Character formed by playing sports

Dear editor: I felt compelled to write a response to James Miller’s editorial column in the Okanagan Weekend, Jan. 6.

We were fortunate to have three sons and one daughter of our two nieces’ active in hockey. The husband of one niece grew up playing hockey. He was also a 16-year-old pitcher and attended the Calgary Cannon’s spring camp. He was hitting the ball further than the triple-A ball players in the camp. The teams wanted him to move up immediately to play triple-A ball. He chose instead to finish high school, settle down in a small B.C. town, and marry our niece.

We have just watched one nephew, Dillon Dube of the Kelowna Rockets, wearing Canada’s flag like a cape and carry the championship trophy across the ice at the world junior finals.

Can you just imagine the elation that is felt by all on that team? They have strived and worked hard most of their young lives to achieve this goal. This moment will stay with them all of their lives regardless of whatever else they do.

Dillon’s grandmother was a billet mother for a junior B hockey team and taught all her billets to power skate, including Dillon and her other hockey grandchildren. As a matter of interest to those hockey fans out there, she also taught Shea Weber to power skate when he was her billet.

Yes, these kids face stress. But it is a stress they choose. And pressure from parents is a common trait. As long as this is something that the kids want to do then stress and competition is part of life. And success and healthy competition builds more success.

Today all four of those kids are winners. Dillion was the only one that made it past the junior A level. He is drafted by the Calgary Flames and we expect he will be going there next season.

All four of these kids played hockey, baseball and golf, and were all-around fantastic athletes.

Today they have graduated from junior A and have chosen their professions and are all on their way to successful lives. Elvena Slump

Penticton