"Go crazy?"
"Don't mind if I do!!! BLAHHH LAHH LAH!!! BLAHAAAA!!!"
(This Simpsons moment brought to you by.... Choc Full O' Nuts Coffee)
But seriously. I've had the wind taken out of my sails big time with the realization that my crazy 3-to-4 hockey sessions a week are coming to a screeching halt. With the beginning of competitive school and intramural seasons, and traveling teams, ice time is at a premium and it's adult open hockey that suffers. I suppose I shouldn't begrudge the up and coming hockey stars their ice time, but dammit, when you're used to so much a week and it's suddenly cut into less than half... it takes a bit of getting used to.
Tomorrow night is our last game of the summer season. After that it's two or three weeks before the fall season starts. Which leaves me with ONE night a week of hockey (Friday night open hockey at "the other rink"). Our Thursday lessons are cut, as is the butt-crack-of-dawn Sunday morning open hockey, which I relished.
If this had coincided with the beginning of the NHL hockey season, that would be one thing. But by the time opening night comes around, our fall season will be starting up again, which will bring me back up to 2 nights a week of hockey, at least. Better than nothing. That weekday morning group is looking more and more tempting. I'm pretty sure I could get away with coming in to work late once a week, especially if I make up the time. I just have to find a way to get my email address to the guy who organizes the goalies...
But that's all in the future at the moment. What deserves my concentration right now is the game I'll be playing in just about 24 hours. The championship game. Who'd of thunk it, in our 2nd season playing on ice, that this is where we'd be. The beer has already been purchased for the post-game parking lot celebration. Because even if we don't come out on top, we still have a great season to celebrate.
Bring it on.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Required reading
I am a Ranger fan. Have been since I was 13, and will be even if I move to some other place. But I am also a goalie fan(atic), so when Martin Brodeur's book came out, I knew I had to read it. I just didn't want to buy it with my money, so my mom gave it to me for Christmas. I enjoyed the book for the most part, putting away my bias and taking it at face value. But even so, "Marty's" inflated ego kept getting in the way. I give him a lot of credit for the success he's achieved, and recognize that he is one of the best in the world at what he does. I also laud him for negotiating his own contracts, and for taking less money so that the team can afford better players to surround him with. But really, I don't need to be reminded of how great he is for those reasons over and over and over and over again. I also found his constant jibes at the Rangers to be very amusing, and good evidence that we're/they're in his head, big time. He actually penned the words "I hate the Rangers". Does he not realize how much a victory that is for Ranger fans?
But aside from that, I did enjoy the inside look at the goings-on of the league, particularly during the lockout. I also learned something. Yes, this is something my husband and friends have been trying to drill into my head for months, but I guess it takes a guy with 3 Vezinas to bring it home. And that lesson is...
"My mindset has always been to take responsibility for my game and my teammates, but at the same time I have to put my part of the game in perspective. I've always found it interesting that fans will blame a goalie for a certain goal, but if a shooter fans on an open net, that's not viewed as a similarly serious error. That's how I overcome bad goals. I realize I can't put it all on my shoulders. If possible, I want to put myself in a position where I can make the save that makes the difference, because I'm not going to stop them all. The worst thing I can ever do is start doubting myself, or stop believing in what I'm doing. Even in the worst circumstances, I try not to do that."
Ok, you can all stop with the "I told you so's". And to lighten the mood a bit, here is a passage that I found especially amusing. This is in reference to Game 1 of the 2006 playoffs against the Rangers, when toward the end of a 6-1 rout of the Blueshirts, Madden got a hat trick. Devils fans threw hats on the ice, as per tradition, but angry Ranger fans threw the plastic giveaways the arena had given out at the beginning of the game. (Don't tell me no Devils fans at all were throwing them either... come on). Marty's kids were sitting behind his net, and apparently were throwing a lot of the cast-off giveaways that didn't make it to the ice.
"When I saw the boys doing this, it really ticked me off. I skated out of my net and smashed my stick as hard as I could against the end glass, motioning for them to sit down. Jeremy left his seat a few minutes later and found Gen. "I think Daddy is really mad at me," he told her. After the game, I sat down with the boys and told them why I was so mad. I explained to them that by doing what they had done, they were basically acting like Rangers fans. [oh puh-leeeze] "Daddy's working out there," I told them. "And when Daddy's working, he doesn't need to have to discipline his children." Just like any other father, I guess."
