I typed this on March 15 but for some reason never posted it (the pre-paid mobile internet didn't work out to be any quicker than dial-up used to be, perhaps).
I have been out of contact for the past month due the fact that I
moved house twice in that time and only in the last day or so finally
established a (mobile prepaid) internet connection. I am now living in a
cottage in the country about 150 kms north of Adelaide and waiting
until May 7th (when we are scheduled to be connected to regular internet
service).
Mar 12 - Mavericks 5 d Snipers 4 1-1-2 +1 GRAND FINAL
Awards: Grand Final Medal, Season Highest Scorer and Most Valued Player trophies.
We played a poor first half and went into half time down 0-2. The score had declined to 0-3 before Matt put one in for us through sheer determination. They then scored to make it 1-4 and things looked grim but we found our mojo and took the lead in the final two minutes, killing off the remaining time to come out winners. I scored the game tying goal off a pass from Natasha, and then myself provided the helper for Merrilyn's game winner. A great way to end off this season and my time in Div II (have been promoted to Division I for next season).
It was a big evening for me. Standing for the national anthem before the game was a buzz, moment of reflection and ambition. This was book ended after the game when I went up to receive my trophies. Receiving the applause of my sweaty peers meant more to me than the more abstract awards I've won previously in life.
Mar 5 - Mavericks 2 d Bumpers 0 1-1-2 +2 SEMI FINAL
Possibly our best game for the season. Short shifts, good talking, accurate passing, physically determined, desperate. My favorite play was the one that led to our second goal. It was within two minutes of the end of the game when Craig got behind us on a rush, I set off in hot pursuit. I had been about to end a tiring shift and so this was a major effort. It didn't take me more than a step or two as I crossed the half way line that I realised I wouldn't catch him. This didn't slow me down or stop me, however, and I was close enough to him when he took his shot to clip his stick with mine, resulting in a total miss on his part. I was able to wheel and retrieve the puck much quicker than he was and I was shortly on my own one man mission up the board, cross through the centre, deke around their last defender before faking and pulling a shot so that Matt the Goalie committed himself. Then taking stock of where the gaps were and picking one and shooting for it (between his right arm and leg) and getting it. I sort of raised my stick but skated off for a quick breather before being sent back out by Brenton to see out the game. Very spent the next day with a lot of upper body muscular soreness due several strength battles with Craig and Dallas.
Feb 27 - Mavericks 6 d Bumpers 2, 4-1-5 +4
Feb 20 - Mavericks 3 d Shufflers 1, 1-2-3 +3 PIMS 2
Feb 13 - Snipers 4 d Mavericks 3, 0-0-0 +/-0 PIMS 2
Regular season Stats - GP 10 G 22 A 13 Pts 35 +27 7/3/0 PIMS 10
Playoff Stats GP 2 G 2 A 2 Pts 4 +3 2/0/0
Fridge
Showing posts with label Mavericks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mavericks. Show all posts
Monday, 9 May 2016
Saturday, 13 February 2016
Game Day - Bumpers (4) d Mavericks (3) SO
Regular season Inline hockey returned to Gawler on Saturday Night. We lost our Division II game against the Bumpers in a clean close-fought game that ended up in a them taking the shootout victory with a solitary goal by the adult rookie, Dallas, in his first game with the team. With him on board they had five skaters, the same as us. They had Matt the Goalie, we had Josh. Neither team had a bench manager.
The game was important to both teams in terms of position on the ladder. The Division is very competitive this year, three teams with one point between them (we were in first position coming out of the summer break, on goal difference) and only four games before finals and any of the four teams can beat any other on a good day. The points were important.
I was on the first shift. It was controlled and fluid. Their 'new' guy game out after I had changed out, scored a goal shortly afterwards. He has quite a shot and this was effectively his way of announcing that fact. From that moment on the game was one of continuous catch-up and them never surrendering their lead. At least, that's the way I recall events (the official game sheet, however, tells another tale).
