This evening Justine took a group of Knights and friends for a training session at the Ice Arena. Close to twenty showed up. They varied in skill from hockey academy rookies to youngsters verging on A Grade. I would have placed myself somewhere in the middle of the pack, though that was probably not justified by performance. I say this because I could compare what I know I am capable of against the actual performance of others, what I could do against what they did. I ranked myself favourably in comparison to quite a few that outwardly appeared to be fairly equal to me, mainly because I haven't touched the ice more than a half dozen times over the last five months whereas many of the others are on it several times per week. Whatever.
Drills included a 'baseball game' for a warm up (plus ten push ups) followed by ten minutes of simple skate technique; forwards, backwards and transitions. Then the 'defence game' (when I played a few rounds as defence and the same as a forward). Then a few 'body bouts', with the puck on a faceoff dot, a defender in the circle and an attacker trying to 'break in'. Then a three on three 'basketball style' shinny to wrap things up.
No great moments for me, more a feeling a basic competence and potential usefulness. The work I've been doing this off season, limited almost entirely to strength, endurance and fitness, has certainly freed up my play to some extent. I will have to step up the off-ice training a bit, though, if I want to be able to play hockey games with such a noticeable improvement evident throughout the game. And, of course, skating and stick skills need to be sharpened up considerably.
My skates were not an issue, perhaps for the first time. Although I wasn't skating at full power I was still being pretty agile. Previously I would have had my boots sliding out from under me on several occasions through the session. This time, all good. Similar with the pain perspective, I was totally unaware of my boots for 90% of the time I had them on and I didn't have sore feet when I took them off. The original cotton Bauer laces that I put back on might be making the difference, combined with a more refined approach to tightening them.
Ice: 27
Fridge
Showing posts with label Shinny. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shinny. Show all posts
Friday, 7 August 2015
Saturday, 25 April 2015
A HUGE Sunday!
Last Sunday was a big day. I got to watch my first Pee Wee game as one of my grandsons played his first ever hockey game. The Puck God then smiled on Edmonton and the ping pong balls of the draft lottery fell our way, securing first pick in what sounds like the best draft in over a decade or three. And then I got to play till I puked with some friends down at Noarlunga for the first shinny of the year. What a day!
Pee Wee Penguins!
Blake played his first ever game, accounted well for himself. You could see him learning the ropes as the minutes passed. Will be really cool to watch him develop. Nancy recorded almost the whole game. I pulled out his bits and put them together onto three youtube clips (below), having finally worked out how to do so in HD. I hope he enjoys and wish him all the best.
First Period
Second Period
Third Period
Puck God guides the Ping Pong Balls
In the NHL all teams who don't make the playoffs have a chance of winning the first pick in the upcoming draft. This is done by way of a lottery, with the thirtieth placed team having the best chance of winning, the seventeenth having the least chance. The Oilers had ended up 28th, giving them a 11/5% chance. This would be the fourth first in six years if the Puck God smiled on them. The prize was the right to draft Connor MacDavid. Things started looking up in Edmonton from the moment we won the pick. This kid is amazing.
Play till you puke!
To cap off a great day I made my way down to Noarlunga for the first for the year of the occasional shinnies that are organised amongst my peers in C Grade. Unfortunately there were a lot less of us than had originally stuck their hands up, six actually. Which meant playing 2 on 2 for an hour was absolutely exhausting (especially as am coming off a lung complaint over the previous week), so I got to feel that strange pride that comes from playing till you puke.
A Great Afternoon to end off a Great Day!
Ice 23
Pee Wee Penguins!
Blake played his first ever game, accounted well for himself. You could see him learning the ropes as the minutes passed. Will be really cool to watch him develop. Nancy recorded almost the whole game. I pulled out his bits and put them together onto three youtube clips (below), having finally worked out how to do so in HD. I hope he enjoys and wish him all the best.
First Period
Second Period
Third Period
Puck God guides the Ping Pong Balls
In the NHL all teams who don't make the playoffs have a chance of winning the first pick in the upcoming draft. This is done by way of a lottery, with the thirtieth placed team having the best chance of winning, the seventeenth having the least chance. The Oilers had ended up 28th, giving them a 11/5% chance. This would be the fourth first in six years if the Puck God smiled on them. The prize was the right to draft Connor MacDavid. Things started looking up in Edmonton from the moment we won the pick. This kid is amazing.
Play till you puke!
