Humanity is a such a fascinating species. Even in the midst of utter tragedy and devastation, there can be instances of such wonderful heroism. In the darkest hours, unlikely people rise to help their friends, family and fellow neighbors experience a little bit of joy. It seemed like this was impossible for Parkland, Florida following the barbaric mass shooting that cost 17 people their lives.
As the media and politicians descended on the event, turning the horror scene into yet another political battleground on gun control, the citizens of the town were ushered to the background. What about them? Who was going to comfort them and remind them that it’s okay to smile again?
Just like those courageous kids who began to organize marches to fight back on gun control, it was an unheralded team of young men who stepped up.
Parkland hockey team beats odds to win Florida state championship
Ground zero for the shooting was Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Expectations for how the kids would respond to the tragedy were unknown. All they could do was push forward, including in their sports. The school has a prominent hockey program and their varsity team had managed to reach the four-team playoff in the state final. From there? Magic happened.
“Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s boys varsity hockey team won the Florida state championship on Sunday, 10 days after 17 students and staff members were killed in a mass shooting at the school.
Playing in the Statewide Amateur Hockey of Florida High School State Championship, the Eagles won two games on Sunday, including a 7-4 win against Jesuit High School in the Tier 1 final. Douglas, which entered the four-team playoff as the fourth seed, defeated top-seeded East Lake High School, 3-1, in its first game Sunday.”
Sometimes emotion can be the deciding factor in performance, be it sports or otherwise. There is no doubt playing in the backdrop of the shooting, the memories of losing friends and schoolmates that day, made it highly emotional for those young men. Their ability to respond with such determination and grit is a testament to the people they are and the adults they’ll soon become. What a story.
