The Hockey
Hero
Words in red are the personalized words
| Goalie version | Forward Version |
“The Hockey Hero”
was created especially for
Dax Trevor Curtis
at the age of 10
With Love From,
Mom
November 23, 2002
Page 4
The
championship game was only hours away. The Dallas Stars,
Dax's favorite team, were just one game away
from being the champs.
Dax
had already invited Seth, Cole and Ryan to watch
the game on television with him. All that was
left to do was check the snacks and, for the fourth time today, study the team
line-ups.
Page 7
Unknown
to Dax, the Dallas Stars
were in trouble. The coach had just learned that the star goalie had a sprained
ankle and could not play tonight. The team needed another goalie.
Page 8
“What
about that kid, Dax so-and-so, who you just
signed,” the coach asked the team’s general manager.
“You
mean that kid who lives in Arvada, Colorado?”
replied the G.M. “He’s a little young and
inexperienced!”
“Call
him,” replied the coach, “and get him here any way you can, even if you have to rent a
private jet.
Page 11
The
general manager, a bit nervous about tonight’s game, still couldn’t remember
the goalie’s last name. “Was it Leroux, Lamante, Curtis?
Yes, Curtis, I think that was it”, the G.M. said
and he quickly looked through the Arvada, Colorado
phone book for the number.
Page 12
For
Dax, time was moving slowly. When the phone
rang, Dax answered. “Hi,” said the G.M. “I know
this is unusual, Dax, but we have a game tonight
and we need you to play. I’m sending someone to pick you up.”
“Sure,”
Dax said somewhat reluctantly, knowing he would miss the big game on telelvision. “But I’d
like to bring along Seth, Cole and Ryan”.
“No
problem,” replied the G.M. Dax quickly gathered his hockey gear and waited to be picked up.
Page
15
In
no time an official hockey-looking guy rang the door bell. “Is Dax here?” he asked.
“Right
here,” Dax replied.
“Where?”
said the hockey guy looking around the room.
“Right
here,” said Dax again.
“But!
But! You look like you’re only 10 years old,”
replied the surprised official. “Are you that good of a goalie?”
“Yeah,
I’m pretty good,” Dax replied.
Page
16
“Where
are we going?” Dax asked as they jumped into a
limousine. “To the home arena of the Dallas Stars,”
replied the hockey-type guy.
“The
game is sold out. There will be thousands of people at the arena and another 10
million watching on television.”
“Sure,
10 million watching and me playing at the home of the Dallas
Stars! Does he really think I believe him?” Dax
thought to himself.
Page
19
When
they finally arrived at the arena, and Dax saw
all the fans rushing into the building, he
didn’t know what to think.
“Follow
me,” said the hockey-type guy. “And don’t sign any autographs – we haven’t got
enough time.”
Dax
followed, but now he was nervous. Seth, Cole and Ryan looked nervous too.
Page
20
“Here’s
the kid,” the hockey-type guy said to the coach when they reached the dressing
room.
“Where?”
asked the coach.
“Right
here,” he replied, pointing at Dax.
The
coach looked down at Dax. “You can’t be
serious?” the coach asked.
Page
23
The
coach looked at Dax again. “Did the G.M. call
you?” he asked.
“Yes,”
replied Dax.
“You
must be the best young goalie in the whole world,” the coach said in amazement.
“Yeah,
I’m pretty good,” Dax replied.
Page
24
Dax
quickly put on his hockey gear and went out with the team for the pregame
warmup. As soon as the coach saw Dax on the ice
he knew a mistake had been made. Dax was pretty
good, but no 10-year-old had ever played goalie
in this league. “It’s lucky that I can just keep the kid on the bench,” the
coach thought to himself.
Page
27
The
game was incredibly exciting. There were hard hits, scoring chances galore, end
to end action and great saves. As the third period wound down, the score was
tied 2-2.
Dax
was happy. These were the best seats he had ever
had to watch his favorite team. The game ended
in a flurry with both goalies making incredible saves. Overtime was next.
Page 28
In
the dressing room some of the Dallas Stars
started to complain about their stomachs. One by one, they went into the
trainer’s room. The flu bug had hit the team!
Seth, Cole and Ryan whispered to Dax. “You may have to
play.”
“Awesome,”
replied Dax.
Page 31
Winning
seemed impossible. With most of the players sick, the team was wearing down.
And then it happened! The goalie skated over to the bench and came off the ice.
“Get
another goalie on the ice,” the referee yelled to the coach.
The
coach looked down the bench. “Dax – just how
good are you?” he asked.
“I’m
pretty good,” Dax replied.
“Out
you go,” said the coach. “Do your best.”
Page 32
Dax
was a pretty good goalie but these players shot the puck harder than anyone he
had ever played against. The first shot whizzed by the net, missing by inches. Dax never saw it.
The
second shot hit him in the glove and stayed there. The crowd roared in approval
but Dax never saw the puck either.
Dax's
team played even harder. With a rookie goalie in the net, they knew they had to
score soon to win. Then it happened! Dax's team
got caught up the ice. The other team had a breakaway!
Page 35
The
player skated in and blasted a shot – high to the blocker side. Dax flicked out his
blocker and made the greatest save of his life.
The shot glanced off the glove, into the corner, and around the boards.
One
of the Dallas Stars took the puck up the ice and
scored. They had won in overtime!
Dax
was interviewed on television. He only
remembered answering one quesiton. “Yeah, I’m pretty good,” he said.
Page 36
Dax's
Hockey
Statistics
for
this year:
________________________________
Team
________________________________
Coach’s Name
________________________________
Goals scored
________________________________
Assists
________________________________
Penalties
________________________________
Trophies won
________________________________
Best play of the year
“The Hockey Hero”
was created especially for
Dax Trevor Curtis
at the age of 10
With Love From,
Mom
November 23, 2002
Page 4
The
championship game was only hours away. The Dallas Stars,
Dax's favorite team, were just one game away
from being the champs.