Our first shift was good, strong skating, recovery from defence, passing to advantage and shots on goal. Shouldn't have been too self congratulatory as they scored their first goal on the next shift. Dallas, the new guy who'd been on our team in the Viking Cup, scored it from just over half way. He was skating strong and showed his good shot at that time, putting the rest of us who weren't already on notice that this was a good (ie. Div I) player.
Ten minutes later we equalised with a deft shot by myself from the mid slot, off of a pass from Merrilyn in the left corner. Between her and me were all three Bumpers. What was cool was that she deliberately held the puck despite being charged so as to have a good look and find her moment for a pass to myself. When it came it was a brilliant saucer pass, landing right on my blade allowing for what was effectively a one timer snapshot.
The game was 1-1 as we went into half time. This turned out to be an extra long break due to Josh having trouble with his goalie gear (in the end he swapped out of the ones he had on originally to some that allowed him some flexibility of movement). Although it was nice to have a long break and come back in virtually a rested state for the second half, it was disturbing to think that the opposition was also getting this benefit. I think this worked to our disadvantage as our basic fitness and conditioning was superior to the Bumpers and we would have therefore had a bit more of an edge in the final minutes if half time was shorter. Be that as it may, such is life.
I was on for their second goal, scored in the third minute by another shot from close to the centre line. This time it was by Mel. I was close to the flight of the puck and could have made an attempt to block it away if I had chosen. Instead, I decided to leave it to the goalie and it fluttered through. Nice shot, but what interests me now is that I (1) had time to consider options even as the puck was in the air, and (2) I chose to take the 'passive' approach and step back out of the puck's path to allow Josh a clearer view of it. In respect of (1), this is good as long as I don't intellectualise on the rink. In respect of (2), perhaps with the benefit of hindsight I can now say that I should have tried to block it. Recent defelcted goals seem to have shaken my confidence, if only to the extent that I now leave the long shots to the goalie to deal with.
I wasn't on the rink for our answering goal, a pass from Merrilyn to Matt in front of goal and he slamming it home. 2-2. Nor was I on for their next score, ten minutes. later. I wasn't even watching at the time but noticed that all their players were crowding our net. I gather he jammed it home from close in, an unusual goal for Craig.
They were in front 3-2 as the final minutes ticked away and the game grew desparate. I was on the rink for the final minute, had tried to rush the goal off an offensive face off, failed, found ourselves pushed back in our own end, me in the back left corner looking to get the puck forward for a final attack, notice Merrilyn coming out of the gate and springing up the right boards, wait, pass it in a long cross rink stretch pass that went tape to tape and allowed her to swoop in and score. Very neat pass.
3 all. Overtime. We ran with myself, Matt and Merrilyn and failed to score. On their side, Dallas scored the opener and then Mel and Craig failed to follow up. Their win and no points to us.
No penalties in the game despite the teams and the intensity, though I think we all came close at some time.
Besides the tight passing that led to our goals, I most recall the physical nature of the game, an almost goal when I got outfoxed by Matt the Goalie, and the fact that we kept hitting Matt's body and pads when we shot at goal (need to find the corners more often).
In terms of physicality, two incidents typify its level. On the first, I and Dallas battle on the boards behind our goal. He pins me, prevents me clearing it, tries to push it clockwise. I try and dig it out from under him and start trying to kick the puck out from him despite the pin. He ties this up by getting his foot under mine between kicks and levering it upwards. So we are pinned to uselessness against the boards and no one else can get the puck from between three of our four skates. So, and unusually, the ref blow his whistle to restart the game at a faceoff. Excellent battle.
The second example of the physicality occured AFTER we'd scored our final goal, off of a final attack by us that resulted in four bodies down in front of their goal, and everyone still pushing, shoving, slashing, except for me who is stretch right out to tie up their third player's stick as she tried to plunder the scrum. Pretty funny to see everyone down, even if Brenton had been a bit stunned after being knocked down.
