March 2024
Coach's Corner
March 2024
Our son Jake fell in love with the game of hockey as a very young child. We certainly introduced him to the game, and encouraged him, but it didn’t take him long to grow passion for the game and to own it!
He started in the Skate Great Program and he wouldn’t even go on the ice as he was nervous, afraid, etc… Who would know because you can’t ask a 4-year old to explain. Then came the last 10-min of class. The “coaches” accepted a small cash payment for a brief tutoring session. A young female college student picked Jake up and carried him with her to sit in the penalty box. I often wonder what they talked about but the rest was history. He never again was nervous or needed prodding to participate. Buy the stick, take him to the clinic and cheer him on!
Jake transitioned to play house hockey for West Seneca and time on the White Sabres and Islanders was as fun as can be. From parent scuttlebut about USA Hockey playing ½ ice games to the 2-min shifts timed by a clock operator in the box. From looking for volunteers to assist to pretending he was playing for the real Sabres! Countless Tim Horton’s stops after practices and games, Duff’s wings stops and endless support from his family became a weekend regular routine. He was invited to play on the Select Team where we continued to see his love for hockey grow. More ice, more commitment and more coaching. We watched him enjoy every second, sing the Canadian anthem, play NHL on his Playstation, make trips to Front Row to look at sticks, collect hockey jerseys and attend Sabres games (partly for snack and partly for hockey) to name a few. There were times he was a great player, an average one and one that wasn’t great but he loved every second of it all! Buy the stick, take him to the clinic and cheer him on!
His early travel seasons were spent at the WS Rink where his relationships with coaches and friends grew and grew. This matched his continued passion and genuine love for the game. He had great adults as coaches and he played along with friends for years. Memories included the first travel tournament driving in blinding snow, eating pizza with 20 families for Thanksgiving dinner in a hotel lobby, watching him score goals and playing in championship games. Buy the stick, take him to the clinic and cheer him on!
A transition led to becoming Caz Chiefs. The green is still the greatest looking jersey IMO! The whole team moved to Caz and spent many many years together with the only transition being the occasional player who decided he wasn’t as passionate about the game and wanted to pursue other avenues. There were also a few additions along the way and they were always great kids with great families. His teams were very successful. They were always strong teams and winners. I know the guys loved the wins, but I am positive it was always about spending time together and being around each other that was most important. Lots of ice, what seemed like endless drives to and from the rinks and travel hockey bills were the new norm. Adult walks to the close South Buffalo bars for a drink and dinner with friends, expensive equipment replacement because he outgrew something or something didn’t fit correctly anymore, paying for hotels, trips, gas, shooting clinics, skating clinics etc… all seemed crazy and overwhelming at times. He was happy and active and social with friends, how can you put a price on that? Buy the stick, take him to the clinic and cheer him on!
Guys soon entered their MS and early HS hockey playing days. This is where I especially learned change is inevitable! MS years brought MOD hockey at the Harborcenter and there was a new sense of pride in playing for your school. His passion never diminished and there were times I took it for granted. While it may be natural what I wouldn’t do to go back and freeze time, Then JV, WS Club and Varsity Fed hockey. These times were simply awesome. I watched my son earn opportunities, I watched him step out of his comfort zone, I watched him decide he was going to learn for himself the value of commitment and hard work. I learned what a split season was and I also learned that his experiences have provided me more than I could ever imagine. I have made life long friends, I’ve valued my own coaching more, I’ve learned how to better deal with teenagers and young men. I’ve learned to cheer for Jake’s friends as I want them to succeed as much as Jake! I even had the opportunity to coach some games and some seasons despite not being able to skate a lick! Buy the stick, take him to the clinic and cheer him on!
I realize that my son’s best moments in life are ahead of him. I am excited and nervous at the same time for him. I am beyond grateful to the coaches and volunteers who have left their mark on my son through the game of hockey. You may have helped him with skating or a wrist shot or a back check but you’ve taught him team work, commitment and the value of hard work to name a few! As I continue to accept inevitable change I wanted to share this with all of you because soon I won’t have any more ice rinks to drive to or games to watch! The refs who missed calls no longer matter, the 6am practices and loss of sleep no longer matters, his BAN MAJ coach who didn’t put him on the PP no longer matters, the cost no longer matters! It is crazy how time flies by and you have to enjoy every minute of it. This is all that ever mattered! Buy the stick, take him to the clinic and cheer him on!
Hope this gives the people who read it a bit of perspective! Enjoy your son/daughter's sports and activities but most importantly enjoy their journey! Graduation for the 24’s is right around the corner and I hope the parents of 25’s and 26’s enjoy it! In the meantime, buy the stick, take him to the clinic and cheer him on!
Mike Cieslik
#OPNE