Someone please tell me there is footage of this floating around the internet somewhere. That might be almost as good as Norrena "cleaning" the glass in front of the goal judge's face.
But aside from that, I did enjoy the inside look at the goings-on of the league, particularly during the lockout. I also learned something. Yes, this is something my husband and friends have been trying to drill into my head for months, but I guess it takes a guy with 3 Vezinas to bring it home. And that lesson is...
"My mindset has always been to take responsibility for my game and my teammates, but at the same time I have to put my part of the game in perspective. I've always found it interesting that fans will blame a goalie for a certain goal, but if a shooter fans on an open net, that's not viewed as a similarly serious error. That's how I overcome bad goals. I realize I can't put it all on my shoulders. If possible, I want to put myself in a position where I can make the save that makes the difference, because I'm not going to stop them all. The worst thing I can ever do is start doubting myself, or stop believing in what I'm doing. Even in the worst circumstances, I try not to do that."
Ok, you can all stop with the "I told you so's". And to lighten the mood a bit, here is a passage that I found especially amusing. This is in reference to Game 1 of the 2006 playoffs against the Rangers, when toward the end of a 6-1 rout of the Blueshirts, Madden got a hat trick. Devils fans threw hats on the ice, as per tradition, but angry Ranger fans threw the plastic giveaways the arena had given out at the beginning of the game. (Don't tell me no Devils fans at all were throwing them either... come on). Marty's kids were sitting behind his net, and apparently were throwing a lot of the cast-off giveaways that didn't make it to the ice.
"When I saw the boys doing this, it really ticked me off. I skated out of my net and smashed my stick as hard as I could against the end glass, motioning for them to sit down. Jeremy left his seat a few minutes later and found Gen. "I think Daddy is really mad at me," he told her. After the game, I sat down with the boys and told them why I was so mad. I explained to them that by doing what they had done, they were basically acting like Rangers fans. [oh puh-leeeze] "Daddy's working out there," I told them. "And when Daddy's working, he doesn't need to have to discipline his children." Just like any other father, I guess."
Someone please tell me there is footage of this floating around the internet somewhere. That might be almost as good as Norrena "cleaning" the glass in front of the goal judge's face.
So much for that idea
Well I played with the "fast guys" this morning, since I took the day off to get my tattoo. And I sucked. So much for the "I guess I play better in faster games" theory. I didn't get a warmup, and I'm sure that didn't help, but I'm not going to blame my entire crappy performance on that. There also weren't a lot of shots, which is odd for these games.
At one point when I came to the bench right after a goal, I was shaking my head and one of the guys said "don't worry, he's got a really hard shot". I agreed, but allowed that I was playing like crap today. He said not to worry about it, but said "If John scores on you, then you better put your gear up on eBay". I laughed and asked him to point John out to me. Wouldn't you know it, on my next shift John actually had a shot on me, which I stopped easily with my blocker. Good thing I didn't realize who it was until after I made the save. Otherwise I probably would have flubbed it and caught hell back on the bench.
I probably won't hit the ice again until Sunday morning (clinic). If I'm lucky I'll get out Saturday night, but I doubt it. Maybe the time off will give my mojo a chance to come back.
At one point when I came to the bench right after a goal, I was shaking my head and one of the guys said "don't worry, he's got a really hard shot". I agreed, but allowed that I was playing like crap today. He said not to worry about it, but said "If John scores on you, then you better put your gear up on eBay". I laughed and asked him to point John out to me. Wouldn't you know it, on my next shift John actually had a shot on me, which I stopped easily with my blocker. Good thing I didn't realize who it was until after I made the save. Otherwise I probably would have flubbed it and caught hell back on the bench.
I probably won't hit the ice again until Sunday morning (clinic). If I'm lucky I'll get out Saturday night, but I doubt it. Maybe the time off will give my mojo a chance to come back.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Summer Season Semifinal: Now I get it... we're a team!
I guess goalies can have an overdeveloped sense of self-importance. It's part of that whole "last line of defense" mentality. (Some goalies can have an ego the size of, say, New Jersey, but that's for another post). Without a doubt, the pressure is on and you're in the spotlight. There are times when a goalie can lose a game almost singlehandedly, or when he or she can steal a game the team had no right winning. But those times are rare. Thankfully, last night was not one of those times.
