Speaking
of Sports 

by
Lance J. Lilla

 
Novi Hockey achieves more than others could only dream of

March 5, 2012

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."
  - Gautama Buddha

For many situations, figuring out an effective way to begin them is always the hardest part. The Novi High School Varsity Hockey team experienced this first hand this season.

The team had a slow start and mistakes were made. Though, over time, things began to change and ultimately resulted in a consecutive twelve game winning streak for the 'Cats; the most recent win being attained over Novi High's cross-town rival, the Catholic Central Shamrocks.

Due to the well known competitiveness between the two schools, coupled with the fact that Novi had defeated the Shamrocks in post-season play last year, the game between them was quite emotional. The final result was a well deserved 3-2 Wildcat victory in overtime, which took the emotion to an entirely new level.

This emotion was a seemingly good thing in the moment, but some think that it may have been a key contribution to the end of the 'Cats winning streak. This was was brought about Saturday in the Regional Finals game against Livonia Churchill, who the 'Cats already lost to by one goal earlier in the season.

To get an insider's perspective of the effects that the win over CC had on the 'Cats, I spoke with senior Travis Trainor. According to Trainor, "everyone still had their minds wrapped around the emotional win over CC and we were just too tired from that game to keep up with Churchill's speed."

When in the Regional Championship game against Churchill, the 'Cats seemed that they were not focused on the task at hand; the present moment. Instead, they appeared to have been too caught up in former success and were dwelling in the past.

Though, defeat is never an enjoyable occurrence, one must take an optimistic viewpoint on the saddening situation. For with every failed attempt at anything, in this case a hockey game, there is always a lesson to be learned. I believe Gautama Buddha has done an exceptional job at depicting that lesson.

Furthermore, in a time like this, what seems to be the end of something great, some self-reflection is always appropriate.

When looking back on this overall hockey career, Trainor explains that he believes that it "taught me [him] that nothing in life is going to be given to you. You have to work hard to get what you want." Trainor also explained that "this overall experience has changed me [him] for the better because of that reason."

I would like to congratulate the Novi High School Varsity Hockey team on an impressive and respectable season, and hope the young men on the team understand that even though they came up short of their overall goal (winning the State Championship again), they still achieved more than so many others could even dream of and to truly appreciate that feat.

(c) 2012 Novi Information Network
www.novi.org