"You do that, you go to the box, you know. Two minutes, by yourself, you know and you feel shame, you know. And then you get free." - Dennis Lemieux, Slap Shot
When Slap Shot debuted in 1977, it is hard to imagine anyone anticipating the film to be so revered by the hockey community, the Johnstown community, or any other community. On Saturday, Tomahawks forward Joshua Norman scored the game-winning, shootout goal in the Slap Shot 40th Anniversary game at the Cambria County War Memorial. Norman, born in 1998, was not even on earth for the 20th anniversary of the movie.
Sitting with my wife in that arena, I witnessed why Slap Shot and minor league hockey itself has endured, here in Johnstown and across the globe. It is simply a beautiful mess. The Tomahawks and Wilkes-Barre /Scranton Knights played the game as it should be played. Chippy at times. Silly and sloppy at others. There was an ejection and a blood trail. The blood and ejection had nothing to do with each other. The announcer was way too loud. While the game was being played, a large group of people sang Happy Birthday to a 60-year old woman. The Hanson Brothers roamed around. A grown man berated a referee, calling him "candy ass". Children went in and out of our row as if it was an exercise routine.
All in all, it was a fun 65 minutes of hockey hoopla that led to the shootout.
When Norman scored that game winner, the War Memorial was a mix of joy, delirium, and relief. I was happy to attend. Happy it was over and over in victory. Slowly walking back to the car, my wife wobbled as if she had suffered a lower body injury in overtime. We laughed at this pregnant procession to the Subaru.
We picked up our daughter, attended a 1-year old's birthday party, went to church, and crashed on the couch. As the Penguins took the ice for the outdoor game against the Flyers, I was fading fast.
I was free to fall asleep in the 2nd period.
Johnstown proud. No shame.
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