We went into our semifinal game with a full bench, if not fully awake; the game was at the ridiculously late time of 11:30 pm. At some point between the locker room and the bench though, the team woke up, as we were up 3-0 by the middle of the first period. Most of the play was in our opponents' zone. And there, I think was my problem. After all was said and done, the Hawks won by a score of 10-6. Definitely not one of my better performances. I was sloppy and unfocused. For the amount of time the opponent spent in our zone (hardly any) there is no way they should have had 6 goals. (Nevermind that 5 of those 6 were scored by one player, clearly a ringer). I think I actually play better when I play up a level. Maybe I had too much time to think. But I was nowhere near as quick on my feet or with my reactions last night as I was when I played open hockey with the scary good guys. Maybe I needed more adrenaline, more action in my own zone.
But I'm not going to complain, because that's part of being a team. I had a mediocre performance, and the rest of the team picked up the slack and kicked ass. Two of our players got their first goals ever, and the win brought us up against a great opponent for the championship. I love to play this team. I have a bit of a competition with their goalie, since he started around the same time as I did. He's been skating out since he was god knows how old, but he's only been in the net as long as I have been on ice. And the rest of the team is well matched for our team and we always play them very well. It should be a great game. I'm looking forward to it, for sure. No problem focusing for that one!
We went into our semifinal game with a full bench, if not fully awake; the game was at the ridiculously late time of 11:30 pm. At some point between the locker room and the bench though, the team woke up, as we were up 3-0 by the middle of the first period. Most of the play was in our opponents' zone. And there, I think was my problem. After all was said and done, the Hawks won by a score of 10-6. Definitely not one of my better performances. I was sloppy and unfocused. For the amount of time the opponent spent in our zone (hardly any) there is no way they should have had 6 goals. (Nevermind that 5 of those 6 were scored by one player, clearly a ringer). I think I actually play better when I play up a level. Maybe I had too much time to think. But I was nowhere near as quick on my feet or with my reactions last night as I was when I played open hockey with the scary good guys. Maybe I needed more adrenaline, more action in my own zone.
But I'm not going to complain, because that's part of being a team. I had a mediocre performance, and the rest of the team picked up the slack and kicked ass. Two of our players got their first goals ever, and the win brought us up against a great opponent for the championship. I love to play this team. I have a bit of a competition with their goalie, since he started around the same time as I did. He's been skating out since he was god knows how old, but he's only been in the net as long as I have been on ice. And the rest of the team is well matched for our team and we always play them very well. It should be a great game. I'm looking forward to it, for sure. No problem focusing for that one!
Monday, September 3, 2007
See, I told you there's no moping in hockey
It's interesting how different open hockey is at different rinks. Mind you, I'm basing this assessment on the incredibly large sample of two, count 'em, two rinks I've played open hockey on, but it seems to be the general rule, judging by other peoples experiences as well. This morning I played at the rink where my league games are. I hadn't been playing open hockey there because the few times I did go (at night), I didn't like the general atmosphere. I'm fine with everyone being scary good. It's the attitude I didn't like. But, because of the holiday, some of the Hawks and I were able to take advantage of the rink's usual Monday morning game. Evidently there is a group of guys who have been playing there on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings for some time. In addition to them, there were a handful of other people no doubt there because of the weekday off, and us.
It was a very fast, very exciting, yet basically friendly game. It was a little more physical than I'm used to but it wasn't chippy, and it lacked the attitude that the Friday and Saturday night games can take on. It was great to see that the Hawks really held their own, myself included. In fact I think I played very well. I was in the zone, I was pumped, and I was making lots of saves. I was so jacked up that I could have played for another hour when the buzzer sounded.
What really had me walking on air was a conversation I had with one of the regulars on the bench. During one of my rotations off the ice, he asked me when else I usually played, and mentioned that his group could really use me during their morning games. Since I have to be at work at 8:30, it's not practical for me to come all the time, but I certainly could swing a late morning once in a while, and make up the time at the end of the day. Especially if I know it's a good group to play with. It's probably not that big a deal, but the fact that I know these guys were complimenting me on the bench, and that he asked me to join them, made me feel really good. Any goalie is better than no goalie at open hockey, so I'm not getting too carried away, but it does feel nice to be invited to play somewhere. Since we have a ridiculously long layover between our last game and our next game (not until Sept 17th!) I may take him up on the offer, at least this week.
