Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Athletics

Hello there, my name is Erin Johnson-Buscemi and my greatest ambition after I graduate is this: To become the world's greatest hooker. No, not the kind of hooker you see on the corners, but a rugby hooker … can you imagine me roaming the streets? It's not really safe, nor a good source of income, unless you work for one of those fancy pants escort companies … though I'm probably not pretty enough for that. Thinking about it though, I can't say being hit by people twice my size and weight is much safer … .

In reality, my hope is to get a job in a recording studio as a mixing engineer as well as get my MBA, in case music doesn't work out well. However, seeing that this is a salute, I should probably get on with my saluting. See, sometimes I have this tendency to go off on tangents and then what I want to say never gets said or, whatever. Like, the other day I was saying that I wanted to name my kids Coda and Cadence (well, Cadence came first, then I thought of Coda on my way home), both very pretty musical terms, right? But here's the catch, they're going to represent the end of my life and ... crap, there's that tangent, but it's turned out to be a related tangent (oxymoron to the max), since this is the end of my hockey career — unless I can find some beer league, but my goodness has it been a fun three years. Of course, there have been many ups and downs, but the ups have certainly outweighed the downs. Though I didn't play much, just to be a part of something was amazing, and honestly I don't think I could have asked for much more (that's a bit of a lie, playing more would've been awesome, but it's a little late for that now). To be truthful, I don't know what I would have done without hockey, as I am terrible with making friends and would probably have been pretty grumpy all four years of college, but hockey gave me the friends I needed and will hopefully have for a long time. Anyways, this is starting to drag on, so on to the salutes. Freshmen, sorry, but you're going to be grouped together in one big salute, otherwise this would just not end and nobody wants to read my ramblings for that long — and we all know I'm not a woman of words, smiling, or hugging (sometimes). Let's just call me a no-fun zone, but enough about me, away we go:

First off with my family

Noah: You are the main reason I started playing hockey, pretty much because you were playing and I wasn't. But if it weren't for the whole sibling jealously thing, I wouldn't be as happy as I am now with hockey. Love you big brother! I expect you to come visit me when I graduate and I move back home, or at least we see each other once in a while. (cough, Chipotle, COUGH!)

Dad: There are too many things I want to say in this and not enough room, so I'm going to start off by saying thank you for everything you have ever done for me. Thank you for being there, for the good and the bad. Love you.

Mom: You crazy woman, coming to watch me play or sit on the bench when you could, embarrassing me every chance you got, doing what moms do best basically. You've always been there to support me, even though college hockey didn't need a whole lot of support. But you're just being a mom, I suppose. Love you!
Now to the team:

Kaye: you are one crazy [profanity], and I'm just pretty much ridiculous, and together we're [profanity] ridiculous [profanity]. You are an amazing goalie who can make saves I can't even do in my dreams, like doing the splits...not even in my dreams...not. even. close. In regards to what Sara said to you about needing a filter, no. Just no, it wouldn't be you if you didn't swear. [Profanity]. Also, I want to see your horse sometime and pet his soft nose, because, let's face it, I'm weird like that and I love petting horse noses. We've had some pretty amazing times — like you making me cry when I laugh so hard, or just our general conversations in our corner making me look forward coming to hockey even more. In fact, I think you're the only one that has managed to make me cry while laughing, so be proud of that. I'm going to miss you big time, buddy.

Erin: I remember the first on-ice tryout (or at least I think) we had, I hadn't sharpened my skates in forever, and the first step I take on the ice with you right behind me, I ate crap, big time, and I'm just thinking well, awesome, I just ate crap in front of a freshman....now she must think I'm a terrible hockey player, well, you're still right about that, but hey, we've had some good times, eating breakfast or watching JV games. I wish you the best of luck next year and the year after.

Haley: For the most part silent but deadly, like an assassin, ready to snipe the goalie. You are an amazing player, and a great asset to this team. You must be crazy to be going into nuclear medicine, I hear it's ridiculously hard, but then again so is any form of medicine, but I like crazy. I wish you the best of luck in that field.

Dana: Daaaaneeeeeers. I feel like we've been sitting relatively close to each other in the locker room every year, and we seem to have a good time. Cracking jokes and one liners, throwing things at other people at the breakfast table, telling stories, having a good time in general in the locker room and on the ice. I'm also glad you appreciate my taste in music, not enough people do, go on and convert them!

Julie: I wanted to put your portion of the salute in Spanish, but I would have had to used a translator, and we all know how unreliable those can be. You are an extremely hard worker, on and off the ice/field, keep it up. Best of luck in sports and school.

