Fifty years ago, Kyle’s grandfather, Sim, bought a beaver hat from Western Furs in Regina, Saskatchewan.  The Hat – shapewise, the grizzled and satin-lined love child of an alpine and a karakul – had a front-row seat to hundreds of hockey games in Kyle’s hometown rink, as Sim’s preferred spot was leaning cross-armed over the edge of the penalty box so as not to be encumbered by any nonsense like chicken wire.  Kyle came into possession of this hat after his grandfather passed away.

A couple of weekends ago, our twelve-year-old’s hockey team played in a tournament in Ontario, Canada.  Kyle, a team coach, wore The Hat.

“I don’t want to frighten you,” A Dad said to Kyle as he walked through the rink doors, “but an animal is attacking your head.”

“Off to an Arctic expedition, I see,” Another Dad commented a few steps later.  “Want me to help you hitch up the dogs?”

Kyle, the proud owner of a meat sweatshirt and more than one velour tracksuit, was unphased.  He remained unphased as the team won their first game 6-1, a welcome victory in what had been a long cold streak.

“Thank goodness,” A Mom said as we packed up our standard-issue Hockey Mom blankets and coffee mugs.  “Whatever the boys did in that game, they need to keep doing.”

“They need to keep all of that great passing,” Another Mom said.

“They need to keep all of that great confidence,” said Another.

“And Kyle needs to keep wearing The Hat,” A Dad remarked. 

“Ha ha ha,” we all laughed; beaver hats were fun.

One of the boys had hitched a ride with a teammate because his parents weren’t able to come until the following day.  That kid had been awarded the “Player of the Game,” and so A Dad texted the parent group something like, “I guess you’ll have to skip games more often.”

“Ha ha ha,” we texted back; conflicting schedules were fun.

After a quick meal, the team played a second game – and won again.

“I don’t want to jinx it,” A Dad said, “but a person could call this a streak.”

“Shhhhhhh, don’t jinx it,” we all laughed…but not really.

“You’ll for sure have to stay home,” A Dad texted the missing parents.

“And Kyle will have to keep wearing The Hat,” A Mom said.

“Ha,” we replied…but not really.

The boys won the next four games, sweeping the tournament.  The missing parents never did leave Grand Forks due to weather.  Kyle wore The Hat (and, he later told me, the same pants) the entire time.  The morning of the Championship, four parents texted to make sure The Hat would be at the rink, and our team videographer did the post-game show wearing The Hat – but only after The Hat made it into the team trophy photo.

Fast-forward six days to another weekend of hockey.  I was in the kitchen cleaning up lunch as Kyle and Twelve prepared to head over to the rink for their usual pre-game rituals.  Kyle came to give me a kiss goodbye.

“Where’s The Hat?”  I asked, pointing to the cotton beanie on his head.

“The boys think it does all the work,” he said, “and they only need to show up.  They are going to have to win without The Hat.”

“What about The Pants?”  I said.

 “I may or may not be wearing The Pants,” he said.

Kyle did not wear The Hat.  The formerly-absent parents were at the rink.  I’m preeetttttty sure Kyle was wearing The Pants.  The boys did not win the game.

“Why in the heck did you not wear The Hat?”  A Dad asked Kyle.  No one laughed.

Kyle wore The Hat to the next game, and the boys won.  One of The Grandpas came up to Kyle as the kids took to the ice for warm-ups.

“Thank you for wearing The Hat,” he said, in earnest.

“Good thing it was The Hat and not you being storm-stayed,” I said to the formerly-absent parents who, once again, were not waylaid by weather.  “I would have missed you.”

“You know,” A Mom said as we packed up our standard-issue Hockey Mom puffy coats and crossbody bags, “my grandpa had one of those hats, too.  I’m going to wear it.”

“We should all get A Hat for State; go as a team,” A Dad said, and we all laughed…but not really.

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The photo above is of Kyle, The Hat, and the Championship Medal. Kyle would also like to point out his high school MVP Trophy, in case your level of impressed was not yet at SUPER-DUPER IMPRESSED.

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This week on North Dakota Today, we talked about an act of kindness that continues to pay it forward, and a ray of sunshine in the emergency department at Altru Health.  Check it out!  (Valley News Live)

THIS IS WHAT WE’VE BEEN PREPARING FOR, PEOPLE: The Dakota Zoo is looking for help in naming their new baby penguin. (KX Net)

Grafton’s Katelyn Gorder has been awarded the “Oscar of Teaching” for being a model of education for the state and the country. (Grand Forks Herald)

In “You Betcha” news, Team North Dakota took home a medal in the World Snow Sculpting Championships!  First Place went to Canada (okay, fine), second place to Turkey, and third to NORTH DAKOTA. (Valley News Live)

If you read last week’s story, you’ll know that I am of German and Russian heritage.  Well, here’s a brief look at how how Germans from Russia came to North Dakota in the 19th century. (KFYR TV)

Western North Dakota was treated to an amazing show late last week. (Facebook)

In not really NICE news, Grandma D, North Dakota’s oldest living resident and a red wine drinker, has passed away at the age of 113. (Grand Forks Herald)

Des Lacs’ Mary Peterson is known for “hugs that will make you smile.” (KX Net)

Also as a reminder, Kyle and his friends, Corey and Kelly, have a podcast called North Dakota After Dark where they talk about youth hockey in North Dakota.  The latest episode is up and is an interview with hockey celebrity Baylee Bjorge.  Check it out. Bonus: you can watch it on YouTube. (North Dakota After Dark)

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