The senior class of the Flatbush Falcons varsity hockey team is without a doubt the tightest group of teammates from all the teams in our school. We pride ourselves on this fact, and we know that this is what makes our team unique.
Every Thursday night, we gather together at 7:15 for our team meetings prior to practice. All players, whether they are starters, benchwarmers, or role players, have the same impatient anticipation. We all love to play hockey, but we love to play together even more. When one of us falls down, one of our brothers, as I like to think of them, are there right away to help us up. We truly are like brothers, because not only have we played hockey together for 3 hours a week for the last four years, but we have spent even more time off the court together. Many outsiders may think of us as an exclusive fraternity, and that we may be. Yet we have had grown into a fraternity of our own, sharing our most personal moments together.
While we may not have been the most successful team, we are nonetheless content with how we have progressed as a team. None of the ten senior guys who started off on this squad since the beginning, have left, thus we formed an even tighter bond as teammates and even as soul mates. Many of the more successful teams look at us enviously, wishing they had the type of connection we have, regardless of how many victories they have accumulated.
When game night is approaching there is a feeling of eagerness. All of us want to contribute to the upcoming game, but obviously many of us may not get a chance to. Nonetheless, we are still satisfied with rooting on our brothers while they hustle their hearts out on the court. And when one of our mates needs a break, his fellow brother is there to relieve him.
When that last game together eventually comes, a feeling of emptiness will remain with us until we graduate, and even beyond. There will be no more games and practices together, no more Thursday afternoon lunches at Kosher Delight, and no more late night bus rides of storytelling. However as Metallica says, "The Memory Remains." One day we will all look back on our high school lives and the first thing that will come to our minds will surely be those times we shared together as brothers on the hockey team.
I speak for all of us when I say I could not be more proud to be a member of this fine team, and I would not trade a single memory or moment just to have been a more successful team. The names will be etched in our memories for a long time to come- Judah Blumenthal, our captain of three years, who never failed us once, and always gave it his all, and then some. Zev Levavi who provided us with countless "awww's" but still will be the kid who scored more goals in one game then in his whole career. Mo Septimus who quite possibly contributed the most, with the least amount of flash and style, yet quietly gave more than a solid outing. Mike Dabah, probably the most loyal member of the team, never missing a single game, practice, or meeting, while providing us with countless laughs. Isaac Jonas who consistently made us grind our teeth when we heard that whistle blown, yet we knew he'd go out on the next shift and would make that ref pay. Matt Shatzkes, who had a fluctuating role between bench warmer, and near-starter, but when he was in, his enormous body would not let anyone near the ball. Orrie Levy, a sophomore year walk on along with myself, when he was out there we knew nothing would stop him from running his behind off until the coach told him to take a rest. Jeffrey Schachar, what more could be said? Our goalie for four years, he's consistently been the unsung hero, keeping us in games, and giving us chances when we let him down. Morris Cohen, our priceless backup, who we always rooted to see get some action, and when he did, there was not a prouder moment. And for myself I leave with the following- whether playing, sitting, cheering, or yelling my heart out at games, I could not imagine what high school would have been like without my brothers and mates. They are as great a group of guys as there is, and I will remember them, and all the memories we shared together, for a long time to come. |
