The problem with last games and practices

The problem? After that that's it- no more weither or not you're in playoffs. Last games are hard on coaches, players, staff and fans. I went to the last game for the Gladiators on April 3rd. It was kinda sad because this was the 1st time in the 7 year history of the team that there would be no playoffs. It was time for goodbye. I went with my friend Kelsey-who is awesome by the way- and on the way we kept talking about how sad it was that this was the end. What made it easier was I knew coach wouldn't get rid of everyone, he might but it was unlikely. The boys were playing the stringrays for at least the 2nd time that weekend. It didn't feel like the last game, it just felt like a game. I was happy to see Krystal since wasn't at the last game I went to so I went over to say hey-I absulutley love her, she's awesome. I told her since I had gotten to be friends with forney and a couple of the other guys that I may cry and she told me that if I cry she's cry too. I was good during the game- I didn't cry. It was an aweful game though, my boys didn't try. They had somewhere around 10 shots on goal where as the stringrays has about 40. David Brown, the goalie, was a rockstar letting only 3 in. There was some shoving matches but nothing too major. Chad Denny tried to insert hinself into the begining stages of a fight and ended up being the only one drawing a penalty for it. Now I love Chad and I love his rough style but why would you butt in on the begining of a fight? Sadly it ended being 3-0. That's right my boys got shut out in THEIR house, on THEIR last night. Over the season someone told me because I had prayed over them that the boys were now my brothers. So "my brothers" came and saluted the fans and the booster club president. It was then that I realized I had seen them for the last time. We stayed for the end of the season slide show thing and some of the jersey of their backs auction but it was time to go eat @ the after party!! We had gotten there, found a place to sit and ordered when Phil and 3 other boys came in, it was only going to be 4 there that night, it was then that I decided to go deal with a little problem me and Phil had. So I went to say hey to the boys. I went over to Phil and patiently waited for him to get done talking but he looked at me and smiled, "hey what's up?" I smiled and said "Hey! I justed wanted to talk but it can wait til you are done." SO he finished up and we walked over to his table, "So what's up?" So I told him what I had to say and he just smiled and said that it was ok I didn't have to apologize it was ok! He smiled again and can I just say that I love his smile, I don't get to see it much but I love it- it's sweet and simple. So I went back to Kelsey and ate. I felt sooooooo bad because I kept leaving her. I loved it (besides feeling guilty for leaving Kelsey) because I got to talk to Kelsey and my boys, I also met Liz (sulli's wife) and just had fun. At some point I looked a Phil then said something about him to Kelsey and she laughed and said "Did you just say something about his butt?" I laughed and leaned over saying "Well since you're accusing me of looking I am now!!!!" I know I know I'm running a ministry but I'm human. I'm not proud of it but I checked him out. It was pretty funny and I know Phil won't be offended. At the end of the night I went to say good bye to the 4 boys and Liz. I went to Pat 1st and he hugged me. I about cried when he told me he MAY see me next season then I had the same situation with Jason. What is it with my boys wanting me to cry?? Then I went to Phil and he was the only one not to hug me or even really say goodbye. It was then Sulli's turn and he hugged me and told me that he'd see me at camp over the summer if I came to help out. So after I talked to Liz for a while we left. I got home at 1 and Kelsey and I sat and talked for a little bit. Finally at 2:30- 3:00 I was getting ready for bed and at 4 I was falling a sleep. Getting up for church was hateful. The wednesday after the game I went to see bogi practice for the las time. So practice went on as normal nothing too exciting. Bogi came off the ice and I told him I'd see him in september. Then Evander Kane and Ondrej Pavelec came out from putting their gear up to sign some autographs. I told Ondrej I wanted to be a goalie because of him and he seemed shocked (and kinda delighted) that I wanted to be a goalie but humbled that it was because of him that I made this desicision. He's a really amazing goalie. When Evander and Ondrej tried to get back in to the locker room they were locked out. I walked behind them to go to my car and I didn't feel like I had just said goodbye to them. The next day they had their last practice and I didn't go I had just got done with 1 house sitting job and was on my way to another. While unpacking my stuff from the 1st job I was unpacking the stuff that I wore to say goodbye and the stuff I had signed. It was kinda sad because it was like it was really real that all the in person stuff was over. I watched the last 2 thrasher games on TV. The 1st one they lost with Pavs in goal and the last one was a shut out (and a win) with Moose in goal. I guess I picked the wrong goalie to look up to. So it's all over and all I have to do is wait until I know who may be coming in for next season and write blogs.

