A Tearful Goodbye?

When I reflect on 12 seasons of calling radio play-by-play in the Western Hockey League, a flood of memories come back to me when a 20-year-old player realizes that his junior hockey career is officially over.
You can anticipate it all you want as a player, but it never really hits home until the final buzzer sounds and you make your way off the ice for the final time.

The flood of emotions simply boil over!

The realization that your days in junior are officially over impact players in very different ways.

In my early days of broadcasting games for the Swift Current Broncos I remember a player by the name of Chad Beagle.
A heart and soul guy, who was the captain of the Broncos in his 20 year-old season, Beagle was never a big goal scorer, may not have had the talent that others around him possed, but his work ethic made him a valuable commodity.

Despite standing just 5 foot 9, his tree trunks like legs compensated for his short stature, and his desire to win made him a favorite with his teammates and fans.

Until the final buzzer sounded at the Centennial Civic Centre in Swift Current, Beagle was typically working his tail off as then Head Coach Todd McLellan gave the little buzz saw the honor of skating in front of the hometown crowd for the final minute of the hockey game.
Once the game was over, Beagle stood at centre ice, leaning over on his stick, his face full of tears.
The fierce warrior simply broken down, and try as he might, those tears were coming on.

The post game interview was even tougher for the Lomond, Alberta resident who began to cry again when I asked him to reflect on his time with the organization, an interview, we simply had to end short because of all the pure-raw emotion.
To see the pain on his face almost brought me to tears as you could genuinely feel his pain that an experience in his life that he gave so much was quickly snatched from his hands.

A piece of his heart was taken away.

Often times the pain of leaving the ice after playing your final junior game is magnified because of a tough loss.
Last season Troy Bodie's tear filled interview in Everett is one I will always remember.
Bodie had the belief that the Rockets had a better team, yet just didn't show it as the Tips beat them in 6 games in the Western Conference semi finals.
Bodie's voice shook as he explained what his club didn't do against an Everett Silvertips team that would eventually face Vancouver in the conference finals.
Bodie loved his time in junior, and with age, realized how fortunate he really was to be playing in a great city, with great fans, within a outstanding organization and playing with great players.

In an instant it was all taken away from him - all but the fond memories!

So prepare as they might for the inevitable, David Schulz, Clayton Barthel and especially Chris Ray considering he played his entire 4 year W.H.L career with one team, tonight's final buzzer could sound emotionally painful.

If tears come pouring from their eyes, don't be surprised.
No need to look away, no need to cover and hide, it's only natural.

The best thing you can do as a fan is get out of your seat, clap your hands and appreciate the commitment that all three of these players showed over their long careers.

All three sacrificed being away from home at a very young age. They missed family functions along the way, anniversary's, birthdays and time with friends back in thier hometown.
Yet if you asked any of them if they could take it all back, they would undoubtedly say no.

For David Schulz, Chris Ray and Clayton Barthel, all will likely agree that the time spent playing major junior hockey were in fact - the best days of their lives!