Archive for the ‘The Hockey Journals’ Category

Not Quite a Sticky Post

Sunday, August 19th, 2007

Because that plugin no longer exists/works, or whatever. I am using WP 2.1.3, I think. They upgrade so fast you can’t even keep track anymore. Does anyone else agree that they should make sure one version is completely bug-free before they work on a newer version? Or am I in the minority here? It isn’t that I don’t like change; I like change if I know it works!

Anyway, there’s been a ton of hockey going on lately. Aside from the summer league, I got some Tigers together to play in the Puck Cancer Cup. We played four games in that tournament, and I’m still trying to decide if I should post four separate posts or just one long one. I mean, there are other things going on in my life, such as the fact that my Internet is down!

For the past few days they kept saying it was a power outage. Now they’re sending a tech over tomorrow between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Brian’s been the one dealing with this entire fiasco, so he’ll stay home ’til the — I’m assuming — guy shows up and fixes the damn thing. We’ve actually been discussing getting a land line, and lately Comcast has been airing these “enlightenment” commercials about their digital land lines that help the Lovie & (insert his wife’s name here) Smith Foundation for who knows what? Well, I’m not exactly enlightened with their Internet service.

So there it is.

Week 7a: Purple vs. the Turtles

Friday, August 17th, 2007

NB 080607 - Turtles vs. Purple - 017
My Spring Mixer Jersey Fits!
(see Week 9: Moussaka vs. the Turtles)
(click here to see the game pics)

I had a bye week the previous week, which is why there’s no Week 6 post. On this particular week, I wasn’t scheduled to play until Thursday, but we were so short on skaters that I (foolishly?) volunteered to play. Many of you know that I was a winger long before I played in net, but without recent practice and coaching, I didn’t know what I was doing, so I just tried to get in the other team’s way!

My forward skates felt so wobbly, and I actually have bruises from falling or whatever! Skaters just aren’t protected as well as goalies are! I had even sworn several months back to never skate up ever again, ever since I got hurt at a women’s skate clinic. But we really needed skaters, so I figured, why not? Brian was happy that I’d be able to carry my own bag and that he wouldn’t have to keep stats! :grin: I still won’t skate up during the regular season, but I may consider it for something like spring or summer if we’re really desperate.

Well, I was the only sub! (You’ll see in some of the pics that I’m the only one sitting on the bench, while the other team had almost two full lines!) Thank God I’ve been working on my cardio skills, but towards the end of the third period, I thought I was going to die. I don’t know how our defense did it — they were on the ice for the entire game! Not only that, we tied 1 – 1! Go Turtles!

Week 5: The Turtles vs. Purple

Thursday, August 9th, 2007

“How Barbie Got Her Groove Back”
(click here to view the game reels — scroll down to about the middle of the page)
(click here to see all 9 game pics)

We remembered to bring the camera, but left the battery at home, so Brian took videos with his camera phone, which aren’t the best quality, and a few pictures with his phone, also. Normally pictures turn out well, but maybe he was too far away.

Anyhow, this was the second game in a week that I played since hurting my knee. It was versus the Purple team, whom I played against that Monday, except this time I wasn’t subbing for the Blue team but playing with my own team: the Turtles. I don’t know how I got my groove back; I think it happened in the third period of the last game, but as soon as I hit the ice this time around, I was totally on.

We were short a bunch of skaters and only had two subs, so my teammates told me to cover the puck as much as I could to give the team a break, a chance to switch players while getting ready for a face-off. The video shows me covering the puck, but playing it, then covering it again shortly afterwards and keeping my glove on it so the ref blew the whistle. The rest of the videos may only interest the people in them, if they’ve never seen themselves play. Not a whole lot happens, and there are two in which I let the puck in — but it’s good to know what sort of mistakes I’m making, or if the goals just weren’t my fault. Anyway, we won!!!!!


Brian

Week 5: Purple vs. Blue

Wednesday, July 25th, 2007

Week 5 - Purple vs. Blue -- 047

Nope, My Knees Weren’t Shaking
(click to enlarge)
(click here to view the game pics)

This was my first game since I hurt my knee. The last time I’d been on the ice was just over a week prior, for rat hockey, which is pretty different. It has its own type of pressure (when you’re the only goalie), but not the same type of pressure as in a game situation, such as keeping track of the score.

I was subbing for the Blue team, and since we were “away,” I figured that the black jersey already packed in my bag that I didn’t use because I didn’t end up going to my most recent Instructional League session would be fine. Plus, I was too lazy to drag out my one blue jersey. Little did I know that the Purple team actually wears black.

The Blue team only managed to score 1 goal, and in the last period. They’re normally much better than that — I should know — we lost to them in the very first game of the season (Week 1: The Turtles vs. Blue). Also, a few of them played together on the Powder Blue team in the Spring Mixer. Guess it was just an off night.

As for me, I’m trying not to blame myself for losing the game. Everyone on the Blue team said I did just fine and made some great saves, though I barely remember any, except for a kick save on which #04 Allison (who was a goalie in the Spring; forward currently) complimented me; and a glove save — the puck bounced right back out, but fell right in front of me and I was able to cover it right away. I really do need to strengthen my forearms so I can close my glove. Or maybe I just need a bigger one, but the problem with that is it may be too wide for my hand span.

In retrospect I think I was just rusty from not having played, because I seemed to get my groove back in the third period. Also, Brian’s stats are probably more accurate than the scorekeeper’s. Brian has a zoom lens after all. :wink:


Brian

First Time Back on Ice

Thursday, July 19th, 2007

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. :smile: 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! :mrgreen: 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!