Nervous, very, very, nervous ...

'Tis the season of hockey tryouts.

Cole is going out to the AAA/AA tryout for Oakville tonight. Louis spent last evening pouring over the hockey paper that came out yesterday. He has determined the other tryouts Cole will be attending in the GTA.

I am nervous.

Cole is a solid hockey player. Skates like the wind. Unbelievable to watch him on the ice. If teams were picked on ability alone, he'd be chosen, for sure.

Teams are chosen for many reasons, often ability does not play into it.

He has worked so hard all year. Extra power skating. Extra private lessons. Shooting on the net in the driveway. Eating right. Serious about conditioning. He's 95 pounds of pure muscle - not an ounce of fat on him. He really wants this. He has been the driving force. We support him, 100% because what is the alternative?!

If Cole is to play "rep" we'd really prefer him to represent his own town. But, sometimes it doesn't work out that way. The whole tryouts are an arduous process. Tryouts every day. Unless he's cut, a minimum of three per level. First is AAA/AA then A/AE for Oakville. Then the same process, but combined, for places like Streetsville, Mississauga, and other teams in the West part of the GTHL. There may be days where he doesn't even change out of the equipment to make it to the next rink on time. I really hope that doesn't happen.

Let the insanity begin.

And, may the coaches choose based on ability. Just this one year.