Star player--- Coach Jeff Pyle!!

I think Gladiator fans have a pretty solid arguement for best coach. Coach Jeff Pyle has been the coach since the Gwinnett Gladiators since the 1st season in 2003. He was also the coach for the Mobile Mysticks before they became the Gwinnett Gladiators. Coach has been a constant supporter of my ministry allowing me to pray over the boys once this season. I enjoyed that experience with coach's support I felt like I was actually doing something and that I was needed. He has lead our boys to playoffs 6 of the last 7 years, which really isn't bad when you take into account the trades, injuries and all out craziness that goes on in the minor leagues. I know many times I would mention coach to one of the boys and they would just say "yeah I love coach" and just go on about all the great things about coach. He is so calm and encouraging to the boys. I had sent him a letter in 2009 about the ministry and since then we've been emailing back and forth. The 1st time I saw him at the ice forum I went up to him and introduced myself to him and everytime he's seen me he has made some effort to say hey or something to me. If it's true what some of my friends had said about the boys being my brothers since I prayed over them that would make Coach Papa Pyle!! But in all seriousness coach has had to deal with a lot of craziness in the past few years and I'm so proud of the way he has handled everything and how he has treated the boys. If someone mentions you to a lot of people you have coached and none of them can say one thing bad about you then you're doing something right!! Coach, I thank you for all of the support you have given to the ministry and the oppurnity you have given me, it means the world to me. I can not say enough good things about you coach. Good luck with everything coach!!

