It's Just A Game
Once there was a boy named Dan whose dream was to play in the NHL.  Hockey was his life, if he wasn’t doing homework, or doing something with his family or friends he was at the Iceoplex playing hockey.  He soon became known as Little Mario around Pittsburgh, even Mario Lemieux the captain and superstar of the Pittsburgh Penguins heard about the young prodigy and went to see Dan play for himself.
Dan was no dummy when it came to academics either he graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was valedictorian of his high school class.  His superior academic standing combined with his unbelievable hockey talent earned him full scholarships to many of the nation’s most prestigious universities.  The list included Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.  Dan however chose to attend Pennsylvania State University to play for the Ice Lions, who had never won a national championship.
The coach saw from the start that he was getting an extraordinary player in Dan so he gave him special treatment including one on one tutoring and closed practice sessions.  The coach often said, “I think I have the next Mario on my hands.”  Dan lived up to his reputation and coach’s predictions by becoming the captain of the team and leading the Ice Lions to their first ever NCAA championship.  He was also named NCAA Rookie of the Year in 1996.  Dan and all who knew him knew that the splendors and the big money of the NHL were waiting for him and that his long cherished dream of putting on an NHL jersey would soon no longer be a fantasy, but glorious reality.
In the spring of Dan’s sophomore year some scouts from the Pittsburgh Penguins came to Penn State looking for prospects for the 1997 NHL entry draft.  They were impressed with Dan and Coach John Larson was more than happy to show off his prize student.  The scouts invited Dan to Mario’s Hockey Camp for Young Penguin Rookies and Prospects where his game would be fine tuned by the NHL’s star athlete.  After two weeks of intense training he would be sent to Penguins tryouts.  So in May of 1997 Dan withdrew from college to pursue his NHL career.
Dan went to the Mellon Arena where Mario met him.
“Hello Dan, I’m Mario,” he said extending his hand.  Dan shook hands warmly.
“I’m pleased to meet you,” he said.  Mario took Dan to the ice.
“Come and show me what you can do,” he said, taking out a stopwatch and a piece of paper.”  Mario liked to test his prospects so that he would have a clearer picture of where they were strongest and where they needed improvement.  “Let’s test your speed,” he said.  Dan skated as fast as he could.  “Good, I clock you at about five miles an hour; you might have the speed that we’re looking for.  Next Mario tested Dan’s shooting speed; Dan’s top speed was ninety-five miles per hour.  Mario begun to see that the rumors he had heard about Dan were not fiction they were fact.
The next test was of Dan’s shooting percentage.  Mario called out the Penguins starting goaltender Tom Barrasso for the test.  Dan got eight out of ten pucks in the net, Tom saved one, and one hit the post.  Mario smiled as Dan left the ice.
“Very nice work so far, but your final test will be the most difficult one on one.”  Mario laced up his skates, picked up his stick, and said,  “Drop the puck and let’s go.”
Dan again got eight out of ten pucks in the net while Mario got nine out of ten.
  “All we really have to work on is your shooting percentage which is excellent as it is, but let’s see if we can get it ten out of ten,” Mario said cheerfully as he and Dan came off the ice to take a well deserved rest.  Dan smiled when Mario showed him his report card.  “In two weeks I’ll make out the final one that I’ll give to Coach Brooks at tryouts.  Dan was pleased with his performance.  “You are definitely NHL material, that’s a fact.”
Two weeks later Mario went with Dan to tryouts and introduced him to Coach Herb Brooks, who was very anxious to meet Pittsburgh’s newest hockey sensation.
“Coach, this is Daniel James Watson, he comes to us from Penn State University Park where his social, academic, and athletic standing are excellent.” Coach Brooks smiled and said, “Come with me and show me what you can do.”
A few weeks later Dan received a letter from Coach Brooks.
Dear Dan,
Congratulations!  You have been selected as our top pick in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, which will take place here in Pittsburgh on June 28th.  Come to my office to firm up contract arrangements.  I was very impressed with your overall performance at tryouts.   You have been developed well first by your coach at Penn State and then by my star athlete Mario Lemieux.  We are looking forward to your season; we think it will be a good one.
