Memory #1: Bucky and the Birthday Girl

I don’t remember the exact date, but I can tell you it took place during the middle stages of the inaugural season. I was out at the Ice Forum in Duluth attending Thrashers practice as they went through drills on the second rink. I was sitting in one of the booths that used to be in place near the snack bar. Sitting in the booth next to me was a cute little girl and huge Kelly Buchberger fan. It was the girl’s birthday, and she and her mom decided to come out to practice with the hopes of meeting the Thrashers captain. They even brought a birthday cake as part of her celebration day. It was a beautiful yellow cake with white icing.

As practice ended and the team came off the ice, the girl waited patiently for “Bucky”. When Buchberger started making his way towards the locker room, she intercepted him. She proudly informed him it was her birthday. The ever gracious Buchberger congratulated her and started asking her questions. “How old are you?” he asked. “Did you get any nice presents?”

Then out of the blue, the little girl told Kelly about the cake……and asked him if he’d join her for a piece of it. Kelly looked over at her smiling mom, then looked at the cake and said “sure”. And for the next 5-10 minutes, the Thrashers captain sat with the birthday girl, talking about a lot of things, yet nothing about hockey and creating a memory that undoubtedly will last a lifetime.

I have to say it was one of the most remarkable and most generous gestures I’ve ever seen from a professional athlete. Then again, it’s moments like this when you realize hockey players are the most giving of athletes.