Last Thursday I reached six months at the Journal, and while it feels like almost no time has passed at all, it’s pretty incredible how much has happened in this small town since I arrived in August.
It’s amazing that despite having less than 6,000 inhabitants, the St. Paul sports world never stops rolling. Every weekend is filled with tournaments and other events that keep me busy from when I get up in the morning until I get home near midnight. From curling to hockey, football to basketball, or a myriad of other popular sports in the region, there is always something to cover.
Whether it’s the Canadiens in a hard-fought match-up against their rivals from Saddle Lake, a basketball tournament that comes down to the final buzzer, or the Lions lifting the Wheatland Football League trophy, every weekend in St. Paul has something exciting to offer me, both as a reporter and a devout sports fan.
Being in St. Paul has even given me the chance to cover events I’ve never seen before, and likely would have never experienced in Ontario, such as the rodeo, and snowmobile drag racing.
To top it all off, the excitement keeps building. There are a number of big events on my calendar in the coming weeks and months, including a few trips to Edmonton to cover our local hockey heroes as they take to the ice against the Oilers, and St. Paul and District Minor Hockey’s Timbits’ Future All Star Game in March, which is sure to draw a crowd and bring out the best of this community.
I believe sports are a very important aspect of society. Sports teach kids structure, teamwork and strategy, and show them how to believe in their own abilities. They provide a stage for countries with vast political differences to have some fun together in the name of peace, and give us fans something to look forward to day in and day out.
After six months, I truly feel like a member of the St. Paul community. I’m welcomed by friendly faces to every event, sports or otherwise. I’ve been very lucky to land this job, and I feel blessed to have such great colleagues, a fantastic community, and sports that never stop.
