first game that I was so proud of how hard he worked. His coach told him that he felt it was Josh's best game to date. Many other players, coaches and parents complimented him throughout the weekend.
This award was special for me because we have worked with Josh over the years to be more aggressive and work hard to attain things. When he played community basketball in elementary school he often waited for the ball to come to him. He really didn't know better at that time. We worked and drilled on the importance of hunting down the ball in order to help your team. Those years of seemingly unrelated events and drills paid off in this tournament.
I told him once again after the loss to Dakota that I was equally as proud of him because he worked so hard.
These kinds of events come so few and far between that when they do they're sweet and worth savoring. Now I am savoring and sharing the pride of my star floor hockey player with you - enjoy.
