What I'm Thankful For...

• This is Thanksgiving Day Monday in Canada. For most it's a day away from work and school and a chance for us to reflect on what we are truly thankful for.
• I am thankful to be one of just 22 play-by-play broadcasters in Western Canada privileged enough to follow a team in the Western Hockey League. Often times we can take our position foregranted, but we are blessed to be able to cover a group of athletes that are the best in their age group.
• I am thankful for a Rockets organization that includes a tremendous coaching staff. The radio broadcaster spends far too much time with the team he covers during the winter. We travel, sleep and eat in close proximity to the coaches, so to have friendships with coaches Huska, Finley, Dillabaugh and Cuthbert is valuable. And when a friendship is build, you like them, feel the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
• I am thankful for Prospera Place. I may bitch and complain about the score-clock, but the facility is a pleasure to call 'home' during the winter. Built in 1999, the building is clean, the Prospera staff do everything in their power to make my life easy, and the atmosphere is always great. I often go to other arena's around the league and say "I am blessed to be calling homes games at Prospera Place".
• The fans. They are a passionate bunch. The reason Prospera Place is such a fun place to hang out is because of the fans. The building is always full. When the referee makes a questionable call the fans let him know it. They boo at the appropriate time and make a ton of noise when the home team scores. The fans make it a whole lot of fun.
• I am thankful for the friendships made through the game of hockey over the years. Many of these friendships made along the way doesn't necessarily mean I'd invite them to my next birthday party, but I've had the privilege of meetings everyone from the gentleman who greets us at the bottom of the KeyArena, to the lady who has a smile for me when I pick up my game notes in Kamloops. In some of these cases, it is just an acquaintance, but it's neat to see us all gathering together because of our passion for the game of hockey.
• Rockets parents. I often get e-mails with words of encouragement from them. I attempt to do the same in return, as these parents are sending their children to a place where they can pursue their dream. It can't be easy for these parents, who give up control and let the Rockets organization mold their son both on the ice and off it. Yet when these players finally graduate from major junior, more times than not they have nothing but positive things to say about the way their son was treated and how the experience was more than positive.
• You. I am thankful that you spend a few moments of your day reading this blog. If no one was reading, this blog would be toast. I appreciate the comments you share here. We may not agree at times, but it sure makes for interesting debate.