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. Alexis Lafrenière?

How it's done.

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 in such conditioning (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 cele 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!