The goal I shoulda got but didn't was when I went behind their goal, tried the wrap around, ended up with the puck loose behind the goalie, my stick mere inches from it, and him grabbing and immobilising it in a manner so as the ref couldn't see it. I was tempted to kick the puck in out of frustration but didn't. Good sly goal tending.
The other thing Matt the Goalie did really well was position his body and cover with his pads. The only goals we got were from elevated shots, we just didn't do them often enough. And when we did we tended to shoot at the goalie rather than the gaps. The official record says that they outshot us 21-19 but I'd say their victory was due to his goal keeping. Well done Matt.
Next game, Snipers.
GP 7 G 17 A 10 Pts 27 +20 5/2/0 PIMs 6
Inline 5
The game was important to both teams in terms of position on the ladder. The Division is very competitive this year, three teams with one point between them (we were in first position coming out of the summer break, on goal difference) and only four games before finals and any of the four teams can beat any other on a good day. The points were important.
I was on the first shift. It was controlled and fluid. Their 'new' guy game out after I had changed out, scored a goal shortly afterwards. He has quite a shot and this was effectively his way of announcing that fact. From that moment on the game was one of continuous catch-up and them never surrendering their lead. At least, that's the way I recall events (the official game sheet, however, tells another tale).
Our first shift was good, strong skating, recovery from defence, passing to advantage and shots on goal. Shouldn't have been too self congratulatory as they scored their first goal on the next shift. Dallas, the new guy who'd been on our team in the Viking Cup, scored it from just over half way. He was skating strong and showed his good shot at that time, putting the rest of us who weren't already on notice that this was a good (ie. Div I) player.
Ten minutes later we equalised with a deft shot by myself from the mid slot, off of a pass from Merrilyn in the left corner. Between her and me were all three Bumpers. What was cool was that she deliberately held the puck despite being charged so as to have a good look and find her moment for a pass to myself. When it came it was a brilliant saucer pass, landing right on my blade allowing for what was effectively a one timer snapshot.
The game was 1-1 as we went into half time. This turned out to be an extra long break due to Josh having trouble with his goalie gear (in the end he swapped out of the ones he had on originally to some that allowed him some flexibility of movement). Although it was nice to have a long break and come back in virtually a rested state for the second half, it was disturbing to think that the opposition was also getting this benefit. I think this worked to our disadvantage as our basic fitness and conditioning was superior to the Bumpers and we would have therefore had a bit more of an edge in the final minutes if half time was shorter. Be that as it may, such is life.
I was on for their second goal, scored in the third minute by another shot from close to the centre line. This time it was by Mel. I was close to the flight of the puck and could have made an attempt to block it away if I had chosen. Instead, I decided to leave it to the goalie and it fluttered through. Nice shot, but what interests me now is that I (1) had time to consider options even as the puck was in the air, and (2) I chose to take the 'passive' approach and step back out of the puck's path to allow Josh a clearer view of it. In respect of (1), this is good as long as I don't intellectualise on the rink. In respect of (2), perhaps with the benefit of hindsight I can now say that I should have tried to block it. Recent defelcted goals seem to have shaken my confidence, if only to the extent that I now leave the long shots to the goalie to deal with.
I wasn't on the rink for our answering goal, a pass from Merrilyn to Matt in front of goal and he slamming it home. 2-2. Nor was I on for their next score, ten minutes. later. I wasn't even watching at the time but noticed that all their players were crowding our net. I gather he jammed it home from close in, an unusual goal for Craig.
They were in front 3-2 as the final minutes ticked away and the game grew desparate. I was on the rink for the final minute, had tried to rush the goal off an offensive face off, failed, found ourselves pushed back in our own end, me in the back left corner looking to get the puck forward for a final attack, notice Merrilyn coming out of the gate and springing up the right boards, wait, pass it in a long cross rink stretch pass that went tape to tape and allowed her to swoop in and score. Very neat pass.
3 all. Overtime. We ran with myself, Matt and Merrilyn and failed to score. On their side, Dallas scored the opener and then Mel and Craig failed to follow up. Their win and no points to us.
