Peter Puck & Gerry Cheevers’ Mask

In 1970, the year I was born, times were definitely different. Some things from the past we have evolved from and improved, but other things we have forgotten or chosen to change. Things that I think are so important in raising our kids in sport and life. I believe that maintaining your child’s love for the simpler things about the game, is so so important for the future of how they attach their feelings to the game. We have become so aggressive as parents to try and speed up their development, that we often unknowingly crush these simpler things, and then down the road we wonder why their passion for the game dies.

When I was coaching in the NHL development role, I would often get young prospects that seemed a lot like robots. When I would ask them a simple question like “What do you love about the game?”, they would often look puzzled. Then after some thought, they would give me some media interview rehearsed answer.

This by no means was their fault. It’s just that the game has become so business like from such a young age, and parents are just trying to keep up. Intentions are good. We all want our kids to succeed. But I believe that if parents actively help to ensure that they can keep their pure love of the game, they will thrive.

This means talking with them about some of the real reasons they originally fell in love with the game. I’ll use myself as an example:)

So much of my childhood I forget, but there are a few things that I remember so vividly. So I know that these these were very important to me in building my love for the position and the game in general. A couple of these things were Peter Puck and Gerry Cheevers’ mask.

I remember when Hockey Night In Canada would come on, and I couldn’t wait to see if the Peter Puck cartoon would come on during intermission! My parents said I would be glued to the TV. I had this halloween pumpkin bowl that I used for candy, and I had my parents cut a hole in the bottom so I could put my head in it like it was a goalie mask:) Then I would tape my dad’s shin pads on my legs, and hold my little wood mini stick and pretend I was a goalie:)

Soon there after, my dad was a big Bruins fan, and he sat me down during a Bruins/Canadiens game, pointing out Ken Dryden and Gerry Cheevers masks. He told me that all the stitch marks on his mask were from where he was hit by the puck….Well, I instantly fell in love with Gerry Cheevers’ mask!

These things that were introduced to me and talked about within my family, built something inside of me that is still in me today. I truly love the game of hockey, and love everything about being a goalie.

These simple things from our youth are more important than you could ever know. Don’t ever lose sight of that.

Dusty Imoo