Photo from delightedmomma.com  

Love is in the air, and apparently in the hockey arena. Since it was Valentine’s Day just yesterday, I sincerely hope you had a romantic day with your favourite person. If you’re a hockey mom, chances are you spent Valentine’s Day in a hockey arena. Nothing says “love” like cuddling together with your sweetheart in the stands under the only functioning heater.

As a hockey mom, I’ve spent Valentine’s Day in some unromantic places:  driving along highway 401, going through the Tim Horton’s drive-through and, of course, watching a minor hockey game. In fact, pretty much all of the last sixteen Valentine’s Days, I have not spent my husband but with one of my kids instead at a hockey game or at an away tournament somewhere while my husband held down the fort at home (or vice versa!). Not once in the last sixteen years have you found me sipping champagne and nibbling on chocolate covered strawberries. Instead you would likely have found me guzzling lukewarm coffee while chowing down on some arena popcorn. And the only sweet nothings being whispered in my ear have been, “What’s for dinner, Mom?” It’s not all bad; at least there’s usually a sappy love song on the radio.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that we attended yet another hockey tournament this past Valentine’s weekend. Making romantic plans for Sunday February 14th would have to wait until we knew whether or not our team would be advancing to the tournament playoffs. Once again, we put the romance on ice! Nothing says “love” like sharing the hockey blanket (especially when there are no functioning heaters in the arena!).

But then this happened:  my husband did, however, surprise me with a pre-Valentine’s present. He bought dinner and tickets to an Ottawa Senators hockey game. I know that for some women going to a hockey game is probably as romantic as getting a widescreen TV for Christmas. But considering I actually did get a widescreen TV for Christmas once (no lie), dinner and a hockey game was a significant improvement in the romance department for my husband. The dinner and wine was amazing. Our seats at the game were Sensational (sorry, couldn’t resist) and even got to see Dion Phaneuf in his first home game with his new hockey team. Despite the Sens' loss, it was – I have to admit – very romantic. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been getting caught on the Kiss Cam, but that did not happen.

Naturally I laid down some pretty big hints that I hoped dinner and a Sens game would become our new Valentine’s Day tradition. Not that coffee and a minor hockey game was such a bad gig either. Sure beats a widescreen TV.

I would like to wish a very Happy Valentine’s Day to all the hockey moms out there and I would love to hear how you spend your hockey mom Valentine’s Day.  Please share in the comments section below.

Three cheers for finding true love – even if that’s in a hockey arena.