I wasn't originally going to go skating on Sunday at all (gulp). This was a combination of the fact that the what-sounds-like-a-regular-shinny at Noarlunga was this week only able to go ahead at 9-11 in the evening. Which is too late for me on a Sunday unless it's a game or team practice. So, unless I reverted to the usual skate with B in the afternoon, I wouldn't be getting on my skates (it was too wet for inline in the neighborhood). This, in turn, didn't look likely as he had left a message for me on the Saturday that he wasn't able to come with me due an important event.
So, I called up B to confirm that we weren't going and we could agree to go next Saturday (can't go on the Sunday next week), which was him being diplomatic as his busy diary had reorganised itself in twelve hours and he was now free to come with me 'if I wanted to go skating'. As if! And then my missus reminded me that I couldn't go next Saturday arvo either, so I called him again and said that unless he had got something else already planned, we might as well go skating. To which he agreed.
Although the afternoon session at the Ice Arena had already started by the time we had the above conversation, we got our respective acts together well enough that we still had an hour and a half from when we arrived. Actually, B said he'd been ready since the day before. Keen! It wasn't excessively crowded for a Sunday, and this reduced as the afternoon progressed to the point that the rink had only a score or so of people for the last twenty minutes. Excellent.
I stayed on the ice for the whole eighty minutes we had available, alternating between 'just skating' for the intrinsic pleasure, drilling myself on particular techniques, and resting against the sideboards watching everyone else circulating while catching my breath after skating hard. Very few people I have regular interaction with, though a few as always. B seemed to find himself quite at home talking to some keen teens lurking teenlike in the corner in between bursts of creative high speed skating. He said later that he squeezed in over a hundred hockey stops while he was there.
Me, I did ten sets of five stops each way with at least three paces between, picking up the intensity and hence the speed a little compared to last week (though still not pushing it to the max). I did maybe ten laps backwards, getting the feel of my outside edges for pushing off on (again, not pushing it to a high level). No jumps this week. Maybe five laps of quick puck protection transitions along the board to my right (or a pretend board on my left). The main energy well, however, was the ten laps I did where I accelerated hard on my toes between the blue lines in a clumsy stumbling attempt to get into overspeed mode. I reckon I reached it a couple of times. Will see if can't pump this up somehow and get some perceived control into it.
Then, a quick visit through the Powerplay skateshop to check out junior inline skates and sticks, a banana and orange juice afterwards, and then home.
Fridge
Monday, 30 June 2014
Sunday, 29 June 2014
Go Nathan Walker!
Welsh born but Sydney raised Nathan Walker, 20, has been selected by the Washington Capitals in the third round of the annual NHL draft. He is apparently the first Australian (or, Australian resident?) to be drafted into an NHL franchise (though I thought there was another in the sixties, albeit he never actually played for the NHL team). This is a big thing and great for Ice Hockey downunder. Now our younger players know that it can be done!
Walker started skating at age 5 or 6, following in his older brother's sudden passion for ice hockey after the boys had watched Disney's 'The Mighty Ducks'. By the time he was 13 he and his family decided that he should go to the Czech Republic to pursue his dream, he simply wasn't getting enough ice time where he lived. Then followed a number of years competing in various teams within the Vitkovice franchise. Last year, he was invited to a tryout for a pro league team in the North America, the Hershey Bears in the AHL (not having been born in North America nor having played in a Canadian Major Junior League team, he was eligible for pro league selection despite still being a teen). The Bears are affiliated with the NHL's Washington Capitals, so Cap's got to have a reasonable look at Walker for the last season (in which he played 43 games, scoring 5 goals and 6 assists.
In the trading that surrounds the draft, the Cap's swapped their fourth and fifth round picks for another third (the 89th pick overall) and used that to select Walker. They said later that they had 'targeted' him and would take him if they could, ahead of the interest in him displayed by other clubs (he had been placed as high as a fourth round pick in various prognostications I've read over the past few months). Walker said that he had no idea of what if any designs the Capitals had on him going into the draft. In fact, he had phlegmatically responded to questions on the subject by saying, "I'm guessing they're probably thinking the same thing I am. Just wait and see how it all pans out.”
By all accounts he sounds a nice guy and very hardworking and fearless player. The US media is even describing him as 'NHL ready', something regarded as unusual in a draft pick during their first year. The reasoning varies, but seems to be a combination of his actual ability and work ethic, his age and thus physical development (he is a second year draftee, having not been chosen the year before, making him a year older than the 'cream' of the crop and the bulk of the others), and the fact that he rose to the occasion of playing regular games in a pro league season with and against fully developed 'men'.
He is scheduled to come back to Australia to participate in the International Ice Hockey tournament between American and Canadian teams in July. We should get to see him playing in the Stars and Stripes when we go to see the Melbourne game.
Good on him!
Notes (edit): The official Draft site of the NHL only gives information on Walker playing in the Czech Extraliga and in the AHL. It doesn't mention that he has played for the Sydney Ice Dogs in the AIHL or the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL. Nor, sadly, does it mention the fact that he has played 5 (?) times for Australia at the Ice Hockey World Championships. He was the first Australian to play professionally in Europe and the youngest player to ever score a goal in the Spengler Cup (2011). There's a Wiki page on him which is probably the best source of information.
Walker started skating at age 5 or 6, following in his older brother's sudden passion for ice hockey after the boys had watched Disney's 'The Mighty Ducks'. By the time he was 13 he and his family decided that he should go to the Czech Republic to pursue his dream, he simply wasn't getting enough ice time where he lived. Then followed a number of years competing in various teams within the Vitkovice franchise. Last year, he was invited to a tryout for a pro league team in the North America, the Hershey Bears in the AHL (not having been born in North America nor having played in a Canadian Major Junior League team, he was eligible for pro league selection despite still being a teen). The Bears are affiliated with the NHL's Washington Capitals, so Cap's got to have a reasonable look at Walker for the last season (in which he played 43 games, scoring 5 goals and 6 assists.
In the trading that surrounds the draft, the Cap's swapped their fourth and fifth round picks for another third (the 89th pick overall) and used that to select Walker. They said later that they had 'targeted' him and would take him if they could, ahead of the interest in him displayed by other clubs (he had been placed as high as a fourth round pick in various prognostications I've read over the past few months). Walker said that he had no idea of what if any designs the Capitals had on him going into the draft. In fact, he had phlegmatically responded to questions on the subject by saying, "I'm guessing they're probably thinking the same thing I am. Just wait and see how it all pans out.”
