GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- In my career of writing about sports that spans more than 60 years now, I've reported on thrilling victories and agonizing defeats from coast-to-coast, from fields to courts to rinks.

Yet every so often, the actual sport itself takes a back seat to something that happens outside the  game that is far more inspiring, touching and lasting than any memory of a single game, win or loss.

It happened this past weekend at Ralph Engelstad Arena, when NHL Hall of Fame goalie Ed Belfour and the 1982 NCAA championship hockey team were brought back to campus to be honored by the school and fans.

Belfour backstopped the Hrkac Circus team of 1986-87, that featured Hobey Baker Award winner Tony Hrkac and set a still-standing school record of 40 wins on its way to the NCAA title.

Before the game, Belfour took one last shift around the rink Friday night to an ovation from the fans, Eddie wearing a current Fighting Hawks jersey. Then he skated to the goal, stripped off his jersey, and revealed a vintage Fighting Sioux jersey under it. He pounded the crest on his chest with pride.

Truly, the school meant a great deal to Belfour, though he was here just one season before going pro. The jersey and logo obviously meant much to him as well, though UND has since changed the nickname and logo.

But it was more than that. Coach Brad Berry noted that Belfour maintains regular contact with the UND staff, calling not just with congratulations after big wins, but more importantly, with his support after tough times.

As much as Belfour appreciated that UND gave him the chance to launch his career into NHL stardom, it's clear the UND hockey program appreciates him. And it did not surprise Berry, or others close to the program, when he stripped off one jersey to reveal his Fighting Sioux jersey. Pride runs deep, both ways. They know that about him. He brought the Stanley Cup back to Grand Forks in 1999 after backstopping the Dallas Stars to the NHL title. And he brought it to his hometown of Carman, Manitoba, as well, never forgetting his roots.

It was a touching moment to witness, one of UND's greatest players coming back to Grand Forks not only to be honored that night here, but to pay his honor with passion to the school and program that gave him a chance.

Then last Saturday night, I saw another moment that touched my heart and ignited so many warm memories inside me.

After the 1982 team was introduced individually on the ice, wearing replica jerseys of their 1982 greens, the two captains of that team, Cary Eades and Phil Sykes, made a special presentation that was one of the most touching moments I have ever seen.

Eades and Sykes, on behalf of the 1982 team, presented jersey No. 1 to their coach, Gino Gasparini, the school's all-time winningest coach with three NCAA titles on his resume.

But it was what was on the back of the jersey that stole the moment. The name on the back was "Tootsie,'' the much-loved wife of Gino, who died unexpectedly earlier this year. A long-time teacher in Grand Forks, she was a big fan of that team, and they of her. Her grace and joy endeared her to anyone who ever had the good fortune of meeting her.

When Eades and Sykes gave the jersey to their coach, Gino broke down in tears, his love for Tootsie and his loss without her evident to all on the Jumbo Scoreboard that gave us all a close-up intrusion into that special moment. 

Moments such as those transcend games, wins and losses. They are moments we will always remember, that change us as people in ways we may not even understand.

I saw something similar to that a few years ago when I attended the funeral home service for Gordy Panzer, the father of former UND hockey stars Jay and Jeff Panzer.

Jay had been coaching a youth team in Grand Forks once his playing days ended.

As the reception line formed after the service to greet Jay and Jeff Panzer and mother Cindy, the front doors of the funeral home opened. In came Jay's youth hockey team, all wearing their jerseys.

As they came up to Jay, one-by-one, he gave each one a huge hug, but he was so choked by tears of what he was seeing that he was unable to speak to boys.

As I stood and watched that unfold, I marveled that some parent came up with the idea of doing that, of rounding up 18-20 boys, getting them all to the funeral home at a set time, in jerseys, and in line to hug their coach. 

It was that same feeling I had last Saturday when I saw Gino moved to tears by his team of 40 years ago, of their thoughtful gift of a jersey with Tootsie's name on it. A beautiful moment, with deep meaning to all involved that will last forever.

So, as I go on writing about UND hockey, in my 53rd season now and including six national championships, those are special memories and players and events I will never forget.

The moments with Belfour, the Panzers and Gino Gasparini, they trump all, in my book.

Hawk-ey Talk with Virg Foss is a new weekly column about North Dakota hockey by longtime writer Virg Foss. Foss covered UND hockey for 35 seasons for the Grand Forks Herald, including 5 NCAA title teams, before his retirement. Since his retirement, he's written about UND hockey exclusively for FightingHawks.com. This marks his 53rd season since he began covering UND hockey in 1969.