Keep it in the crease

I was a professional goaltender for 15 years and never got beyond the Stanley Cup semifinals. I can only imagine the thrill of winning it all.

Last season, the Boston Bruins won a thrilling seven-game series against the Canucks and even the most avid Vancouver fans had to give them credit for their hard work and tenacity. The Bruins played as a team and earned their place in history.

I have often said that being a goaltender is an individual position in a team setting. A team is a co-operative effort and the members win together as well as lose together. The Bruins were lauded as being a cohesive unit including the management, coaches, training staff but above all, the players.

This makes me wonder how one player could be so arrogant and selfish to make a day of TEAM celebration about himself. Tim Thomas could have voiced his political opinions to any beat writer or radio person at any time. But no, he waited until the Bruins are being honoured at the White House to make a statement. Come on! Who do you think you are? Goaltenders are usually team leaders. What kind of leadership is that? It makes me sick. Thomas put the focus of the day on him and his personal opinions. It should have been a day to recognize the accomplishments of Thomas the goaltender and his team for what they did on the ice.

His goaltenders union card is now under review.