A Year in Hockey... I hope. Part Twenty-Six.

I got in on a pick up style of game with a couple of the guys on my team last night.  It was a lot of fun!  It was a bit of a long drive, and since my car sucks in the snow, I nearly spent the evening in a ditch- thanks dark downhill S curve covered in ice and snow!  The game was set up by the other Paul on my team and it was only $10 for 90 minutes of ice time.  We basically played the entire time, with players swapping as needed- sliding down the bench- so I got a shift about every 5 minutes or so, with a decent mix of time on the wing and on defense.  I really really need to get much better at backwards skating- especially transitions- it's really affecting my play. 

I played on the dark team, and as it always seems to be- the light team was the better.  I think we were playing with a couple college or semi pro players.  Both the scheduled goalies cancelled at the last minute, so we played by what I'm going to call 'clank rules'- a goal was scored if the puck hit either the goal post or crossbar before going into the net.  I think the final score was about 7-3.  I wasn't really part of the play all that often- but did make a few decent passes and had quite a few good defensive plays.. i.e., I got in the way of everything.  

On a related note- I've always sort of thought that the inch or so padding on the top of hockey gloves seemed a bit excessive.  I no longer feel that is true.  While I was in the defensive zone, I crouched down to block a shot and the guy taking the shot smacked me right in the hand with his stick.  My right index finger went numb for a second and then hurt so bad, I was afraid it might have been broken.  Of course it wasn't, and a few rigorous shakes of my hand, and I was out again.  It's sore today, but not too bad.  The player who clipped me immediately stopped his play and asked if I was ok, which is why I love this game, at this level- we can beat the crap out of each other for an hour and a half, but everyone is looking out for everyone else and having a great time.  

A Year in Hockey... I hope. Part Twenty-Five.

Well, the year is almost over.  We played our last game of 2014 on the 17th of December, since Christmas Eve and New Years Eve fall on Wednesdays- the night we play.  We had a tough loss last week.  We played hard, and were able to score, to keep ourselves in most of the game.  Then we started letting the other team get breakaways, because our defense was pinching in.  The team we played- Low Down Dirty Shame- has two or three excellent players who scored on the gaffs.  The final score was 10-5.  It was the first game that I was upset at the end of.  Even though we've lost each game, we've been playing hard and doing well.  We played hard in this game too, but we made some dumb mistakes.  Since we have a few weeks off, some of the guys on the team are setting up stick and puck practices and drop-ins, which should be fun.

We are also planning on going to Evergreen on New Years Day again!  It's going to be a great way to end this year long quest.  But it won't be over.  We still have 6 more games of the season, and I plan on playing for as long as I can! 

A Year in Hockey... I hope. Part Twenty-Four.

We are still playing tough hockey, and I think I'm still making good progress.  Our ragtag team has come together pretty well, and some of the more animated players on the team are getting everyone involved.  We've lost all four of our games, but we're never being destroyed. 

I've noticed that I'm playing a more physical game and am skating better.  I really need to work on transitioning- so more public skate time.  
One thing that made me chuckle was something that is true in pretty everything.  When I finished a shift, the guy who was playing center with me (I still don't know everyone's name yet- no one has really done introductions) told me that if I was passing or moving the puck out of the zone, just hit the fuck out of it.  He said, forget trying to push the puck.. .like we were all taught, but just whack it.  So, all preparation falls apart.  Heh...

I did pull a hilarious and notable move- which got laughs and comments from the other team and the ref.  We were in the offensive zone, when the puck got knocked into the neutral zone.  In turning, I hit the opposing defenseman and went down on my back, offside.  The puck got knocked back into the offensive zone- and right at me, still on my back.  I heard the ref behind me say 'offside' and he was getting ready to blow the play dead, as soon as the puck hit me.  I lifted my back up on my shoulders. and the puck zipped under my back- without touching me.  I jumped up and got back into the neutral zone, and we got another rush.  Ha!