The stakes are high in the District 3 Peewee C hockey district championships.  Tonight the #9 seed Minneapolis Orange team faces off against the #4 seed Minneapolis Black team.  Before you count out the Oranges, of which Shef is a member, let's consider their play-off record so far.

En route to the final four, they've taken down #8 seed Delano, #5 seed Wayzata Gold and, last night, #3 seed Wayzata Blue.  They've fallen only once, and that was to the Evil Empire: Osseo Maple Grove Black, the #1 seed, in this double-elimination tourney.

The play at this 11 and 12 year-old level rose to frenetic as we wore down the Trojans in the final minutes of the 1-goal game. The passing ticked up considerably, the refs were markedly inconsistent, and the adrenaline blinded, forcing silly and potentially costly mistakes.  My yelling in the stands remained supportive and constant, although slightly derivative of the cheers lobbed around me.  Sometimes, I felt embarrassed to have aped an exact phrase from a neighbor, but let's be honest - the boys couldn't really hear me anyway.  Present and enthusiastic, I remained a portrait of a sane hockey mom.  I think.