By all accounts he sounds a nice guy and very hardworking and fearless player. The US media is even describing him as 'NHL ready', something regarded as unusual in a draft pick during their first year. The reasoning varies, but seems to be a combination of his actual ability and work ethic, his age and thus physical development (he is a second year draftee, having not been chosen the year before, making him a year older than the 'cream' of the crop and the bulk of the others), and the fact that he rose to the occasion of playing regular games in a pro league season with and against fully developed 'men'.
He is scheduled to come back to Australia to participate in the International Ice Hockey tournament between American and Canadian teams in July. We should get to see him playing in the Stars and Stripes when we go to see the Melbourne game.
Good on him!
Notes (edit): The official Draft site of the NHL only gives information on Walker playing in the Czech Extraliga and in the AHL. It doesn't mention that he has played for the Sydney Ice Dogs in the AIHL or the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL. Nor, sadly, does it mention the fact that he has played 5 (?) times for Australia at the Ice Hockey World Championships. He was the first Australian to play professionally in Europe and the youngest player to ever score a goal in the Spengler Cup (2011). There's a Wiki page on him which is probably the best source of information.
Game Day - Wheelers (7) d Bumpers (1)
As is so often the case, the scoreline in tonight's early game doesn't reflect the competitiveness or nature of the game that was played. We officially put 38 shots on their net, not counting those that either missed or were blocked, which is twice the amount that are recorded in many games. Our team saw different facets of our game as being especially worthy of note. Alex, the passing/rebounds. Matt, close in battles in the goal mouth. Merrilyn, passing. Me, stick checking.
We were a player down at the start (Brendan couldn't be there) and so Paul played for us as a 'reserve' (went up from C Grade to Div 1 this season). I think Paul jokingly typified the game as one requiring not too much from him. Which was a way of saying that he didn't have to play a great many minutes as we 'true' Wheelers stayed out for as long as was practical. When he played, he played a steady defence, going forwards only once that I recall (resulting in a pass back to me who was on the centre line). This was excellent play on his part, as there is no way he could be said to have greatly affected the game in our favour (always a risk when playing a higher grade player as a 'reserve').
The game began with a bit of confusion after two minutes. In that time we had scored a goal in the play resulting from the opening face off, and they had landed a good shot on goal from a blitz reply. I was just collecting the puck after our narrow escape from this last when the siren rang. I tapped the puck to the referee and glided towards the centre trying to work out what had happened.
Turns out, the time keeper had not started the clock when the game began. There was a conference with the referees and time keepers while we skaters just milled about aimlessly. Eventually, the referee signalled a centre face off and told us that the clock would start again. I noticed a minor sense of disquiet that the score was 0-0 on the scoreboard. Then, concentrate on the face off. Their blitz team scored a goal off their first play. We were down 0-1. It seemed a little unfair as we skated back for the next centre face off. This remained the scoreline until the end of my first shift. We were credited with our goal shortly afterwards; 1-1. From this point, we didn't look back.
We were a player down at the start (Brendan couldn't be there) and so Paul played for us as a 'reserve' (went up from C Grade to Div 1 this season). I think Paul jokingly typified the game as one requiring not too much from him. Which was a way of saying that he didn't have to play a great many minutes as we 'true' Wheelers stayed out for as long as was practical. When he played, he played a steady defence, going forwards only once that I recall (resulting in a pass back to me who was on the centre line). This was excellent play on his part, as there is no way he could be said to have greatly affected the game in our favour (always a risk when playing a higher grade player as a 'reserve').
The game began with a bit of confusion after two minutes. In that time we had scored a goal in the play resulting from the opening face off, and they had landed a good shot on goal from a blitz reply. I was just collecting the puck after our narrow escape from this last when the siren rang. I tapped the puck to the referee and glided towards the centre trying to work out what had happened.
Turns out, the time keeper had not started the clock when the game began. There was a conference with the referees and time keepers while we skaters just milled about aimlessly. Eventually, the referee signalled a centre face off and told us that the clock would start again. I noticed a minor sense of disquiet that the score was 0-0 on the scoreboard. Then, concentrate on the face off. Their blitz team scored a goal off their first play. We were down 0-1. It seemed a little unfair as we skated back for the next centre face off. This remained the scoreline until the end of my first shift. We were credited with our goal shortly afterwards; 1-1. From this point, we didn't look back.
My Game
I scored my only goal, which put us ahead 3-1 with two minutes left in the (long) first half, from a hard wristshot from near the centre. I held the shot a little moment before releasing, raised it to the extent that the puck went through between glove and pad. I had been on the floor for all bar one of the goals in the first period.
I was on the floor for two goals in the second period. For the first, I was awarded the assist for claiming the puck in our offensive corner, skating it back up past the goal line about midway in from the boards, waiting waiting waiting before snap passing it to Matt who was lurking in the front of the crease for a goal. For the second, I was lurking in the central defence role as Alex and a younger opponent were tipping the puck around in contest, with it eventually falling loose in our favour. Alex began moving towards it, too slowly for him to get it in my view, so I shouted loudly at him from nearby to 'Skate, Alex, Skate! Skate for it!' Which, to his credit, he did, keeping the puck alive and eventually tipping it past the next defender before managing to gather it in with some strong stick work. Finding himself in the slot, he responded to his team mates' 'Shoot!' and hammered it home.
Our team work was as much a product of strong commuication as it was of good passing. For the first time I think that we ALL were communicating with each other, both listening and talking. Several times it was information gathered from this source alone which determined what I did. This pleasing aspect of our game is perhaps reflected in the fact that of our seven goals, five were assisted (a higher percentage than usual).
As for the passing, I was making time to be more selective with my passing, and on at least one occasion sent the puck back over half the floor to give us a chance to reset rather than make a risky pass. When I needed to make a hard pass (eg to Matt in the goal mouth) I was able to. I don't think any of my passes were picked off tonight. Big improvement.
I didn't take many faceoffs tonight, maybe four. I won three of them, generally with a 'passive' stick and letting their powerful forehand strike rebound the puck off my own blade. On at least one occasion I then shielded the puck with my skates from their follow through and pressed it further out to my blade before passing back to my support. I spent more time on the edge of the faceoff circle, and this blended nicely with my role tonight of chasing the loose puck. I got the puck into our control several times in such a manner.
