Two tough ones with mixed results.

We finished getting through the other teams last week when we played Team America.  They were also undefeated when we met.  It was a a tough tight game throughout.  The final score was 1-2.  We nearly tied it up at the end, but couldn't quite get the goal we needed.  In fact, Team America only scored once.  The second goal was tipped in by Flink.  He was pretty pissed off.

Last night we played Punx again, starting through the rotation again.  We were down 5 skaters and Adam, our goalie, wasn't there.   Our captain, the other Paul, scrambled for us and we got a stand-in, which was nice.  It was still a really short bench with only two forward lines and three defensemen in total.  Punx had about the same size bench, though.  It was a hell of a hard hitting game, complete with bad blood.  Matt spent a long time in the box, especially at the beginning in the third.  About eight minutes... no idea why.  I think the box door got stuck.  In the end, we won 6-4.  Our 6 included a hat trick by Z.  I nearly had a couple myself.  I was totally gassed by the end of the game though.  I could barely skate.  Anyway, we're in second place.  Huzzah!  

Did you bring some Lagavulin?

We played the new team last night- The Islaynders.  It's an obvious play on the Islanders, and they wear orange sweaters with a version of the Gordon's Fisherman crest, and they were all pretty much wearing Islander socks.  I couldn't resist the scotch joke, since the name is spelled with a y.  No one really got it though. 

Anyway, the Islaynders is made up of mainly beginners, with a couple of decent players.  They played their guts out.  It was cool to see.  I'm not really much better than many of them, actually.  I did play one of my best games though- well, at least though the first two periods. We spent a considerable amount of time in the box in the third, and when I was on the ice, I spent a considerable time on my arse.  I even collided with Eli.  I was gassed after a long shift, and when we saw we were going to hit each other, we just sort of resigned ourselves to it and blamo. 

During the first two periods, I kept finding myself in great position with the puck in the offensive zone- usually in the corner, which they weren't protecting very well.  I was able to make good centering passes, although it never ended in a goal. It didn't really matter.  We won 4-1.  We joked that we actually shut them out, since their one goal was actually tipped in by Hermann.  We are undefeated, which is pretty cool.

 

Hey! I know you!

We started our new season last night, with a couple of new players, but a short bench.  I played left wing with Hermann, which was tough, since we were both playing pretty short shifts.  It was a fun game though. 

We are back in straight D4, with 3 other teams. We played a team called the Punx, who played with us in the D3/D4 summer league.  I must have been on heavy drugs during the summer though, because one of the Punx players is a fellow scooterist I've known for ages- Paul Italiano.  File that under 'small world, ain't it?' 

We played a pretty physical game, and I think I was in the action pretty much all night.  I even had an assist.  Some of the guys also thought I scored a goal, but I was just screening the goalie when one of our D-men, Josh, sent a slap shot form the point.  We won 6-0, which is a great way to start a season. 

Pardon my French, RK... but, you're assholes!

We played RK Mechanical in the semi-finals of Summer D4/D3.  They shut us out again- 0-6.  They are a good team.  The pass well, handle the puck well, and cycle in the offensive zone well.  They also know they are the better team, and they are total jerks about it.   They constantly talk about how good they are on the ice, and do anything to drive up the score.  They complain, chip, and laugh at other teams.  It didn't help that the refs were their sixth and seventh men on the ice.  We went to the box 7 times to their 1.   No one likes playing against a team with a cocky ringer, and RK is a team of them.  They're total assholes and I'll be glad when they get moved up.

Beyond that, I played some good hockey I think, including my last shift, where I was able to spoil a near goal.  We had a great season all told.  We didn't expect to do as well as we did, and everyone was pretty stoked about our performance.  We should be back to the appropriate level next season. 

Well, ok... if you insist.

We played Ten Blades again last night in our first playoff game.  I was pretty sure it was going to be our only playoff game... I was wrong.  We won 4-2 and move on.

We had a great bench and really played our guts out.  We skated with them all night and were able to shut them down in our zone more often than not.  They played a really physical game, which included them getting sent to the box more than once.  One of those times included a massive hit on me.  I was so intent on getting the puck up the wall, the hit really didn't affect me.  I went down hard, got up fast and then headed down the ice.  I'm sore today though. 

And I removed that plastic... why?

I wasn't feeling very well last week so I skipped the game.  We won 10-3.  Last night, in our last regular season game, we played Ten Blades, another really good team.  They had a really short bench, but they skate really well.  I was using the skates my brother gave me for the first time, and they weren't really working all that well for me. I'm going to go back to my Grafs.  I also played in contacts for the first time- top notch!

I wasn't skating all that great, but was able to be in the play whenever I was on the ice- including a blocked shot that went off my thigh.  My pants were not fitting all that well, with the plastic shield in the thighs, so I took it out long ago.  I think I'll be getting a nice bruise.  There was an up side.  The puck bounced off my thigh and landed right in front of me.  I got a hold of it, and was able to pass it to Jordon, who was able to run it up the ice for a shot.  No joy though.

The game was really toughly fought, and a load of fun.  We scored first, but Ten Blades were able to equalize and then score again.  With about a minute left, we took a time out, put our best skaters on the ice, and got Adam- our goalie ready to come off the ice.  After a bad face-off we got another chance and were able to score with the extra man on the ice.  It was sweet!  We went to the shoot out, which Ten Bladed won 1-2.  Playoffs are next week, and since we're in 6th, out of 8 we'll be playing one of the better teams.

And that better team turns out to be Ten Blades again.  

Yeah... that's going to leave a mark.

We played RK Mechanical last night, and the result was the same as the first time we played them- getting shut out.  This time, though we did a little bit better.  Instead of a 0-7 score it was only 0-3.  RK Mechanical is a tough, big team that has some really good players- great skaters and great puck handlers.  I'm guessing these guys will be moving up a league in the not too distant future.

We had three forward lines and five Defensemen- so it was a good bench.  I think we played pretty well on the whole.  RK is such a great puck handling team, though, that we got caught more than once chasing them around.  I played left wing and spent a lot of time watching the point- where I was constantly being deked.  I did manage a couple take-aways though.  I also got involved in a few breakouts, and even got the puck to start one- but got back checked while looking for an outlet pass.  Considering that we were completely outmatched, I think we played pretty well, and it was a great work out.