I'm going to Wally World!

Holey crap!  What a night!  What a game!  

The Icemen are Big Bear Adult League D4 Spring 2015 CHAMPIONS!  

Oddly, we played with a smaller bench than we have lately.  We also started the night with a bit of a panic, as both Tyler and Vicki were running late.  Bry was ready to tie a spare jersey around his neck and jump in to goal without pads.  He was amped.  They showed up just in time and we hit the ice.  We shouldn’t have worried- the time keeper showed up really late. 

We scored first with Justin getting a great breakaway.  Realty Source had great pressure in our defensive zone during the first period, which worried everyone a bit.  They were finally able to score.  That was pretty much the end of the scoring portion for the rest of regulation.  Tyler was amazing as usual, and the Realty Source goalie had some great saves as well.  We played really hard and began to wear Realty Source out.  The refs were letting things play out, and there were only 4 or 5 calls all night.  I think we were in the box three time.  Overall, they called a great game, and let us battle it out, but were able to keep things in control- as you’d expect in a championship game.  One egregious non-call happened in the 3^rd period though, when Justin was cross checked into the Realty Source net.  It sounded horrible from the bench and he was pissed- but not hurt. 

When the buzzer sounded to end the game, we were tied 1-1.  Since no one had been in a final that had ended in a tie, we had no idea how it would be decided.  They did it NHL regular season style- Five minutes of 4 on 4, and if that didn’t decide it, we’d go to a shootout.  Once we decided the two pairs of 4 would be, we started OT.  It was all over within 30 seconds.  We won the face off, and the puck bounced around the Realty Source zone.  It went up the far wall, and it looked like it was going to go out.  Paul was able to just keep it in a brilliant pull, and decided that he just go ahead and score.  He went right up the right side and caught the goalie switching sides.  It was brilliant!  Everyone went nuts- us for the win, Realty Source because they thought the puck was out.  They argued with and yelled at the refs for a bit, but it was in the books.  We got the cup, a case of beer and tee-shirts.  We took a bunch of photos on the ice and continued the celebration in the dressing room.  More beer, more photos.  We finally got kicked out of the dressing room at about 10.30, and a few of us went to a place called Fat Boy’s for even more beer.   I’m exhausted today.  

I played a really good defensive game last night.  I was able to block quite a few shots, and got in a couple good stick checks in.  I also spent a lot of time in front of the net. Strangely, I was left pretty much alone, and didn’t have to battle for position.  Unfortunately, I only got one chance to whack at the puck.  Tony did try to pass to me from the corner when I parked in front of the net in the third, but he was gassed and the pass got picked off.  Although I never got that second goal this season. I’m really pleased with the way I played, for the most part.  I am a little unsatisfied with my skating though.  That doesn’t frustrate me.  I’ve gone from not being on skates for years to playing in a championship game in just under a year and a half.  Now, I need to move everything to a next level!  

My second season was awesome!  A season of firsts- first goal, first multiple point game, first game ending injury, first playoff win and first championship!  I have realized that this is the first time Ive ever been part of a championship  team.