I keep waiting for someone to pinch me and wake me up from this dream I'm having. I seriously feel guilty for having this much fun. Not only have I discovered something I love doing, but it's something my husband loves as well, so we're free to indulge ourselves as much as we want, without feeling like we're neglecting the other. It's an expensive hobby, but we manage to afford it. We don't have kids, so being out of the house several nights a week is no concern. And speaking of "the house", we rent, so we don't have the obligation to stay home and fix the bathroom, or paint the living room, or any of those homeowner related things that suck up funds and time. We do want to own a house at some point, but right now we're content with being able to play this much hockey, time and money wise. I'm sure our priorities will shift at some time in the future but right now I'm enjoying the ride.
It was a very fast, very exciting, yet basically friendly game. It was a little more physical than I'm used to but it wasn't chippy, and it lacked the attitude that the Friday and Saturday night games can take on. It was great to see that the Hawks really held their own, myself included. In fact I think I played very well. I was in the zone, I was pumped, and I was making lots of saves. I was so jacked up that I could have played for another hour when the buzzer sounded.
What really had me walking on air was a conversation I had with one of the regulars on the bench. During one of my rotations off the ice, he asked me when else I usually played, and mentioned that his group could really use me during their morning games. Since I have to be at work at 8:30, it's not practical for me to come all the time, but I certainly could swing a late morning once in a while, and make up the time at the end of the day. Especially if I know it's a good group to play with. It's probably not that big a deal, but the fact that I know these guys were complimenting me on the bench, and that he asked me to join them, made me feel really good. Any goalie is better than no goalie at open hockey, so I'm not getting too carried away, but it does feel nice to be invited to play somewhere. Since we have a ridiculously long layover between our last game and our next game (not until Sept 17th!) I may take him up on the offer, at least this week.
I keep waiting for someone to pinch me and wake me up from this dream I'm having. I seriously feel guilty for having this much fun. Not only have I discovered something I love doing, but it's something my husband loves as well, so we're free to indulge ourselves as much as we want, without feeling like we're neglecting the other. It's an expensive hobby, but we manage to afford it. We don't have kids, so being out of the house several nights a week is no concern. And speaking of "the house", we rent, so we don't have the obligation to stay home and fix the bathroom, or paint the living room, or any of those homeowner related things that suck up funds and time. We do want to own a house at some point, but right now we're content with being able to play this much hockey, time and money wise. I'm sure our priorities will shift at some time in the future but right now I'm enjoying the ride.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
And speaking of reading
Now that I've devoured my goalie magazines, I've moved on to Martin Brodeur's book. I'm reading it because a) he's a goalie, b) he's a very good goalie, and c) he definitely has a "personality" that I think would make for good reading.
So much for that one. I'm on page 4 of the book and already I'm rolling my eyes at how full of himself he is. But I just have to chuckle and keep reading, because that is definitely part of his personality. I really am looking forward to reading the rest of it, because I hear it's a bit of a different take than your typical written-by-a-player book. Plus my friends said it was great. But they're Devils fans so of course they would say that. Maybe I'll just have to keep a Ranger jersey on whenever I read it.
So much for that one. I'm on page 4 of the book and already I'm rolling my eyes at how full of himself he is. But I just have to chuckle and keep reading, because that is definitely part of his personality. I really am looking forward to reading the rest of it, because I hear it's a bit of a different take than your typical written-by-a-player book. Plus my friends said it was great. But they're Devils fans so of course they would say that. Maybe I'll just have to keep a Ranger jersey on whenever I read it.
There's no moping in hockey
After the past few games and open hockey sessions I was feeling pretty good about myself. Our first playoff game of the summer season was on Monday night, and we faced a team that had tripped, checked and slashed their way to an ugly 5-2 victory over us in our last meeting. One of those goals was a particularly good display of poor sportsmanship; it was an empty-netter, and the shooter stopped in front of the net and took the time to turn around and look at the clock before turning back and slamming it home as if a hard wrister was necessary at that point. So, I can't speak for the whole team but I know several of us were a bit apprehensive, especially since we were going to be short quite a few guys (and one gal).
But somehow we pulled a win out of our asses, and at the final buzzer when the scoreboard read 6-4 in our favor, I felt relief and pride. It didn't really sink in until the next day, but I spent a decent amount of time pretty pleased with myself for playing so well in my last few outings.
Then came last night. Open hockey at the "other" rink, with a pretty light crowd (which translates to some very tired skaters, when there is only one sub on each bench). On a good night there, I am still the worst goalie they have. These guys are way above my skill level and I just do my best. But tonight I had an off night, and it's nowhere more obvious than at that rink. I've gotten pretty good at just shaking off bad goals and plowing through, especially there where there are bound to be so many, but last night they kind of got to me. I think part of that might have been because the two other goalies there were exceptionally good (one I'd never seen before, who turned out to be the rink manager, and one I hadn't seen in a while). The other part might be due to the fact that I caught one guy going easy on me. Whenever I play there I'm horrendous for the first 20 minutes, until I adjust to the speed of their shots. Then I'm just marginally bad. *wink* It was in this adjustment period that I noticed one guy in particular taking real easy shots at me.
