Puck Luck & the Hockey Gods

Watching the NCAA Frozen Four National Championship game was enjoyable on many levels. I had the opportunity to play in a Frozen Four and the experience was nothing short of awesome. Watching Boston University and Providence battle for the title, and ultimately seeing how the game unfolded in the third period reminded me that, especially in the playoffs, teams and player s need something that no one can practice for or anticipate: puck luck.

The Providence Friars got the puck luck they needed to win their first ever National Championship. Unfortunately it came at the expense of the BU goaltender who mishandled a routine play, but that little bit of puck luck from the Providence “Hockey Gods” gave them exactly what they needed to score the next goal, and win the biggest game in their program’s history.

The lesson here is that, especially in the biggest games when the odds may be stacked against you, to never, ever give up. Keep working hard, keep winning battles, keep doing all of the things your coaches have preached throughout the year. You never know when you are going to get a little ‘puck luck’ and if you do, it can completely change the momentum of the game.

A great coach once said that he’d rather be lucky than good during the playoffs. After being around the game long enough you realize that if you keep working hard, regardless of the circumstances, good fortune may eventually come. A little puck luck can go a long way in helping you come out on the winning side of the scoreboard, regardless of the expectations heading into the game.

And the hockey team from Rhode Island that knows this all too well and is having one heck of a great time celebrating it!