Jack, Through The Eyes of a Dawg

I regularly write about "Dawg Nation", which began as just the 30 guys on our two men's league hockey teams. But it's grown way beyond that. Because of former players that have moved to different parts of the country, the involvement of players' friends and families in team activities, and maybe a little bit of a following for this blog, Dawg Nation is everywhere.

And the leader of this gang of misfits is our captain, Marty Richardson. He runs both teams, and coordinates all of our activities- some of which don't even involve hockey. We call him "Cappy". Not only is Cap the founder of Dawg Nation- he is Dawg Nation. None of this exists without him.

If you ever read my game stories, you'll probably notice that I just kill the guy. Almost every article has some reference to Cap, and either his hockey ability or his sexual preference. Okay, mostly his sexual preference. I do that for three reasons. First, he's a terrific sport. Second, he looks super attractive when I Photoshop him in women's clothes. And finally, I only crack on the guys I like, and I love Marty like a brother.

Our fellow Dawg Jack Kelly passed away last week (see article below), and Marty spoke at his rosary on Wednesday night. The text of his speech follows- please take a few minutes to read it. It's really well done.


A Tribute To a Friend and Teammate- by Marty Richardson

Hi, my name is Martin “Cappy” Richardson. I’m here today to speak on behalf of Dawg Nation. What is Dawg Nation you may ask? Lately I’ve gotten that question a lot. Dawg Nation started as a men’s hockey team in Littleton but has grown into much, much more. Dawg Nation is in one word, “family”, we’re friends, we’re teammates, we’re brothers. Last week, our family that lost a teammate, a brother, a friend…….an incredible friend.

Jack will be laid to rest in his Dawgs sweater. What an honor. What an honor to all of us in Dawg Nation. It shows what the Dawgs meant to Jack and what Jack meant to the Dawgs.

The news about Jack was devastating to all of us. Last Thursday, a group of us met at a local bar to share our “Jack” stories and just be together. A friend mentioned to me that I should order Jack a beer and place it in front of an empty chair. I loved the idea so I did just that, when I got to the bar I ordered Jack’s favorite, ice cold Molson. One for me and one for my buddy. The waiter returned a moment later and informed me there was only one Molson left in the entire bar. Can you believe that? One Molson left……….By the way, Jack got that last Molson.

Jack and I met a few years back during a hockey drop-in session at the Edge Ice Arena. That was the start of something special. I was on the look out for quality players and quality people to fill out our roster. From the moment I met Jack, I could see he was both. At the time we only had one team and I tapped him for that. A few months later Jack and I decided to build a second Dawgs team and Dawgs II was born…….Dawg Nation was born.

Anyone that knows me, knows I like to give our guys goofy nicknames. Jack got one as well. Jack “Machine Gun” Kelly. The Machine Gun set a standard of excellence for anyone donning a Dawgs sweater.

Jack and I had an easy friendship. We were matched on so many levels. We’re both intensely competitive, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. As we got to know each other we realized that we were both college soccer players, we were both business men, we both loved hockey, we both had three daughters, our oldest daughters were even the same age. But most importantly we shared the same passion for life. Conversation was easy as we always had plenty to talk about. We chatted about life, sports, family, politics and business. We met monthly for a lunch, I’m going to miss those lunches.

There was a real ease and a comfort in those conversations. That was never more evident than just six weeks ago. I was awarded the incredible honor of representing Dawg Nation in the presentation of collective gift from our club to the Kelly family. It’s an evening that I’ll never forget. I was in the Kelly’s living room with Jack, Kathie and several other family members. We shared hugs, tears, laughs and memories. At the end of the night I was able to spend some one on one time with my buddy. We didn’t say much, we didn’t have to, we just enjoyed each others company. As we watched an Avs game, I put my hand over his and we enjoyed that time together as only two old friends can.

Jack was special to me and everyone else on so many levels. He exemplified everything that a friend and a teammate should be. We should all strive to be a “Jack”.

