When the World Shut Down and Ended Our Championship Run (We Would Have Won the Provincial Championship, Try to Convince Me Otherwise)

March 10, 2020—my daughter was born. Three days later, on March 13, the world shut down. Along with it, our season came to an abrupt and unceremonious end.

We had a 34-4-3-1 regular season record—the second-highest winning percentage in the province out of 62 teams. We had the lowest penalty minutes in the division and best penalty kill percentage.

We were built for this moment, ready for the big stage.

Our Last Game

Our final matchup before the shutdown felt surreal. We led 4-3 heading into the third period of Game One in the division final, yet it would be giving us too much credit to say that our performance up to that point had been lackluster. During the second period, our General Manager (who works in the medical profession) received an email from the league stating that play would be paused for two weeks, pending reevaluation. He approached the coaching staff at the intermission with the news. In addition, he shared that based on his medical knowledge, it was probable that this “pause” would likely last much longer than two weeks.

A decision was made that the team needed to know. We didn't know what was going to happen—but there was a real possibility this might be our last game of the season—and for some, the last game of their junior careers. We huddled up, arms around each other, and promised each other we would make it count.

We played our best period of the playoffs. We scored at 1:26 and again at 7:54. We put our four overage players on the ice for the final minute—three defencemen and a forward, joined by another veteran forward who probably wouldn’t be back the next season. They added an empty-netter with six seconds left, sealing a 7-4 victory.

A Muted Celebration

Our postgame celebration was subdued. We offered handshakes to our opponents, who declined, unsure why we made the offer. Amid puzzled looks from the fans and the other team's trainer shouting, “We'll see you in two weeks,” we took an impromptu on-ice photo—staff and players together—knowing it might be the last time we’d share the ice as a team.

Tell me again how we weren’t going to win the provincial championship.

Of course, we’ll never know for sure. But if you were in our locker room, if you saw how we played, if you knew the battles we had fought and won all year, you’d understand: this team was special. This was our year.

What We Can Learn

For coaches, players, and parents, the shutdown was a harsh lesson. Dreams can be taken away overnight—work, preparation, belief—all gone just like that. So how do we make sense of it? How do we move forward?

Here’s what I took from that experience, and what I believe we can all learn.

For Coaches: Lessons in Leadership

1. Control What You Can Control

   We tell our players this all the time: control your work ethic, your attitude, and your response to adversity. When the world shut down, we had to take our own advice. It reminded us that sometimes, despite all the preparation, things won’t go our way. Our job is to set the example: adapt, focus on the next step, and help our players do the same.

2. The Journey Matters More Than the Outcome

   Would we have won? I’d bet my career on it. But we’ll never know, and that’s the reality of sports. The real value of a season isn’t in a banner or a trophy—it’s in the process. Every coach should ask: Did we teach our players something they’ll carry forward? Did we prepare them for life, not just hockey? If we did that, then we didn’t lose.

3. Resilience Is Everything

   Some players break down after a loss. But what happens when you don’t even get to compete for what you worked for? The pandemic showed us that mental toughness isn’t just about handling defeat—it’s also about handling uncertainty. As coaches, our role is to help players develop a resilience that goes beyond hockey, because life will throw plenty of curveballs, and how you respond matters.

For Players: Lessons About the Game and Life

1. Never Take a Season for Granted

   How many players say, “I’ll get another chance next year”? Suddenly, that chance disappeared. Hockey careers can end in an instant—injuries, roster decisions, unforeseen circumstances. Play like every shift might be your last, because one day, it will be.

2. Stay Ready—Because You Never Know

   The best players in the world are always prepared. When the shutdown ended, the ones who stayed sharp came back ahead. Keep training, keep learning, keep improving—even when there’s no immediate payoff. When opportunities return, those who stayed ready will rise to the top.

3. Hockey Doesn’t Define You—But It Shapes You

   For many young players, hockey is everything. When it was taken away, some didn’t know who they were without it. But hockey is what you do, not who you are. The friendships, challenges, and lessons shape you. Appreciate the chance to play if you get it again, and remember: work ethic, discipline, and teamwork will serve you in anything you do.

For Parents: Lessons from Your Kids’ Experience

1. Appreciate the Game While It’s Here

   How many times have we rushed to the rink, annoyed by traffic or the cost of yet another tournament? Then, suddenly, it was all gone, and empty arenas became our new reality. If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s to enjoy it while it lasts. Cherish the early mornings, the road trips, the cold rinks—because one day, it ends.

2. The Lessons Are Bigger Than Hockey

   Goals, assists, wins, and losses are easy to track, but when hockey stopped, those numbers didn’t matter. What mattered was how kids handled adversity. The real question isn’t “Did my kid win a championship?” It’s “Did they learn to handle setbacks? Did they develop work ethic and resilience for life beyond hockey?”

3. Hockey Is a Gift—Not a Guarantee

   Some players’ competitive careers ended with the pandemic. If your child is still playing, it’s a privilege. Not everyone gets to continue. Injuries, cuts, lost opportunities—they happen. Support your kids, encourage them, and let them enjoy it. This ride doesn’t last forever.

Would We Have Won? Absolutely.

You can’t convince me otherwise. That team was built for a championship—depth, scoring, leadership, everything. We’d already proven we could win big games. But it wasn’t meant to be, and that’s life.

The lesson isn’t what we lost—it’s what we gained. Hockey, like life, is unpredictable. The game doesn’t owe you anything. So you show up, put in the work, and leave nothing on the ice. If it ends before you get to finish what you started, you hold your head high, knowing you gave it everything.

That’s what championship teams do, even when they don’t get to play for the trophy.

Ed Garinger is a seasoned hockey coach, mentor, and educator with over two decades of experience. A native of the Bruce Peninsula, he played minor and junior hockey before earning his BA and BEd from Nipissing University, where he also competed in varsity volleyball and extramural hockey.

Coaching since age 14, Ed has balanced his teaching career with an extensive coaching and development portfolio, working with players at all levels. He has coached in the Provincial Junior Hockey League, led youth and high school teams, and served as a learning facilitator for the OMHA. His experience includes elite programs like the OHL/OHF U15 and U16 camps, U17 Regional Camps, and Hockey Canada’s Skills Academy.

A Hockey Canada HP1-certified coach, USA Hockey-certified coach, and Chartered Professional Coach (ChPC), Ed is committed to ongoing professional development and continually seeks to expand his knowledge to better serve players and coaches. Now based in Orillia, he enjoys passing on his passion for hockey to the next generation.