Remember when we were kids, inviting our friends over to watch a hockey game in the basement? We'd answer the doorbell, exchange pleasantries, have other family members say hello and then lead them to the basement door. We'd rub our hands together with glee in anticipation, and excitedly belt out in unison "This is going to be a great game!"
We'd turn on the television, and for some of us, we're mature enough to remember pulling out the switch, seeing a small dot that expanded larger and larger over a few seconds until the picture was on our black and white television screen.
Color and high definition? It didn't really matter. The excitement of the game was all we cared about.
We'd take our positions at our favourite seats, grab a refreshment from the fridge just off to the side of the rumpus room and then hunker down for the big game.
When our team scored, we'd yell and scream and jump up and down. When we were scored on, we'd bury our heads in our hands and look towards the carpet - sometimes fearing the worst-while in other circumstances we were convinced that, yes … we can win.
At the end of the game, we'd celebrate if we won and console one another if we lost.
In the end, honestly, winning or losing was secondary to what really mattered most.
Being together. That's what really mattered - to experience a big hockey game together as buddies, or as a family.