Wow! When I first read about this contest that was all I could say, "wow!" I was stopped right dead in my web browsing tracks. Who knew that just looking around on a YourHub.com web-site could lead to such an adventure.  Suddenly my mind was ambushed with countless reasons as to why I would want to be there. I mean who wouldn't want to go and watch the Colorado Avalanche dominate another opponent in the arena, and from the luxury of a suite at the Pepsi Center, no less.  Ahhh....... dreaming now, drifting, drifting.......... "Hello everybody and welcome back to the Pepsi Center in beautiful downtown Denver, Colorado. It's late in the third period and the Avalanche have really blown this game wide open. Peter, I can't remember the AVS ever scoring this many goals!" "Your right Mike, but the one goal that really sticks out in my mind and got the Avs momentum going was the one from Tyler's dad. Lets go back and see how Super Joe and Scott put this one together. Sakic just explodes across the blue line and drops the puck back for the late man Scott, who just nails a rocket past the goalie. Classic five hole scoring, awesome."  "Um yeah Peter, but who in the heck is Scott?" "I don't know Mike but sign him up!"  (not actual quotes by two actual, really cool commentators)

Oops, sorry about that, reality check. Where was I? Oh yeah, Avalanche contest!

So here I am, mind racing,  hands sitting idle, computer screen glaring in my face. Thinking, how? How can I put into words what it would mean to see my son at his first Avalanche game. The lifetime of memories it would bring to him, his friends and our family. The truth is, I can't. There are no words to describe those feelings, those are the kind of feelings that don't need explanation. You just know it's right.

My son Tyler is 11 years old and was born with some hearing loss that eventually lead to total deafness. Now this isn't where you say, "aww, poor little guy", because it's not like that. Through many community programs we have all learned to communicate very well using ASL (American Sign Language).  It doesn't stop him from loving his favorite sport, and it definitely doesn't stop him from lacing up his skates and getting on the ice with his Daddy. 

To try and explain the look on his face when he got to meet his hockey hero, Joe Sakic, at the Gears Games & Gadgets Expo last year is next to impossible. I'll let the picture speak a thousand words. He looked at me as like"is this for real?" Mr. Sakic asked if we'd like Tyler to come around for a picture. Before I could finish my sentence, he was on his way. Joe asked ,"How do you say hi?" I showed him. To see Super Joe signing with my son, Awesome!  To Mr. Sakic, thank you, thank you, thank you! Absolutely the greatest goal you've ever scored in our lives.

To this day I still get a little misty about that. Because that is what hockey is about, that is what the Colorado Avalanche are about. Giving back to the community. It's about building a lifetime of dreams and memories.

Raising a child who is different from other kids takes a lot of work and support. This would be the perfect way for me to give something back  to those who have been there for us along the way. If we win this contest it will be my sons first time at a game, although I know he won't be able to hear the fans at the Pepsi Center,  I can guarantee you,  he will feel it!

Thanks for reading,  Scott