Bernie Fratto

Speaking
of
Sports 

by
Bernie 
Fratto

Tradition might not
graduate, but it does
leave town sometimes

…and that’s a
good thing

1/4/2005
 
Our goal since day one has been to build a program, not just a hockey team, “ Coach Dan Phelps stated 5 years ago. So, Thursday morning when the rest of us are still sleeping, the program that never sleeps will board a bus and cross bridges, time zones and climates, as they embark on the 4^th annual Hockey Showcase in Calumet, Michigan. 

The 500 mile odyssey has become tradition for Novi Hockey, and they will lace ‘em up Friday against Calumet, and Saturday against Houghton. Both schools are perennial powerhouses in the annals of Michigan (MHSAA) Hockey. 

The annual trip is symbolic as well as educational, exciting, and fun. Novi Wildcat Hockey has always kept fast company since Day One, and events like this allow the program to grow individually and collectively. In addition to venturing deep into nature to see what the other half has to offer, the weekend inevitably offers some of the best hockey action in the nation, arguably. 

The trip also symbolizes how far this program has progressed. The 4-day excursion also provides an opportunity for great camaraderie between players, coaches, and parents, as they visit beautiful countryside and some interesting hockey venues that will be talked about for years to come. 

And once again, it underscores the beauty of sports, especially High School sports. They provide a vehicle to take families and the athletes to places that offer excitement on an emotional, physical, and spiritual level. And along the way, they help to create lifetime memories while nurturing the maturation process. 

Congratulations to the entire Novi Hockey Family for making this ordeal an annual reality. The benefits gained, on and off the ice, will be prevalent for many years to come.

(c) 2005 Novi Information Network
www.novi.org

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Bernie Fratto is a freelance writer, radio personality, and motivational speaker.  His passion for sports comes in part from his experience as a former Cincinnati Red farm- hand.  "Behind every sports story lies the hearts and minds of real human beings" said Fratto.  "These athletic endeavors often serve as a metaphor for the game we call life."

Bernie is also on the broadcast team at Live 97.1FM talk-radio, and is a frequent co-host on the popular "Parker & The Man Show," a nightly sportstalk show which airs Monday-Friday from 7-11pm.