No penalties in the game despite the teams and the intensity, though I think we all came close at some time.
Besides the tight passing that led to our goals, I most recall the physical nature of the game, an almost goal when I got outfoxed by Matt the Goalie, and the fact that we kept hitting Matt's body and pads when we shot at goal (need to find the corners more often).
In terms of physicality, two incidents typify its level. On the first, I and Dallas battle on the boards behind our goal. He pins me, prevents me clearing it, tries to push it clockwise. I try and dig it out from under him and start trying to kick the puck out from him despite the pin. He ties this up by getting his foot under mine between kicks and levering it upwards. So we are pinned to uselessness against the boards and no one else can get the puck from between three of our four skates. So, and unusually, the ref blow his whistle to restart the game at a faceoff. Excellent battle.
The second example of the physicality occured AFTER we'd scored our final goal, off of a final attack by us that resulted in four bodies down in front of their goal, and everyone still pushing, shoving, slashing, except for me who is stretch right out to tie up their third player's stick as she tried to plunder the scrum. Pretty funny to see everyone down, even if Brenton had been a bit stunned after being knocked down.
The goal I shoulda got but didn't was when I went behind their goal, tried the wrap around, ended up with the puck loose behind the goalie, my stick mere inches from it, and him grabbing and immobilising it in a manner so as the ref couldn't see it. I was tempted to kick the puck in out of frustration but didn't. Good sly goal tending.
The other thing Matt the Goalie did really well was position his body and cover with his pads. The only goals we got were from elevated shots, we just didn't do them often enough. And when we did we tended to shoot at the goalie rather than the gaps. The official record says that they outshot us 21-19 but I'd say their victory was due to his goal keeping. Well done Matt.
Next game, Snipers.
GP 7 G 17 A 10 Pts 27 +20 5/2/0 PIMs 6
Inline 5
Monday, 4 January 2016
2016 - Welcome!
It's a month and a half since I last posted, the first lengthy break I've had from posting on this blog since it began. It's funny how being slack with one game day review leads to a procrastinating guilty failure to blog the next, and the training session, and the milestones, and before you know it months can go by and then, no doubt, you can think 'why bother?' and that becomes the end of it all. So, to avoid the last terminal step, I've posted this up in an effort to catch up with where my journey's taken me, and kick start the blogging process into the new year of skating, hockey and general all-round fitness and fun!
Ice Hockey Games Summary
Five games since last posting:
Rangers (2) d Knights (1) 4 PIMs
Knights (5) d Kings (3) +2
Knights (3) d Storm (1)
Knights (9) d Generals (4) +2 0-2-2 2 PIMs
Knights (3) d Sharks (1) +1
GP 12 G 2 A 3 Pts 5 +6 8/3/1 10 PIMS
The Knights are a game clear in 3rd position on the ladder. Starting on January 10th we play four games over three weeks to finish off the regular season. We haven't quite clinched a playoff spot but are getting close. I've continued to play defence, generally on the first pairing (when we have pairs and are not just rotating between three of us).
Roller Hockey Game Summary
Three games since last posting:
Mavericks (11) d Shufflers (0) +6 4-1-5 2 PIMS
Snipers (5) d Mavericks (4) 2-0-2
Mavericks (5) d Shufflers (4) +2 3-1-4
GP 6 G 16 A 9 Pts 25 +19 5/1/0 6 PIMS
The Mavericks are on top of the ladder due a superior goal tally and difference, though tied on points with the Snipers. We have four games left in regular season, starting in February, followed by an elimination game and (hopefully) a grand final. I am leading the Division in points, goals and assists. For the first time since I played, all four teams have a degree of parity at the moment and it is a really good competition.
On-rink training Summary
4 inline training sessions at Gawler, the most recent being on 2 December.
8 ice training sessions, the most recent being 15 December.
2 public ice skating sessions, the most recent being 30 December.
