The Traveling Man
Going to Madison to see the Wisconsin Badgers hockey team play the Michigan Wolverines with the family to see a longtime friend of the family in his senior year (Franky) from Eagle River skate around and pleasure the crowd standing on his head spinning and dancing just plain crazy Bucky Badger. A rough, hard-fought game that ended with the Wolverines winning 3-1.
Hockey mania was just beginning with a family packed hotel room we watched the 2004 hockey movie “MIRACLE” a 1980 movie, when the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team their legendary upset of the Soviet Union. If you watch the movie, you will be saying AGAIN, and hear the whistle blow. A truly motivating movie.
The next morning more hockey, U.S.A. vs. Canada for the Gold, exactly 46 years to the day of the 1980 game. The USA won in overtime, what a great game what a great weekend with family! A long-anticipated family road trip to Madison turned into a thrilling weekend centered around the frozen pond. The main event was the showdown between the Wisconsin Badgers hockey team and their fierce rivals, the Michigan Wolverines. This particular game held special significance as it was a chance to see a dear, longtime family friend, Franky, in his senior year. Hailing from Eagle River, Franky’s on-ice presence was always a highlight, a true embodiment of the wild spirit of Bucky Badger. He’s known for his flashy style—pleasuring the crowd with his wild spins, dancing, and generally being the kind of crazy, unforgettable player who seems to be skating on his head.
The game itself was a grueling, hard-fought battle. Both teams traded blows, but in the end, despite the Badgers’ valiant effort, the Wolverines skated away with a 3-1 victory. Though the final score wasn’t what the family had hoped for, the atmosphere and the pure spectacle of college hockey made the experience worthwhile.
The hockey mania didn’t end at the rink. Back at the family-packed hotel room, the weekend continued with a mandatory movie night. The feature presentation was the 2004 film MIRACLE, which chronicled the legendary 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team’s monumental upset of the seemingly invincible Soviet Union squad. It’s the kind of movie that holds everyone captive, with the tension building to the iconic “Again! Again!” chant and the sound of the final whistle blowing. It’s a truly motivating story of teamwork, belief, and the impossible becoming possible.
The next morning, the excitement reached a fever pitch with the Olympic Gold Medal game on television: U.S.A. vs. Canada. The timing was uncanny; it was exactly 46 years to the day after the original 1980 “Miracle on Ice” game. The rivalry was intense, the stakes were high, and the game was a nail-biter that stretched into overtime. When the final goal was scored, securing the victory for the U.S.A., the hotel room erupted in cheers. It was a perfect, unforgettable capstone to the whole affair—a great game, a great weekend, and a wonderful time spent with family!
About the Author
