Official Site of the Boston College Eagles

Climb Aboard

Several years ago Father Tony Penna, the BC Hockey team's chaplain, shared this inspirational story about Charles Blondin, the world famous tightrope walker that the Pike's Peak Hockey Club has since adopted as our theme.

    "A hundred years ago, before the days of movie stars and football heroes, some of the most famous people were known for daring feats, like climbing mountains, escaping from chains and vaults, and swinging from the flying trapeze. However, none was more famous than the great Charles Blondin of France, the foremost tightrope walker in the world. If it is a rope and it is tight, he will walk on it! And he thrilled the throngs with his death-defying high wire displays. But no exploit could match his heart-stopping stunt of crossing over the rushing and roaring waters of Niagara Falls pushing a wheelbarrow while blindfolded. As word spread a large crowd gathered - the Americans on one side and the Canadians on the other. A buzz of excitement ran along both banks. The crowd Oooohed! and Aaaaahed! as Blondin carefully walked across one dangerous step after another. Just then Blondin suddenly stopped and addressed the audience: "Do you believe I can carry a person across in this wheelbarrow?" The crowd nodding their head vigorously and shouted, "Yes, yes of course. You are the greatest tightrope walker in the world. You can do anything!" Blondin than asks: "Would anyone like to volunteer to CLIMB ABOARD the wheelbarrow?" No one stepped forward. No one was willing to risk his own life. Again Blondin spoke: "I am looking for a volunteer to be the first person to go across Niagara Falls in a wheelbarrow." Still no one would come forward. The crowd went quiet. After several minutes a young man, who truly believed Charles Blondin could do it, stepped forward and CLIMBED ABOARD the wheelbarrow. What a man! What Courage! Then Blondin, while blindfolded, carried the young man in the wheelbarrow over the dangerous falls safely to the other side."

    "Its one thing to believe, it's another thing to take a step of faith based on that belief. As a team we need to have that faith, faith in the coach, faith in the game plan, and faith in each other. Do you want to be like the young man or be merely another person in the crowd?"

The Pike's Peak Hockey Club has taken that step of faith as well and we need all Pike's Peak Hockey Club members to CLIMB ABOARD too.