To the Editor:

Congratulations to the players, coaching staff, families and everyone associated with the 2012-13 Parkland Ice Hockey Club.

As a former Trojan hockey player, I am proud of your outstanding achievement in reaching the Pennsylvania Ice Hockey Championship game.

Coach Gerry Chandik and his staff took Parkland Ice Hockey to a historic level of success this season.

The Trojans finished 20-2-1, won their fourth Lehigh Valley Scholastic League title and went deeper than any previous Lehigh Valley team in the Flyers Cup tournament, winning three games as a No. 11 seed.

Parkland's players showed discipline on the ice all year, which is the key to success in sports and in the classroom.

Their dedication and commitment to excellence showed as they played their best hockey when it mattered most.

What makes hockey such a special sport is the passion and dedication to the game among players.

How else can you describe the players' willingness to drag their tired bodies to the rink during hours when most others are still sleeping?

For hockey players and parents, 5 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. are common times to drop the puck. The lessons of hockey appeal to people of all ages.

Hockey analyst Barry Melrose once said hockey is the ultimate team sport because players are taught to value team achievements over individual accolades.

Although hockey provides skills to compete on the ice, it also goes a step further.

It gives student athletes life skills that will guide them in college and well into adulthood, including self-esteem, teamwork, problem solving and communication skills.

As time ticks on, your teammates will become your co-workers, your coaches will become your bosses and the team you currently play on will be the company for which you work.

And then, the life lessons you learned in sports will continue to make you a better person, and a better team player.

Now an adult and Pennsylvania state representative, I am proud to say that I continue to practice the lessons that were instilled upon me as a student-athlete and hockey player for Parkland.

To all seniors on the team, I wish you the best as you move forward.

You have finished what you started – what a great legacy to leave at Parkland.

To the rest of the team, I look forward to cheering on your season again next year, congratulations.

State Rep.Ryan Mackenzie, R-134th