The jerseys were hung by the lockers with care, in hopes that an opponent would soon be there.

The players were practicing to get ahead, while visions of goals went through their heads.

And Quinny in his office and Ollie there too, the coaches had just settled down to draw up a play or two.

When out on the ice there arose such a clatter, they sprung from the room to see what was the matter.

Away to the ice they flew like a flash, lacing up their skates in a hurried dash.

The spotlight on the logo of the freshly cut ice, made the arena look really nice.

When, what to their wondering eyes should appear, but pucks and sticks and eight players in gear.

With a big veteran captain, still playing with a dream, they knew in a moment this must be the team.

More rapid than seagulls their players they came, the captain whistled and shouted and called them by name:

“Now, Carmy! Now, Gauncer! Now, Liffty and Mauldy!
On, Hunter! On, Wilson! On Barrie and Bordy!”

To the top of the crease! To the top of the wall!

Now breakaway! Breakaway! Breakaway all!

So onto the ice the players they flew, with hands full of sticks and their captain there too.

And then, in a twinkling, the coaches heard on the ice, the skating and passing that sounded real nice.

As the coaches went to the bench and turned around, across the ice the captain came with a bound.

He was dressed in a sweater with skates and pads, and his gear was all sweaty and smelled really bad.

A bag full of pucks he had flung on his back, and he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

His skates – how they shined! His helmet how tight!

His stick in his hand, as he sets off the goal light!

His toothless little mouth was drawn up like a bow, after scoring a goal a smile he would show!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, soon told the coaches they had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went right back to scoring, watching him do that was definitely not boring.

And laying his finger aside of his nose, and giving a nod, to the stands he rose.

He sprang to the bus, to his team gave a whistle, and away they all flew like a down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim as they left The Q:

“Happy Holidays to all, and to all a Happy New Year too!”