TG, that's exactly how we feel about cheering for mutiple teams.

GO HOCKEY!

What I hope, for the Pens, is that whoever they play in succeeding weeks takes a huge role in the ongoing curriculum Therrien is using for this team.

(I know some people will not only hope for, but expect, a Cup this year, but that's just a sign of today's WalMartization of the culture. In hockey, you still have to work for your success. The Pens are a learning, playing group of professionals, not a commodity called "Cup Winner" that can be yanked off the shelf at Wally World along with nachos and dip.)

... Because what's truly exciting about following that team is witnessing the development. In ministry and in training FOR the ministry, in our denomination we talk of it in terms of "formation." Education is part of formation but there is so much more. Seeing it as it occurs is a wonderful thing.

So win or lose, what I want this Cup drive to do for the Pens is to add into their formation. Ryan Malone is one example of this formation. Maxime Talbot is an earlier example-- he was slated to stay in the AHL with one more chance to move up, and he took that chance, welcomed the formation, and is a huge part now of their success. Another example is BGL (Big Georges Laraque). Therrien turned an enforcer who longed to play hockey, who had become known as a "huggy-bear" (AKA disappointing fighter), into the hockey player he longed to be. He gave him the tools and the opportunity to become part of the scoring juggernaut. BGL responded by getting into the best playing condition of his career, quickening his puck handling, joining rushes up ice, and scoring.

These are not accidents of happening to play with wildly talented Crosby and Malkin, anymore than Crosby's success is a result of mere talent. They are the deliberately-achieved results of Therrien's approach to developing-- forming-- hockey players.


I used to worry about whether Therrien would have a useful career once the team had reached its peak-- could he coach beyond the initial formation of his young players? Seeing what he did with the fodder from the farm team, when the Pens had horrible injury trouble-- I don't worry about that anymore. Seeing what he does with Gary Roberts-- priceless.

GO THERRIEN!

~Susan