Whip cream in the beard and a waitress on your back - that's the face of a self-proclaimed hero.  In my 27 years playing with the Cowboys I have shared in many a victory, and even contributed a bit on a good night, but never has an inconsequential goal been so great.

They had swept us two straight in the Finals last year, (in fact they sweep the entire league going undefeated all season) but this time the Raiders were on the short side of the series.  One more win and we would claim the Championship.

I've always dreamed of scoring that overtime winner, or tying the game in the final minute with a colourful snap shot to the top corner. A third assist on a breakaway goal is more likely. I'm the kind of player who scores the 10th goal in 10 - 1 game.

 I am the truly the "Master of Inconsequential Goals".

But on April 13, 2006, I made sure that from that day on the easiest question in a Cowboy's trivia quiz would be: "Who scored the winning goal in the Cowboys 2006 Play-off Championship?"   If you don't know the answer, just ask me. Unfortunately, the highlight reel is unavailable, but allow me to recount it just one more time for posterity.

I positioned myself in front, just off the left post as Terry Zulynik wound up for a shot from the point. With the eye-hand coordination of a seeing eye dog master, I skillfully faked a deflection and allowed the puck to miss the net, causing it to rebound off the back boards. Bouncing twice on the ice before hitting my knee, it fatefully dribbled down the shaft of my stick toward the bewildered goaltender. As their defenseman tried to clear me from in front, I fell off balance, causing my right leg to kick awkwardly against the heel of my stick, knocking it out of the grip of my lower hand just as the puck fell from the goalie's pad onto the toe my blade. It entered the net with enough force to nearly reach the back of the goal!  It was text book goal scoring and the kind of thing that makes heroes of oneself (if you proclaim it loud enough and long enough.)  All we had to do was hold the other team off the scoreboard for another mere 46 minutes and I had done what I had never done before: score the winning goal in a Championship game!  True, it was the first goal in a 5 - 0 win and while it was somewhat inconsequential, it was undeniably masterful.

The title of hero comes with a price. (Especially if you boost too loud.) It has to be earned by more than a lucky bounce.  You have to stand before Uncle Bob and look at him through the bottom of a bottle of Royal Reserve.  You have to down the extra shot gun of beer and you have to stand naked and make a nonsensical motivational speech to your teammates. (Oh... apparently I didn't have to do that, but they applauded anyway.) And that is why I was face first with my nose in a glass of whip cream covering a hidden shooter. (I have no explanation for the waitress on my back.)  Finally, you have to show yourself worthy enough to oblige your teammate's wife to drive you 45 minutes out of the way to get you home. (Thanks Bev.) You see, heroes are not just born, they are invented.  And there is good reason why I don't score big goals.

Of course, the true fabric of my heroism stood between the pipes behind me.  Alan Hay earned his biggest shut-out of his Cowboy career, and 4 other guys scored big goals too.  And it could not have happened at all if every player on our team didn't have their best game of the season.  Sure, I scored the winner - and I'm going to milk it for all its worth.

The Real Story:

Winning the Play-offs from the underdog position takes more that the glory of a single player.  It is more than cliche to say it takes a whole team to win a championship.  But take a look at the photo above and tell me what you see.  Click on it for a closer view.  What do you see?  I see twenty Cowboys, eighteen of them suited up to play (Rob Wilson injured).  Look in the background.  Those are just a few who support the Cowboys Hockey Club, but they represent an entire community and a legacy that spans three generations, soon to be four.  The Richmond Cowboys Hockey Club extends well beyond the ice surface.  With the advent of the younger Cowboys II, we now have two hockey teams.  There is even a girl's team wearing our logo and now a new generation, The Cowboy Kids are preparing to join us in the future.  People want to be a part of the Cowboys' organization.  Why?  Perhaps it is because everyone wants to be a part of greatness. No, I'm not talking about the greatness of winning a championship, or scoring a winnning goal.  I'm talking about the greatness that occurs when the sum is greater than the whole.  "Synergy", they call it in the business world, refering to economies of scale.  But this is a purer example of the term where "by working together, human will can combined with divine grace to become greater than itself".  This Cowboy thing is bigger than the both of us!  But take one more close look at that picture and I'll tell you what makes this team great.  

Sure there's some good players there.  You've got the League's top scorer and arguably the best player in Cowboy history in Derek May.  You've got his brother Cory who just keeps getting better.  Then there's the old timers.  Rich Skapski, the oldest player in the league at age 58 is playing the best hockey of his life. You've got one of the best goalies in the League with his equal dressed and ready to back him up.  You've got players suiting up and willing to step aside without complaint for the better of the team.  These are the true heroes.  But look closer still.  Take a look at the guy in black on the far left.  That's Dick.  Dick is a Cowboy, even though he has never played a game or even skated with us.  Dick shows up for every game, shakes our hand at the end of the game and congatulates us whether we win or lose.  Why does Dick want to be with the Cowboys?  I don't know, you should ask him, but I can tell you that it is Cowboys like Dick Richards that truly make this Cowboy team great. True greatness is not always front and centre, and it is not measured in victory alone.  But sometimes victory does reward.

Oh and did I mention I scored the winning goal?

- by Doug Collins
Manager, the Richmond Cowboys