Thursday, March 12 started like any other normal work day. I woke up, had breakfast, took the train to the office, checked emails, and planned for a busy day of meetings. And then the group texts came flying in.

“Okay what’s the plan? We need to figure out a go or no go now regardless.”

“Sorry, y’all, I’ve thought a lot about it a lot, and I can’t risk it with my job.”

“I’m probably not going either.”

“The NHL is probably canceled, I’d think we’d get a refund on those tickets as well.”

“We will just call it then, for the safety of everyone.”

George, Liz, Sophie, and Killian were flying to Denver that night; Shannon and I the next night. We had a great weekend lined up and capped off with a Sunday game between the Avalanche and Golden Knights. But instead of marking the beginning of Episode 22, March 12 marked the end of the second official year of the Tour de NHL.

It’s been two long, stressful months since the NHL “postponed” its 2019-2020 season, and the world has changed quite a bit since then. Phrases like “social distancing” and “flattening the curve” are now part of our everyday vocabulary. Facemasks are now essential accessories in everybody’s wardrobe. And things we once took for granted like getting on a plane and flying to see a hockey game now seem like risky and dangerous behavior.

Like many, I’ve had a lot of time to think during these past two months of quarantine. And while there’s a lot of things I miss in my everyday life, I realize that the COVID-19 crisis has given us some valuable lessons to learn.

Cherishing your family and friends.

Family is everything, at least that’s certainly the case in our family. While we haven’t always been together for holidays and birthdays, the stay-at-home orders of COVID-19 have given us a chance to spend some quality time together. I spent nearly a month with my parents in March and April, and I can honestly say I’m glad we had the time together. Even simple things like bike rides, lunch breaks, and nightly TV shows meant more because it was just nice to share some positive memories instead of hearing all the grim news headlines. I also spent some quality time with my sister for my birthday, and it was nice to just be in the company of people you love.

(Editor’s Note: Thanksgiving dinner in April is a most EXCELLENT way of celebrating your birthday!)

It isn’t even just the human touch – new technologies like Zoom and Houseparty have given us all a fun way to catch up with distant relatives, co-workers, and “Episode 22” friends. It’s amazing how nice it is to just share some laughs and stories with friends these days.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – one of the most rewarding parts of the Tour has been the ability to share some great memories with great friends old and new. Looking back on this past season of travels, I know that’s the case. An incredible night of eight Capitals fans began with one chance gathering at the airport in June. Another June phone call turned into a reunion of childhood friends on the other side of the country. And a spur of the moment decision led to an impromptu five-year Elon reunion in Dallas.

The point is – through the Tour (and this season in particular) I’ve learned the incredible power of friendship, and I’ve been reminded that even during a pandemic, family is everything.

Being grateful.

There’s no doubt we’re living in a challenging time. Millions have lost jobs. We’ve been mandated to stay in our homes. Visiting loved ones in hospitals and assisted living facilities is prohibited. And sadly, hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lived to COVID-19.

But despite all the challenges we’ve faced, I think it’s prudent to take a moment to realize that we’re all fortunate in this world. We’re fortunate to have homes to be safe in, families to love and spend time with, and food to keep us from being hungry. We’re fortunate to have brave medical professionals and emergency services personnel to keep us healthy and safe. People like Ashley and Lauren in Philadelphia, Doug and Kelly in Winston-Salem, Constantine and Sergio here in Charlotte.

Personally, I think every time I head home from an Episode of the Tour how lucky I am to be on the journey I’m on, to have supportive friends, family, and co-workers, and to have the ability to share my message and mission with all of my readers. And I’m incredibly fortunate to have so many supporters in my personal fundraising efforts for Hockey Fights Cancer! The past two seasons on the Tour have been incredibly rewarding and a ton of fun, and I can’t wait to continue!

Never stopping the fight.

Many headlines over the past two months have been scary and demoralizing, but in late April, we got a piece of incredible news. Philadelphia Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom underwent the final round of treatments for Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. According to team doctors, Oskar’s treatments went “as well or better than (they) could have expected”. Oskar was diagnosed in December, and has not played hockey since, but this news is incredibly optimistic for Flyers fans, and hockey fans everywhere. Oskar has been an inspiration and motivation for the Flyers this year, and if the season returns, I hope he continues to inspire the Flyers all the way to the Cup.

More importantly, though, it’s a positive sign for a young man who is on the right path to beating the terrible disease which I’ve dedicated my Tour to fighting. It’s a sign that thanks to incredible doctors and nurses everywhere, people are fighting cancer and winning. It’s just another reason why those incredibly doctors and nurses deserve every ounce of credit and praise they receive, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s motivation to me to continue my journey around the NHL, to continue raising awareness and money for the American Cancer Society, to keep fighting for those who need our help as they fight cancer. I’ve raised over $4,400 to date for Hockey Fights Cancer, and I couldn’t thank everybody enough for their incredible support!

The NHL may return later this summer, but it’s unlikely fans will be allowed back into arenas for some time. It may even be a couple of years until it’s fully safe to be on planes again. But that doesn’t mean we give up. It doesn’t mean we stop fighting and fundraising for causes we care about. It’s just a pause, a time to reconnect with those we love, to be grateful for the many great things we have in our lives.

In fact, life seems like a giant hockey game right now. It’s just the second intermission.