He Skates on the Ice, His Heart Pounding Fast

Volume 12 – 11/27/14

The following is one of the poems that Pat Rimar, a long time NY District Coach and USA Hockey CEP Instructor, often ends his lectures with which help coaches keep things in perspective.

The Small One

He skates on the ice, his heart pounding fast,

nervously awaiting the game winning pass.

The puck hits his stick! He shoots ... and he misses.

There's a groan from the crowd, some boos and some hisses.

A thoughtless voice cries, "You lost it, you bum."

Tears fill his eyes. The game is no longer fun.

Although in his mind he may be NHL,

that's no reason for you to make his life hell.

Perhaps you’re let down he’s not the best in this game

but he isn’t there playing for your name and fame.

Step back and recall what you’re really there for –

It isn’t to win or to run up the score.

Help him achieve and feel that he’s great -

those are your goals, not to degrade and berate.

There are clearly doubts this boy will ever turn pro,

Yet there is certainly no doubt he will continue to grow.

Perhaps he won’t be the best senior player around

but he will be a father, a citizen and a man in our town.

For you will be remembered --

as either the fool at the bench gate

or the gentleman who gave to better his fate.

So as you yell and implore please don’t forget,

he’s just a little boy and not a man yet.

Your actions can help him mature and stand tall

or show that you, and not he, is the one who is small.

More than thirty years ago Pat was at a lacrosse tournament in Ontario, Canada. In their printed program, there was a poignant short poem he enjoyed about a boy playing lacrosse.

He brought that poem home to rework for use in the coaching clinics he was doing for ice hockey. The original was aimed more at the parents and he wanted something directed more specifically to the coaches. He substantially modified and lengthened the original to achieve that result.

Note that he attempted to discover the author of that original poem but without definitive success. There is a poem written by the late Chaplain Bob Fox about baseball with virtually the same lyrics as the lacrosse piece but the baseball poem seems to have arisen years later. Whoever the first author, Pat hopes he would be proud of his rendition.

For comments, or suggestions for future topics for “Coaches Clipboard” contact Sheridan Mish, NY Central Section ACE Administrator @

We would like to share more articles on NY Coaches and Players.

Chuck Gridley

NY District, Coach-in-Chief

CEP Program

Mark Hogan

NY District, Associate Coach-in-Chief

ACE Director Program