Last night the Wheelers went down valiantly to the Rockers in a 5-4 shootout for the North Vikings Inline Hockey Club's Summer C Grade Grand Final. Ours was the first of four Grand Final matches from the senior grades to be played that evening at the Gawler Recreation Centre so we had a fair crowd (couple hundred including kids and walk-throughs from the festival event on the neighboring oval, to which there is direct access from the building that houses the rink). The two most skilled players in competition were playing head to head, one (Jonathan Platton) being awarded GF Most Valued Player on the night, and the other (Dylan Francis) the MVP and Top Scorer awards for the season. The game featured an early lead, a thrilling come back, an at times brutal (for inline) level of competition, a tied game and a deciding shootout that hung on the last shot. Despite the loss, a great end to our season and a great curtain raiser to the night of finals hockey that followed. And, I got a medal!
I'll update this post later, should have written it last night in the immediate aftermath but wanted to catch the Semi Final and Interlude in this blog before they totally faded from memory. Therefore will suffice to include a few of my impressionistic recollections for later expansion.
Playing a second game of the day against a fresh team = a slow start for us = a 2-0 lead for the Rockers within the first minute!
The pride I have in our team for not being mentally shattered by the opening minute's disaster.
Relatively large number of penalties as the game progressed.
Being hacked and slashed repeatedly, answering back.
Hussling their husslers in their slot, upsetting players who hooked me.
Bodyjams in the corner.
Being the 'victim' for penalties against oppo for a trip and roughing incident.
Being smashed in the visor by another swung stick.
Answering back and escalating against a dirty player's hacking around the face off.
As a result being mutually warned by the referee.
Our temporary coach and the rising mood on our growing bench.
Our comeback and the final scoreless mad minute of regular time.
Being given the opportunity to have the second shot in the shootout.
Taking it.
Shooting.
Not scoring.
The medal.
The trip home.
Actually, looking at the above list, I reckon there's a few posts on the subject!
Great game. Great season. Great sport.
And, it's a nice medallion to remember it by!
I had one (?) shot at goal again. Was on the rink for one of our goals and one of theirs. My end of rookie season stats, including playoffs, is therefore:
GP 8 G 4 A 1 Pts 5 4-2-1-1 PIM 0 +3
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