Hockey Monday,Saturday, Friday, sunday and friday

Monday March 8 I planned on putting in applications then go to the gym and then to the game. Grandma had a bad feeling for me to go to the game by myself so I wasn't going to go until I found someone who was available last minute. Then mom called me telling me that she had some tickets from work. I had to call Grandma to say that I was going w/ mom and someone she knew from work. She was happy that I was going with someone. When we got to the game we walked around for a while which turned out to be a good thing because I saw mama Linda. Mama Linda is the team mom for the Gladiators and she is awesome. I guess I'm one of her adopted kids. When we got up to the suite warm ups were almost over so I went to the end of the suite to watch. As I stood there I felt important, like I was the owner or at least the owner's kid. The boys looked good, strong and confident. When the game started coach met their confidence. I get so worried for coach during games and I don't know why! It's like I'm his daughter or something. It started out good with the my boys scoring a goal. In the 1st and 2nd periods Michael Forney got a penalty one for hooking the other for interference. Also not to be out done or forgotten Tim Miller got a penalty in the 1st and 2nd, one for roughing and the other for fighting. It's no suprise that he got those penalities, he's a bad boy but I love it! Then the Cycolones answered back with a goal. Then in then in the second both teams scored twice. Not to be defeated Mr. fancy pants, Tom Zanoski, scored a goal. My boys won 4-3! That saturday I went with Grandma and Aunt Patty to see the Gladiators practice. Practice was almost over when we got there but we still got to see my boys. After practice I got some of the boys to sign a hat for a girl at church. After a few signed I found my way to Michael Forney. When I found him he had his mouth gaurd hanging out, typical Michael. When he saw me the mouth gaurd went in and he said "Hey Christina!!" Grandma and Aunt Patty turned to see who said hey to me as I answered him. We talked for a while then I called Grandma over to meet Michael. He was so cute when I called her over he was like "Yeah grandma come say hey to me." I smiled at him as he wiped off his hand to shake hers. Grandma kept asking him all these questions about their road trip and the bus. After each question he'd ask me a question or try to say something to me. It made me feel special that he cared enough about me and my work out to want to know more. After I talked to Michael I went to get Phil to sign the hat for the girl at church. The following friday I went to check out bogi and Chris "Cheli" Chelios. Bogi looked up to Cheli when he was younger. Cheli was so sweet with bogi, playing around with him and laughing. I gave Bogi an early birthday card at the end of practice. Sunday I went to church then to the game. It was awesome but it almost wasn't. They played the Devils for the second time that weekend and both teams scored in the 1st then the devils pulled ahead in the 2nd. I was so hopeful that my boys would win and sure enough in the 3rd my boys tied and pulled ahead of the devils! It was 4-2!! Dan "Sulli" Sullivan about jumped in his team mate's arms after the last 2 goals. We won!! YES!!! So the devils went down IN Georgia and started a fight on the ice after the game ended......sore losers!! The following friday I went again to see bogi and Cheli, this time Grandma went with me. My boys were playful that day. Slava Kozlov knocked Arty's stick out of his hand and skated away laughing only Arty wasn't laughing. Then Max hugged (yes hugged) one of his teammates while laughing. What the crap is happening with my boys? Then Bogi was chilling by the bench box with coach Rob when the rest of the boys came rushing by. Coach told Bogi to jump into the bench box he did but he messed up the landing and I was left looking at his stick and the top of his helmet. Grandma asks "he's ok right?" I started laugh harder then composed myslef long enough to say "yeah his egos just bruised." Yes Ladies and gentleman my beautiful baby boy fell in front of his hero and his fans. Then after I composed myself coach had them run another play but he stopped them to yell and curse at them. Then they seperated the defense men from everyone else. I asked Grandma if she wanted to go with me to the far end of the rink where bogi was and she said no, she recognized Max from the Olypmics so she stayed with him. I went to be with bogi . Toby enstrom and Johnny Oduya were there too. I love Toby he's so precious and sweet, quite but sweet. Toby looked me up and down while I was watching Bogi but I caught him and gave him the confused puppy look. He continued to look at me and then skated away. I watched them work on drills for d-men. I mainly watched bogi- he did good but he went to hit someone (full body) but spun last minute to avoid contact. After a few drils the boys came off leisurely and grandma got to see them close up.

sad time for the ministry

This finally ends hockey season for almost all of the teams in the ministry. Yes the Chicago wolves are the only team in the ministry going to playoffs. The thrashers ended their season this saturday while the gladiators ended their season last Saturday. It's kinda sad especially when they do those year end videos like this one



Sad. It's kinda like sending your brothers off to college if your brothers are all freakishly tall and are really good at hockey. I think the part where it hit me was this week when I checked the Gladiators website and there was no practices and no games listed. Also when I talked to Drew Akins and he mentioned being back home studying or doing some project for college. I do know the old saying remember the good times and I also know they'll be back soon. To the point of remember the good times here is a video I found from Christmas that is kinda good


I'll be posting videos and pictures later. To the point of you'll see them again, I'll see some or most of the guys again--not all. So I couldn't sleep hence why I'm up at 3 am working on this when the last Thrasher game (which I watched on Sports south) ended between 10 and 11. I just couldn't believe it, it's all over. This is the time of the year when I make sure I have full support for next season and see how the last season went. I really didn't do that last season, I guess cause I was lazy and not a lot of people cared. so here I am looking at the past few months wondering where the time went and how I could get it back. There were no problems in the beginning of the season then there was a few times when situations and drama came up but I handled it and I'm learning from it. There was a lot of changes of the rosters and a couple changes to the ministry. One of the big changes to the ministry was the addition of the wolves to the ministry. I also got a partner with the ministry. Coach Pyle of the Gladiators has been more involved which is nice. I got to pray over the boys and got some friends out of it including Michael Forney. One difference between this season and last was that last off season Jeff Mason's father died and never had we had someone involved in the Gladiator nation die since I became a fan but this season we had a loss during the season Mr. John Martin who was the Zamboni driver at the Gladiator games, he was only 66 and died of a heart attack. This ministry is a living breathing tribute to him so it can not fail. This season was hard on me. It was the 1st full season of the ministry and I had no clue what I was doing still. I still have my moments where I'm completely confused at what to do. This season was good in some ways, I grew as a person learned some stuff and I know what I have to do during the off season. I have to pray, reflect and move on. so there maybe more blogs about the 2009-2010 season. It's so crazy that this time last year the Glads were in the playoffs losing to Florida and the Thrashers were not in play offs but won their last game. This year there's no play offs for either team but the thrashers were the only winners in their last game. I believe the wolves will be in the playoffs this season but I have to check. Also this season we got rid of a super star, Mr. Ilya Kovalchuck. God I wish we got into playoffs to show Ilya we could do it. ok so It's nearing 4 and I have to at least temp this thing called falling asleep one last time. So here's the anthem of the ministry or at least 1:

another late but special star player blog Ryan Miller

Ok so Ryan Miller may not be a Thrasher, Wolf or Gladiator but he is one deserving goalie. I love goalies, I actually want to be a goalie- I just have to learn 1st. Ryan is a 29 year old American hero. He played for America in the 2010 Olympics. Even they didn't win gold Ryan did an amazing job. I felt so bad for him they lost in over time!! This is another reason to hate Sidney Crosby he scored a goal right over Ryan's shoulder in over time and you know the rules, you score a goal in over time you win. So Canada wins and poor Ryan went to his knees and my heart sank for him. The whole time after the game Ryan hung his head and just looked so pitiful I couldn't imagine being that close to the gold and then been scored on I would have probably killed Sidney. So congrats Ryan you handled it a lot better than I would have. Ryan plays for the Sabres but to everyone who watched any of the olympics he'll be America's goalie. Love ya Ryan you should be so proud of how you played.

late but special star player blog-Zach Parise

Even though he is not one of my boys Zach Parise is still in serious need of some attention for what he did during the olympics. This kid was great, he helped his team to the medal round where they faced Canada for the gold medal. The 2 teams met once before in competion but this time it was serious. The Americans needed to win to get the gold. Things were all good until the Canadians made it a 2-1 game and it stayed that way in the 3rd. I was praying for a miracle when Zach came down the ice and scored with less than a minute to play. It was all tied up and went into a 20 minute over time which the Americans lost but if it wasn't for this young man we wouldn't have had a chance. So to many Americans he is the new version of one of the boys of that miracle on ice team from 1980. This 25 year old plays for the New Jersey devils but is originally from Minneapollis. He seems like such a good guy but I wanted to honor him for giving us a shot at gold! Congrats Zach on the silver

Star player Michael Forney

I really like this guy. He is such a sweet boy and he works really hard. Michael has scored at least 5 goals this season for the Gladiators. Shortly after my prayer session with the boys Mike was called up to the AHL's Chicago wolves briefly. He was back with the Gladiators in a week and stayed for about a week or 2 before going back to Chicago where he's currently playing. All the girls like Forney and why not? He's cute, sweet and talented. I talk with him often through Facebook, he's very approachable- he doesn't act like he doesn't have time or doesn't care. He actually enjoys the attention and acts like it but not in the way that makes him look like a jerk. I absulutly love Forney and hope to be able to go to a NHL game to support him that day may not be to far off he was at the Thrasher prospect camp and was kept in the system, hince why he was a Gladiator. All of this is why I wanted to honor Mike. He is so genuine, likeable, talented and relatable. I wish him all the best. I will post more stories about this kid in his bio blog!!

