Congratulations, dick

I may have made a rule about not posting after a bad game, but there's no rule about not ranting about some asshole at an open hockey session. Make that two assholes. Mark my words, I will never play open hockey at this rink again on a Friday or Saturday night. I love the weekday morning group- I wish my work schedule allowed me to play with them regularly. But the guys who come out on weekend nights? Forget it.

There were several cool guys there tonight, don't get me wrong. But it only took the two dickheads that were there to ruin it for me. Remember open hockey Rule #241? Don't Show Up the Goalie? Yeah, apparently they haven't heard about it. These guys were really, really good. Some of the best stickhandling I've ever seen. Unfortunately they took it upon themselves to play cat-and-mouse games and toy with me. They'd come in on a breakaway and deke me out of my pants. Congratulations, dick. You've been playing hockey your whole life and you scored on a goalie who's been on ice for five months. Hope you feel like a real big man. They also did the same thing that Steve did that first night he showed up that pissed me off so much; they'd skate up and just stop in front of me. A poke-check was pointless, because they were an awful lot quicker with their sticks than I was. Of course it didn't stop me from trying- I'm not going to just give up. When I got fed up I called the other goalie off the bench (there were three tonight, so there was always one extra on the bench) and sat and steamed for a bit. When it came time to get back on the ice, I went to the other net so I didn't have to deal with them shooting on me anymore. One of them left at that point. Coincidence? Probably. But you know me, Paranoid Patty. "He's leaving because he doesn't want to play on the same side as me".

I was apprehensive all day about playing at this rink on this night. Looks like I had reason to be. I can't wait for the fall season of our league to start, and for the other rink to finish repairing the ice, because I sure as hell won't set skate on this rink on a Friday or Saturday night ever again. I don't need to come home feeling lower than worm poop because some jackass needed to make himself feel important.

Thieves and liars

Ok "thieves" is probably pushing it. But someone stole my hockey from me, dammit, and this is the Ministry song I used to listen to when I got really mad. (Now that I'm older I listen to something a little calmer when angry.... something like Disturbed).

After last being on the ice on Monday, I was very much looking forward to some playing time tonight, even though it was an open hockey session that is usually not that well attended. (Normally I play on Friday nights but free Ranger pre-season tickets coaxed me away rather easily). Because nothing showed on the rink's schedule for this Saturday, I called to confirm on Thursday and was told that yes, there was adult open hockey scheduled. Fantastic!

Unfortunately, when we got there, the guy at the desk recognized us and shook his head and said "no open hockey tonight". Excuse me?!? I told him I'd called, and had emailed my friends saying the rink said it was on. I can't be mad at him, because he did offer us the ice for an hour or so after the public skating session was over. But since it was only my husband and I, I didn't feel right about just the two of us using the ice and making the zamboni guy wait for us.

And we got home and found out the Rangers lost 5-0. What a crappy Saturday night.

Summer Season Finals - Better late than never

In instituting a new rule for this blog, I've also unintentionally delayed my writing of this post. See, I decided that I would wait at least 24 hours after a disappointing game before writing about it. Lucky for you that I did that, or you'd have been subjected to an introspective and moody post on Tuesday morning. Part of my melancholy may have been brought on by the fact that I had very little sleep after drinking quite a bit of beer, but that's neither here nor there.

The Hawks went into the league finals pumped up and determined to win, but it was not to be. The final score of 5-1 doesn't reflect the offense's efforts; the other team's goalie was hot that night. I've analyzed the 5 goals scored against us and found myself wanting on several of them, but I won't bore you with the details (even though this is a goalie blog). A few of my friends came to my aid and lifted my spirits when I was really down in the dumps on Tuesday morning though and I've left the gloominess behind.

What lingers is a nice warm fuzzy feeling, not unlike what one might experience after having a beer or two in the arena parking lot at 1 a.m. Our team had excellent chemistry, both on and off the ice. It's unfortunate that we'll be losing several players- some for financial reasons, but others because of a much-needed levelling of the playing field across the board in the league. I'm hoping those who can't join us this fall because of funds will be able to come back in the spring. Because it might be after that season that we get to move up to the D level.... but I'm getting ahead of myself.

By the time our game was over and everyone was changed (and we suffered through- I mean smiled graciously for- our team picture), we meandered out into the parking lot probably by 11:30. Several people had brought libations for the occasion, and we all stood around in the cool evening, rehashing events of the season. We were soon joined by the rival goalie and some of his teammates, who we welcomed with open arms (and open beer bottles). Even later, when most of us were still standing there, we were joined by members of the teams that had played the game after ours. By the time the rink manager shut all the lights off at 2 a.m., there were only three of us remaining. It was an awesome end to an awesome season: 7-3-1 in all, and one that I think I'll remember for a long time.

The "Captain" (so designated by the coach who was behind our bench the most, who we'd been calling by the wrong name all season) printed out a copy of the team picture, complete with names, and gave it to my husband and I as a keepsake. Everyone looks pretty happy, despite having just lost by 4 goals. That, folks, is an indicator of a good bunch of people.

Unfortunately, some chick with wildly messed up spiky hair, red cheeks, and fire in her eyes kinda ruins the picture. Oh yeah. That's just the goalie...

No ice time, no hockey make Maalivahti something something....

"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.

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.

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.

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!