A Hockey Stick on the Porch
What it means when the hockey world grieves quietly
The first time you see a hockey stick leaning against a front porch, it stops you. At least it does if you’re part of the hockey world. There’s no sign explaining it. No flowers. No announcement. Just a stick, resting quietly by the door.
In hockey, that stick means someone has been lost.
It isn’t meant to draw attention. It isn’t meant to invite questions. It’s simply a way of showing up. A way for a community to say, we know you’re hurting, and you’re not alone.
I’ve learned that hockey has its own language when it comes to grief. In small towns and tight-knit programs, everyone feels it. Players, parents, coaches-we all do. These kids spend hours together on buses, in locker rooms, and on long drives through winter weather. They grow up together. They become family.
So when something unthinkable happens, words often fall short. The stick on the porch says what no one knows how to say out loud. It says we remember. It says we’re here. It says you don’t have to carry this alone.
Over the years, I’ve also seen a poem shared alongside the hockey stick on the porch. I don’t know who wrote it. Most people don’t. But if you’re part of this world, you understand it immediately.
A hockey stick on the front porch
Doesn’t mean someone forgot their gear.
It means a hockey player has passed,
And the community is standing near.
No words are needed, no questions asked.
It’s a sign of respect, love, and pain.
A quiet way to say,
You are not alone.
So if you ever pass a house with a hockey stick resting on the porch, slow down for a moment. It’s not just a piece of equipment. It’s a sign of love, of loss, and of a community standing together quietly, respectfully, and without needing words.