Besides passing and communicating, much of my play tonight was typified by chasing the loose puck down. I was the fastest skater on our team and probably the most agile, so it was only fair. As part of my role, I several times had to sweep back from an attacking position to chase down a skater who had got behind us, or race them for a loose puck that our defender wouldn't get to but I might, or pick up the loose man who was sweeping through our centre. In these sort of confrontations my job was as much about delaying and disrupting them, or at least drawing the fangs from their attack by forcing them to a weaker position, as it was about actual puck possession. I used my stick a lot more than I generally do, to steer opponents, tip the puck, block the board, knock their stick aside or disrupt their shot/pass.
On a couple of occasion I swooped in onto another battle to pluck the loose puck out of the aftermath, pinching as the D. Against a strong forward who knows how to use his bulk to hold or gain position, however, I was outmuscled on at least two occasions. Neither of these instances led to anything, but I will need to work out how to remedy this.
My puck possession was pretty good, not losing it off my stick at all due either enemy action or poor pass reception. Several times I manipulated my position relative to the puck on my stick to ensure I kept my body between chasing opponent and the puck. On two occasions I managed to steal it from inches in front of an opponent's blade (both times behind their goal). At least once I managed to pull of a stop/pivot along the board to shake an opponent and create time and space. Much smarter than has been the norm.
I had about eight shots at goal, one went in, one missed and all the rest were blocked by the goalie. I put up over 20 minutes, and was in good shape at the end. I immediately had a banana and 600ml orange juice after the game, as well as a very good stretch. Maybe that's why I'm still feeling so good?
GP 7 G 6 A 6 +12 5-1-1
Tuesday, 24 June 2014
Academy - snappy session
Seventh week in a row, cold and wet. Busy traffic. Had been reading about nutrition and hockey conditioning yesterday, put a few ideas into place today (as I had the opportunity). I have a lot to learn about diet, nutrition and the hockey lifestyle but even the tweaks I made today to my more regular routines had a positive impact both on the ice and afterwards. This last point is important as I have another training session tomorrow (Vikings inline training at Gawler).
But I digress...
Tonight was definitely more oriented towards basic skills than anything more dramatic. With no goalie and the numbers being what they were (about twenty), it was good that Mick was there to help out. We began with a few warm ups, enough that I could safely stretch out my leg muscles before we gathered for the first set of instructions.
Then began about a half hour of basic skating exercises, beginning with doing laps, transitioning at the blue lines so as to be skating backwards between them. Our collective pace and intensity was lacking, which brought a brief lecture from Corey - to always skate hard. I think he must have heard someone grumbling about not using a puck yet (?!) because, after his critique on our casual approach he announced that 'boring skating' is the core of it all, and only when one is able to do all the necessary maneuvers at the fastest speed of which one is capable of (and then some) can one say that 'I don't need to do this.' Which was all fine by me, as I love skating for skating's sake (as regular readers would know).
We then set off in pairs, racing with crossovers and tight turns in full circuits of all the faceoff circles a couple of times, then the same backwards. No pucks. Then it was about four back and forths from red to far blue line to near blue line to far red line up the ice, with stops and accelerations in between. Then throw in backwards skating segments and do several more laps.
Then it got technical. Simple end to end skating. No emphasis on speed. Outside edges. Gliding. Balance. Extension. Stability. Weight transfer. Under cut. Cross unders. Do it backwards. Notice the improvement after ten or more minutes.
Half an hour has passed. Gather a puck and meet in the centre of the ice. Instructions being given, stray skater out at a goal playing with a puck, distracting. Stray skater wanders over, Corey stops, is a little ascerbic in his comment to the stray skater, not happy Jan. Snaps out, 'you stay still, don't move! The rest of you, leave your pucks, skate a lap. Hard. Now!' And off we all go and the poor stray skater probably feels like a real goose.
Regather in centre ice. Play the puck protection game of everyone protect their own puck while skating within the blue lines, and try and knock the other player's over the blue line. If you lose your puck, go and play puck protection in the outer zones. Eventually there's only one left in the middle. Do it all again.
Then, shooting. Wrist shot, backhand, slapshot. For the wrist shots, as there was no goalie, to miss the goal mouth from the blue line incurred a ten push up penalty. I didn't have to do any, but felt sorry for some of my peers who had to do ten push ups again and again and again. Being hockey players, they did it and didn't complain. I think I missed one of the half dozen backhand shots we then did (concentrating on weight transfer). For the slap shot, this was the first time I've ever been 'officially' shown how to do it. I think my last of four attempts could be called a weak slapshot, so I guess there was progress. I sure miss my summer shooting sessions in the neighborhood!
Finally, about ten minutes of a rolling battle drill at each end of the ice, involving groups in each corner and the coach in the centre. A skater would race out from each corner, tight turn around the neutral zone dots and race back in towards the goal. Meanwhile the coach had sent a puck somewhere into the zone. The skaters race for it. Whoever gets it will try and get a goal. The other defends. Next pair. Around and around and around for about ten minutes. We had four skaters in one corner to start with and five in the other. I kept getting beat in the skating by a sheila who was at her first academy session but played in NSW. I held my own (though not necessarily 'winning' very often) against the others I went against. My speed was lacking.
End of session. Good yarn with Old Timer Stephen afterwards while I munch on a banana and have a mandarin while cooling off in my gear, watching the next training session.
Just another night at the Ice Arena!
But I digress...
Tonight was definitely more oriented towards basic skills than anything more dramatic. With no goalie and the numbers being what they were (about twenty), it was good that Mick was there to help out. We began with a few warm ups, enough that I could safely stretch out my leg muscles before we gathered for the first set of instructions.
Then began about a half hour of basic skating exercises, beginning with doing laps, transitioning at the blue lines so as to be skating backwards between them. Our collective pace and intensity was lacking, which brought a brief lecture from Corey - to always skate hard. I think he must have heard someone grumbling about not using a puck yet (?!) because, after his critique on our casual approach he announced that 'boring skating' is the core of it all, and only when one is able to do all the necessary maneuvers at the fastest speed of which one is capable of (and then some) can one say that 'I don't need to do this.' Which was all fine by me, as I love skating for skating's sake (as regular readers would know).
We then set off in pairs, racing with crossovers and tight turns in full circuits of all the faceoff circles a couple of times, then the same backwards. No pucks. Then it was about four back and forths from red to far blue line to near blue line to far red line up the ice, with stops and accelerations in between. Then throw in backwards skating segments and do several more laps.
Then it got technical. Simple end to end skating. No emphasis on speed. Outside edges. Gliding. Balance. Extension. Stability. Weight transfer. Under cut. Cross unders. Do it backwards. Notice the improvement after ten or more minutes.
