A Great Example Of A Classy Team From Woodbury

What an experience I had last weekend.

I am the head coach of the Brainerd Peewee B2 hockey team. We won the third-place game in the Hermantown tournament against a very good Woodbury team.

However, the outcome of the game is not the reason I wanted to share this story—it was the effort and sportsmanship of the team we played.

Hockey has not always been known as a “sportsman’s sport.” We see examples daily on the television that demonstrates all of the attributes that we advise our players to never participate in.

This particular game was different; I’m sure because these boys have a coach and parents that preach otherwise.

During the game I noticed hard play, good passing and respect from both teams. But after the game I witnessed eye contact during the handshake, comments like “great game coach” and a few smiles. The Woodbury team then clapped as we got our trophy.

That sort of thing is typically unheard of. And the young man and his dad that I visited with in the parking lot could not have been nicer.

These same boys, as I learned later, filed out of their locker room prior to the game to thank a veteran in the stands.

Each told the gentleman thanks for serving for their country. They all smiled, shook his hand and some even saluted.

You see, I would not have noticed this because I was in my own locker room, getting my team ready. I learned later, when that veteran, my own dad, told me the story. He was equally impressed by this great group of kids, and their coach Mr. Steve Wills, for teaching them that the game’s outcome is much less important than the actions of the kids that play it. And teaching kids how to respect the game and those around it are more important than any win.

What a great example of classy coaching and a classy team.

—Dalen Hodge, Baxter, MN
Head Coach, Brainerd PeeWee B2