GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The final score of a hockey game certainly carries primary importance for the players, coaches and fans involved in the contest in one form or another.
But there are moments in time where one event, one special moment, steals the spotlight and leaves a lasting memory in our hearts and minds.
That event happened at Ralph Engelstad Arena last weekend, when parents of UND players were introduced on the ice prior to that night's game against Minnesota Duluth.
As the players walked onto the ice for that special introduction and to stand next to their parents, UND, on the jumbo scoreboard, put up the photo of Tom Strinden as his son, UND senior hockey player
Ben Strinden, was skating out for the Parents' Night promotion.
Tom Strinden died of cancer a few months before the season started. UND officials asked for a moment of silence from the fans for Tom Strinden as his photo was being shown.
It was a moving tribute by UND, so very well done, and we could only imagine what was going through the mind of
Ben Strinden as that moving tribute was taking place.
That weekend,
Ben Strinden had, statistically, the game of his lifetime, assisting on four of UND's five goals, the plus-4 game a career best for him.
In the post-game interview with the media,
Ben Strinden opened his heart to say how he felt after his big night and the special tribute in the pre-game ceremony to honor his father.
Ben Strinden kept his answer short, but long on what it meant to him.
He said he felt his Dad's presence throughout the game, that his Dad was there with him. He didn't need to say more, his response in a few words told all of his love for his Dad and his presence in his heart on parents' night.
That UND won the game mattered not as much to me that night as the special moment created by UND Athletics and the REAÂ to make that night so special for
Ben Strinden and his family and all of us fortunate to be watching it take place.
Well done.
Virg Foss is in his 56th season of reporting on UND hockey, beginning for the Grand Forks Herald in 1969 and continuing for UND following his retirement from the newspaper i 2005. He can be reached at Virgfoss@yahoo.com