To cap off a great day I made my way down to Noarlunga for the first for the year of the occasional shinnies that are organised amongst my peers in C Grade. Unfortunately there were a lot less of us than had originally stuck their hands up, six actually. Which meant playing 2 on 2 for an hour was absolutely exhausting (especially as am coming off a lung complaint over the previous week), so I got to feel that strange pride that comes from playing till you puke.
A Great Afternoon to end off a Great Day!
Ice 23
Monday, 13 April 2015
The Week and a Bit that was.
April 2nd (Easter Thursday) was Blake's first hockey training with his new team mates and opponents. He'd been wary due the fact that he had a school sports day beforehand, but made it and did his best and did quite well. He will account for himself well in this league, didn't embarass himself despite being one of the youngest, smallest and least experienced players out there.
April 3rd (Good Friday) I went down the school in the late morning before my day was going to get busy. I realised very quickly that Good Friday was not going to be the day to be shooting record scores. In fact, my heart wasn't in it at all and for the first time ever I abandoned my shooting drills through lack of interest. Instead, I just lazily skated around the court for about twenty minutes of low intensity half hearted drills. Then I skated home.
As a side note, we had two groups of visitors, afternoon and evening. In the afternoon I met Vic, a Canadian who had (of course) once played hockey. In the evening I met Neil, who had played ice hockey some time in the eighties in Adelaide. First time ever I met these guys, first time ever I've met two people in one day who have a hockey history independent of mine.
April 4th (Easter Saturday), I confirmed my willingness to play inline hockey at Gawler in the winter season. On the assumption I'll play 2nd Division again, I opted to stick with the Wheelers as first preference but stated could change teams, divisions, days available (eg can play either Saturday or Sunday) to suit the coordinator's needs.
I also got confirmation that will be in the first Noarlunga Shinny of the off season, two weeks later. There are more skaters than spots available for these shows, is great to be in at the start. I won't be attending them too frequently, but it is really nice to know that I'm able to play with this group of comrades. It will be fun to play and compare tales of our respective seasons and experiences.
April 5th (Easter), take a friend (Steve) to watch the C Grade All Stars game at the Ice Arena. It was his first ever game and he enjoyed it more than he thought he would. He ended up watching the whole of what turned out to be a good competitive game.
April 8, I walked around with a grin for the rest of the day once I learned that Edmonton had beat the LA Kings 4-2, making things very tough for LA to get into the playoffs (they subsequently failed to do so). I was too tired after a busy day at work to go skating that night, so for the second Wednesday in a row didn't go to the Ice Arena.
April 11, Go skating down the school in the morning and put a couple hundred shots on target. Interspersed with about eight drills of limited duration involving puck carrying and handling. Didn't push it hard either at the school or on the hill climb home due the fact that I hadn't skated for over a week and was a little light on hydration. For my efforts, scored a record 35% shooting rate for the first hundred shots!
7/10/12/6, 8/8/6/3 (30%)
So, despite very little skating, not a bad week and a bit. I have had a good rest. Perhaps as a result, have noticed my knee is almost back to full mobility - there is no discomfort or pain produced in any of the postures and angles that previously did so. Just in time for the commencement of my off season campaign.
Inline 25 and 26
April 3rd (Good Friday) I went down the school in the late morning before my day was going to get busy. I realised very quickly that Good Friday was not going to be the day to be shooting record scores. In fact, my heart wasn't in it at all and for the first time ever I abandoned my shooting drills through lack of interest. Instead, I just lazily skated around the court for about twenty minutes of low intensity half hearted drills. Then I skated home.
As a side note, we had two groups of visitors, afternoon and evening. In the afternoon I met Vic, a Canadian who had (of course) once played hockey. In the evening I met Neil, who had played ice hockey some time in the eighties in Adelaide. First time ever I met these guys, first time ever I've met two people in one day who have a hockey history independent of mine.
April 4th (Easter Saturday), I confirmed my willingness to play inline hockey at Gawler in the winter season. On the assumption I'll play 2nd Division again, I opted to stick with the Wheelers as first preference but stated could change teams, divisions, days available (eg can play either Saturday or Sunday) to suit the coordinator's needs.
I also got confirmation that will be in the first Noarlunga Shinny of the off season, two weeks later. There are more skaters than spots available for these shows, is great to be in at the start. I won't be attending them too frequently, but it is really nice to know that I'm able to play with this group of comrades. It will be fun to play and compare tales of our respective seasons and experiences.
