Erin had her first chance to get to know her teammates a little better. Hanging out in between games, at the hotel, etc. This is a new team for Erin and there are 11 girls from 7 different high schools, so new friends to be made!
Dan and I spent Friday night and Saturday at Graham Arena. I have to admit, I do still love being around the rink. Even 5 years later...
This weekend's Shannon Cup was for the U12 and U10 age groups. 300 skaters and their families from MN, WI and even IL... many of these teams come back year after year, but there are always some new teams, too, who don't know our story. Having a chance to share with them who Shannon was and why this tournament is named for her is a special thing for me and Dan.
The Rochester kids help us spread the story, too. They run around the arena in various Shannon gear and they continue to tape their sticks and helmets in lime green to remember her.
We sent a copy of the book, Determined to Matter, home with each family this weekend, too. Seeing these young girls wanting to learn more about Shannon and wanting to be inspired, well, what more could we ask for... Dan and I got to sign a few books for the girls. They think that's cool, and we do, too.
We had a young girl from a St. Paul suburb who was hanging around our table. When her mom joined her, they told us that after playing in this tournament last year and after reading the book, this girl did a report on Shannon and the Shannon Cup for school. So, a middle school class 90 miles away from here learned about Shannon and perseverance and kindness and gratitude...
This weekend, we sold $5,000 worth of t-shirts and sweatshirts and trucker hats to help us fund our scholarships. The kindness and generosity of others is such a pleasant reminder of the good in this world... Congrats also to the Rochester 10A team on being Shannon Cup champions!
So, we take a deep breath this morning and then prepare for one more Shannon event this weekend. Saturday, Feb. 4 will be Shannon O'Hara Scholarship Night during the Century-JM Boys hockey game. We are excited to award our 5th year of recipients. Another good group of kids who will have a little help from Shannon as they pursue their dreams...