Nicole: The day I get into some trouble, I don't want you to be there as the enforcement, as I know you will kick my bum. hard. You have the qualities of an amazing leader, and you proved it time and again. You are also an extremely skilled player, and manage to give me the worst time trying to stop you. I can't think of any funny things that happened between you and I, but hopefully you remember me for other reasons, good reasons mind you. We're also going have to work on your taste in music, rock isn't going to kill you, nor will alternative. I know I can be pretty grumpy, but hopefully I have made you smile at least once. Before I forget, I want to see you downtown for my 22nd, be there or be square, we'll create a funny story down there.

Ingrid: You may hate me now for not smiling in the senior picture, but you will miss me for my smart-a-ness, because I am so good at it (see what I did there?). And when you are dealing with kids, you're going to be like, I need somebody that can scowl like EJB, so as to put the kids in their place with my scary face. But you have a heart of gold, so you wouldn't be mean to kids like that. Have fun being a teacher, and good luck, I want to see a teacher of the year award from you.

Dy: She lives in your closet, she eats your cheap clothes with fava beans and nice Chianti. Wear nice clothes, OR SHE GON' GET YOU! Not really, but I may end up consulting you on what to wear when I have to go in for an interview, as we all know, I have a terrible taste in clothes, sweatpants and t-shirts won't really work in the business world. I wish we had talked more when we first met, though sometimes I still go off in my own little world, we've gotten along really well in the end. Good luck in all you've worked hard for, I expect to see your clothing line soon.

Cierra: 'Cuz baby, you are a firework, but we already know what you're worth, and it's a lot more than you may think. We've had some good times the past few years, remember that time we went to Gustavus and on our way back from a gas station/McDonald's, I almost drove off with you only having one foot in the car, how funny was that? Probably not funny for you, but I'm laughing as I remember it. We need to create some more funny memories like the one above before we part. When I start my own business, you are going to be my accountant, end of story, but you should learn how to write checks first.

Stevie: I feel like you and my mom would make great friends, not afraid to tell you how it is, just lay it out for everyone to know what is up, for real. With you and Sheree, there is rarely a dull moment, and you really know how to brighten up someone's day. I especially love how I can joke around with some pretty sarcastic remarks, and you'll just send them right back, not too many people can do that. You were probably one of the first people to talk to me, outside of Sheree who can hold a conversation with just about anyone, and for that, I thank you. Much love, peace, harmony and more hippie stuff.

Al: You are like an explosion of enthusiasm and overall happiness, I don't know how you do it. You make everyone feel welcome to the team, which doesn't seem like an easy thing to do, but you're the one to do it well. You're another I don't have any funny stories with, guess we'll have to work on that before I go.

Sheree: Where do I even start with you, I am chuffed to have ever met you, and crickey dick did we ever have some fun times not only in hockey, but in rugby as well! I can't imagine the colly wobbles you must have felt when you first arrived here to go to school with us yanks, but good on ya, you seem all hunky dory now! You can also be very sure I'll be downtown to visit you next year, totally legless, or perhaps for a cuppa. We'll also have to go out for some karaoke and dance to some MJ, make people jealous of our insane skills. (I totally amused myself trying to use Kiwi slang, just so you know.) Oh, and I'll have to visit you in New Zealand sometime, it would be a blast. Expect me to be at the rugby games in the cities so I can cheer you on!

Freshmen: So I know I said I was going to bunch you all together, and this is the reason: there was not enough time for me to really get to know you. We didn't really talk at the beginning of the season until halfway through, we had that speed friendship thing, but 5 minutes isn't nearly enough, at least not for me, so I feel like advice is much more useful than short stories about a season. In the wise words of Tom Petty: “You have four years to be irresponsible here. Relax. Work is for people with jobs. You'll never remember class time, but you'll remember time you wasted hanging out with your friends. So, stay out late. Go out on a Tuesday with your friends when you have a paper due Wednesday. Spend money you don't have. Drink [soda] 'til sunrise. The work never ends, but college does.” Limit how irresponsible you are though, college may be the best four years of your life, but then comes the real world and that's like...scary stuff, man. Hard as it may be to believe, it is possible to work hard and have fun, make the most of what time you have left before the world comes at you, all like RAAAAWR! I'M THE WORLD! Bet you're excited to graduate now, aren't you? I wish you the best of luck in the rest of your college years, make friends, create memories, work hard, and who knows what good things the future holds for you.

To previous players
Rachel: Man, oh man, did we have some good laughs on the bench. You are able to brighten up everyone's day with your abundant enthusiasm and jokes. I wish you could have played this season as well, as I really missed you. Good luck next year in soccer and your senior year.

Lexi: reply to your senior salute to me: I rocked that door. I rocked that door like there was no tomorrow.

Sara: Woman, you crazy.

To SMU Cardinal Hockey: I salute thee.