The Ultimate Sacrifice

The Toughest Cut of All

December 23, simultaneously both Junior hockey's most joyous and brutal day. Twenty three fresh-faced kids are enjoying a pre-Christmas ultimate present, making Team USA for the coolest International tournament any of them could possibly imagine, the World Junior Championship.

Rather than celebrate the individual and team joy of the fortunate 23, let us tip our caps to the forlorn six, ambitious teenagers who made it to the bitter end, travelled to the Pacific Northwest with Team USA, laying it all on the line. With the finish line of British Columbia in site, they have been unceremoniously cut, there names forgotten in a heartbeat.

America's hockey community salutes you, the unheralded half-dozen, without whom there would be no competition to activate Team USA prior to their run for precious metal in B.C.

Sean Dhooge, Ty Emberson, Sammy Walker, Joey Keane, Michael Callahan and Cole Coskey, a round of sticktaps to you all. They will all have professional futures, NCAA and CHL glory down the road, but only Emberson will get another shot at the New Year's TV hockey spectacle, the World Junior Championship, also known as the IIHF U20 World Championship.

There hockey lives pick up again shortly. Dhooge and Emberson will join their NCAA Badgers for a series in Denver Jan 4 and 5, one they would have missed otherwise. Sammy Walker will get four NCAA games with his Gophers, while Callahan gets a shot at the Ledyard Bank Classic in Hanover, New Hampshire. While winning a tourney trophy at Thompson Arena may be a silver lining, there is no substitute for the IIHF World Championship gold and silver goblet that the all-time greats have swigged from.

So while we all prepare to unwrap our gifts this week, a nod to the young men who have their hockey hearts ripped from their chest.

DHOOGE, EMBERSON, WALKER, KEANE, CALLAHAN, COSKEY. 
Some of us will remember your names.
Thank you for everything you gave.