The Majesty of the Atlantic

The ocean is powerful.  It has a mind of its own.  There is a rhythm, a majesty, an awe that sets in whenever I am there.  The Atlantic is the second largest ocean on Earth.  150 million years old, it was here before us and will be here when we are all gone.  The way the wind comes over the water, watching the waves form and ebb, and breathing in the salt water air is something you never forget.

We flew into Halifax.  There was both a business and a pleasure aspect to the trip.  The business aspect was to investigate shared office space in Halifax with a view to potentially opening an office in the east.  The pleasure was coming to watch my eldest son play in the CHL / NHL Prospects Game in Moncton.  Accompanying me were my two daughters, my nephew and my husband.

I am lucky enough to have twin boys who both play in the OHL.  This year is their draft year and one of them was fortunate enough to be chosen as a top prospect, to be highlighted in a game played in Moncton with 39 other top prospects.  My 10-year old daughter had never been on a flight before and my 15-year old daughter didn't remember the last time she was.  We flew into Halifax so I could do some business there, then drove to Moncton, a two and a half hour drive.

Fresh lobster rolls are an East Coast tradition.  Moncton has a restaurant called Skipper Jack's and it didn't disappoint.  Fresh calamari, fresh lobster rolls with mayonnaise, fresh buns, fresh fish...fresh everything.  The lobsters were hanging out in a tank just waiting to be eaten.  The meal was outstanding.

The 2024 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Moncton was a spectacle.  Forty boys, all draft eligible, all born between March 21, 2005 and September 6, 2006.  Three of the original players were injured so three additional players were added to the mix.  18 were from the OHL; 17 from the WHL; and 5 from the QMJHL.  The boys flew in on Sunday, January 21st from all parts of the country, some arriving as late as 1:30 am Monday morning.  They had four days of comraderie with off ice and on ice testing, a couple of NHL presentations, a lot of food, and much socializing.  The game itself was a defensive contest held in the Avenir Centre, built by the Irvings in 2018 and boasting a capacity of 8,800 fans.  The event drew 7,500 fans.  Team Red won 3-1, with the goalies and defencemen shutting down the offencemen in a low scoring game.

At the Halifax airport, we enjoyed local chocolate, including Peace By Chocolate and Anne of Green Gables chocolate.  The plane ride home was a chocolate-tasting extravaganza.  Nothing like a trip to the Atlantic Ocean and inhaling all that saltwater air to leave you feeling peckish.