Prayer and Closure

What a difference a week makes, I guess you could also call this blog a tale of 2 Thursdays. The thursday before last (the 18th of Feburuary) I got to pray over the Gladiators. This was no spur of the moment thing either, I had been emailing coach Pyle about praying over the boys for a while then on Monday or tuesday the week I went to pray I got the email from coach saying that I could come thursday to pray over them after practice. I was so very excited. So on Thursday I got up, got ready and left about an hour before practice started. When I got there I saw my friend Amy so I stopped to talk to her, all of a sudden I hear "Christine!!!" UH-OH I'm in trouble! "Yes Coach??" I walked over to coach and my hands were shaking. I wasn't in trouble he said he didn't know I was going to be there so early and he asked if I would like to pray over them before pracatice and I said yes. I also told him that I had scriptures for them. He seemed kinda relieved that I was there early. So I walked behind him until Scott "Miffer" Mifsud caught my attention. I talked to him for a little bit and told him about his prayer partner. He's so awesome and precious!! Then after that I said hey to some of the other boys and headed into the rink. Coach had the boys skate around for a while then opened the gate and I got really nervous. He yells "boys, bring it in!! Bring it in!!" He looks at me and tells me to stand on the board the gate rested on. So I got into place as the boys settled into their semi circle in front of me. I smiled as I saw Michael Forney move his eyebrows at me. "Crazy boy- loving women's attention a little too much" I thought. Then I looked over and smiled when I saw Phil Youngclaus standing to my left looking at me as he just realized he reconginized me. As I looked over the boys I realized something, I had no reason to be nervous because these were my boys!! I've loved this team (maybe not these excate boys but the team) for 2 years as of January and I've known at least some of these boys for a year and a half now. I looked over and there's Chad Denny, my sweet Miq Mak I love the heck out of that boys!! He smiled at me, so sweet. Coach spoke to the boys introducing me to them saying that I was there to get God on their side for the rest of the season. So I shared a few scriptures with them about strength then I asked for prayer request--none-- and so I prayed for everything (strength, safety, wins, wisdom, and anything else I could think of). I peeked around and for the most part all of them had their eyes closed and their heads bowed. When I got done coach leans over and says "how about 'Lord help them to listen to coach'?" I smiled and said "Well Actually there is scripture that says to respect your authority" He kinda laughs and says "very good, thanks" and fist bumps me as I got of the wood. I also heard the boys yell thank you, even though it wasn't in a vey excited tone. I stayed for practice and to talk to the boys afterward if they wanted to or needed to talk. I eneded up staying until Danny, Dan and Drew left (they were the last to leave). I did talk to all of the boys and Danny was very chatty and silly. I did end up getting a smile out of Phil, I love seeing that boys smile!! While I was there all the boys were fist bumping me thanking me and I felt like I was suppose to be there! So the next day I went back bright and early to see my boys and of course I was early so I watched some of the figure skaters until my boys showed up. I said hey to Chad Denny- sweetheart but not really talkative.Then Danny Taylor walks in, now the fun begins. Danny is pretty cool so we talked for a while when he said something simple and sweet, but awkward, "pray for Jamie's head." It took all I had not to laugh "ok I will and I'll tell his prayer partner." Poor baby got a concussion. I stayed for the whole practice and until Danny left. I love those guys but sadly they lost their 2 games after the prayer. Coach didn't blame the prayer, he said it actually helped. After that I have emailed him about praying over the boys again and it might actually happen. After Friday I thought I'd have a nice break from hockey until I decided to deal with Bogi or go to a Gladiators game. I was so wrong!! I woke up saturday and went to my gym and as I was on the tredmill I saw Chris "Thor" Thorburn of the Thrashers. I finished my stuff and I saw he was on the bike and that there was an open 1 by him so I went over to talk to him, he's pretty cool. After we talked he asked me if I was coming back to cheer for them and I told him I would come back to practice as soon as the break was over. The following thursday (1 week after the prayer) I kept my promise and went to the forum to deal with Bogi. Practice was half over when I got there but I saw Bogi so I was ok. While I was watching him I saw something I missed, his little smile and I heard him laugh. As soon as practice was over and the boys started to come off the ice my heart started to pound. Bogi came off and instantly was being asked for autographs so I crossed the aisle and got close to the dressing room doors. "Zach?" He smiles and says hey. I told him what I had to say and that I would be there when he wanted me there. He smiled and said something sooooo mature but in his own 19 year old way "You're fine you're good you don't have to apologize don't worry about I'll see ya later!" Oh I am so proud!! He is such a good boy!!

