This has nothing to do about hockey or creating the ultimate development plan for your team. That will be in our weekly newsletter on Friday for our paying subscribers.
This one is closer to home as I have been looking at my influencers (parents) in life and then started to look at how I am with my kids.
I have two wonderful children, a teenage daughter and a 7-year-old son. They both are my pride and joy, but because my son now plays hockey, I wanted to write something down for him, as well as for myself, where my priorities lie and what’s important.
I hope someday this will be a nice memento for him; for myself, this will act as a daily reminder to let him create his own life.
Hey Mini-Me,
You are a little too young to understand the contents of this letter, but when you get older, you’ll know why I wrote this and comprehend the message. Since the minute you came into this world, you’ve been a blessing and made our family complete; at the same time, your circus clown antics have made sure that we never have a dull moment. So, buddy, I hope you’re ready, so let's get to it.
I have been on skates, and hockey has been in my blood since I was 2 years old. That’s when your grandpa and grandma bought your dad his first pair of skates and took him to the outside rink in 1979 right across the street from your great grandma’s house on 5th street. The game of hockey has been in my blood ever since that night. The game has given me lows and highs in life, but it’s always been there for our family and me.
I know what you are thinking, “Why are you telling me this, dad?”
Here’s the deal Mikko, hockey has been my life, and it has been my passion, but it doesn’t have to be yours. You see, I loved the game so much it consumed me. My bedroom walls were plastered with magazine pictures of Patrick Roy, Brett Hull, the UMD Bulldogs, and the Montreal Canadiens. I wore Montreal Canadiens and UMD Bulldogs t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jerseys to school almost every day. I’d be out on the outside rink every day and night during the winter with friends my age, older as well as younger because it didn’t matter. I just loved the game so much; it was all I wanted to do.
Now get this, we used to take our baseball hats, an orange sponge puck, and play hockey at school during recess. It was a weird game, we used our hats like goalie gloves and we’d stand the puck up on its edge, then kick it trying to score. There were no actual rules; just get the puck past the other guy! We’d also play this in the lobby of The Miners Memorial Building right down the street from our house. That was our home rink, so if we couldn’t be on the ice practicing, then we’d be in the lobby playing. As you can see, your dad was a little obsessed with the game.
Now here is the best part, your grandma and grandpa never pushed me to play. They never dragged me to the rink, hockey camps, or told me to practice. They were always supportive. I always had the best equipment, well, except for when I first started playing, and I had Batman mittens on during practice. I fell on the ice, and then a skate went right over my hand, never touched the skin, but damn it, my favorite mitts were ruined. Other than that time, I promise you, I had the best stuff.
Grandma and grandpa would get me anything I needed. The only 3 rules that they had were:
Always give your best effort.
School/Education is the backbone of life, so make sure to study.
Piano practicing is a must; you must be versatile and expand.
Yes, I played the piano, it was grandma’s idea, but you know what, it really helps out in many ways, it’s hard to explain, so you gotta trust me!
Now, I’m getting to the point, I promise you!
You see, I lived my dream; I played in the Minnesota State Tournament and won a Championship. I went on to play in the USHL and won a Championship with the Lincoln Stars, and then got the ultimate prize by getting a Division 1 scholarship to the University of Alaska Anchorage.
That was the ultimate prize playing D1 hockey, and I think grandma and grandpa were most proud of that achievement more than anything, not because of hockey, but because of the education! After college, I went on to play pro hockey in Europe and later started coaching here. So today, my passion turned out to be what provides for our family.
As you can see from this, I followed what I loved, and I chased my dreams to the fullest. Grandma and grandpa always supported me along the way, yes there were bumpy times, but in the end, they always had my back because they knew I was doing what I loved.
Here’s where you come in, so I hope you aren’t too bored yet!
When mom and I found out that we would have a boy, the first thought that sprouted in my head was…” Yes, my own little hockey player!” Come on, look at your name, Mikko Suihkonen. Tell me that ain’t a good hockey name, it was a compromise since I wanted your name to be Esa! Mom overruled me, as she usually does.
Let’s get back on track. You can see why I thought you’d be a little hockey player given the fact that it is my love and job, so it’s a natural reaction! The keyword in that last sentence is “My,” and it should be “Your.”
We bought you hockey sticks, gloves; grandma and grandpa sent you a helmet and some really cool Batman and Spiderman knee hockey sticks. The funny thing is that you didn’t really have any interest in it. At first, I’d always ask you, you want to play hockey, Mikko, and you’d always respond, “No, Pappa, we play with trucks.” It honestly took a little air out of my float, not gonna lie bud, but you know what, it’s cool. I loved playing trucks and construction site with you!
Walking into your room, your sticks sat in the corner collecting dust, but all your tractors, trucks, cars, motorcycles, and cranes were scattered everywhere being used. Every time we pass a construction site, we’d sit there for half an hour to an hour so that you could watch the trucks and laborers work. We’d see a tractor in the field or on the road, and all life would stop so you could stare at them, and I’d sit back, and your eyes grow wide with amazement!
When I see that stare and that smile that comes over your face, it does something to me that’s hard to explain! It’s pure love and joy!
As you get older and your comprehension becomes better, I am starting to realize what grandma and grandpa did with me. They never tried to shape me or change me to what they wanted. They let me be me, and they supported that in every way!
Today your interests have evolved. Now you are into dinosaurs, heck you know every fact known to man about them. Your construction passion has changed from heavy equipment to Legos, where you are building your own stuff using your imagination. I am more than positive your early years have influenced your creativity in many ways.
Hockey is starting to grow on you, as you will sit on NHL.com watching Chicago Blackhawks games, and everything that revolves around hockey is about Patrick Kane. Even though your passion is growing for the game of hockey, you still have many other things that interest you; downhill skiing, drawing, Legos, and playing soccer. You aren’t dead set on one thing, and that is such a positive attribute.
One day your true passion will shine through, but sampling so many different areas now will only help you become a well-rounded person as you grow.
This long-winded letter is to assure you that I want you to have your own life! I promise you I’ll never pressure you, and I’ll never try to live through you! I lived my life following my passion, and I want you to do the same thing! You’re a special kid, and whatever it is that you want to do, know that mom and I will be by your side supporting you!
Very relatable. Have had the same experience with my daughter.
My heart is broken, I wish I could have father like you, God bless you buddy!