I'm A Proud Mom

Brendan has a white helmet on.





I love this picture. Brendan used to coach a

team of 3-year-olds at the YMCA and this

little boy used to idolize Brendan. He even had

the same jersey number #6 (which Brendan still has and
has had from day one of playing hockey). He would
also wear his hat backwards like Brendan did back then.
So cute! We still keep in touch with him and his
family. They've gone to Kings games together. This
picture was taken about 4 years ago. My baby has
grown so much. He looks so small here.

Jr. Ice dogs
Brendan with some of his favorite Kings players outside the rink where they practice.

It was in his blood at 2 when all he wanted to do was play hockey video games.

I was hesitant to let Brendan play in this league he’s in right now for hockey. It’s a “select team” that he had to try out for and he is playing with 18-year-olds. It’s a full-checking league, meaning they slam you against the boards at full strength! He plays at Anaheim Ice (where the Anaheim Ducks practice, formerly Disney Ice). I was really nervous because I was thinking these kids would be just huge compared to Brendan with bigger attitudes but I really don’t notice a big difference.

What I’ve noticed this season is how much Brendan has matured with self control. He is so hard on himself and would always get so mad if he felt like he played bad or if the goalie did bad or nobody was passing, etc…It was always a long ride home when they lost or if he didn’t score. It ruined his night. (I know, it runs in my family with my older brother but I’m breaking the cycle..Ha). They would post the stats from the game on the Internet the next day and he would wait impatiently for them to post and would study the stats and was always in competition with somebody to have the most goals and would be battling it out for 1st place in goals and assists. He knew what team he was playing next and knew if it was a team with someone on it he was close to in standings in goals and assists. It was an unhealthy competition. It always frustrated me that he would get so mad and I always threatened to take him out of sports if he didn’t stop….all these years.

This season he is on probably the worst team he’s ever been on but with the best attitude he’s ever had. I guess he grew up or has been humbled by this team and by not being in the top two in the whole league for points and goals and the pressure to stay up there isn’t there. We didn’t know anything about this league or the coaches when we signed him up. He was asked by someone to try out so he did and he went to his first practice and it got canceled (without prior notice) so a team that was on the ice practicing let him practice with them and he really liked them and the coach so he asked at the front desk if there was room on that team and they let him switch (he had never met the other coach or team yet). It just so happens that the coach of this team he switched to is getting married this weekend so has really not been there for this team. They haven’t had a lot of practice and so when out there they aren’t really in-tune with each other regarding passing so they are kind of on their own not knowing who to pass it to.


After their fourth loss the other night I was shocked when Brendan said he doesn’t even care if they lose, he’s just having fun and loves the game and just wants to play!! WHAT?? I was proud of him. In the past he would have complained that he wanted off this team and how he should have stayed on the first team (who are doing really, really well). Of course, in this league they post the stats the minute the game ends so the first thing he did when he got home was make sure they gave him credit for his goal online but they lost 6-1 so it I guess it’s just his subtle satisfaction to see it. He didn’t say anything about it. I actually enjoy his games so much more now!! He really loves this game!