pink hockey

For the 2nd year in a row I went to the 2nd game in the pink in the rink series. It was awesome. At this point I was fully focused on the Gladiators for ministry purposes. I was in constant contact with Michael Forney and Coach Pyle, both are awesome guys. This was the 3rd game I went to this season for the Gladiators. Pink in the rink is a series of games where they wear special jerseys (this year it was through back jersey for the knights) and the ice is painted pink- hince the name pink in the rink. So the saturday before last I skipped the gym and was cursing the snow and ice. It had snowed the day before after I had left my gym and by saturday alot of it had not melted. I started to get ready slowly, just in case we didn't go. What I didn't know was that my stepdad was cleaning off the driveway so that we could go. My boys are not important to him but I guess he didn't want to lose money on our tickets. This was my Valentine's day gift from my parents so I joked with my boys that they were my Valentines and let me just say that I had the best Valentines ever!!! We finally did get to go and the roads were pretty clear. We up held a long standing game day tradition by going to Johnny Carrino's (very yummy!!) and then we headed on to the arena. When we got there we went in and walked to our seats but not before we ran into Krystal. She is soooooo awesome and kinda crazy (proven by our little people watching session at the gym where she called a guy a puffer fish). We got to our seats and there was time before the warm ups so I went to cash in the vochures and get a shirt. When I got back I saw one of my friends outside our section, she's a Mary Kay sales person, so I talked to her for a while but decided to sit down in my seat to watch my boys warm up. I tried to get some pictures of Chad Denny but I only got a few because Tim Miller kept blocking my shot. When the game finally started I was so excited to see the goalies from the MLK game back in goal, it was going to be good again. I love watching my boys they actually try to play well, although sometimes they do give up. I'm now a little Gladiator (little because some of the boys are taller than me) and I try to be very focused during games. They did really good in the 1st period scoring 2 goals I believe. They are so great at playing quick and physical hockey. I remember laughing at Phil Youngclaus about shoving people randomly, he's a good guy I love his smile and his style of playing. I also remember noticing that Phil had hair during warm ups. I love that boy both bald and with hair. the 1st period ended with those goals and a fight and a few shoving matches. I was really like the game even though the 2nd period was a snore fest. There was a few shoving matches but for whatever reason the refs wouldn't let them go, I hate when that happens- they should let them go. In the 3rd period there were more trips and shoving it was awesome remaing 2-0 which is completely awesome and I was hopping it was going to stay that way for Brownie and for coach. I kept looking over at coach just to see him and how he was, he looked pretty confident. I was cheering but not as much I ussually do, I was kinda tired. Brownie was a beast in goal!! I love that kid! I was noticing his mask which had pengiuns on it (not the cute cuddly version though, the pittsburg version) and that's why I call him Brownie the pengiun. I was yelling during the 3rd period, it was going to be a shut out!! Then at the end the checkers got 1 goal---ick!!!! Coach just had this look of "what the heck boys cover your goalie!!!" I was just as frustrated as he was, Brownie even made a face. I love that kid. so the game ended and I was kinda wanting to go to the after party but I knew the boys were heavy drinkers and I knew if they were playing fiesty they may have gotten fiesty in a completely different way. I do love my boys and I'm happy they at least won!!

Star Player David brown

In November David "Brownie the pengiun" Brown was without a job like many Americans, the difference was that David had the oppurinty to play with the pengiuns! The reason David was with out a job was that te Pengiuns released him because he had mono. So some where around December/january Coach Pyle called David's agent once he was cleared by the Doctor's to play. I wanted to honor this guy because of his shear talent. I'm watching him just in awe. I went to a game and the only time David allowed a goal was when he fell flat on his back. He's pretty wild, at least 40 shots on goal and only 1 let in! I was talking to David after practice friday and he is such a good guy very sweet. When I was at practice thursday I was standing on the peice of board that the gate rest on and he was kneeling in front of me just so curious as to why I was there but once coach explained he still looked curious but was very respectful and sweet. I'm sorry all of these are so short recently but almost all of these boys are either new are not so chatty but I wish him all of the best.