You will play right wing on Mario’s line.  I made this arrangement because I feel that it will be of great benefit to you if you train with the NHL’s premium player.  You won’t have to go to Cleveland to the minors; we’ll train you with the best in the majors.
See you at the Draft!
Coach Herb
Dan was ecstatic; his dream had come true he had made the team!  His contract was sizable for a rookie, $100,000 a year with the promise of more if he produced well.  He gladly accepted the contract and started the season with high hopes, but he soon discovered that all that all that glitters isn’t gold.
About halfway through the season Dan fell into a scoring slump.  One night after a home game in which he had not managed to get a single point he came into the locker room and sat down with his head in his hands.  Mario noticed him.
“Why Dan, what’s the matter?” he asked gently.  Dan looked up.
“Mario, I’m done, I can’t stand the pressure.”  Mario put his arm around the young boy’s shoulders and smiled at him, when he spoke his voice was gentle.
“Dan, everyone falls into a slump once in a while, but it’s not the end of the world.  I’ll be honest with you there were many times during the early years when I felt like giving up.”  Dan looked up in surprise.
“You give up?”  Mario nodded.
“Yes, when I first came to Pittsburgh the team was horrible so I had to start from square one and there were times when I thought it was no use, but in 1991 when we won the Cup I saw that all the tears, frustration, and work were definitely worth it.  I had built a champion for a city in which a championship was long overdue.  Now I’m not saying that it will take you seven years to regain your form, but remember even the best of us fall into slumps.”  He rose and took Dan by the hand.  “Come, I want to show you something.”  He led him to the coach’s office and asked the secretary for his personal file.  When she brought it to him Mario led Dan to a chair and handed him a thin sheet of paper.  “Read that,” he instructed.  It was a letter written on official team letterhead.  As Dan read the few lines his eyes grew as big as baseballs.  The letter was from the coach to Mario regarding a suggestion that he had made a few weeks before as to who should wear the coveted C the next season.  The decision had been made and when Mario found out who would take his place he wasn’t surprised at their choice, in fact he was pleased. 
Dear Mario,
We are sorry to lose you next season, but we will always have the memories that you have given us; you saved hockey in Pittsburgh and we love you.  I’m writing to tell you that we agree with your suggestion to give Mr. Daniel Watson, age 21 the captainship of the team next year because we believe he is ready for the responsibility because of his training at Penn State and that you have given him.
Coach Herb
Dan’s eyes widened, he was amazed at the confidence the coach had in him.
“What?  They want me to take your place?” he asked incredulously.
“No not exactly, you’ll never really take my place, especially in the hearts above the teenage girls of Pittsburgh.”  Dan laughed outright.
“But, you’re married,” he said.  Mario smiled and laughed.
“Yes they know that, but they persist in dreaming, however you’re a good looking single twenty-one year old and more then likely you’ll choose one of them then they’ll really go crazy.”  Before they left the office Mario showed Dan one more letter.  “This is my favorite piece of fan mail.  It’s from a fifteen-year-old girl who is physically disabled.  This proves that hockey is not only difficult, but has its rewards too.”  Dan read the letter.
Dear Mario,
Hi, how are you feeling?  You may not remember me but I was the girl who wrote you last year.  I am writing to ask you a favor.  My friend Lisa, my dad, my brother, and I will be coming to the Mellon Arena on March 23rd and I was wondering if you would take me skating afterwards.  If you can’t it’s OK.  Welcome back!
With Love,
Katherine Joy Adams
“Did you meet her?”  Dan asked.  Mario smiled.
“Yes, and I loved her.  When I took her skating I had to hold her up, but her smile made it all worth it.”  He took a picture from his pocket and handed it to Dan.  “This is a picture we had taken that night I have another so keep this to remind you of hockey’s rewards.”  Dan did do better next game, but when he fell into another slump he remembered Mario’s pep talk and the young Katherine, and he would remember that his little slump wasn’t the end of the world.  After all what is hockey, it’s just a game.