Rangers Tonight

The NHL season is again under way and I’m lucky enough to have NY Rangers tickets for tonight’s game against the Panthers. The Rangers are sitting in first place in the Atlantic Division. Hope springs eternal. To make matters even better, my oldest daughter is visiting during a break from college and will be able to join her sister and me for the game at Madison Square Garden. I’m a very fortunate dad.

Although College girl has been away for only a few months, she already shows signs of influence and change. The dry land training for the hockey team, the rugby games and the weight training have changed my stick into a very compact Miss Universe. She insists we “check out the guns”, as she flexes her arms for us. I suppose it’s good to be fast as well as strong on the ice when she starts playing against the better-fed players in her league. She also conducts herself with newfound poise – must be the dorm food. She’s visiting until Tuesday then it’s back to school for the run until pre-Xmas finals. I’m very happy she’s adapting so well.

Daughter Two is recovering faster than expected from last week’s knee surgery and insists she’s good to go for goalie practice this week. I think we ought to wait a little. Short story: Daughter Two has been an enthusiastic Rangers fan since an early age. At one of the first games she attended, we arrived early to watch pre-game skate. Gretzky was playing with the Blue Shirts at the time and he was almost done with warm ups. We had just arranged ourselves in our seats as Gretzky flipped a puck into the stands, over the outstretched arms of the gorillas in front of us and right under my seat. I blocked the gorillas as Daughter Two scrambled under the seat for the puck. How can I convey the joy of seeing my 6 year old clutching that puck with two hands…..

I have to ask her tonight if she still has it.