I'll deal with my off-rink training, fitness data, and general thoughts in a later post. For now, I'll leave it all by saying that I was on the ice 74 times over 2015 and in my inline skates 65 times. It was a pretty good year!
Ice 74
Inline 65
Ice Hockey Games Summary
Five games since last posting:
Rangers (2) d Knights (1) 4 PIMs
Knights (5) d Kings (3) +2
Knights (3) d Storm (1)
Knights (9) d Generals (4) +2 0-2-2 2 PIMs
Knights (3) d Sharks (1) +1
GP 12 G 2 A 3 Pts 5 +6 8/3/1 10 PIMS
The Knights are a game clear in 3rd position on the ladder. Starting on January 10th we play four games over three weeks to finish off the regular season. We haven't quite clinched a playoff spot but are getting close. I've continued to play defence, generally on the first pairing (when we have pairs and are not just rotating between three of us).
Roller Hockey Game Summary
Three games since last posting:
Mavericks (11) d Shufflers (0) +6 4-1-5 2 PIMS
Snipers (5) d Mavericks (4) 2-0-2
Mavericks (5) d Shufflers (4) +2 3-1-4
GP 6 G 16 A 9 Pts 25 +19 5/1/0 6 PIMS
The Mavericks are on top of the ladder due a superior goal tally and difference, though tied on points with the Snipers. We have four games left in regular season, starting in February, followed by an elimination game and (hopefully) a grand final. I am leading the Division in points, goals and assists. For the first time since I played, all four teams have a degree of parity at the moment and it is a really good competition.
On-rink training Summary
4 inline training sessions at Gawler, the most recent being on 2 December.
8 ice training sessions, the most recent being 15 December.
2 public ice skating sessions, the most recent being 30 December.
I'll deal with my off-rink training, fitness data, and general thoughts in a later post. For now, I'll leave it all by saying that I was on the ice 74 times over 2015 and in my inline skates 65 times. It was a pretty good year!
Ice 74
Inline 65
Saturday, 7 November 2015
Game Day - Mavericks (8) d Bumpers (6)
We played an excellent game of inline hockey against the Bumpers in Gawler on Saturday night. We had five skaters, they had four. They had Matt the Goalie, we had Josh in his first ever time in goalie gear. Considering that the Bumpers have the strongest shot in the Division and we had a totally newb goalie I would consider it a fairly even match, despite the difference in number of skaters. Although the closeness of the match up is reflected in the final scoreline it didn't seem so for much of the game. But, indeed, that's one of the things that made it 'excellent'. Sport is a funny thing!
We scored the first goal about 10 seconds (!) in, with me skating out of the circle with the puck and Matt getting to the corner post in time for my quick pass before putting it into the empty net. I think we caught them on the hop! Not to be outdone, Craig answered back a minute later. Within two minutes, Natasha and I almost repeated the first play of the game, this time with me slotting the puck from a neat pass by Tash. Still hanging in there, the Mel skated the Bumper's second goal in two minutes after that. This was the last time they weren't behind us after Merrilyn and I combined for her to put in our third goal.
Craig was getting a bit feisty, none of his shots were getting through, and subsequently took a roughing penalty. First play off the faceoff resulted in a power play goal. Craig hadn't been back on for a whole shift after that when he took another penalty for tripping Natasha (the 'victim' of the earlier roughing call). They saw their way through that penalty and the half time siren went shortly afterwards. We were 4-2 up.
In the first five minutes of the second half we put on two more goals, 6-2. Craig kept their hopes up a minute later, but Merrilyn shortly afterwards put through what turned out to be the game winning goal when she slotted one on a joint assist from Brenton and myself, 7-3. We were feeling pretty confident at this point, further enforced by another tripping penalty being called on them a minute later.
We didn't score and the powerplay and the game then took a rapid turn as they turned up the intensity and started finding the net. Craig scored at the six minute mark and then again with only two minutes on the clock. We still had a two goal buffer. They called a time out and were able to keep their strongest line out for another shift. This strategy was rewarded with another goal with one minute left on the clock. One goal difference. One minute to go.
