Nostalgia

I found that the next best activity to playing hockey was the actual preparation I did to be a part of championships. This is an important part of why I train more and build my body. I'm still an athlete, but the healthy part of competing (like nutrition, etc.) is more in focus. My focus has not been on hockey, so much - due to my age, mostly. That said, I was invited to play, so it looks like it's GAME DAY for a one-game season, due to Covid restrictions (I refuse "the vax"). I would like to say "thanks" again to my hockey friends. I might end up playing more after all - maybe "old-timers" in the future, but training the body is definitely my present focus. My passion for hockey was like a purifying flame. As I become older, however, I need to ask myself: "do I want to be a hero in adult league or 'casual league' hockey or do I want to be a professional bodybuilder?" Maybe in a not so distant future, I can have both.

YouTube:

NATURAL BODYBUILDING

WELLNESS WORKS!

***

(3-2 win for Ice Hawks... our team)  

Props to Our Youth!

Respect the young.

 

'Culture' Coach

The sportstalk about "team culture" and "what's the culture like in the locker room?", is talk that is really about one thing, in my mind. There is only one type of sports culture that matters; this is winning. Could I be a specialty instructor, for hire?? I've won 4 cups in 4 cities. I've won 3 cups with 3 different teams in 3 years. I was part of 2 other hockey championships (victories, but no cup available for these). Do I think I'm lucky? No. I was struggling financially. Does that make me any less a CHAMP? No. Truth is truth, no matter what. Does it matter what level the hockey was? No, still a champ just the same. Why do I think I had this success? In my opinion, I was just a small piece of the puzzle... enough to put these teams over the top. Sometimes that's all it takes. Yes, my conditioning was quite good. Yes, I put on about 20 lbs of muscle mass. Yes, I paid attention to karma. Every word matters. Every good deed matters. Every bite you have to eat matters. Supplements matter... you see? Everything you DO matters and understanding your strengths, and knowing how to use them, matter. Did I know how to do complicated hockey drills? No, mostly I would be clueless. I did not have much hockey experience as a younger guy, growing up. However, if any team would like to hire me or any NHL player would like to hire me as his 'culture coach,' please contact me (malspaint@gmail.com).

The Guy Who Changed Vancouver

Vancouver could use another superstar. 

How it's done.

Not to forget:

4th Cup (Tubbers' 2019)

CRUSHING IT!

For those who missed the opportunity to congratulate the Chargers for our Nanaimo victory, I have some news. The PARTY'S not over!!!!! Hahahaha. Again and again we're CHAMPS!!! Now in Parksville... amazing hockey dominance, all by cool guys who work during the day and play at night. VICTORY is saaaweeeet!!!! To have a winning percentage like the Chargers this season is pretty cool too. It's been quite the season... Beating the Showerkings, who were the previous Tubber champs and Division A Parksville champs, with a short bench, in a late night regular season game, stands out in my mind... at 41 I wouldn't have imagined myself to be a part of completing such a feat or being so conditioned (I managed to improve my cardio, besides my regular weight-training, and it paid off big time). With the victory over the Titans tonight, the Chargers are now 2019 champs in Parksville!! It might be my last celly though... As far as my desire to improve on achieving more goals and assists at 41 years of age, it just hasn't really happened. I've always made the effort to be a team guy and I've always offered to play any position (left "D," right "D," forward right, or left, and center) that teams want me to. I know I can check... backcheck, forecheck, and make the opposition turn over a lot of pucks, but scoring is REALLY fun and I've always wanted to be better at it. I think about an earlier player influence on me like Pavel Bure - I see his highlights, amazing ability and excitement and get chills... still. I think about Canada winning gold in 2002 and watching Joe Sakic and feel inspired. So not scoring often I sometimes felt like I wasn't contributing enough. Also, I've never been a player to "chirp" and I just kind of cringe if I hear any nasty or questionable chirping by any teammate - as much as an "art" that it might be. Maybe the closest I come to chirping are my blogs... haha. The other thing about hockey for me has been the finacial costs. If there's anybody out there who thinks that winning in hockey has come at no serious financial cost to me, and no real hard work, get your head out of the sand. That said, CONGRATS and thanks (especially) to the Chargers!!!!!   

AGAIN!

