Over the number of Christmas past, the spirit of this magical holiday has been slowly slipping away from my world. This is what happens when your children grow up and move on with their lives leaving you with the task of 'going through the motion' of Christmas. Now, I am surrounded by children throughout the year at work but they come and go in hour long blocks. As hard as you try you never really enter their world or experience their daily highs and lows...that's just the way it is.

For reasons beyond understanding I made arrangements (with parental permission) for Santa to visit our 'Great 8's - Learn to Play' hockey kids after their end-of-season awards game this past Sunday. With help from Sweet 'T' the deal was to have Santa come onto the game floor and present our Great 8's their player trading cards, a small gift (donated by Coca-Cola) and their Gold Awards Metal. Sounds simple enough and in the end all went off without a hook with one exception. When Santa entered the game floor from the far end and started walking toward us at center rink, every child's eyes light-up like a 1,000 watt bulb and their jaws dropped to the floor with whispers squeaking from them, "Santa...It's Santa!" It was hard not to embrace the magic being surrounded by these Great 8's. I have to admit I was experiencing a major case of goose-bumps and happiness watching these kids being what they are, kids at Christmas.

I would like to thank Sweet 'T', the parents & family members (for allowing us to do this) and especially the kids for giving me the best Christmas present I could ever ask for or receive. You all have re-fueled my Christmas spirit for years to come.

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