It was a Friday evening like most others and I was sitting in one of my favourite gathering spots, sipping on a carbonated beverage.

Moments later, a familiar face planted himself down on the stool beside me.

It was obvious he wanted to talk hockey, and normally I’d have waved him away.

Frankly, I get an earful of it during my normal workday, but such is the cross you must bear in the sports world.

But this conversation was different.

It was a hockey parent talking about how much the game had so wonderfully shaped his relationship with his teenage son and all-grown-up daughter.

His name is not important, because it’s a conversation I could have had with any one of a thousand sports parents in Orillia.

“It’s cost me a lot of money to keep my kids in hockey, but it’s been worth every dime. I’ve had a chance to spend time with my kids,” he said, between sips of a beer.

Working in the service industry, his hours are spent driving from one call to another, with nothing in the way of a structured lunch break or chance to even catch a breath.

Still more hours are spent driving to and from arenas throughout every part of central and southern Ontario.

Barrie, Orillia, Georgina, Newmarket, Aurora, Stouffville, Unionville, Markham, Ajax and the list goes on.

And chances are he has sipped coffee in each one of those rinks or sipped one in the car from ‘Timmys’ while navigating the roads.

“I’ve burned up a lot of gas driving to rinks,” he said, but clearing indicating the cost is well worth it.

The pride in his children was clearly beaming from his face, as he talked about games won and lost, and moments when the game provided the foundation for a truly ‘quality family moment’.

With his son now reaching the end of his high school education, thoughts now turn to whether his son has the right stuff move into the university or college ranks.

Unlike others who were figuring their son was ‘The Next One’ at age 11 or 12, and seeking out the advice of hockey scouts, this gentleman was looking to get an honest evaluation of his sons’ hockey talents.

He asked me for a few names of people he could talk to, in order to get an unbiased opinion.

In the end I said I’d make a few phone calls and see if I could assist him.

But the cool thing was this wasn’t a parent bent on pushing his son into a higher level of hockey, whether he wanted it or not.

No, he simply wanted to get someone to evaluate his son to see if the boy has a future in hockey, while also continuing his education.

It was simply a case of looking to the future, while also reflecting on the great hockey memories he has shared with both his children.

No NHL signing bonuses, player agents, commercial endorsements and length of contract.

Simply he is left with a treasure chest of memories, more valuable than money.

In other words, playing hockey and enjoying hockey for all the right reasons.

It’s amazing what joy you can find, gazing into the eyes of a hockey parent.