I didn't dwell on it for long though, because suddenly, the front door burst open, and Jack's dad and older half-siblings flooded in, dragging their luggage behind them. My little brother was quite literally bouncing off the walls since he was so excited to see his dad and Canadian siblings! We didn't expect Hannah, Ryder, and Clarke to come by. We knew they were flying in, but assumed they would just stay at Clarke's house in Elizabeth, Colorado, and meet us for a hockey game in a couple days.
I've always considered Ryder and Hannah my siblings, just like I've always considered Jack my full brother, even he and I have different dads. So, I got up and greeted them, and then helped bring in their luggage. Within 5 minutes of everyone arriving, Clarke announced our plans for the next week and a half of Spring Break. We'd go to a hockey game Thursday nights, where the Edmonton Oilers would play against the Colorado Avalanches. Because Clarke bought the tickets and was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, we were obligated to flip off the Avalanches and cheer on the Oilers. Clarke included me in this, and bought me an $80 Oilers jersey to rope me in. He also gave each of us kids $60 to spend on whatever we wanted at the game, which included food, souvenirs, etc.
After the game, we'd go to Clarke's house for the weekend, where we'd play with the horses and dogs, and beat each other in Mario Kart. Then, for a few days the next week, we'd rent a cabin in Breckenridge, Colorado, where we'd go skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. Finally, after all of that was done, we'd return home where we'd hang out and relax until Hannah and Ryder had to fly home, and Clarke had to return to his oil rig near Greeley, Colorado.
I was already exhausted by the time Clarke finished his speech, but I decided that was much better than staying home and doing absolutely nothing for the whole Spring Break. I still went to bed earlier than everyone else that night, hoping to catch up on some sleep so I'd be ready in a couple days for the hockey game.
The family couldn't be more excited to drag me into their shenanigans, starting with the hockey game. I wasn't exactly looking forward to the game itself. I was looking forward to eating a bag of fried doughnuts and watching fights break out on the ice. I honestly had no idea what the rules in hockey were. I was only there for the fights and the food, and also because my family forced me into it.
Clarke asked me if I had any Canadian things, such as flags, hats, or other clothes. I nodded. I had a small Canadian flag I bought in Niagara Falls several years before, as well as some Canadian mittens Clarke got me for Christmas one year. I didn't have a Canadian hat though, and I didn't want to wear one of Clarke's many Oilers beanies, so I settled for one of my hats that matched my outfit colors the best. It was a little big, but I liked it. The rest of the family was also decked out in Canadian gear, including matching Oilers jerseys. We all packed in Clarke's truck, except for my mom, because she had work. But she said she'd meet us at the game once she got off. Clarke wanted to get to the Pepsi center early, so we wouldn't be rushed.
While my mom and Clarke hadn't been in a romantic relationship in years, they were still friendly towards each other. In fact, they're still good friends, which makes it much easier for Clarke to have a good relationship with Jack and me. While Clarke isn't really my stepdad, I still consider him my stepdad, since I've known him for so long, and he's my brother's dad. It's a unique family situation, and might be confusing to those on the outside looking in, but I consider Clarke and his kids family just like they consider me part of the family.
When we arrived at the Pepsi center, the parking lot was already very full. We had to park a half-mile away. I very quickly realized we were one of the few, if not, only people in Oilers jerseys. Everyone else we saw was in Avalanche jerseys. We got teased and insulted by Avalanche fans, as we walked to the Pepsi center, but it was all just for good fun.
As I hoped, I got my fried powdered doughnuts as well as a huge bottle of Mountain Dew, before sitting down in the stands with everyone else. Clarke leaned over and explained some basic hockey rules to me so I wouldn't be completely lost. I still reminded him I was just there for the fights and the food, and he told me it was a very tense and important game, so chances are, I'd get to see some fights.
The game started with the USA and Canadian national anthems, and as soon as the band left the ice, the hockey players quickly skated into position. The ref blew his whistle, and the game was on. At first, the Avalanches were winning. In fact, the Oilers were getting destroyed. I didn't really care what was going on, but the rest of my family did.
My mom arrived sometime in the middle of the game, and I moved over so she could sit closer to my brother. Halftime was pretty uneventful, but at least it was quiet. My ears were ringing because of how excited the crowd around me was. Clarke reasoned that the Oilers still had a chance. They just needed to regroup during halftime, and then they'd be ready to beat the Avalanches. The Oilers were a really good team, and they were Canadian. Canadians are born with skates on their feet! It would be embarrassing and dishonorable to Canada if the Oilers lost to the Americans.
Still, I didn't care. I was just tired. In fact, I was so tired that I didn't notice my entire family was put on the big screen during halftime for the entire stadium (and everyone watching the game at home) to see. Clarke quickly pointed it out, but I just shrugged and went back to staring blankly into space.
The next half of the game was much more interesting. The Oilers came back on the ice with a vengeance, and while my family cheered because we were catching up to the Avalanches on the score board, I was cheering because I got to see some fights. Tae Kwon Do definitely made me a bit bloodthirsty. The fights on the ice weren't encouraged by the refs, but they weren't discouraged either. It's perfectly legal for professional hockey players to throw their gloves off and start swinging, just as long as it's on the ice.
My mom wasn't particularly fond of my urge to encourage fights, but Clarke reassured her that it was normal, and Ryder was doing the same thing. During the last quarter of the game, my mom decided it was getting too late for her, and left. I would've gone home with her, but Clarke insisted that I stayed. He was gonna make me excited that the Oilers were winning more than just fights, so I sat down in my mom's spot. I was very cold and tired, but I figured I could stay an extra 20 minutes and be just fine. Hypothermia hadn't set in yet, and people around me were in T shirts and shorts, even though we were just several rows away from the ice. I scooted up close to Clarke with my coat draped across my lap and legs like a blanket and my mittens on my hands. I didn't complain about being cold though, since I chose to stay.
The Oilers ended up winning the game 7-4, which was amazing since they were losing 1-4 during the first half of the game. We were safe from insults on the way back to the truck, but before we could go home, we just had to check out the gift shop. I still had about $40 left, but there wasn't anything I really wanted. Ryder pressured me to buy an Oilers hockey puck just because, so I did. Ryder also bought a couple of Oilers street hockey balls, and he couldn't resist throwing them at me once we were outside.
It was cold, very windy, and snowing outside. I was already cold, but I was much colder and shivering by the time we got back to the truck. Everyone teased me for it, but I still got shotgun with the heated seats. I joked that I didn't have Canadian blood, and that's why I couldn't tolerate the cold like they could. Truth was, I just wasn't dressed for the weather. My hockey jersey and T shirt underneath it were anything but wind and waterproof.
