I got a call earlier from my daughter who lives in Homer, Alaska. She wanted to let me know she started hockey tonight, and she's nervous because she hasn't been on skates for a couple of years. She's 25 years old, and before moving to Alaska spent a couple of years riding freight trains around the US.

When she was home (Wisconsin) for the holidays she took her skates and gear with her. He has never been happier than on the ice. She started at a much older age than her brother - 13 years old versus his starting at 6 years old. He gave up the sport when he was 17, she didn't give it up until she started riding the rails.

The picture on the left is when she's about 13 or 14 playing on Milwaukee Winter Club's girls team. The picture on the right is when she was either 16 or 17 and played on the Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, Nicolet High School team. That was boys and girls, and full checking. As a girl she was a target and didn't mind spearing or cross checking someone who gave her a cheap shot.

I'll meet you all at Tim Horton's for donuts, eh?