Ice Lady Says Goodbye

Mary Tilley

I remember back when I was around the age of seven

I got boys skates size 2 I thought I was in Heaven

From my older brothers I had inherited these treasures

Fitted out with ankle inserts I put them on with pleasure

Outside the kitchen window there was an icy patch

I skated back and forth and never got a scratch

I quickly graduated to the gully just up the lane

No longer was I supervised from the window pane

My brother eight years more senior than me

Took me to play hockey and I was in my glee

When the snow would fall the ice would be cleaned

It was done by hand without the help of a machine

With a piece of 2X4 nailed to a plywood sheet

The snow was pushed back to expose 30 or so feet

The area was surrounded with a neat snow border

Teams were chosen and quickly the game was in order

I worked hard to try and get the puck from the guys

When they turned so quickly I would get a surprise

This was a problem for me I didn’t know how to stop

Where the snow was pushed up I would have to hop

The ice might be lumpy or develop a small crack

So if Villagio is not perfect then cut it some slack

Winters were long and cold and the ice it would stay

Until March when the sun would shine bright each day

The end of the season was quickly drawing so near

Soon the ice would be gone for another whole year

Determined to have one more last skate for the season

I’d hop across the watery edge I wasn’t using reason

The ice it was melting and it wasn’t safe that’s for sure

But I loved to skate and I really pined for some more

Years later I walked 10 kilometers in our town

To raise funds for a stadium the idea it was sound

I got to play on that ice around the age of sixteen

In a local ladies league where the skills were lean

I played here I guess for at least ten years or so

But we lost our ice time and there was nowhere to go

Many years later I found another hockey stage

One year later went competitive with girls half my age

The following year to the Middle East I was bound

There was a rink which had the stores all around

Many thanks to Arlene who brought over my gear

And Dave Lee who encouraged me to play over here

I really enjoyed it immensely I do have to say

And the articles Darryl wrote made it special to play

He came to the rink with a photographer so great

And his articles in the Tribune where really first rate

The newspaper is glossy like a fancy magazine

The quality is unlike anything I had ever seen

At the top of the page were the big name athletes

And QIIHL pictures and stories right underneath

It is awesome to be here playing on the big ice

Going out in the heat afterwards is really nice

It is a great privilege to play at Villagio rink

Where fans eat and watch or just sit and think

I started hockey with guys and I find myself here

Playing with guys again it’s a great hockey career

To the President, Rink Staff, Vince and reporter

As well as the referees who kept everything in order

Thanks for any sacrifice your family has made

That enabled us to don gear and lace our blades

Sometime last season I got a really great surprise

To learn I was player of the week instead of a guy

I was the first female in Doha’s short hockey history

And being called Ice Lady added just a little mystery

The Desert Cup as well as the regular hockey league

Really helped me to enjoy my time overseas

I am honored and thankful you have let me play

It made Mondays and Fridays my two favorite days

Players fondly I can say I do love you all

Playing hockey in the Desert with you was a ball