Dax
had already invited Seth, Cole and Ryan to watch
the game on television with him. All that was left to do was check the snacks
and, for the fourth time today, study the team line-ups.
Page 7
Unknown
to Dax, the Dallas Stars
were in trouble. The coach had just learned that the star player had a sprained
ankle and could not play tonight. No other players were available. The
situation seemed hopeless.
Page 8
“What
about that kid, Dax so-and-so, who you just
signed,” the coach asked the team’s general manager.
“You
mean that kid who lives in Arvada, Colorado?”
replied the G.M. “He’s a little young and
inexperienced!”
“Call
him,” replied the coach, “and get him here any way you can, even if you have to
rent a private jet. All we need is a back-up in case of injury. He’ll just sit on the bench.”
Page 11
The
general manager, a bit nervous about tonight’s game, still couldn’t remember
the goalie’s last name. “Was it Leroux, Lamante, Curtis?
Yes, Curtis, I think that was it”, the G.M. said
and he quickly looked through the Arvada, Colorado
phone book for the number.
Page 12
For
Dax, time was moving slowly. When the phone
rang, Dax answered. “Hi,” said the G.M. “I know
this is unusual, Dax, but we have a game tonight
and we need you to play. I’m sending someone to pick you up.”
“Sure,”
Dax said somewhat reluctantly, knowing he would miss the big game on telelvision. “But I’d
like to bring along Seth, Cole and Ryan”.
“No
problem,” replied the G.M. Dax quickly gathered his hockey gear and waited to be picked up.
Page 15
In
no time an official hockey-looking guy rang the door bell. “Is Dax here?” he asked.
“Right
here,” Dax replied.
“Where?”
said the hockey guy looking around the room.
“Right
here,” said Dax again.
“But!
But! You look like you’re only 10 years old,”
replied the surprised official. “Are you that good of a hockey player?”
“Yeah,
I’m pretty good,” Dax replied.
Page 16
“Where
are we going?” Dax asked as they jumped into a
limousine. “To the home arena of the Dallas Stars,”
replied the hockey-type guy.
“The
game is sold out. There will be thousands of people at the arena and another 10
million watching on television.”
“Sure,
10 million watching and me playing at the home of the Dallas
Stars! Does he really think I believe him?” Dax
thought to himself.
Page 19
When
they finally arrived at the arena, and Dax saw
all the fans rushing into the building, he
didn’t know what to think.
“Follow
me,” said the hockey-type guy. “And don’t sign any autographs – we haven’t got
enough time.”
Dax
followed, but now he was nervous. Seth, Cole and Ryan looked nervous too.
Page 20
“Here’s
the kid,” the hockey-type guy said to the coach when they reached the dressing
room.
“Where?”
asked the coach.
“Right
here,” he replied, pointing at Dax.
The
coach looked down at Dax. “You can’t be
serious?” the coach asked.
Page 23
The
coach looked at Dax again. “Did the G.M. call
you?” he asked.
“Yes,”
replied Dax.
“You
must be the best young hockey player in the whole world,” the coach said in
amazement.
“Yeah,
I’m pretty good,” Dax replied.
Page 24
Dax
quickly put on his hockey gear and went out with
the team for the pregame warmup. As soon as the coach saw Dax on the ice he knew a mistake had been made. Dax was pretty good, but no 10-year-old
had ever played goalie in this league. “It’s lucky that I can just keep the kid
on the bench,” the coach thought to himself.
Page 27
The
game was incredibly exciting. There were hard hits, scoring chances galore, end
to end action and great saves. As the third period wound down, the score was
tied 2-2.
Dax
was happy. These were the best seats he had ever
had to watch his favorite team. The game ended
in a flurry with both goalies making incredible saves. Overtime was next.
Page 28
In
the dressing room some of the Dallas Stars
started to complain about their stomachs. One by one, they went into the
trainer’s room. And, they didn’t return.
Seth, Cole and Ryan whispered to Dax. “You may have to
play.”
“Awesome,”
replied Dax.
Page 31
The
game seemed out of reach. With only six players, the team was wearing down. And
then it happened! The referee called coincidental minor penalites.
“Get
another player on the ice,” the referee yelled to the coach.
The
coach looked at the trainer. “Anyone ready yet?” he asked.
“Sorry
coach – no one can even stand up,” the trainer replied.
“Dax – just how good are you?” he asked.
“I’m
pretty good,” Dax replied.
“Out
you go,” said the coach. “Do your best.”
Page 32
Dax
was a pretty good hockey player but these players were the biggest, strongest
and fastest he had ever played against. By the time Dax
skated into one end, the puck was already back in the other end.
Dax
was still struggling out of the opponent’s end when one of his teammates shot the puck down the ice. The other
team had forgotten about Dax. He had a breakaway!
Page 35
Dax
skated as fast as he could. A defenseman was
breathing down his neck. As he reached the net, Dax
looked up and saw the biggest goalie he had ever
seen in his life. Dax
let go with his best shot.
The
burly defenseman took Dax into the boards with a
thud. As Dax got up, he
heard the fans cheering and saw his teammates
(all 6 of them) skating towards him. The game
was over. Dax had buried the shot in the top
corner. They had won in overtime.
Dax
was interviewed on television. He only
remembered answering one question. “Yeah, I’m pretty good,” he said.
Page 36
Dax's
Hockey
Statistics
for
this year:
________________________________
Team
________________________________
Coach’s Name
________________________________
Goals scored
________________________________
Assists
________________________________
Penalties
________________________________
Trophies won
________________________________
Best play of the year