A Goodbye Tribute to Shane Bast

As many know, most of my posts are sarcastic, humorous and most of the time fictional. This post is not.

Many probably know that long time Alien Hockey goaltender, Shane Bast & his new wife (just got married this past weekend) will be moving to San Antonio. Although a great move for them, a big void is left in Des Moines with Shane & Jen's departure.

My goal with this final farewell is to not take away the positives of their move, but to shed some light on Shane and what he has meant to hockey in Des Moines. Most people reading this have either played with or against him at some point in their hockey careers. However, many may not know the man behind the mask as Shane is not the bragging the type, but his heart was all about the game and all who played it.

I met Shane at our Alien Hockey store years ago. He was the team rep for the ISU Hockey Team and was bringing me some merchandise to sell. On one of his visits, he decided to try on some goalie skates. We talked about his playing experience at which point he said "none". Needless to say, he bought the skates and left the store. Mikey & I were puzzled as to why someone would just buy goalie skates and "decide" that they wanted to be a goalie. We figured nothing more of it and felt like we would not see him again. After several more visits to our shop and buying all the gear, we realized he was making a serious attempt at being a goalie. As we were forming our first C League team, we did not have a goalie and talked about possibly giving Shane the spot. Here was a person who supported our business and was dedicated enough to get all the gear WITHOUT having a team, the decision was easy. As they say in stories like this, the rest is history.

Shane has played with an Alien Team ever since that day (even through the dark years of Alien Thug). He has also subbed for just about every team in C League, has played A, B & D, played in the Iowa Chops League and almost every single tournament or event we have put on. Shane never discriminated and subbed for anyone needing it. He's had days where he played several games in a row because that's what needed to be done. I remember a day when a player on our team emailed me prior to a new season starting immediately after Shane's first season with us. The theme of the email was that our team was very good and could be even better if we found a different goalie. As politely as I could, I said our goalie situation was just fine, but the player sending the email could find a new team to play on if they wanted to.

Shane has been an instrumental player in getting our group to travel to Las Vegas 3 years in a row. He worked for me in our shop, helped me take the store apart when we closed, helped move it into PS Sportszone, and helped me there as well. He learned to sharpen skates and become a goalie advisor to many of our customers.

For Shane it was never about winning. Although he frequently got upset at himself (and broke many sticks early on), he never pointed a finger at another player and never said a negative word to his teammates. After each game, the process was the same. If we won 5-4 or lost 10-0, Shane was always socializing afterwards. The game, was after all, just that... a game. He was more concerned and focused on the fact that he was able to be friends with so many great people.

He attended camps like Champions Hockey Academy, he held season tickets to both Chops & Bucs, he has been a regular at the D League, helping me run drills and giving newer goalies advice. For Shane, this was not a hobby, not a form of recreation & not a way to showcase his skill. It is a lifestyle that he lives & breathes. Why else would a person help run practices for youth hockey. He was a regular at my kid's practices as well as Adam Lowells. He was the big "teddy bear" guy out there with no kid of his own, yet putting in the effort as if all the kids were his. He helped out at in the equipment area of the Iowa Stars/Chops and even went to Detroit with me for a hockey trade show.

Beyond the hockey, Shane & Jen attended just about every non-hockey event we put on. Whether it be a Bishop's night out, Dylo Family BBQ or a Blomquist pig roast, Shane & Jen were there. Again, not out of necessity, but out of the friendships he created. Other activities like Fantasy football and paintball were things he did with the all his friends and hockey happened to be a common bond that brought it all together. He took NHL figures and repainted them by hand to an exact replica of each one of his Vegas teammates the first year we went. It was detailed down to the gear we actually wore...and he asked nothing for them in return. He made the D League Trainer's Trophy that we still use today without a request from anyone to do it.

Players both young & old know Shane. As much as he likes to joke, pick on and antagonize others, he truly enjoys playing with everyone. My kid has had many an opportunity to not only skate with Shane but be around him off the ice. Young players like Ann Huyck & Scott Kelley have had an opportunity to not only get insulted by Shane, but also to get words of encouragement. My belief is that its not always about how much you know about the game, but rather how you can make others feel good about their progress, and Shane is always their to help lift someone's spirits.

With the passing of the torch (or goalie stick) by Shane to our new Alien goalies, many things can be said. Dan Bishop tries to fill the skates of an Alien Legend. Although we believe we cannot "replace" what Shane brings to our team, we do know that Bishop will help carry on his legacy (after all, Bishop was Shane's Best Man). Also in the wings, we bring in a newcomer goalie of Lisa Nissen. Here is a person that shows a similar passion for the game as she bought all the gear and jumped right in last season to a D League team. When Shane first mentioned to me he was leaving, we discussed who a good replacement would be and Lisa's name came up right away. You can bring on the most skilled skilled goalie to your team and play extremely well, but if they don't fit in with a fun personality and relaxed attitude, how much fun will it really be?

In would not be fair to end this story without a thanks to his new wife Jen. Coming from a hockey family myself, I know the time, commitment and strain hockey can put on those around us. Jen has not only supported Shane in all his hockey activities, she also encourages it. Through the countless games she has attended and even through the "surprise" gifts she has purchased him, Jen is there every step of the way. For this, the Alien crew, significant others & all players thank you. To show that Shane has a soft spot in his heart for Jen as well, I need to share this quick story. One day on my way to a Chops League game, Shane calls me to ask if I can find another goalie. It being short notice, I said I'd try. My thoughts were that his job took him out of town that day and he was not making it back in time. I came to find out that Jen lost her job that day, and Shane felt it was more important to stay home with her for support and miss his game.

The soft side of Shane came out again at his wedding this weekend. Although he was his sarcastic self throughout the wedding ceremony and most of the reception, he showed his emotion through some tears during a video presentation. The pictures of him & Jen growing up as kids and ending with a short "goodbye" segment from his Alien teammates, even got to him (and most of us). My purpose for this blog entry is not to create any more tears as it's already difficult enough for Shane & Jen to make this move and for us to lose a great friend. Rather, I wanted all to see the side of person that has become a regular fixture at both rinks and know that good people like this do exist and that hockey brings us closer together. Who else would skate the morning of his wedding with 20+ of his closest friends and make an entrance to his reception through an archway made of hockey sticks?


As your defenseman, teammate & most importantly your friend, I say thanks. Not for your goaltending, but for having the huge impact on all the hockey player's lives you have come in contact with. You will be missed and never replaced.