I grabbed the puck with aggressive wing play off the centre face off and swooped straight past them all for a one man rush. I could see a gap between the goalie and the left post and snapped a shot off at full speed. It went straight to the back of the net and I looped back to the centre dot with I'd imagine a lot of confident pride in my stance. I'd known that puck was going in from the moment I'd picked it up on my stick. Weird.
So. It was a fun and close game. We outshot them 32-16. Each side hit the pipes square on at least once. We blocked a lot of their shots before they got through to Josh, who was finding the goalie role quite a challenge. As I said to him though, he saved enough shots to win us the game. Which is all that really matters when it comes down to it.
I had another five point night against decent opposition. Alltogether, we have collected 35 individual points in the two games we've played while scoring 18 goals. That's quite amazing. We are quite a force when firing on all cylinders!
I think this procession will come to a crashing halt at some point soon, so I might as well enjoy it while I can! Which is at least until tonight when we take on the Snipers. We'll be short Matt and thus have only four skaters. The last time we met the Snipers they had six skaters. That would be pretty difficult.
GP 2 G 5 A 5 Pts 10 +8 PIMS 2 2/0/0
Inline 58
We scored the first goal about 10 seconds (!) in, with me skating out of the circle with the puck and Matt getting to the corner post in time for my quick pass before putting it into the empty net. I think we caught them on the hop! Not to be outdone, Craig answered back a minute later. Within two minutes, Natasha and I almost repeated the first play of the game, this time with me slotting the puck from a neat pass by Tash. Still hanging in there, the Mel skated the Bumper's second goal in two minutes after that. This was the last time they weren't behind us after Merrilyn and I combined for her to put in our third goal.
Craig was getting a bit feisty, none of his shots were getting through, and subsequently took a roughing penalty. First play off the faceoff resulted in a power play goal. Craig hadn't been back on for a whole shift after that when he took another penalty for tripping Natasha (the 'victim' of the earlier roughing call). They saw their way through that penalty and the half time siren went shortly afterwards. We were 4-2 up.
In the first five minutes of the second half we put on two more goals, 6-2. Craig kept their hopes up a minute later, but Merrilyn shortly afterwards put through what turned out to be the game winning goal when she slotted one on a joint assist from Brenton and myself, 7-3. We were feeling pretty confident at this point, further enforced by another tripping penalty being called on them a minute later.
We didn't score and the powerplay and the game then took a rapid turn as they turned up the intensity and started finding the net. Craig scored at the six minute mark and then again with only two minutes on the clock. We still had a two goal buffer. They called a time out and were able to keep their strongest line out for another shift. This strategy was rewarded with another goal with one minute left on the clock. One goal difference. One minute to go.
I grabbed the puck with aggressive wing play off the centre face off and swooped straight past them all for a one man rush. I could see a gap between the goalie and the left post and snapped a shot off at full speed. It went straight to the back of the net and I looped back to the centre dot with I'd imagine a lot of confident pride in my stance. I'd known that puck was going in from the moment I'd picked it up on my stick. Weird.
So. It was a fun and close game. We outshot them 32-16. Each side hit the pipes square on at least once. We blocked a lot of their shots before they got through to Josh, who was finding the goalie role quite a challenge. As I said to him though, he saved enough shots to win us the game. Which is all that really matters when it comes down to it.
I had another five point night against decent opposition. Alltogether, we have collected 35 individual points in the two games we've played while scoring 18 goals. That's quite amazing. We are quite a force when firing on all cylinders!
I think this procession will come to a crashing halt at some point soon, so I might as well enjoy it while I can! Which is at least until tonight when we take on the Snipers. We'll be short Matt and thus have only four skaters. The last time we met the Snipers they had six skaters. That would be pretty difficult.
GP 2 G 5 A 5 Pts 10 +8 PIMS 2 2/0/0
Inline 58
Tuesday, 13 October 2015
Game Day - Mavericks (10) d Snipers (0)
The Mavericks began life as an inline hockey team on Saturday with a ten goal shutout against the Snipers, the other new team entrant in the Division. Very auspicious for us!