I’d like to share a few recent stories with you. Stories that many of you don’t know, but will help you understand what Jack was all about. Jack was a proud man but never boastful, he lived through example, and what an example that was.

During Jack’s first hospital stay I received a call from him. He asked me to stop by on my way home from work and bring my laptop. I followed his request, but I had no idea what he was up to. It turns out he decided to have custom hoodies made for the team, this would be his Christmas present to the guys. I tried to split the cost with him but he wouldn’t let me. We sat in his hospital room and designed them right there. Now think about that, this is guy that is going through the toughest time of his life and his biggest concern was his teammates. Who does that? Jack “Machine Gun” Kelly does, that’s who. The hoodies turned out terrific and I had the honor to stand by Jack’s side as he handed them out on December 23rd. An incredible night.

Another “Jack” moment came a couple of years ago. I was having lunch with Jack and shared that I was going to be hiking four fourteeners on the upcoming weekend. The hike was near Breckenridge and he instantly offered the use of his home in Breck. I declined, but he insisted. Mind you, I was doing this hike with several friends of mine that Jack had never met. Not only did he offer a place to sleep he showed up on Friday night with steaks, twice baked potatoes and several bottles of wine. Folks, Jack didn’t even know these guys. Of course everyone was blown away, but I wasn’t. To me, that was just my friend Jack.

Let me share a bit about “Jack the hockey player”. He was a gifted skater and a competitive player. Jack prided himself on the art of the face-off. He and I often shared tips and strategies in regard to taking a draw. He knew exactly how many draws he’d won or lost each night. I was equally obsessed in that part of the game and we both privately claimed to be the best on the team when it came to winning that key face-off.

This past August we were in the championship game and clinging to a precarious 2-1 lead. A whistle stopped play with only fifteen seconds left. There was a timeout and I gathered the team. I naturally assigned myself to win that key face-off, and believe me, this was a key face-off. As our huddle broke Jack stopped me and said, “Marty, let me take the draw”. That’s when my competitive side kicked in and I said, “okay, but you better win the flippin’ draw”, but I didn’t say “flippin”. That’s when Jack’s competitive juices kicked in and he replied, “I’ll win the flippin’ draw”, but he didn’t say “flippin”. We skated out and took our positions. The referee dropped the puck, and guess what? Jack won that flippin’ draw. The puck went back to one of our defensemen and was cleared down the ice. The final seconds ticked off and we began jumping around like little kids on Christmas morning. Naturally, one of the first guys to embrace me was none other than Jack. He winked at me and said, “Marty, we just won the flippin’ Cup”, but he didn’t say “flippin”.

Dawg Nation has recently gone through some incredible highs and some incredible lows. On one of my last visits to Jack I said, “what do you think about a motto for our club?” He agreed it was a good idea, so we started working on it. We shared a couple of laughs as we came up with some r-rated versions but we really wanted something that would be meaningful and lasting. Something that would exemplify what we’re all about. By now, most of you know what we came up with but I’ll share it anyway.

Play hard
Play fair
Be modest in victory
Be gracious in defeat

Jack and I both thought that was perfect. To me, it was something to strive for. But when I think of Jack, it was something he already was. After that, I told him I was going to add the new motto to all my Dawg emails. The next time I saw Jack, I asked if he’d noticed the motto on my messages. He had, and he told me the first time he saw it, it made him smile. The second time he saw it, it made him proud.

Play hard
Play fair
Be modest in victory
Be gracious in defeat

Next time you see that, say that, hear that, think about your teammate, your friend, your brother……Jack “Machine Gun” Kelly.

Rest in peace my friend.


Click to enlarge

So Long, Jack

I usually try to keep things nice and peppy on my blogsite- I want it to be a place where both of my loyal readers can go to maybe get a yuck or two. But this week we lost one of our Dawg Nation brothers, and I wanted to take a few minutes to tell you about him.

The guy in the picture is Jack Kelly, posing with his three daughters after winning the Edge Cup given to the EAHL league champions in 2009. This week Jack lost his battle with scleroderma, a rare disease that just completely wrecks the immune system. He found out that he had it right near the end of last year, and was gone in less than five months. He was just 53 years old.