Half an hour has passed. Gather a puck and meet in the centre of the ice. Instructions being given, stray skater out at a goal playing with a puck, distracting. Stray skater wanders over, Corey stops, is a little ascerbic in his comment to the stray skater, not happy Jan. Snaps out, 'you stay still, don't move! The rest of you, leave your pucks, skate a lap. Hard. Now!' And off we all go and the poor stray skater probably feels like a real goose.
Regather in centre ice. Play the puck protection game of everyone protect their own puck while skating within the blue lines, and try and knock the other player's over the blue line. If you lose your puck, go and play puck protection in the outer zones. Eventually there's only one left in the middle. Do it all again.
Then, shooting. Wrist shot, backhand, slapshot. For the wrist shots, as there was no goalie, to miss the goal mouth from the blue line incurred a ten push up penalty. I didn't have to do any, but felt sorry for some of my peers who had to do ten push ups again and again and again. Being hockey players, they did it and didn't complain. I think I missed one of the half dozen backhand shots we then did (concentrating on weight transfer). For the slap shot, this was the first time I've ever been 'officially' shown how to do it. I think my last of four attempts could be called a weak slapshot, so I guess there was progress. I sure miss my summer shooting sessions in the neighborhood!
Finally, about ten minutes of a rolling battle drill at each end of the ice, involving groups in each corner and the coach in the centre. A skater would race out from each corner, tight turn around the neutral zone dots and race back in towards the goal. Meanwhile the coach had sent a puck somewhere into the zone. The skaters race for it. Whoever gets it will try and get a goal. The other defends. Next pair. Around and around and around for about ten minutes. We had four skaters in one corner to start with and five in the other. I kept getting beat in the skating by a sheila who was at her first academy session but played in NSW. I held my own (though not necessarily 'winning' very often) against the others I went against. My speed was lacking.
End of session. Good yarn with Old Timer Stephen afterwards while I munch on a banana and have a mandarin while cooling off in my gear, watching the next training session.
Just another night at the Ice Arena!
Monday, 23 June 2014
Synchro Inputs
On Sunday, evolving my stopping drill towards a quick acceleration drill. Crossunders the (present) key. Watch youtube video today while checking out 'puck protection' with kids drilling these same basic moves, except much more fluid than me. Then they 'stepped it up' to be doing it with quickness (ie using twitch muscles and rapidity in fast short drill). On the bus trip home from work, reading about the methodology for 'quickness' in agility training.
Adrenaline lose to Mustangs
After our Sunday Skate session (see previous post) I took B back to his home and did the social thing briefly before hopping back into the car and returning to the rink for the Australian Ice Hockey League game between Adelaide Adrenaline and the Melbourne Mustangs. I got there part way through the first period, using my new North Vikings I.H.C. membership card (issued the night before at our Wheelers game) to get a discount entry price. How cool, to get in at cheaper rate without having to book ahead!
I had a seat in the temporary stands erected on the small ice rink, about four rows up. Well rugged up and with a blanket, I was never the less getting pretty cold after a couple hours. This despite having loaded up with coffee, dried fruit and a muesli bar after the afternoon's exertions. Still, I did alright and was only mildly famished by the end of the day.
There were quite a few Mustangs fans (evidenced by the sweaters etc). None were too near me, I was surrounded by a mixture of people of different 'types' (15-60, working class to posh and snobby, male and female) who all loved their hockey and turning up at the event. The crowd got boisterous when the Adrenaline were about to score a goal, went stunningly quiet if we gave away a goal, respectfully applauded a very good exhibition of play that resulted in a brilliant individual effort at goal on the Mustang's part. The Gawler section of the crowd (seated not far from me) were the most vocal in our area of the stands, especially so for 'Petey', who's the patron spirit of the Viking club in many ways. I must make more of a point of sitting with them next time. I did enjoy it when I brought the boys, afterall.
Overall, a sense of disappointment with the local team, who gave away two goals through bad passing, and two more through poor positioning allowing identical breakaways, but support for those players who showed a bit of oomph and who didn't give up.
As always when watching the Adrenaline, amazed at the raw speed and skill these guys display, and the absolutely continuous nature of the sport. It is unrelenting in its competitiveness, right up to the final siren. Final score was 6-3.
I got home cold and tired and hungry, but the experience well worth it. Will go again.
I had a seat in the temporary stands erected on the small ice rink, about four rows up. Well rugged up and with a blanket, I was never the less getting pretty cold after a couple hours. This despite having loaded up with coffee, dried fruit and a muesli bar after the afternoon's exertions. Still, I did alright and was only mildly famished by the end of the day.
There were quite a few Mustangs fans (evidenced by the sweaters etc). None were too near me, I was surrounded by a mixture of people of different 'types' (15-60, working class to posh and snobby, male and female) who all loved their hockey and turning up at the event. The crowd got boisterous when the Adrenaline were about to score a goal, went stunningly quiet if we gave away a goal, respectfully applauded a very good exhibition of play that resulted in a brilliant individual effort at goal on the Mustang's part. The Gawler section of the crowd (seated not far from me) were the most vocal in our area of the stands, especially so for 'Petey', who's the patron spirit of the Viking club in many ways. I must make more of a point of sitting with them next time. I did enjoy it when I brought the boys, afterall.
Overall, a sense of disappointment with the local team, who gave away two goals through bad passing, and two more through poor positioning allowing identical breakaways, but support for those players who showed a bit of oomph and who didn't give up.
As always when watching the Adrenaline, amazed at the raw speed and skill these guys display, and the absolutely continuous nature of the sport. It is unrelenting in its competitiveness, right up to the final siren. Final score was 6-3.
I got home cold and tired and hungry, but the experience well worth it. Will go again.
Sunday Skate - Back at the Arena
Yesterday I went down to the Arena with my skate Buddy, B (9). He had been very understanding of my requests to go and play in the Shinnys down at Noarlunga over the previous fortnight so I thought that the least I could do to make it up to him was go for our usual weekly skate this week. The guys in the Shinny group had been equally understanding when I had told them that I was unlikely to turn up this week. Without even knowing them, B has a bunch of allies there who empathised with his need to skate!
B was his usual charming self, patiently waiting in the queue for us to get in, having eaten breakfast and drunk some water before we left, and two hours after we started skating he even called me off the ice five minutes before we had to (!) so we didn't get caught up in the crush to get out of there ('just one more lap, B!').