We were composed of three Pfeiffers, Matt and me on skates, and Matt the Goalie filled in the pipes due Josh's absence at a cricket game. The Snipers had five skaters (three Lukes, Bec and Mel) with Jess the rookie goalie.
The game narrative is fairly simple. The Snipers began strongly on the attack. Within five minutes we'd corrected this and I scored the first goal shortly afterwards off a pass by Brenton. Merrilyn and Natasha each slotted another before half time. There was one first half (minorly) controversial failed goal attempt by us when the puck ended beneath the goalie's pad and Tash wasn't able to shove it entirely over the line before the whistle sounded. 3-0 at half time.
We had had twelve official shots at goal in the first half to their two (!). As if this wasn't a wide enough disparity it fails to account for what was probably that many shots again that we'd taken but which missed the goal entirely. We were pretty happy with our efforts, agreed we only really needed to get more of our shots on net to allow the puck gods to reward us appropriately.
We seem to have inherited the old Wheelers' habit of playing a stronger second than first half and we managed to pile on seven more goals before the final siren ended the Snipers' misery. We also officially put eighteen shots on net, so our shooting accuracy improved after half time. As should be expected, this was reflected in the number of goals scored. I took the only penalty of the game, a minor for interference midway through the second half. We kept them scoreless albeit they got four shots on net.
A big debut win for the Mav's. Even more encouraging, all five skaters shared in the points and we all scored at least one goal. We recorded an impressive eighteen individual points (goals or assists) for our ten goals. Good teamwork!
The Mav's are already showing some of the good qualities of our Wheeler forebears, namely a strong second half, good passing game, good defensive coverage. What we seem to have added to the palate is a remergent Matt as playmaker in the forward zone, and a willingness to play forward in defence and deny unopposed rink space in the neutral zone to the other team. If we only do this against the Bumpers we may have found our antidote to Craig and his slapshot.
My game
During the warmup I finally managed to crack the art of lifting the puck when shooting at goal. It seemed every shot type I tried could be directed into the various quadrants of the net. This is the first time this skill has 'clicked' for me so it was a tremendous pleasure to be successfully aiming at the top corner and getting it in there! Sadly I wasn't able to do it much during the game and, even when I did, not with any real precision, but it is nice to know it's possible and I just need to keep working at it.
I was on our opening line up and had a major full frontal collision with Crystal behind their goal net. It was jarring in its effect on me but I managed to keep my feet and check that she had too before continuing to skate. I was a bit conservative for a minute or so after that while I got my breath back. She skated off for a quick change. I gather she was at least as stunned as I was. It was a good reminder that Inline hockey is a collision based sport!
I scored the opening goal, then two more in the second half. Both of those goals were off of assists by Matt, one such having been deliberately passed through the legs of the Sniper who stood between us! That was probably my favourite moment, closely followed by a double assisted goal where Brenton put it into the back of the net off a cross crease pass from myself after receipt of another pass from Matt in the corner to me in the slot. All one touch passes and shot, while moving. Very slick!
My penalty was probably fair enough, though I didn't think so at the time. I was called for interference after brushing off and down Dan Luke as he collided with me from behind. He ended up on the floor as I skated off with the puck. At the time I just thought that 'he hit me first,' which he had, but didn't account for the fact that his collision hadn't been deliberate and I had kept my feet, while I had meant to contact him and he didn't keep his feet. Live and learn.
Speaking of Dan, he'll be a great skater as he seems to have his brother's speed and agility. It won't take him long if he practices and the Snipers will have two of the best skater's in the division. Josh gave me the strange experience of someone turning inside me, taking the puck, and then accelerating away quicker than I could catch them. Not only this, but I caught him at least once using a toe drag to make a blind pass. A challenge for sure to keep him in his box in future games!
I was directly involved in five goals and had a hand in a sixth.