April 5th (Easter), take a friend (Steve) to watch the C Grade All Stars game at the Ice Arena. It was his first ever game and he enjoyed it more than he thought he would. He ended up watching the whole of what turned out to be a good competitive game.
April 8, I walked around with a grin for the rest of the day once I learned that Edmonton had beat the LA Kings 4-2, making things very tough for LA to get into the playoffs (they subsequently failed to do so). I was too tired after a busy day at work to go skating that night, so for the second Wednesday in a row didn't go to the Ice Arena.
April 11, Go skating down the school in the morning and put a couple hundred shots on target. Interspersed with about eight drills of limited duration involving puck carrying and handling. Didn't push it hard either at the school or on the hill climb home due the fact that I hadn't skated for over a week and was a little light on hydration. For my efforts, scored a record 35% shooting rate for the first hundred shots!
7/10/12/6, 8/8/6/3 (30%)
So, despite very little skating, not a bad week and a bit. I have had a good rest. Perhaps as a result, have noticed my knee is almost back to full mobility - there is no discomfort or pain produced in any of the postures and angles that previously did so. Just in time for the commencement of my off season campaign.
Inline 25 and 26
Wednesday, 9 July 2014
Sunday Skate - Noarlunga Shinny
On Sunday I headed down to Noarlunga for a two hour shinny on the small ice. I got there a little late, there being already about six on the ice and what looked to me like a helluva lot of players in the final stages of kitting up. They were putting themselves through some simple 2 on 1 drills with our one goalie (John) as I got dressed. I managed to play a couple times as the '1' (D) before it was time to break into teams and get the game going.
We had a total of fifteen skaters, which broke down into 'darks' (8) and 'lights' (7) plus the goalie. I had a choice of sweaters, wore my (white) Canadian one to make the teams roughly even. It sure was nice on this occasion to have a rotating bench with enough time to gather one's breath before heading back out, especially compared to last time when my team had only had a bench of one (!) which made it hard yards by the end.
I combined the decent sized bench with short shifting (between one and two minutes a shift) so that I was still firing on all cylinders in the final period. I noticed that by then quite a few of my fellow players were slowing right down. I don't think I was.
An innovation from the last occasion I was there was the use of the electronic score board. We played three periods of twenty minutes, and about ten minutes at the end for everyone who was still willing to get on and go for it.
Basically, good match training.
At the end of the first period the Darks led 3-2. This was surprisingly good as it seemed to me that they basically outsized and outskilled us (they had a couple of seriously proficient C graders who played to win), although our mosquito tactics ensured that we scored two goals to stay in touch close to the end of the period. I spent much of my ice time trying to make position on the ice, chasing dumped pucks, racing opponents towards the boards. I was on the ice for at least one of their goals.
The second period was great, scoreline at the end being tied 6-6. I scored one of the goals on the play which followed one where I put the initial assist out of the slot to Ben(?) the playmaker on the boards, who passed it to the eventual scorer at point. The goal I scored, I again had passed it to Ben in the corner, who passed it up the boards to our third player who in turn shot it across the goal to me who had drifted to the far post and I just had to tap it in. Which I did. The goal drew some applause. It was a seriously good section of play in its teamwork. It's ephemera such as this that make shinnys so magical.
The third period was their runaway one, skating out victors 13-7. Matt with the Darks scored five goals in the period and seemed to have been the difference for the first ten minutes. After that, our lot were a bit demoralised, though we closed the hemorrhage in front of the net at least. I did note that I wasn't on the ice for many of their goals and I was on for ours, which was something.
It was a fun day, played at a higher level than previously. This was partly due the incremental improvement in the play of the 'originals', also the injection of fresh faces after an invitation was posted on the C Grade page (which is more likely to be read by premium c graders than the more casual variety).
There was quite a bit of physicality through the day, no mercy being shown to size or gender. I was monstered on the boards a couple times before I got my own chance to dominate one of my tormentors. I did it by immobilising his stick with mine, braced by one leg and using the other to kick the puck where I wanted it to go. He took it a bit more cautiously against me in future.
