Mudbugs Hockey Blog

Few things in life are more fulfilling than seeing someone you care about happy.
I had the opportunity to take my niece to the hockey game Sunday and a new hockey fan was born.

Between my work schedule and the fact that I live in Arkansas, this was the first opportunity I had to take her to a game. And the fact that there are only two Sunday games didn’t give me many opportunities.

To say that she was thrilled at the experience would be a huge understatement. From the time we pulled into CenturyTel the grin was permanently affixed to her face.
She has watched games with me on TV and has seen the pictures that I have taken at the games, so to see it live blew her away.
We loaded up on shirts, pom poms, toys and more food that I think she eats in a week.
We got there in time to see the guys warming up. As we were walking to our seats she squeals “Jen Jen! It’s them. In your pictures!” (It was sooo cute)
We get to our seats and I help her put her new shirt on (she had to have the pink one. She informed me that next time she would get the jersey)
She watched intently and then was a little perplexed when DeCaro skated over and had a puck passed to her. I never understood why people get so excited over a puck. To me it’s just not that big of a deal. Well, it was a big deal to my niece, so it became a big deal to me. She turned the puck over and over in her hand, held it up, tucked it under her jacket and showed it to the people around us. She didn’t understand, I don’t think. She just knew that someone had given her something and for that she was grateful. For that I’m grateful.
The game progressed. She cheered when the Bugs scored, yelled “Go Bugs”, and danced. Towards the end of the game she was getting a little tired, but when the music started for her to dance, she would jump off my lap and commence to shake it.

When she got home, she gathered all of her new things and rambled on and on about what she did and how she was going to play hockey one day. (her mother said it was after 11 before she finally got her to calm down enough to go to sleep)
When I picked her up this morning she was still talking about hockey. She wanted to know when we were going back and when she could skate like “her boys.” I just grinned and told her that maybe we could go back soon.
When we walked into daycare the first thing out of her mouth to her teachers was “I went to the hockey game. I’m gonna play, too.”
I can’t wait to hear what she has to tell me tonight about her day. I have a feeling it will be hockey related. I have a feeling it will be hockey related for many days to come. To me, that’s music to my ears.

As a side note, I’m planning on attending the hockey information night for women. Since my hockey IQ is severly limited, maybe I can come away with a little insight to this game. Wish me luck.

© 2008 – 2009, Mudbugs Hockey Blog. All rights reserved. To Republish you must link back to the Original Article

I have been trying to remember back to the past and all the teams and leagues I could remember and was unable to recall any team having a run of such magnitude as the Mudbugs. I mean holy crap! every game it seems this seasons collection of guys are tickling some kind of record, it’s really quite amazing.

Are the Bugs really this good? Is the coaching staff as brilliant as they could ever be, or maybe better than many of us thought they could ever be?

I think its a combination of every part of the team, from the owner to the ticket taker, all are an important cog on the well oiled wheel we like to refer to as Mudbugs Hockey.

The one very very noticeable aspect of this seasons team is that they all as a team look at each and every game with the attitude that each opponent is in the way of a win and two points. They play every game the same despite the opponent, which is an awesome sign of a team with the character of a real winner.

Could this team be the best ever? It is the best I have ever have been thankful to be a part of. Now I know they still have the season to finish and need to get to the cup and win it, but I cant help enjoying what has been achieved so far and the confidence to feel that it will continue.

Every time I even think this team could easily find an excuse to lose they find another way to win. That is truly amazing to me. I love being surprised everytime because it keeps me honest and makes the wins even more appreciated.

I would like to say our goaltending is the best in the league, and the record shows that they are, but alot of it comes from the players believing in a system that is working to perfection. Keep it up guys we as fans are enjoying the rush as well.

© 2008 – 2009, Mudbugs Hockey Blog. All rights reserved. To Republish you must link back to the Original Article