For the first time he had a go at tightening and tying his own skates unassisted and made a not bad job of it (gives him good incentive to work on is lace tying skills lol). More imporantly, he told me about an hour into the session that he thought his laces needed retightening - I'd said I'd be happy to do it if/when he thought it needed doing. He was working in small segments of time on the various skills he has either been taught at his skating lessons (eg. forwards and backwards skating, turns, crossovers, one foot glides) or that he has taught himself (hockey stops). In between, he just cruised around and seemed as always to be well in tune with himself and his fellow skaters. I am quite proud of him!
For me, I stayed on the ice for one lap longer than B, which means that I didn't get to stop except to tighten laces for two hours. I was a bit sore from the Wheeler's game the night before, so took a while to warm up. Over the two hour session I did maybe ten sets of 5 each way back and forth stops with three accelerating steps between (aiming at getting the acceleration occuring as the change in direction reaches its point of transition by crossing over as I finish the stop and pushing under on the outside edge as the first impetus). A couple of times I felt it 'flow', so it won't be too long and this skill will become operational.
I had breakthrough sessions in two other base skills I've been pursuing for months now; balancing/skating on the toe tips (maybe doing ten or so blue to blue tottering runs on my toe tips - where once for a few strides I felt the 'click' as posture and skate handling and momentum combined to move me quicker than my running motion alone could do), and repeat jumping in sets of ten while skating across the rink on the red line with landings occuring on alternating sides of the line as did so. With the jumps, I lifted my legs high for the first time and it probably looked either weird or spectacular. I was doing the jumps in a bounding motion - probably not the safest. I did maybe five of these drills. So, for skill acquisition, it was pretty valuable session.
For the rest of the time, I just enjoyed cavorting around and basically playing around with the various techniqes I know to have fun.
Excellent day!
B was his usual charming self, patiently waiting in the queue for us to get in, having eaten breakfast and drunk some water before we left, and two hours after we started skating he even called me off the ice five minutes before we had to (!) so we didn't get caught up in the crush to get out of there ('just one more lap, B!').
For the first time he had a go at tightening and tying his own skates unassisted and made a not bad job of it (gives him good incentive to work on is lace tying skills lol). More imporantly, he told me about an hour into the session that he thought his laces needed retightening - I'd said I'd be happy to do it if/when he thought it needed doing. He was working in small segments of time on the various skills he has either been taught at his skating lessons (eg. forwards and backwards skating, turns, crossovers, one foot glides) or that he has taught himself (hockey stops). In between, he just cruised around and seemed as always to be well in tune with himself and his fellow skaters. I am quite proud of him!
For me, I stayed on the ice for one lap longer than B, which means that I didn't get to stop except to tighten laces for two hours. I was a bit sore from the Wheeler's game the night before, so took a while to warm up. Over the two hour session I did maybe ten sets of 5 each way back and forth stops with three accelerating steps between (aiming at getting the acceleration occuring as the change in direction reaches its point of transition by crossing over as I finish the stop and pushing under on the outside edge as the first impetus). A couple of times I felt it 'flow', so it won't be too long and this skill will become operational.
I had breakthrough sessions in two other base skills I've been pursuing for months now; balancing/skating on the toe tips (maybe doing ten or so blue to blue tottering runs on my toe tips - where once for a few strides I felt the 'click' as posture and skate handling and momentum combined to move me quicker than my running motion alone could do), and repeat jumping in sets of ten while skating across the rink on the red line with landings occuring on alternating sides of the line as did so. With the jumps, I lifted my legs high for the first time and it probably looked either weird or spectacular. I was doing the jumps in a bounding motion - probably not the safest. I did maybe five of these drills. So, for skill acquisition, it was pretty valuable session.
For the rest of the time, I just enjoyed cavorting around and basically playing around with the various techniqes I know to have fun.
Excellent day!
Sunday, 22 June 2014
Game Day - Shufflers (4) d Wheelers (3)
We went down in a hard fought game against the Shufflers in the last game of the night at Gawler. Although we had our full roster (5 skaters and Matt the Goalie) Brenton had played in the preceding Div II contest between the Rockers and Bumpers as a reserve,so we were probably half a skater down. Never the less, the rest of us were rested and experienced enough to cope. Despite the loss, we remain on top of the ladder at this midpoint of the season with 9 points. Shufflers are second with 8 points. Rockers are third with 7 points.
Opening shift for me was about six minutes long, which is too long but I was able to cope with it on this occasion as during the early stages of the game I was using my head at least as much as my skates to make the most of my opportunities. I scored the first goal after Alex chased down his own rebound and passed it back to me in the slot. He scored the second after a bit of maneuvering around in the slot after I'd passed it to him from centre (no assist for me, however).
The Shufflers two stars (Alen and Mark) combined to score one back within the minute of our second, and then Mark put in their second about five minutes later with a powerful wrist shot from their right point. I managed a couple more rush shots, neither of which went in, although one nearly slid beneath their late dropping goalie. At least I wasn't missing the goal mouth!
We went into half time at 2-2 and had a bit of discussion on our bench about the fact that we should be clearing their screening forward away from our goalie's crease (the Shufflers were leaving one of their skaters right up against our goalmouth much of the time, not that I think that it was a cause of any scoring despite its distractive value). I argued that that meant that they were a skater down elsewhere on the floor and this was a weakness in their plans. I did agree, however, that we would need to make the most of this advantage if we were to warrant not sending our defence back to keep the goal mouth clear. Which would mean we should be talking more, which we hadn't been. Which was a valid point. And then it was back onto the floor.
First Period
Opening shift for me was about six minutes long, which is too long but I was able to cope with it on this occasion as during the early stages of the game I was using my head at least as much as my skates to make the most of my opportunities. I scored the first goal after Alex chased down his own rebound and passed it back to me in the slot. He scored the second after a bit of maneuvering around in the slot after I'd passed it to him from centre (no assist for me, however).
The Shufflers two stars (Alen and Mark) combined to score one back within the minute of our second, and then Mark put in their second about five minutes later with a powerful wrist shot from their right point. I managed a couple more rush shots, neither of which went in, although one nearly slid beneath their late dropping goalie. At least I wasn't missing the goal mouth!
We went into half time at 2-2 and had a bit of discussion on our bench about the fact that we should be clearing their screening forward away from our goalie's crease (the Shufflers were leaving one of their skaters right up against our goalmouth much of the time, not that I think that it was a cause of any scoring despite its distractive value). I argued that that meant that they were a skater down elsewhere on the floor and this was a weakness in their plans. I did agree, however, that we would need to make the most of this advantage if we were to warrant not sending our defence back to keep the goal mouth clear. Which would mean we should be talking more, which we hadn't been. Which was a valid point. And then it was back onto the floor.
