Not enough time? 

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Not enough time? Really?


Nine seconds was all it took.


My two alma maters, the University of North Dakota and the University of Minnesota, were recently renewing a rivalry as they faced off against each other in the NCAA Frozen Four semi-final game.


What’s the Frozen Four? It is finals for the ice hockey collegiate playoffs. This one in particular for the Division 1 championship.


The UND and UofM rivalry is one born of proximity, they are a seven hour drive apart, and conference competition for dominance (they used to play regularly as members of the WCHA). I was torn on who to cheer for having gone through my college winters in Grand Forks, North Dakota attending many hockey games and now living in Minneapolis and attending UofM hockey games and watching my son sometimes practice in their hockey arena. All I really wanted was a good game. I got one.


In this last hockey dual, the game was a battle and remained tied at zero – zero through much of the game. A great game for a storied rivalry where both teams were trying to make it to the final game.


The game was tied with 9 seconds left in the third period. The UofM found itself in its own zone with a faceoff in the circle. There were two options; play defensively and go into overtime, hoping for pull out the win, or try to do something with 9 seconds left. UofM won the faceoff and rushed the puck up the ice along the left boards. The first player over the UND blue line with the puck threw it towards the goal. It bounced off a defenseman on to another UofM players stick and he blindly shot it at the net as they continued rushing towards the net.


The puck found it’s way into the net with 0.6 seconds left on the clock. The UofM beat UND and was moving on to the Frozen Four final game.


You don’t have enough time? With guts, perseverance, the desire to win, teamwork and a lucky bounce or two, the U of M hockey team brought the puck the length of the ice and won in less than 9 seconds, scoring with just 0.6 seconds left in the game. Many thought they didn’t have enough time. They did.


Pursue your goal. You have enough time. Dig deep, believe in your goal, believe in yourself, recover from the missteps and be prepared for the lucky bounce. Play to win.

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