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Wally Herman Intro
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Wally HermanRegistered Junior Member
Hello, my name is Wally Herman. My first memories of hockey are vivid. I remember the finesse and the power of Gordie Howe. The Hartford Civic Center roof collapse and, finally, playing the Brass Bonanza on a forty-five. I loved hockey. I loved the Whalers. I grew up going to games and listening to others on the radio. Gordie Howe was the only autograph that I ever asked for. I remember trembling as I asked Mr. Howe for his autograph. We were in a diner in Glastonbury and I asked for the autograph as he was finishing lunch. I could not stop trembling and all I could say was Wally, regardless of the content of his questions during our brief conversation. He was a gentleman, and I loved him.
That love played out on many a game of pond hockey. It wasn’t the biggest of ponds and was surrounded by trees enclosing the surface. It was our arena. The outside world didn’t exist and the trees were our spectators. We decked out that arena the best we could. We build goals, and as we got older, eventually we put up lights. We were friends but, enemies in hockey. Off the ice, some of my friends loved the Bruins, some Rangers, Islanders, and even Devils. We were close friends but bitter enemies on that pond. It could get vicious. Honestly, to this day, the most devastating hit I ever delivered was onto one of my best friends, Mike. I thought I broke him. I hit him and everyone just stopped to look at his still body in the trees. In the end, he was fine but, it took him a few minutes to recover. I remember admiring how he got right back on the ice. Today, that would have led to a suspension and stretch on the injured list. But, pond hockey was often about toughness. Mike tried to come back at me. It was gritty, and again showed his toughness. It also failed. I was always the “Big Kid”. I’m still a big kid, if you look at my measurables. He skated with all the power he could muster and I just knocked him down again. That short story says a lot about what I will bring to this league. Toughness, size, and the will to what is necessary. We fought on the ice like it was the Cup. That game meant everything to all us. Even now, every game means everything to me. I have size, attitude, and wortk ethic. I have always believed work out plays talent. I like to think that I have talent but, I also know there is always someone better than me. So, I will out work, out play, and out dream my opponents. The work and the play turns dreams into reality. I can play in this league. Sure, I’m a big guy, and I can hit folks but, I can skate. I have worked hard to develop my shot. I may not be Gordie Howe but just maybe I can become a poor man’s Gordie Howe. Take a shot with me, and let’s light the lamp together. |
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