GP 1 G 3 A 2 Pts 5 +6 1/0/0
Inline 56
We were composed of three Pfeiffers, Matt and me on skates, and Matt the Goalie filled in the pipes due Josh's absence at a cricket game. The Snipers had five skaters (three Lukes, Bec and Mel) with Jess the rookie goalie.
The game narrative is fairly simple. The Snipers began strongly on the attack. Within five minutes we'd corrected this and I scored the first goal shortly afterwards off a pass by Brenton. Merrilyn and Natasha each slotted another before half time. There was one first half (minorly) controversial failed goal attempt by us when the puck ended beneath the goalie's pad and Tash wasn't able to shove it entirely over the line before the whistle sounded. 3-0 at half time.
We had had twelve official shots at goal in the first half to their two (!). As if this wasn't a wide enough disparity it fails to account for what was probably that many shots again that we'd taken but which missed the goal entirely. We were pretty happy with our efforts, agreed we only really needed to get more of our shots on net to allow the puck gods to reward us appropriately.
We seem to have inherited the old Wheelers' habit of playing a stronger second than first half and we managed to pile on seven more goals before the final siren ended the Snipers' misery. We also officially put eighteen shots on net, so our shooting accuracy improved after half time. As should be expected, this was reflected in the number of goals scored. I took the only penalty of the game, a minor for interference midway through the second half. We kept them scoreless albeit they got four shots on net.
A big debut win for the Mav's. Even more encouraging, all five skaters shared in the points and we all scored at least one goal. We recorded an impressive eighteen individual points (goals or assists) for our ten goals. Good teamwork!
The Mav's are already showing some of the good qualities of our Wheeler forebears, namely a strong second half, good passing game, good defensive coverage. What we seem to have added to the palate is a remergent Matt as playmaker in the forward zone, and a willingness to play forward in defence and deny unopposed rink space in the neutral zone to the other team. If we only do this against the Bumpers we may have found our antidote to Craig and his slapshot.
My game
During the warmup I finally managed to crack the art of lifting the puck when shooting at goal. It seemed every shot type I tried could be directed into the various quadrants of the net. This is the first time this skill has 'clicked' for me so it was a tremendous pleasure to be successfully aiming at the top corner and getting it in there! Sadly I wasn't able to do it much during the game and, even when I did, not with any real precision, but it is nice to know it's possible and I just need to keep working at it.
I was on our opening line up and had a major full frontal collision with Crystal behind their goal net. It was jarring in its effect on me but I managed to keep my feet and check that she had too before continuing to skate. I was a bit conservative for a minute or so after that while I got my breath back. She skated off for a quick change. I gather she was at least as stunned as I was. It was a good reminder that Inline hockey is a collision based sport!
I scored the opening goal, then two more in the second half. Both of those goals were off of assists by Matt, one such having been deliberately passed through the legs of the Sniper who stood between us! That was probably my favourite moment, closely followed by a double assisted goal where Brenton put it into the back of the net off a cross crease pass from myself after receipt of another pass from Matt in the corner to me in the slot. All one touch passes and shot, while moving. Very slick!
My penalty was probably fair enough, though I didn't think so at the time. I was called for interference after brushing off and down Dan Luke as he collided with me from behind. He ended up on the floor as I skated off with the puck. At the time I just thought that 'he hit me first,' which he had, but didn't account for the fact that his collision hadn't been deliberate and I had kept my feet, while I had meant to contact him and he didn't keep his feet. Live and learn.
Speaking of Dan, he'll be a great skater as he seems to have his brother's speed and agility. It won't take him long if he practices and the Snipers will have two of the best skater's in the division. Josh gave me the strange experience of someone turning inside me, taking the puck, and then accelerating away quicker than I could catch them. Not only this, but I caught him at least once using a toe drag to make a blind pass. A challenge for sure to keep him in his box in future games!
I was directly involved in five goals and had a hand in a sixth.
GP 1 G 3 A 2 Pts 5 +6 1/0/0
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