During a break, I mentioned it to Goalie Husband and asked what I should do. I could tell the guy wasn't being an ass about it, he was trying to be nice and not break rule #241, but I hated it just the same. Goalie Husband said I should mention it to him. When I said I wasn't sure, he said he'd talk to him for me. In retrospect, I think I should have done it myself. As far as I know, there were no hard feelings, and the guy denied that's what he'd been doing anyway. And I'm sure Goalie Husband approached it in a lighthearted manner. But I think I need to handle my own issues, not have someone be my messenger. (Unless someone's messing with me in the crease. Then I'm happy to have someone 50-75lbs heavier do my dirty work for me, since nothing I can mete out amounts to much).
And then there was the comment in the locker room afterwards. I wasn't there, since I change in a different room for open hockey, but Spidey relayed later that one of the skaters said to him "Your buddy's wife... she makes all these saves she has no business making, and then these real easy ones trickle past her". Yep. That'd be the dreaded 5-hole, which reared it's ugly head last night. Maybe I was tired. Maybe the fact that my right skate kept blowing out on me had something to do with it. But none of that matters because those things could happen in a game and I have to play through them. So what's this about saves I have no business making? Am I just lucky? Or do I maybe know what I'm doing? If I know what I'm doing, why do the easy ones get past me? Saves I have no business making.... ouch. I don't think he meant it the way it sounds... because I did make some saves that were pretty surprising, especially given the saves I didn't make. But it still gives me pause. And more ammunition to just keep getting better.
But somehow we pulled a win out of our asses, and at the final buzzer when the scoreboard read 6-4 in our favor, I felt relief and pride. It didn't really sink in until the next day, but I spent a decent amount of time pretty pleased with myself for playing so well in my last few outings.
Then came last night. Open hockey at the "other" rink, with a pretty light crowd (which translates to some very tired skaters, when there is only one sub on each bench). On a good night there, I am still the worst goalie they have. These guys are way above my skill level and I just do my best. But tonight I had an off night, and it's nowhere more obvious than at that rink. I've gotten pretty good at just shaking off bad goals and plowing through, especially there where there are bound to be so many, but last night they kind of got to me. I think part of that might have been because the two other goalies there were exceptionally good (one I'd never seen before, who turned out to be the rink manager, and one I hadn't seen in a while). The other part might be due to the fact that I caught one guy going easy on me. Whenever I play there I'm horrendous for the first 20 minutes, until I adjust to the speed of their shots. Then I'm just marginally bad. *wink* It was in this adjustment period that I noticed one guy in particular taking real easy shots at me.
During a break, I mentioned it to Goalie Husband and asked what I should do. I could tell the guy wasn't being an ass about it, he was trying to be nice and not break rule #241, but I hated it just the same. Goalie Husband said I should mention it to him. When I said I wasn't sure, he said he'd talk to him for me. In retrospect, I think I should have done it myself. As far as I know, there were no hard feelings, and the guy denied that's what he'd been doing anyway. And I'm sure Goalie Husband approached it in a lighthearted manner. But I think I need to handle my own issues, not have someone be my messenger. (Unless someone's messing with me in the crease. Then I'm happy to have someone 50-75lbs heavier do my dirty work for me, since nothing I can mete out amounts to much).
And then there was the comment in the locker room afterwards. I wasn't there, since I change in a different room for open hockey, but Spidey relayed later that one of the skaters said to him "Your buddy's wife... she makes all these saves she has no business making, and then these real easy ones trickle past her". Yep. That'd be the dreaded 5-hole, which reared it's ugly head last night. Maybe I was tired. Maybe the fact that my right skate kept blowing out on me had something to do with it. But none of that matters because those things could happen in a game and I have to play through them. So what's this about saves I have no business making? Am I just lucky? Or do I maybe know what I'm doing? If I know what I'm doing, why do the easy ones get past me? Saves I have no business making.... ouch. I don't think he meant it the way it sounds... because I did make some saves that were pretty surprising, especially given the saves I didn't make. But it still gives me pause. And more ammunition to just keep getting better.
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