On the ice

Having realized that he wasn't quite up to the level of other Canadian kids in the noble art of hockey, Ottawacker Jr. has decided to embrace the cold and get some lessons. He's fearless, which helps, but quite accident-prone, which doesn't.

I asked a friend of mine, who is a coach, if he'd give him a few pointers. And so for the price of a couple of beers, we headed over to his house and Ottawacker Jr. got a 90-minute lesson on passing and shooting and skating. As tempted as I was to sit inside and drink the beers, I stayed and watched.

You can say what you like about Ottawacker Jr. - and I often have - but he doesn't give up easily. And by the end, the thud, thud thud of pucks being passed from stick to stick was a good sign of progress made.