If you think I don't like the Montreal Canadiens, how about Neighbour John. Get a load of this.
John has three fine boys and they all play in the Brampton Youth Hockey Association. The BYHA does what a lot of house leagues do, they name their teams after NHL squads.
The Leafs, the Kings, the Sabres and so on. They also have the Canadiens.
John's boys are all well into their teens and up until this year, all three have avoided being assigned to a Canadiens team, and that's a good thing. John always got the creeps whenever he thought of one of his boys having to pull on a Canadiens jersey for an entire season.
Things changed last week, and they changed dramatically. John's middle son Jake found out that he's on the Canadiens this year, and he literally plunged the family into a hockey depression. John tried to take it all in stride and not over think it, but he failed on both counts.
Jake was also upset. Like any decent young man who grew up in a Toronto Maple Leaf house, he didn't want to play for the Canadiens. As a matter of fact, when he showed up for his first game, he tried to wear the sweater inside out.
That was unacceptable of course, so John decided to go into the ultimate anti-Hab mode. He went to the league and asked for Jake to be assigned to another team. No such luck, Jake has a big time rating as a player, so there was no way the Canadiens were going to let him go.
John was told there are only two ways a kid can switch teams. Either through balancing the teams after three games, or if a parent coaches another team and the convenience factor is considered. It makes sense to have your kid on your team, that way you don't have to come to the rink twice.
There was no way Jake was leaving the Canadiens through balancing, he would be one of their keepers, no doubt about it, so John moved on the second option.
He beat the bushes and found out that the Kings needed an assistant coach. He approached the head coach and the deal was quickly done. John, despite his busy schedule and having to truck two other boys to hockey rinks decided to sign on as assistant coach.
Jake is no longer a Canadien. He has escaped the Habs. He is now a King.
Don't you just love it!

Category: Neighbour John