Second Period
We got the first goal of the second period about five minutes in, with Alex passing to Matt to drop it in. I could feel our confidence rising.It was only a minute or so later however, and they answered with first one, and then a few minutes later a second to take the lead. it could have been worse, as just before that the puck had bounced down from crossbar to land outside the line, and another shot had traveled along the line within the goal mouth for at least a couple feet before being steered out by someone (me?).
Maybe foolishly, I came off shortly after their fourth goal, perhaps assuming that we could split the remaining four minutes between us to keep a head of steam going (we were out skating them, although not out shooting). I was disappointed that at least one of our skaters stayed on the floor long after he'd lost all his concentration and ability to accelerate and chase down loose pucks (and hence, kept turning over possession straight after we had fended off yet another attack) until there was only a minute to go.
The final minute was pretty dramatic. We were under assault, Matt and I coming off the bench on a defensive zone face off. I didn't feel uncomfortable, however, as we were both skating strong and we had the skills. Sadly, a bad bounce in the faceoff and I was in a mad race to the backboard with Nicoletta, followed by a mad crash as we both hit the floor very hard to keep up the fight (we do this every game, and love it). I was up on my feet quickly to see that in front of me there was a scrum in the crease, with Matt the Goalie out to the side by a couple feet. Unusually for me, I skated between him and the goalmouth, aiming to cover the wide open side. Lucky I did, because a hard shot came in and I only just managed to get my boot in the way and save the goal. This was the second goal I saved in the evening, having earlier jammed the puck into our blind goalie's pad until he could get a glove onto it to protect it against the questing stick of the aggressive forward.
When the siren went it was 3-2, and smiles all round. Several spectators commented to me in the aftermath about how competitive the whole game had been. I couldn't argue with that.
My Game
My game was quite reasonable. Probably 20 minutes on the floor, one goal, set up another (though no points for this), directly saved two goals, was on the floor for one of theirs. I wasn't aware of a screening forward in front of our goalie when I was present. I played more in the neutral zone in a 'striker' role, dropping back for loose pucks or to help the goalie when necessary. I provided a reset option several times, and didn't once miss receiving the puck. Most risky thing I think I did was pass the puck back to Matt the Goalie on one occasion so he could effectively commence the breakout. I don't think I missed the goal with any of my four shots.
I had several of my own breakout passes intercepted by the opposition because I passed it too close to them and too soft. I will have to pick my passing options better in future.
GP6 G5 A5 PT10 +8 4/1/1
Thursday, 19 June 2014
Vikings Training - more puck work
Last night I made it to Gawler after battling traffic all the way so as to be only 10 minutes late. Sigh. Managed to do one circuit of the evening's first drill, skating up the length of the rink around which maybe 6 pairs of 'witches hat' cones were set up, having to do full circuits as fast as possible around each one (getting down as low as possible in the stance). Then it was into the drills.
Firstly, and most simply, two groups of skaters in opposite corners at opposing ends of the floor. Occupied goals at both ends. Pucks with each group. A skater would wait for someone from the opposite group to skate down their side of the rink and then curl across in front of the goal while calling for the puck. The skater would pass it to them (and they would then try and skate back towards the initial end to have a shot) and take off to themself skate up the boards, curl across the front of the opposing goal while calling for the puck, receive the pass from a player in the opposite corner (who would at this point themselves take off up their board (and hence, alongside the (now puck carrying skater)) to curl around in front of the goal to take a pass, etc...) and then skate hard towards the original end so as to get a shot off on goal before rejoining the original group.
We then conducted a three line weave. This entailed forming three groups on one goal line. The opposite goal was occupied (ie only the one goalie on the floor). A player in the centre line (F1) would pass the puck to the skater from the second line (F2) who was going up and curling towards the centre. F1 would then continue their own curl towards the boards alongside which F2 had started and skate hard up the wing to then cut in towards the goal. Meanwhile, F2 would continue their curl towards the right boards, where the third skater (F3) had been keeping pace with them until shortly before entered the attack zone. Then, as F2 headed towards the right boards, F3 curled towards the centre of the attack zone. This set up the play. The idea was for F2 to pass to F3 who would quickly pass it to F1 who, if they'd skated hard and hadn't spent any time observing the success or otherwise of the evolving play, should be coming in at the goal for a shot off the pass from F3.
Not easy to describe without pictures, and even harder to do with any ease. This drill required an effort of accuracy for the passes, and faith in the process. Especially for F1 as they had to pass and skate hard and trust that the puck would be there when they were for the culminating shot. For to look events and interpret them was to slow down and effectively kill the play. Not the easiest. We were frustrating to watch to the coach.
Finally, a game of Red Rover with two occupied goals in the centre of the floor, each facing an opposing side board, and (almost) all the players each with a puck lined up along one goal line. One or two skaters began anywhere on the floor between the two goal lines. The narrow spaces between the goal lines and the end boards was regarded as 'safe'. The idea was simple. On the whistle, the line of puck carriers would attempt to carry their puck across the floor and into the opposite safe zone. The player(s) in the middle would try and seize a puck (any puck) and get it past a goalie into the goal. While they tried to get the goal, the original puck carrier would try and get their puck back under control and into safety. If the puck went into the goal, the skater whose puck it had been joined the puckless people in the middle. They could combine to rob pucks off of carriers as they came across in the other direction, and combine to get it into the goal. A million tactical lessons in this simple game.
Hour up, (or, fifty minutes in my case) it was time to cool down and change, and head back down the highway to home.
Great evening.
Firstly, and most simply, two groups of skaters in opposite corners at opposing ends of the floor. Occupied goals at both ends. Pucks with each group. A skater would wait for someone from the opposite group to skate down their side of the rink and then curl across in front of the goal while calling for the puck. The skater would pass it to them (and they would then try and skate back towards the initial end to have a shot) and take off to themself skate up the boards, curl across the front of the opposing goal while calling for the puck, receive the pass from a player in the opposite corner (who would at this point themselves take off up their board (and hence, alongside the (now puck carrying skater)) to curl around in front of the goal to take a pass, etc...) and then skate hard towards the original end so as to get a shot off on goal before rejoining the original group.