Jack and I skated together for three or four seasons. After games, we would drink a beer in the parking lot with the rest of the team, and I always enjoyed the conversation with him. We were around the same age, and would always talk about how cool it was that we were still playing at a semicompetitive level, even though we were both hitting the half century mark. And we'd always talk about our kids. His were a little older than mine, and I'd seek advise about how to deal with a teenage daughter.

He didn't help me much there. Hell, does anyone know how to deal with a teenage daughter?

But the past few years he had played on the other Dawgs team in a different league. He thought that he was getting too old to hang with the kids at the higher level, but he was wrong. He had good skills and busted his ass during games. And he was in terrific physical shape. When we stood together in the parking lot, we looked like a Jenny Craig before and after picture.

We would still run into each other every now and again, when I'd sub for the regular goalie Brian on Dawgs II, or we would have some scrimmages before the start of the season. And I understand he would occasionally peek in on this blogsite to see which Dawgs players I was going to pick on that week. For those of you who haven't been here before, I write game stories about our previous week's hockey matches, mostly so I can bust the chops of all the boys on the team. To put it mildly, it's a little bit naughty, but it's all in good fun, and everyone seems to get a kick out of it.

I even got Jack once. I was sent a picture of him with his eyes closed on the bench, and made up a scenario where he was getting so old he fell asleep during the game and dreamed about money. Here's the picture and the original caption:



You see, Jack had done real well when he worked for Merrill Lynch in the 90's, and had continued to prosper after he started his own financial business here in Colorado. But you never would have known that by playing hockey with the guy or having a conversation with him after the game. He was as down to earth as they come. Just a regular bloke that loved to play.

But behind the scenes, he was exceptionally generous. He financed really nice jerseys for both Dawgs teams, and on separate occasions, bought socks, hats, and hoodies for the boys. And he never made a big deal about it. He was just a damn good guy.

That's why Dawg Nation rallied around Jack when he got sick. That's why everyone, including all of the kids on the higher level team that had never even played with the guy, pitched in to buy his family gift cards for dinners when they were spending so much time at the hospital.

And that's why everyone that knew Jack prayed for his life to continue. But sometimes, I guess God's answer is no.

They say that everything happens for a reason, but it's tough to understand why there are millions of idiots alive and healthy, while a decent, generous man is taken at 53, leaving behind a wife and three daughters. I guess there's a bigger picture that I'm just not smart enough to comprehend. Because I honestly don't get it. It just shouldn't happen that way.

But here's what I do get. Here's what I take from the early death of my friend. You never know when it's going to be your time to go to the big penalty box in the sky. Hell, Jack was just two years older than me. You think that hasn't been on my mind?

If you'll allow me, I'm going to be serious for just a moment, and then I promise I'll go back to my standard defense mechanism of hiding behind dirty jokes. I know that's why you both read this crap. Not for some dumbass goalie getting all heavy and stuff.

Guys, you have to tell your people that you love them. Every day. Tell your wife or husband. Tell your friends and family. For God's sake, tell your kids.

I'm sure my four are sick of me telling them every night before they go to sleep, and telling them every day before they leave for school. But I don't give a rat's ass. If I get hit by a stray meteor tomorrow, I'll go out knowing that I told my wife and kids how much they mean to me today.

The passing of our teammate Jack at such a young age just drives the point home even more. You just never, ever know when it's your time.

Tell them. Don't wait.

I found out today how much Jack's friends in Dawg Nation meant to him. How much he appreciated all our support. And how much he enjoyed playing hockey and hanging out with the boys.

Next week, Jack's going to be laid to rest wearing his Dawgs jersey. The number 21 will never be worn by another Dawgs player. And we'll all wear a patch on our jerseys with his number or initials on it. That way, we'll always remember our friend.

Rest in peace, buddy. You were a good man. You were a good friend. We'll miss you.