For good measure... if three cups wasn't enough, here's a division II. I must remember to say "props to my teammates," because this certainly could not have happened without them. I'm happy to be a part of different cup wins, with different teams, but I've continued to play on into my older age because I thought I better prove (yet AGAIN) that it's not just a fluke that I have these victories - and there's no need to tell the doubters out there to "look at me now," or say something like that... the phonies are where they're at, and that's how it is. (That's how they think they roll, but in the end I'm the one who's accomplishing blogs, books, construction, being a part of victories and so on). They've really had nothing on me from the start. They haven't done much, when you think about that I've also been living out of my vehicles for a number of hockey seasons, while working full time, etc. Those who try to disrespect me don't really accomplish much besides eating and talking. So then, here's where it's at for me: 4 cups in 4 towns (or cities), Chemainus, Parksville, Port Alberni and now in the place where I grew up, NANAIMO... The Chargers are 2019 "Tubber's Tourney" CHAAAMPS!!!

MEMORIES

The transformation happened; from a guy being socially lost to participating in a powerful sport where I found lasting friendships. I'm thankful for the game of hockey, those involved and quite the journey!

2016 CHAMPS

When you play the game of hockey, you don't just make new friends, you adopt family! Congratulations Ice Hawks of Port Alberni, British Columbia... first year in the league as a new team and we take it all.        

Playing hockey at higher levels has taught me important life-lessons that were missing in my life.

HONOURED

Playing hockey, I learned about honour firsthand - the type of honour that sitting in church could never teach. That said, I have much appreciation for Christ and the early Christians. I say this as an athlete who has faced hardship. But there's no explanation I should have to provide in order to play hockey - I should just be allowed to play.

As a hockey player, you play hard. The game is intense and requires being fully alert and aware of details. The nature of the game is fast and it requires great skill. I often feel a lot of lingering energy after playing a game - even if it's a late game. I can see why drinking beer after a game is welcome by many players, if it can help you to unwind. Not being careful, however, could lead to alcohol being a source of trouble and vice. A player letting his guard down too much can possibly lead to further trouble - unfortunately, like the news of Jarret Stoll's situation this month. I can understand how both fear and vice can cloud better judgment. Substance abuse can be the undoing of many, but unhealthy fears may hold people down just as much as vice. Those who have no trouble abstaining from vice may have trouble with fears and confidence. Those who have a lot of confidence and no fear might struggle with alcohol excess and substance abuse. Double the affect and some might struggle with both fears and vice. Ideally, sustainable living involves no negative fears or vice. I see the correlations now of such harms, from fears and influencing negatives in society. We must face realities of life, even if they are unsettling. As for me, I did not have my first beer until I was twenty-seven. I've never smoked or done drugs or have had the desire to try them. I have no trouble avoiding vice, but I would like to improve more on my confidence. My plan to accomplish this is to do all-out practice and training so that my skills become second nature.

NUMBER ONE

One thing I like about hockey is that you can inspire your teammates simply by how you play the game. One simple action can be game changing, in a split second. A stretch, a stride, a reach. One act of pushback can put your opponents on their heels, empowering your teammates' passion... having a unifying, momentous, effect. One hit. One turnover. One pass. One face off. One blocked shot. One deke. One save. One goal. One forecheck. One backcheck. One decision. An act of selflessness. A chosen skate to the bench. A shortened shift. The look of strength, the demonstration of courage, the heart of desire, the resolve of confidence, the smoothness of form, the alertness of speed, the motion of agility, the serenity of belief, the quietness of security, the intent of purpose, the proof of fearlessness, can intimidate those who have no place as champs. The exposing of opponents, the reminder of their unfitness, the deflation of egos, is affirmation of due respect and true greatness. Sweeping your opponents, in an otherwise potential five game series final, to be named as competitive hockey champions, is no hand-out, no "walk in the park," so to speak... no gimme. The Drillers (name is from well-water drilling) of Parksville, British Columbia, are a team of players who know how to win. I must say that I'm proud of my teammates and happy they allowed me to play a small part of a dominant performance.

Choose a sport, any sport - because life is like a sport. If I can see life as a sport, in a way, and people as my teammates, then this is a very healthy way for me to view the world. There is pure fun, freedom, inclusion, respect, recognition and enjoyable play! No more loneliness. No more shyness. No more suppressive confinement. Instead, there is happy comradeship, brilliant interaction, commonality, goals, self-worth and enjoyment with friends. There is hope and will to win and persistent efforts to become undisputed champs - honoured and not denied. There is appreciation for nutrition, training, and performance. There is seen value of preparation, organizing, practice, good habits and routine, being punctual and selfless. There is appreciation and acceptance of different cultures and countries, people with disabilities, no barriers of religion and no opposition from or towards the opposite sex. There is no fear of criticism, dialogue or inner reflecting, because the ongoing desire for self-improvement, innovation, ambition, vision, imagination, opportunity to display your best, hone your skills and prove what you can, requires helpful communication. 

