Go time...
2006-03-11 + 10:15 p.m.
So, for the second week in a row, our Friday team got screwed over. Last week, we arrived fifteen minutes to the opening face-off.
Chris and I (we car pool) walk into the arena and the zamboni is already on its second lap.
Now, I play three nights a week at the Ice Gardens, and in all the games I've played in, the number of times they started that early totalled all of one time. An 11:15pm game on the "A" Rink.
So a 10:30pm game means 10:45pm, really, and we were there at 10:15pm. So even if they started right at 10:30, we're still early enough to get ready and stretch.
Chris and I didn't play the worst game, but we were definitely slow out of the gate and we probably even looked a little confused at the start.
well, we were determined to make a better showing of it the next week. We left much earlier for our 10pm game. We showed up at 9:27pm. I'm feeling good and relaxed. I open the door to the arena and our team's already on the ice? What the heck?
Apparently, they changed the game time to 9:00pm and didn't bother to tell anyone on either team. So each side had the bare minimum needed to play.
Chris and I didn't get out till the start of the second period. But at least this time, we didn't let it faze us. I thought we played great. Crisp passes, strong defensive play.
I was telling Nate that it's funny how athletes, no matter what level, can go through periods of low confidence and others where they feel like they're the best player in the league. And then at times of the latter, you wonder how you could've ever felt the former.
I sprained my wrist pretty badly at the end of my game on Thursday. The x-rays came up negative, so that was good. I took some Motrin and that really did help. I only thought about it a few times on the ice.
I got a roughing penalty too. That's two within the last two months. Or something like that. I'm going to lose my Lady Byng award at this rate. But, I stood this guy up who tried to rush by me and he absolutely cleans my clock. One of those Tyson on Spinx punches. Then the ref sends both of us to the box? Weak, dude.
The game's a lot of fun if you can play with confidence though.
I got the puck inside our blue line at point in the game, saw an opponent coming at me from the left.
"Sorry, pal, too slow!" I thought to myself as I curled around him to my right.
I took a look up ice for some passing options. All three forwards were standing still watching me. Okay, time for a skate, right?
Out of the corner of my eye I see another opponent coming at me from my right. I'm starting to pick up some speed, would be a right shame to lose the puck now. I bring the puck to my backhand (I'm a right handed shot), and dance away one-handed from the attempted poke check.
"Better luck next time."
Another opponent flies in from left and I have to switch back to my forehand to elude him. "Sorry, maybe you should grab some bench," the back of my jersey says, if it could talk, as I pick up even more speed.
One more quick glance to my teammates and they're all still coasting along watching me. Le sigh...
Fine, one more guy left to beat. I'm at full throttle now, about to kick it into overdrive, flying straight at the last defender. I fake right and bring the puck over to my left. Turn and burn, baby!
But then, "Ow!" and "Oh, yeah, that wrist!" That one moment of distraction was just enough. I didn't push the puck forward with enough strength, and I slightly over-skated the puck.
I almost still got through as the puck ended up in the defender's feet and he couldn't see it for a moment.
Ah, hockey, you gotta love it. Maybe next time I'll make it all the way through. Or maybe next time, the game will start when it's supposed to and I'll have Jamie out there with me. At least I know he won't be coasting and I can pass it to him...
Catch up on missed entries
Stand-up, if you love England... - 2006-07-09
Sports, sports and more sports... - 2006-06-12
Pop quiz, hotshot... - 2006-04-22
Go time... - 2006-03-11
24 and other telly stuff - 2006-03-08
Go time... - 2006-03-11
Last + Next
