it’s ok not to be ok. be kind, smile and give hugs. 🇨🇦strong
Parry Sound
Joined July 2014
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Tim McWhirter retweeted
I was dropping my kids off when we drove past a man lying face down beside the sidewalk.
I pulled over, grabbed my naloxone, and went to check on him.
He was barely conscious, completely out of it.
The visible toll of chronic substance use, sleep deprivation, homelessness and addiction.
I managed to get him upright and leaned against a pole while we waited for EHS.
When paramedics arrived, they knew him. I overheard them say he could possibly be septic.
I handed him over, got back into the car, and immediately my kids had a million questions.
Questions about drugs. Addiction. Homelessness. Why someone ends up living like this. Why their dad stopped.
I had a lot to explain.
But maybe the most important lesson didn't need explaining at all.
My kids watched their dad see a human being suffering on the side of the road—and stop.
They watched me help someone I didn't know, without judging him, blaming him or asking whether he deserved it.
I don't know what happens to that man next. I just hope he gets the help he needs and eventually finds his way to something better.
But today my kids learned something I hope they never forget:
When you see another human being suffering, you don't look away. You help.
That's the kind of lesson I want my kids to carry with them long after I'm gone.
Tim McWhirter retweeted
As a lifelong fan of the Montreal Canadiens, this season was unforgettable.
But the best part wasn't the playoff run, it was watching every game with my 5-year-old son and sharing those moments together.
Those are memories we'll carry for the rest of our lives.
A huge thank you to Alex Newhook for signing his jersey and making a young fan's dream come true. Small gestures like that mean more than you'll ever know! 💕🙏🏼
Tim McWhirter retweeted
A PARENT’S JOURNEY THROUGH YOUTH SPORTS:
Age 5: “He’s got a cannon.”
Age 6: “He’s the fastest kid out there. Coach said so.”
Age 7: “Rec ball isn’t challenging him anymore.”
Age 8: “We tried out for select. Obviously made it.”
Age 9: “$2,800 for the season. Plus uniforms. Plus tournaments. Plus hotels.”
Age 10: “Cooperstown is basically a family vacation, right?”
Age 11: “He needs a hitting guy. And a pitching guy. And probably a mental performance coach.”
Age 12: “I’m not a crazy sports parent. The OTHER parents are crazy.”
Age 13: “We changed schools. For academics. (And also baseball.)”
Age 14: “Showcases are a requirement at this age.”
Age 15: “Ya his ranking just ticked up. We’re cooking.”
Age 16: “He just needs to get seen by the right school.”
Age 17: “The D1 schools want him to walk on. He’ll earn a spot by sophomore year.”
Age 18: “Okay, D2 is actually really competitive.”
Age 19: “He’s redshirting. Strategic.”
Age 20: “He’s focusing on school now.”
Age 21: “You know what? He’s so much happier.”
Roughly 7% of high schoolers play in college.
About 1.5% of those get drafted.
Less than half of draftees ever play one day in the big leagues.
The odds of our kids going pro are somewhere between “struck by lightning” and “find a $100 in old shorts.”
I love youth sports (all my kids play a bunch of them) just keep a good perspective my friends. ✌️
Tim McWhirter retweeted
Big news: Ted Nolan, NHL Coach of the Year, will keynote the NOHA Awards Dinner on June 12 at the Quattro Hotel in Sault Ste. Marie. Join us in celebrating the volunteers who keep hockey strong across Northern Ontario. Details: wix.to/CkM94rm #NOHA #TedNolan #Hockey
Tim McWhirter retweeted
KIDS: Hunter McDonald just played his first NHL game where he had an assist and was a +3. I coached Hunter as a U16 and he was probably the 3rd most talented defenseman on our team and maybe 5th most talented overall player. At U16.
But three things Hunter had:
-Absolute love for the game
-Insatiable work ethic
-Old school compete and toughness. Total throwback.
Talented at 16 but had the intangible skills that lead to massive development. Eventually that led him to Northeastern as a 20 year old and now the NHL.
We say it all the time, but everyone has a different path. If you're a kid reading this, chances are your path will have to be the long way like Hunter. And if your path is the long way, it's non-negotiable that have those three intangible skills (love for the game, work ethic, compete).
One of my favorites and an incredible example for any kid out there with a dream.
News > Now Recruiting Referees for Next Season! (Parry Sound Hockey Club) parrysoundhockeyclub.com/Art…
