The Stanley Cup

   After all those years of training, putting multiple hours of each day into hockey, you finally get your chance.  Your chance to conquer the championship.  The Stanley Cup.  To some people it just seems to be a big cup.  But to hockey players, it is a dream, a fantasy, a lifestyle.  We are close to the end of the season now, and each team is giving every last drop of energy to even have a chance, to lift that cup above their head, crowning them as champions.
   We are in the semi-finals in the NHL season.  Pittsburgh Penguins vs. the Boston Bruins in the East, and The Chicago Blackhawks vs. the Los Angeles Kings in the West.  Our predictions are that the Penguins will beat the Bruins in Game 7, as they now are down 2-0 in the best of 7 game series.  Also, we think the Blackhawks will take out the Kings in 5 games, as they are winning the best of 7 series 2-1.
    We think in the Final, with the Blackhawks and Penguins, the Blackhawks will win in 7 games.  The 7th game, if it does get to there, will be in Pittsurgh as they are the higher seeded team.  Jerome Iginla will still be a virgin to holding the Stanley Cup above his head, cheering as loud as he can, as he knows all his training has paid off.
   All 4 teams still competing do deserve the victory, but of course only one will.  A few games, the teams have been off their game, mostly performing better at home.  Some changes have been made to their starting lineups.
   The Kings' Mike Richards did not play their last game to due injury, forcing Jeff Carter to play center on the first line, and the rest of the team to step up their game.  The Penguins have decided to play who I think is the more superior goalie, Marc Andre-Fleury, because Thomas Vokoun had to be pulled for his poor play last game.  The Blackhawks and the Bruins both have been playing quite well, but a change in intensity is needed.  More battling for loose pucks, better one-on-ones.

This video is of the greatest Stanley Cup Game 7 Finals.  You will see that the players seem to be moving faster, playing more determined, and putting everything they have into the championship.  They all know what they had to go through to make it to where they are.

  Now you can see, how much this means to these men.  They dedicate their life to be in that position, and they finally get where they want to be. 

This is what they dream of.  This is generations of superstars, raising the cup above their heads, to crown themselves champions.  Many dream of this, only a few reach it.