A Pennant, hockey card, and some 30 years ago

My birthday is January 16. In 1994, the Stars had relocated to Dallas from Minnesota and my parents allowed me to invite two friends to a Stars game that literally fell on my birthday. The Sabres were in town, and we had heard that if you arrived early enough, you might catch the players going in. We got to Reunion Arena around 4:30pm or so and sure enough arrived just as Courtnall and Gagner pulled up.

This being my first hockey game in person, I had watched a few games on television and thought Mike Modano was one of the best shooters and skaters in the game. Sure, everyone today will say they remember the jersey flap, the stutter step as he picked up speed in the defensive zone, and that deke on goalies where the goalie would get pulled in the opposite direction while Mike went airborne and tucked the puck in the net. It was another thing to live in that moment. Mike arrived and stopped to sign for everyone as he made his way into the stadium. He didn't play that night. The Stars had decided to rest him through the All-Star Break as he had bruised his knee against Philadelphia.

Dallas lost 4-2, but as kids we enjoyed sitting in the 300s and after the game we decided to head down closer to the ice to see the rink up close. For some reason we chose Section 101 and as we made our way down the steps (mind you everyone had pretty much left by now) we noticed two people still sitting in their seats. We quickly realized it was Mike! We got to chat more with him, and he signed my pennant which I had bought during the intermission from StarsStuff.

Growing up, my parents were at best lower middle class, but they always ensured I was rich in happiness. After that game, I fell in love with the sport. It's true when you hear someone say that all you need to get hooked on hockey is to attend one game. I asked my mom for a Modano jersey, of which, there were two versions. The replica, which was about $150, and the authentic which was $400 or so. My mom bought me the authentic and I remember she made monthly payments on her Visa for a year or so. The StarCenter was about a mile away from our house in Valley Ranch, so my mom would take me there to watch the team skate when I wasn't in school. I took my jersey with me one day and got Mike to sign it. He was being mobbed by kids my age in the parking lot. Half-way seated into his BMW 840iL, he made sure everyone got a signature. I never wore it again because I was afraid the signature would fade.

The rest of the season went by quick, and Mike was establishing his presence on and off the ice in Dallas. Scored his 50th goal, matched his season best 93-point campaign from the previous year, led Dallas to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That summer, most of the Stars stuck around town and I got to meet Mike multiple times. The most memorable in that first year was probably when I got to see him at Four Seasons during a golf-outing he and Brent Gilchrist were taking part in for charity. Four Seasons was situated a couple streets from my parent's home and my mom drove me there to see if I could watch a few rounds. The staff let me wonder on the course and told me that Mike might be on hole 11 or so. My mom decided to stay at the front of the pro shop. The summers in Dallas can get pretty hot and so I was on my own to see if I could find my favorite hockey player. I wasn't having much luck but ran into Gilly and he saw my Stars cap and said he would point me in the right direction. I think he even walked a few holes with me, but Mike's group was always one or two holes ahead. So, after a couple hours, I decided to head back to the pro shop as my mom probably wanted to get back home and make dinner for my dad. At the front entrance one of the caddies stops me and asks, "did you see Mike?" I said I didn't to which he replied that Mike's party still hadn't returned their carts, so if I hung out by the cart area, I would probably see him. So, I did, and it turned out to be one of the best days of my life and one that I will take with me to wherever I go after this life. My mom took a few pictures and one that is probably one of my first pictures with Mike.

Over the years and as I got older and older, whenever I saw Mike and had a chance to talk to him or write him, I always told him how much his generosity made my life better. I'm not sure if he believes me or not. Growing up as a kid has its trials, but I always look back at that time period and ask myself where I would be and would those years be as meaningful and full of profound memories if it weren't for Mike never saying no to an autograph or taking ten seconds to talk. Mike won over the city of Dallas; we were lucky to have him on our team. He gave so much to the community. He made us all better. I'm better because I got to meet Mike. You put your faith in Jesus, you come home to amazing parents, and your favorite hockey player is first class and one of the nicest. What are the chances? Well, as those great montages the CBC used to run after the Finals went, "the chance may never come again." Thanks Mike.