This past Saturday I got up the courage to play rat hockey with guys. Brian came with me to watch and help me carry my bag, so that helped. Fortunately, I knew a few of the guys there because I played rat with them over the winter. Unfortunately, I was the only goalie, which is tough and confusing! The teams were divided between those wearing black and/or red jerseys, and white jerseys, including a dude in a dark green jersey.

After one team hits the post on the empty net on the other end of the rink, then they become my team and defend me. Or something like that. Even though there weren’t that many players, the game just goes so much faster than a women’s game — no offense against women, certainly. These guys can also shoot the puck a lot harder than most women. Jesus, they had me tired out after warming me up!

Although rat lasts for 1-1/2 hours, I only lasted 45 minutes, partially because my knee was kind of burning and I’m not sure if it’s because of my new knee brace or not. And the fact that I was the only goalie, there are no periods, so I didn’t get a chance to rest at all! But I did it! I went out there in spite of my anxiety the night before (for some reason I didn’t feel so anxious Saturday morning), and played.

Here’s a little sample. I’m wearing a pink jersey, surprise, surprise! I made the save from the guy in the black jersey on the left side of the screen, and #8 in the green jersey who skates away with it, as I said, is actually on the white team, which I was on during this particular play. Told you it was confusing! To replay the video, click on the bottom right where it says “menu” then hit “replay.” Otherwise it’ll play it on an even tinier screen. Enjoy!

“That’s Using Your Noggin!” — the Ref
It took me a moment to realize what he meant, but this time, I didn’t deflect the puck with my helmet on purpose — it bounced off my cage, but I made the save!
(click to enlarge)
(click here to view the game pics)

This was the very first game of the Summer Mixer, which actually took place on June 25. This was also the game in which I hurt my knee. Even though I did my off-ice stretches beforehand, our team didn’t have a chance to warm up at all before the first period, so I didn’t get to skate a little to raise my body temperature, I didn’t get to do any on-ice stretching (’til between periods), and I certainly didn’t get a chance to have my teammates warm me up by shooting pucks at me. I think I hurt myself in the first period, which I played rather clumsily, in my opinion, but I seemed to get my groove after that, even though we still lost 4 – 1. That’s about all I can remember, really.