TASTE OF VICTORY

My fourth straight year in this tournament - I had also previously been in two Spring League finals, being a part of one winning team, but there was no trophy. Last year our team lost in a shootout. At the age of thirty-six, this is my first cup in hockey. This cup is called the "Unity Cup" (Psalms 133:1). It's normally presented at the end of every Easter holiday weekend, in Chemainus, British Columbia, at Fuller Lake Arena.

DETERMINATION

Effort. Desire. Persistence. How far will you go?

WORLD: TAKE A LOOK

The world is a reality. When faced with it - gotta face it. Can't always hide in a bubble... tempting as it is... to get real far away - from so many neglected souls. The world before us, gotta face it. Gotta face faces. I'll give to needy people beyond just my money, by taking less pains to avoid them - sharing a rare confidence and something of myself: by having no fear.

LEADERSHIP

You could see it happening... You could feel the effect. Ryan Smyth's heart before pride style of play in the recent Spengler Cup tourney was a huge impact on his teammates and an unstoppable force in Canada winning the championship. Not afraid to look risky in all-out-forechecking, not afraid to enthusiastically celebrate his goals in the final, you could see the real belief Smyth had in himself and his teammates.

http://www.cbc.ca/player/Sports/Top+Stories/ID/2322306399/?sort=MostPopular

WHAT ARE YOU MADE OF?

No challenge, no improvement. No push, no strength. No sweat, no health. Test your mettle... show what you got. Don't be neglectful. Man, if you do not have heart, I will kick your butt and possibly embarrass you. Get off your seat and move your feet! Become active. Overcome your fear. Show courage. Gain confidence. Be free and happy.

SURVIVOR

Growing up, the chance for me to have a stronger confidence was not provided - being an athletic guy, who needed (and still needs) a sport. Competitive sports were frowned on by some Christians and seen as "ungodly" by my preaching dad.

I have therefore had to fight an overly intense battle at times, just to be who I am today. My present freedom... my normal, athletic, self... have been fought very hard for, by me - with very little support and encouragement, except for some kind family and friends who understand my fight. These people see my potential, spiritually and athletically. They do not advise me to become a "missionary" in a far away land. You see? Coming from a strangely religious background, I have had to overcome so much - and do a lot of healing, and address a lot of nonsense. 

And while I greatly appreciate morals (showing gratitude is, I think, the best moral I learned from my parents), I am greatly disheartened by a mere lip-service kind of love, in which there is no evidence, action and proof of the real thing.

You can have all the values and morals you want to, but if you don't have charitable love, for which you have proof for, what do you have? Love, to be meaningful, must be proven with evident and charitable action (real action).

Also, I have at times reflected on my childhood and I would like to share some thoughts. I feel I should suggest that children ought to be raised and taught according to their individual strengths, and particular needs, with understanding of where they might excel and where their yet-to-be-seen and untapped potential actually is. What imagination or empowering vision might unleash an outpouring of excellence? Education (public, private or home-schooling) should not be like a factory... producing inhibited, limited, greatly restricted and confined students. Parents (and teachers, too) must not be pushy, but rather supportive, understanding and faithfully encouraging. Counsel: show real faith in verifiable, clear, acts of charitable love. Children normally have a lot of positive energy. Do not discourage such a gift, rather allow flourishing - in such a way where this is kindly true, brilliant, healthy and generous.

Childhood experience is important, and for many years I've had to dig deep and try to find positive memories, just to get by in the present - which seems to be a continual state of survival, rather than a life being fully lived.

Some say "forget the past," or "move on!" But I know that the positive things, especially, of the past should not be forgotten.

To some extent, every time I train, run or hike (where there are mountains) I'm reliving memories and things familiar and positive to me.

For years, I've survived and not fully lived. I'm still a survivor, but I continue to hope for a better life... as a hockey player, especially.

Engaging in physical activity helps to sustain me spiritually. This helps to take my mind off a sometimes bleak present.

It's an unexciting fact, but sometimes life is more about surviving than living. If you don't conform to what the masses say and do, you pay a price. If you want to have genuine freedom, you must have a lot of courage.

I would like to say that good times and healthy memories can be like a steady foundation, on which you can presently build. Remember the times when things were perfect, then desire good things now.

I'm thankful for music also, as well as the positive memories (I have been blessed with) to draw upon.

https://plus.google.com/photos/100741940800401400938/albums/5791000572486458321