By: Ellie Hazelwood
Saturday, February 7, was the day of the Mom’s trip, for the Ottawa West Golden Knights. The bus ride to Glengarry was full of chatter, and laughter, as the Moms and the boys were excited, and in good spirits.
Hockey is such a big part of their sons’ lives, which makes it a big part of the Moms’ lives.
The Moms would do anything for their sons, and with the growing love of hockey in the household, comes time well-spent, and so many good memories.
“I will always look back on our hockey years. I wouldn’t change a thing,” Carter Pilon’s mom, Tania McGregor-Pilon, said. “It’s been such a huge part of our life. The families we’ve met, and the life skills our son has learned, there’s just nothing like it.”
Tania McGregor-Pilon has multiple favourite hockey memories about her son. She loves the casual memories of just all the boys having a great time together. Her two all-time favourite memories were when Carter Pilon’s name was picked first overall in CCHL draft, and when he got the opportunity to take part in the OHL Erie Otters’ training camp.
Both memories were an example of her son’s hard work paying off, and that was special to see.
Heather McCulligh, Will McCulligh’s mom, has her own favourite hockey memory.
“Will was on a wonderful team in his minor years, and they won the Bell Capital Cup,” Heather McCulligh said. “And it was very exciting. They got to play on the big ice, at the Canadian Tire Centre, and it was New Year’s Eve. It was just an extremely exciting experience for the team to have, long before getting into junior hockey.”
Heather McCulligh has enjoyed being a hockey Mom more and more, since Will decided to join the Ottawa West Golden Knights. The team has been welcoming and supportive, which helped Heather McCulligh fully embrace being a hockey Mom.
Joel Mullen’s mom, Angie Mullen, has her own perspective on Joel’s hockey life.
“Hockey is a really big part of his life,” Angie Mullen said. “He loves it. He eats, and sleeps hockey. We know he’s happy, and loves what he’s doing, and we love to watch him.”
Angie Mullen’s favourite Joel hockey memory is actually the same as Heather McCulligh’s. Winning the Bell Capital Cup, just in different years. It was a very exciting thing to win, and is a special memory to both Moms.
Carter Overhoff’s mom, Shauna Read-Overhoff’s favourite memory comes from this season.
“His success this year has been one of my favourite memories,” Shauna Read-Overhoff said. “He’s worked so hard for it, and seeing him succeed this year has been really great.”
Hockey life can get busy, and pretty hectic, but Shauna Read-Overhoff wouldn’t have it any other way.
Andrea Bird, Griffin Bird’s mom, loves the hockey life, and loves being a hockey Mom.
“I think it’s so good for the boys to be a part of something that teaches them how to be strong, and competitive,” Andrea Bird said. “It gives them such good values for their life.”
She loves being along for the ride, and is happy to be a part of the hockey dream.
Dom Lemieux’s mom, Heather Lemieux, has a great perspective on her son’s hockey life.
“He has done amazing. He’s a hard worker,” Heather Lemieux said. “He’s a workhorse, and a coachable kid.”
Her favourite Dom hockey memory is when his team won the Silver Stick, last year. His team then went to the Silver Stick internationals, which was a big accomplishment for Dom.
The whole group of hockey Moms have made so many great hockey memories, and have new ones in the works, after this amazing Moms trip.
