Visiting my "Boys"

For almost 10 years my husband and I were a host family (and housing coordinators) for the Indiana Ice hockey team.  That team was part of the USHL(United States Hockey League) which is the only Tier 1 hockey league in the US which prepares elite hockey players for transition to Division 1 college hockey or for professional hockey. 

Since these players wish to maintain their amateur status (and NCAA eligibility) they are not paid for their participation in this league.  They also live with host families who open their homes to these young men and receive a small stipend for housing and feeding them.  (Check out their website: www.ushl.com for more information on the league and the housing program). 

Over the years we have housed and developed relationships with many players and their families.  Some have now completed college and are playing professionally.  Some have gone on to business or coaching careers.  One graduated from West Point and is serving in the Army.  We have two players who lived with us who are seniors at Miami University in Oxford Ohio. 

My husband and I are both alums of Miami and we have maintained football and hockey season tickets for their teams.  The last three years have been very special to see our "boys" play for Miami.  This is the final year for us to have players who have lived with us playing for the Miami hockey team. 

So over the summer we take a trip to Oxford, Ohio and spend some time (usually dinner) with whichever boys are there taking summer classes.  This week we spent some time with three players who are very special to us.  It was so much fun!  We talked and laughed and caught up on the news about players who have graduated or who we all know.  It was at this dinner that we found out that Jeff Blashill (former Miami and Indiana Ice coach) was named head coach for the Detroit Red Wings. 

This will be a bittersweet year for us.  It is a year when we will see some outstanding young men complete their college hockey careers (and complete college).  We have enjoyed knowing these young men since they were in their teens.  Now they are adults and getting ready to move on into life after college.  We will stay in touch but the chances of meeting up will become fewer as they move on in life. 

Yet I would not change this for anything.  Having this opportunity to be part of the life of some outstanding young people has made my life richer.  I will treasure every opportunity to spend time with them as they finish their college careers and move on to their life goals (professional hockey, coaching, business or whatever life brings to them).  I also look forward to the invitations to weddings, announcements about babies in the future, and possibly an invitation to a Stanley Cup party!