Footwork was actually quite an important part of the repertoire for in-close puckhandling under pressure I noticed, from one of our premium whites' habit of kicking the puck as he carried it through traffic, to Ben using foot skills with the puck and his stick to go through a whole line to crash the net and force what I thought was the most gutsy goal of the game. I should have known it would be like this (ie physical) when I had a visceral reaction against a big black bruins sweater someone was wearing during the pregame. I've never really had a reaction like that. No wonder Bruins fans love their Bruinness if it causes such a reaction more generally! Maybe I watched too much NHL this year lol.
When I got home for another meal I had to admit it was a most magnificent way to spend a sSunday evening.
We had a total of fifteen skaters, which broke down into 'darks' (8) and 'lights' (7) plus the goalie. I had a choice of sweaters, wore my (white) Canadian one to make the teams roughly even. It sure was nice on this occasion to have a rotating bench with enough time to gather one's breath before heading back out, especially compared to last time when my team had only had a bench of one (!) which made it hard yards by the end.
I combined the decent sized bench with short shifting (between one and two minutes a shift) so that I was still firing on all cylinders in the final period. I noticed that by then quite a few of my fellow players were slowing right down. I don't think I was.
An innovation from the last occasion I was there was the use of the electronic score board. We played three periods of twenty minutes, and about ten minutes at the end for everyone who was still willing to get on and go for it.
Basically, good match training.
At the end of the first period the Darks led 3-2. This was surprisingly good as it seemed to me that they basically outsized and outskilled us (they had a couple of seriously proficient C graders who played to win), although our mosquito tactics ensured that we scored two goals to stay in touch close to the end of the period. I spent much of my ice time trying to make position on the ice, chasing dumped pucks, racing opponents towards the boards. I was on the ice for at least one of their goals.
The second period was great, scoreline at the end being tied 6-6. I scored one of the goals on the play which followed one where I put the initial assist out of the slot to Ben(?) the playmaker on the boards, who passed it to the eventual scorer at point. The goal I scored, I again had passed it to Ben in the corner, who passed it up the boards to our third player who in turn shot it across the goal to me who had drifted to the far post and I just had to tap it in. Which I did. The goal drew some applause. It was a seriously good section of play in its teamwork. It's ephemera such as this that make shinnys so magical.
The third period was their runaway one, skating out victors 13-7. Matt with the Darks scored five goals in the period and seemed to have been the difference for the first ten minutes. After that, our lot were a bit demoralised, though we closed the hemorrhage in front of the net at least. I did note that I wasn't on the ice for many of their goals and I was on for ours, which was something.
It was a fun day, played at a higher level than previously. This was partly due the incremental improvement in the play of the 'originals', also the injection of fresh faces after an invitation was posted on the C Grade page (which is more likely to be read by premium c graders than the more casual variety).
There was quite a bit of physicality through the day, no mercy being shown to size or gender. I was monstered on the boards a couple times before I got my own chance to dominate one of my tormentors. I did it by immobilising his stick with mine, braced by one leg and using the other to kick the puck where I wanted it to go. He took it a bit more cautiously against me in future.
Footwork was actually quite an important part of the repertoire for in-close puckhandling under pressure I noticed, from one of our premium whites' habit of kicking the puck as he carried it through traffic, to Ben using foot skills with the puck and his stick to go through a whole line to crash the net and force what I thought was the most gutsy goal of the game. I should have known it would be like this (ie physical) when I had a visceral reaction against a big black bruins sweater someone was wearing during the pregame. I've never really had a reaction like that. No wonder Bruins fans love their Bruinness if it causes such a reaction more generally! Maybe I watched too much NHL this year lol.
When I got home for another meal I had to admit it was a most magnificent way to spend a sSunday evening.
Wednesday, 2 July 2014
Flow through midseason crisis to position of strength
Those who have been reading this blog since its inception may remember some early references I made to the neurotransmitter/hormone, noradrenaline (otherwise known as Norepinephrine or, sometimes, 'the hockey hormone'). Since that time I have neither made nor, more importantly, seen reference to it anywhere.
Hold that thought and let me tell you more...
Nearly twenty years ago at an obscure point in my university daze I came across the work of a russian academic in an american journal discussing a state of consciousness he termed 'flow'. What impressed me at the time was that he 'operationalised' the term, defining 'going with the flow' in terms of what is actually experienced and laying out certain conditions that were a necessary precedent to the state arising. His work had some objective validity because it was based on interviews with, over the decades, tens of thousands of people from all classes and places in the world. His findings were universally applicable. The saddest thing about this story is that I have long forgotten the name of the guy and long ago lost my copy of the seminal article he authored on the subject. The concept of 'flow' however, was one that has resonated ever since.
