That one present...

[Gerard]

you freakee over. Mine was a gift exchange at Christmas (in grade 5 which makes it 1970) and, i'm SURE the limit was in the line of $2. I received the gift of a plastic hockey blade. I wasn't the 'offically' known blade ("Superblade") but it was, none-the-less, a real plastic blade which gave you permission to find a stick to put it on. It allowed you access to the big stove to heat it to a curve only you desired. (We only had an old oil-stove so the heating process was kinda...slow.

Other guys I knew, the real ice-hockey players, had the real superblade and even shaved the blade down to give them a better shot as if they didn't already have one. They used to have one of those stoves you now take for granted. 4 burners atop. They'd actually melt the shaft to the upper portion of the blade. Did it give them a better shot?? You bet your ass. ;D

[Leafs_Pam]

I don't know how it is in Canada, but here they have ball hockey sets where you can get an inexpensive hockey stick and ball. When my oldest Grandson was 9 (he's 14 now), I gave him one of those sets for his 9th Birthday. For several years, my daughter and her family lived with me during an industry layoff period (end 1995 - latter 1998). It was during that time I gave it to him. My next door neighbor (who is the same age as my daughter) is a huge Wings fan (he was a "Navy Brat") who plays some hockey, and also ball hockey. My daughter, and Bryon (my Grandson) and my next door neighbor would play ball hockey with Bryon (feet and roller blades). Bryon really enjoyed it, so I was hoping he would start liking real hockey but it didn't take. The most he likes to do now is play Hockey on his Sony Playstation.

I ended up taking Bryon to a hockey game again this year. I was slated to take my Daughter and her 2 younger sons (Sean and LJ) to see the Coyotes (it was a family night package), her favorite team, 3 days after our Thanksgiving. She came down with Strep Throat so I took Bryon in her place. Last year when I had to take Bryon in her place, he said he was bored stiff, but this year he didn't seem as bored. Maybe there is still hope for him.