The Most Wonderful Time of Year

It's hockey section week in Minnesota -- the best week of the year for prep puck people. I am lucky enough to be on the public address voices at the Minnesota State tournament. It's a terrific event and it always amazes me that 17,000 people show up in St. Paul for a high school hockey game.

The section semis and finals are the tensest games of the year. If you get to the state tournament, you have accomplished something great. But lose in the section final and you feel empty. That's why there were more than a few hearts stopping the other night in a semifinal game when Roseville, trailing 4-3 to White Bear Lake, was awarded a penalty shot with 34 seconds left in the game. Adam Mueller, the Raiders' top scorer, came charging in, made his move and missed the net. You could hear 3,000 people release their breath all at once. It was a helluva moment.

The other night, before a game, a coach asked me if I had a Rolaids. I watched him during the pre-game announcements. Statues move more. The Stanley Cup has nothing on this.

I am sure similar situations play out all over the land in the next couple weeks -- mostly in basketball but some in hockey, too. It's worth going to see ... even if you don't have a rooting interest.