Snap back to the present...
Imagine my joy, therefore, when, while perusing one of my favourite weely blogosphere visits (Sports IQ), I came across a post discussing recent advances in understanding the state of 'flow' via its neurochemical and neuroelectrical bases. Even better, it referred both to the work of my missing scientist (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) and Norepinephrine (where we learn amongst other things that a significant natural source of the substance is found in banana peel). Both in the one article! Good stuff.
Flash forward to physical development.
You may recall from my last two posts that one of the things I have recently bumped into both in games and training has been my lack of necessary size/strength/skill in physical battles for position. I can't really alter size, and skill will come when I know what I need to learn (the first intuitive steps being taken in Sami's drill last night), but I can take on the process of building my strength immediately.
Afterall, after this week's coming game I have a break from inline hockey for five weeks (!) and it looks like I won't be doing either ice academy or playing anything but Sunday shinnies at Noarlunga for at least a couple months yet, so I am effectively in a (midseason) offseason. Which is apparently the best time in a busy hockey player's life to do some strength training. Which is what I need to do.
So guess what I'll be developing in my hockey development discipline over the next few months?
As a first step, I had a little talk with Jess, the personal trainer who I know best. She has given me a few suggestions of various simple 'exercises' using either only one's own body or a simple weight at most. Thus, no need for a gym (which she knows I don't want to do if can be avoided). And she's told me which muscle sets they work on (after assessing my need from her knowledge of my goal) which is for me to then tailor to my needs.
So, combining this with the growing understanding I have of how mind/body/life works when doing new developmental things, I think I have worked out how I can productively channel the unexpected opportunity my midseason crisis offers. And it will make me a more dangerous hockey player to boot (my 'meta plan' through this period between ice hockey seasons).
Thanks Jess!
Hold that thought and let me tell you more...
Nearly twenty years ago at an obscure point in my university daze I came across the work of a russian academic in an american journal discussing a state of consciousness he termed 'flow'. What impressed me at the time was that he 'operationalised' the term, defining 'going with the flow' in terms of what is actually experienced and laying out certain conditions that were a necessary precedent to the state arising. His work had some objective validity because it was based on interviews with, over the decades, tens of thousands of people from all classes and places in the world. His findings were universally applicable. The saddest thing about this story is that I have long forgotten the name of the guy and long ago lost my copy of the seminal article he authored on the subject. The concept of 'flow' however, was one that has resonated ever since.
Snap back to the present...
Imagine my joy, therefore, when, while perusing one of my favourite weely blogosphere visits (Sports IQ), I came across a post discussing recent advances in understanding the state of 'flow' via its neurochemical and neuroelectrical bases. Even better, it referred both to the work of my missing scientist (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) and Norepinephrine (where we learn amongst other things that a significant natural source of the substance is found in banana peel). Both in the one article! Good stuff.
Flash forward to physical development.
You may recall from my last two posts that one of the things I have recently bumped into both in games and training has been my lack of necessary size/strength/skill in physical battles for position. I can't really alter size, and skill will come when I know what I need to learn (the first intuitive steps being taken in Sami's drill last night), but I can take on the process of building my strength immediately.
Afterall, after this week's coming game I have a break from inline hockey for five weeks (!) and it looks like I won't be doing either ice academy or playing anything but Sunday shinnies at Noarlunga for at least a couple months yet, so I am effectively in a (midseason) offseason. Which is apparently the best time in a busy hockey player's life to do some strength training. Which is what I need to do.
So guess what I'll be developing in my hockey development discipline over the next few months?
As a first step, I had a little talk with Jess, the personal trainer who I know best. She has given me a few suggestions of various simple 'exercises' using either only one's own body or a simple weight at most. Thus, no need for a gym (which she knows I don't want to do if can be avoided). And she's told me which muscle sets they work on (after assessing my need from her knowledge of my goal) which is for me to then tailor to my needs.
So, combining this with the growing understanding I have of how mind/body/life works when doing new developmental things, I think I have worked out how I can productively channel the unexpected opportunity my midseason crisis offers. And it will make me a more dangerous hockey player to boot (my 'meta plan' through this period between ice hockey seasons).
Thanks Jess!