We then conducted a three line weave. This entailed forming three groups on one goal line. The opposite goal was occupied (ie only the one goalie on the floor). A player in the centre line (F1) would pass the puck to the skater from the second line (F2) who was going up and curling towards the centre. F1 would then continue their own curl towards the boards alongside which F2 had started and skate hard up the wing to then cut in towards the goal. Meanwhile, F2 would continue their curl towards the right boards, where the third skater (F3) had been keeping pace with them until shortly before entered the attack zone. Then, as F2 headed towards the right boards, F3 curled towards the centre of the attack zone. This set up the play. The idea was for F2 to pass to F3 who would quickly pass it to F1 who, if they'd skated hard and hadn't spent any time observing the success or otherwise of the evolving play, should be coming in at the goal for a shot off the pass from F3.
Not easy to describe without pictures, and even harder to do with any ease. This drill required an effort of accuracy for the passes, and faith in the process. Especially for F1 as they had to pass and skate hard and trust that the puck would be there when they were for the culminating shot. For to look events and interpret them was to slow down and effectively kill the play. Not the easiest. We were frustrating to watch to the coach.
Finally, a game of Red Rover with two occupied goals in the centre of the floor, each facing an opposing side board, and (almost) all the players each with a puck lined up along one goal line. One or two skaters began anywhere on the floor between the two goal lines. The narrow spaces between the goal lines and the end boards was regarded as 'safe'. The idea was simple. On the whistle, the line of puck carriers would attempt to carry their puck across the floor and into the opposite safe zone. The player(s) in the middle would try and seize a puck (any puck) and get it past a goalie into the goal. While they tried to get the goal, the original puck carrier would try and get their puck back under control and into safety. If the puck went into the goal, the skater whose puck it had been joined the puckless people in the middle. They could combine to rob pucks off of carriers as they came across in the other direction, and combine to get it into the goal. A million tactical lessons in this simple game.
Hour up, (or, fifty minutes in my case) it was time to cool down and change, and head back down the highway to home.
Great evening.
Wednesday, 18 June 2014
Academy - Puck'n Strong!
Last night I was at the Ice Arena for my sixth session in a row of Corey's weekly Ice Hockey Academy. As always, it was a enjoyable, educational and exhausting hour! Many thanks to Nancy for making it possible for me to attend, the demands any half serious hockey player makes on the household economia is considerable, and in a sense we owe it all to our loved ones.
Sentimentality over, it was onto the ice. After several laps he had us skating as hard as we could between the blue lines while we did several laps. Then he had us do it the other way for several more. Then we had a minutes breather while he explained the next evolution of the drill. Namely, one whistle meant do a stop and then take off in the opposite direction as hard as you can. Two whistles meant that one had to immediately do a full tight circle and then continue in the direction you were going as hard as you could. And then it was the equivalent of several laps of this. And then it was, 'get a drink'. This was a conditioning exercise, also termed 'cardio' (by a colleague who is also into fitness per se).
Then we did a sequence of drills where one of the concentration points was puck handling, with introductions of skating techniques and positioning (hockey sense) to culminate in basic teamwork practice.
The initial exercise was to drop gloves on the ice in front of one, about one and a half times the distance apart of one's feet in the classic hockey stance. Then, stick handle the puck in figure of eights around the gloves. Then, reorganise the gloves so they are the same distance apart, but now the second glove is just that distance in front of you. Then, kick the gloves apart to the distance of two sticks lying end on end and skate between them, carrying the puck. Then pick up the speed. Then, leave the pucks in a pile and cycling from one end of the ice to the other and back, via doing fast circles around each of the five face-off circles. Then do this with a puck.
Then, everyone grab a puck and gather in the zone between the one blue line and adjacent red goal line. The (empty goal) was put in the middle of the zone. Everyone, keep moving, protect your puck, try and knock other players' pucks into the goal. If your puck gets scored with, you go up to the far blue line and start back and forth between it and its nearby goal line, doing hockey stops and accelerating out of it each time. I think I could have kept going the whole way through the long battle between the final two puck carriers (of whom I knew both), but once I was only able to accelerate out of the stop every second one on average I found it quite easy to stop the exhausting skate/stop routine and watch the battle play out at the other end of the ice. The winnner was the one who first decided to just leave their puck alone on the board and chase down the opponent and their puck to seize it and score. Then, get a drink.
When we returned to the ice,.refreshed, there were a sequence of 'witch's hat' cones spaced about two stick lengths apart in a line up one side of the rink between the non neutral zone circles, and a goal with goalie at the other end. The idea was to skate in a fast slalom through the cones and then have a shot on goal. After a few rounds of this, four cones were put into a diamond shape (same distance between them as the others) in the zone nearest where the drill began and a pile of pucks dropped in the top corner diagonally opposite where the skaters had begun from. The idea was now to pick up a puck after passing the goal (after your shot) and then carry it back, making full circuits of each of the cones while carrying it. Then, rather than doing circles, skate back down the middle of the cones after taking your shot, dangling the puck, 'outside' or 'inside' each of the cones in the diamond (depending if the cone was near the boards or not). Then, repeat the skating drills but this time start alongside the pile of pucks nearest the goal (ie we were all near the goal and able to hear the exhortations and have things pointed out to us about the shooting). Then, get a drink.
Then, step it up. This time, all the cones were scattered in a random pattern across one end of the rink. The goalie in his net was down the other. All the skaters gathered in the middle, with the pucks in a pile nearby. Skater 1 would go up and weave a pattern (nothing in particular) through the cones, curling back towards the centre, they were to call for the puck shortly after turning. The second skater of the pair would pass the first the puck, then pivot so as to be skating in the same direction (ie. towards the goal) but backwards, in front of the skater 1 with the puck. Skater 1 was offence, skater 2 was defence. Idea was to either get a shot off on goal (either into the goal or requiring a goalie save from which rebound didn't go in) or get it out off the zone to end the play and get the next pair moving from the centre.
Just to lighten the mood (and, I suspect, give the goalie a breather) we all then had to line up on a goal line on our knees. We had to get up to our feet as quick as we could, go as fast as we could to the blue line. Drop to our knees and get to our feet and to the centre line, then the next blue line, then the far goal line. Then back. Rinse and repeat. Get a drink.
The final puck handling exercise of the evening was a four line drill, starting from the opposite end of the ice to the goalie. From right to left, the four roles of the various lines were; puck carrier, puck carrier defence, puck support and puck support defence. Essentially, a two on two battle with the emphasis added now to passing/receiving and positional play. The battle zone was extended to include the neutral zone also. Everyone (as always in these things) was expected to have a go at each of the lines several times over. As there were 14 of us to start and several dropped off through it, it got to be a bit of a final conditioning exercise by the time we ran through it the last few times (eventually paced by the need to have one or more of the empty lines filled by one or more of the surviving skaters returning from the previous battle).
