7/19/2007 4:14:28 PM

Coming Of Age

I find that I see things differently now. When I was in Calgary in my first two years, I can recall Travis Moore going down with injury, which was a major blow to our offence. With that injury, my role was upgraded from a fourth or fifth option to a second or third option as I assumed his position within the offence. I remember it being a very exciting time for me, and anxiously awaiting my chance in the spotlight feeling as if I had to prove to everyone that I could carry the load as well as Travis did. I recall being interviewed that first week and fielding questions like, “Do you feel more pressure to perform and be the “go-to-guy” with Travis out?” and I recall answering with phrases like, “Not pressure, opportunity. I feel like I can be a “go-to-guy” and this is just an unfortunate circumstance for me to go out and show people what I’m capable of.” Which is a politically correct way of saying, “I’ve been dying to have that kind of pressure, let me show you what I already know about the type of player that I am!”
With the threat of Jason Tucker missing this game looming, I was again posed that question some five years later and I found my answer to be quite different, and not by design…but it seems by genuine sentiment. “Pressure?” I responded, “No, I wouldn’t call it that by any means. I wouldn’t dream of going out there and trying to be Jason Tucker, that would be setting myself up for failure. What I will do is the only thing I can do…try to keep the offence from missing a beat. For Trevor, Andrew and I, all that we can really do in that situation is to go out and try to perform at a level that is high enough that the offensive coordinator can see fit to stick with the game plan. If we can elevate our game enough where Jacques feels comfortable calling the same plays that he would be calling if Jason was out there, and we are still able to execute those plays without Tucker’s presence, then we will have been successful. To put the type of pressure on yourself that comes with trying to literally replace a Jason Tucker by performance, statistics, or even presence I don’t think is wise for most. While we will no doubt be called upon to make more plays than on any other given night when we’re at full strength, I do feel that if we can achieve our goal of maintaining continuity and execution is at a high level all night, we will be successful as a team.
Perhaps that may be the main difference in why my answer to the same question may be different now than it was then. It could be that in my time spent around the league having some individual success but not much team success at all, I think I may have realized somewhere along the way that it is ok to just be yourself. It’s not necessary to try to be everything to everyone all the time, because there is usually a bigger picture that you are a small part of, and to try to make your role in that bigger picture larger or more important than it is, before it is ready to be…doesn’t help anyone. Patience and acceptance are difficult things to embrace when you’re as confident and self assured as many of us are, myself included. However, it’s a very nice feeling to actually understand that there are things bigger than you, and if you can stay the course and do your part good things are bound to happen for the TEAM, and when the team does well, everyone involved shines.
Whether Jason Tucker is able to play or not, rest assured that it won’t change much in the way of my play. I’ve still got the same task at hand regardless of where I’m lined up and who I’m up against. My team will still ask the same things of me; to make plays, play fast, minimize mistakes, and win the personal battle in front of me.
Sounds easy right? We’ll see soon enough. ©

KP8