Finally, a strength battle tournament where everyone split into pairs, standing facing each other in the middle of the ice with each holding their hockey stick towards the opponent and holding the blade end of the opponent's stick as it was held towards them. Then, each player tries to pull the other towards the boards on their side of the rink. In each bout, the first to score three times against the opponent wins. Then play the winner of a neighboring pair. Continue until only one pair left. Then they fight it out. It was a contest of strength and stability. When one lost one's footing you were even more helpless than when resisting a stronger bigger person's pull. It took agility to get to one's feet and keep resisting the opponent. I was getting the hang of it by the time I had been knocked out 3-0 by fellow Knight Andy in the first round. I had a bit of a cheer squad during my intense struggle in the final round.
The night concluded with the final bout, and all the rest of us having quite a laugh as the final two used their varied abilities in strength and catlike agility to determine the victor.
A great evening.
Sentimentality over, it was onto the ice. After several laps he had us skating as hard as we could between the blue lines while we did several laps. Then he had us do it the other way for several more. Then we had a minutes breather while he explained the next evolution of the drill. Namely, one whistle meant do a stop and then take off in the opposite direction as hard as you can. Two whistles meant that one had to immediately do a full tight circle and then continue in the direction you were going as hard as you could. And then it was the equivalent of several laps of this. And then it was, 'get a drink'. This was a conditioning exercise, also termed 'cardio' (by a colleague who is also into fitness per se).
Then we did a sequence of drills where one of the concentration points was puck handling, with introductions of skating techniques and positioning (hockey sense) to culminate in basic teamwork practice.
The initial exercise was to drop gloves on the ice in front of one, about one and a half times the distance apart of one's feet in the classic hockey stance. Then, stick handle the puck in figure of eights around the gloves. Then, reorganise the gloves so they are the same distance apart, but now the second glove is just that distance in front of you. Then, kick the gloves apart to the distance of two sticks lying end on end and skate between them, carrying the puck. Then pick up the speed. Then, leave the pucks in a pile and cycling from one end of the ice to the other and back, via doing fast circles around each of the five face-off circles. Then do this with a puck.
Then, everyone grab a puck and gather in the zone between the one blue line and adjacent red goal line. The (empty goal) was put in the middle of the zone. Everyone, keep moving, protect your puck, try and knock other players' pucks into the goal. If your puck gets scored with, you go up to the far blue line and start back and forth between it and its nearby goal line, doing hockey stops and accelerating out of it each time. I think I could have kept going the whole way through the long battle between the final two puck carriers (of whom I knew both), but once I was only able to accelerate out of the stop every second one on average I found it quite easy to stop the exhausting skate/stop routine and watch the battle play out at the other end of the ice. The winnner was the one who first decided to just leave their puck alone on the board and chase down the opponent and their puck to seize it and score. Then, get a drink.
When we returned to the ice,.refreshed, there were a sequence of 'witch's hat' cones spaced about two stick lengths apart in a line up one side of the rink between the non neutral zone circles, and a goal with goalie at the other end. The idea was to skate in a fast slalom through the cones and then have a shot on goal. After a few rounds of this, four cones were put into a diamond shape (same distance between them as the others) in the zone nearest where the drill began and a pile of pucks dropped in the top corner diagonally opposite where the skaters had begun from. The idea was now to pick up a puck after passing the goal (after your shot) and then carry it back, making full circuits of each of the cones while carrying it. Then, rather than doing circles, skate back down the middle of the cones after taking your shot, dangling the puck, 'outside' or 'inside' each of the cones in the diamond (depending if the cone was near the boards or not). Then, repeat the skating drills but this time start alongside the pile of pucks nearest the goal (ie we were all near the goal and able to hear the exhortations and have things pointed out to us about the shooting). Then, get a drink.
Then, step it up. This time, all the cones were scattered in a random pattern across one end of the rink. The goalie in his net was down the other. All the skaters gathered in the middle, with the pucks in a pile nearby. Skater 1 would go up and weave a pattern (nothing in particular) through the cones, curling back towards the centre, they were to call for the puck shortly after turning. The second skater of the pair would pass the first the puck, then pivot so as to be skating in the same direction (ie. towards the goal) but backwards, in front of the skater 1 with the puck. Skater 1 was offence, skater 2 was defence. Idea was to either get a shot off on goal (either into the goal or requiring a goalie save from which rebound didn't go in) or get it out off the zone to end the play and get the next pair moving from the centre.
Just to lighten the mood (and, I suspect, give the goalie a breather) we all then had to line up on a goal line on our knees. We had to get up to our feet as quick as we could, go as fast as we could to the blue line. Drop to our knees and get to our feet and to the centre line, then the next blue line, then the far goal line. Then back. Rinse and repeat. Get a drink.
The final puck handling exercise of the evening was a four line drill, starting from the opposite end of the ice to the goalie. From right to left, the four roles of the various lines were; puck carrier, puck carrier defence, puck support and puck support defence. Essentially, a two on two battle with the emphasis added now to passing/receiving and positional play. The battle zone was extended to include the neutral zone also. Everyone (as always in these things) was expected to have a go at each of the lines several times over. As there were 14 of us to start and several dropped off through it, it got to be a bit of a final conditioning exercise by the time we ran through it the last few times (eventually paced by the need to have one or more of the empty lines filled by one or more of the surviving skaters returning from the previous battle).
Finally, a strength battle tournament where everyone split into pairs, standing facing each other in the middle of the ice with each holding their hockey stick towards the opponent and holding the blade end of the opponent's stick as it was held towards them. Then, each player tries to pull the other towards the boards on their side of the rink. In each bout, the first to score three times against the opponent wins. Then play the winner of a neighboring pair. Continue until only one pair left. Then they fight it out. It was a contest of strength and stability. When one lost one's footing you were even more helpless than when resisting a stronger bigger person's pull. It took agility to get to one's feet and keep resisting the opponent. I was getting the hang of it by the time I had been knocked out 3-0 by fellow Knight Andy in the first round. I had a bit of a cheer squad during my intense struggle in the final round.
The night concluded with the final bout, and all the rest of us having quite a laugh as the final two used their varied abilities in strength and catlike agility to determine the victor.
A great evening.
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