Sunday, 15 June 2014
Sunday Skate - Noarlunga Shinny
For the second week in a row I traveled down to Noarlunga for a two hour shinny on the small ice. The traffic was a bit heavier than last week and I got a lot of red lights, which on top of leaving about 20 minutes later than I'd hoped to meant that I got there twenty minutes after the booking had started. The crew were out there hitting pucks around and doing a few drills when I got there. Gave me a chance to do a sweater count before picking which of the ones I had brought I should wear. To even the on ice colour combination, I went with my white Canada 'away' sweater.
Again, we had one goalie (John). This time, only the one female (Rene). I think there were three blooded C graders. We had a total of nine skaters plus the goalie, which split to 3 white plus 1 orange (Joel, Michael and me, and Rene, respectively) versus 5 of the dark colours (Matt in a black blackhawks, Anthony in his beloved blues, an oiler and a plain black, and Lachie in his Canucks top). The Blues team had the most 'emotionally investive' competitive players as well as the least skilled skater, We had a work/wo/man like crew.
By the time I got onto the ice it was nearly 4:30 pm (puck drop). We played two twenty minute and one thirty minute period, with intermissions of about ten and five minutes between them. The last five minutes of the last period were 'all in'. I kept my own personal tally (3 goals, 1 clear assists), found out from the competitive ones that the score was 7-7 at the end. This added a smile to my face because I'd got the last goal to finish the last play of the evening! That's the second tied game of my weekend. At least I managed to put the puck on net when it counted tonight, unlike in last night's Wheelers game!
The final fifteen minutes saw a general drop off in skill execution. At least once in that time I went down due my legs giving out, and had to really struggle to find the energy to get back to my feet. I wasn't the only one that had that experience. My brain at least didn't shut down (as evidenced by the options evaluation and shot selection for my final skate in (culminating in the game tying goal).
Despite the hard playing and eventual fatigue, there weren't any significant injuries. I probably copped the worst one, when a slapshot puck ricocheted off of my right inner forearm. In almost fifty sessions of ice hockey this is the first time the puck has found the gap between glove and elbow pad. It stung at the time and there's a red welt there now, but that seems the limit of the damage.
Our team (Joel, Mike, me and Rene) had all been together the previous week so, by accident more than design, we also got the chance to experience a bit of team development. I think it really showed in how we played, and that's possibly the greatest lesson to take away from the whole experience.
I felt that I was much more aware of where my team mates were, and we were all much more willing to communicate with and trust each other (maybe the secret of here doesn't lie in juxtaposition, but an evolving feedback loop) to the extent of passing off and resetting, holding the puck to give off a pass rather than take a weak shot, etc. Thus, more offensive puck protection, as well as looking for ice amongst the non puck handlers.
We had three relatively strong skaters, two good stickhandlers, and three skaters under thirty (the oppo had four such), and we are all at least minimally competent at the various arts of the sport, and we all have heart. Despite the oppo's scorecounting competitiveness and size (they had the three largest, and four of the top five) we seemed to be more likely to out muscle it, even after an hour and a half of battling. And, perhaps most importantly, our defence held strong with aggressive checking, slot, player and lane coverage.
My own game continues to improve in its effectiveness (and not just on the scoreline). When defending, I concentrated on keeping both opponent and play in my field of view and shielding the slot. Occasionally I'd pinch in a race to the puck or to take over the pressuring role on the puck carrier. Around the boards I didn't leave an easy clearance for them, and tried to always make them feel under pressure. The main attack dog role was taken by Mike and Joel, I tried to always be able to be in a position allowing them an outlet or support if they needed it. I even did some creative stick checking, using position to lever an oppo's stick into practical immobility (despite their superior strength) or flicking that extra inch at the outstretch to just put the shot or pass off. A certain ferociousness in the one on one battles certainly added a bit of spice to the whole thing.
Offensively, my game involved more seizure of the puck, when it came up for dispute, a little bit more thought about where or who to pass it to if I didn't have a good shot, and on several occasions the creation of enough time in the slot to select a shot that pierced the goalie's guard (a backhand on a flyby, taking up position by the weakside post to receive a pass, and the final shot from the top of the slot as their skaters covered all my team mates, momentarily creating a clear shooting lane for a 'saucer shot' that fooled the goalie as it dipped). My shots aren't necessarily strong, but the slower puck can still easily lead to a goal (Rene was there and unchecked for the rebound on that final shot).
My skating is improving, though I need to continue to reduce skating backwards when supporting the puck carrier. I am more quick in my accelerating starts, wasn't beaten today. Will need to continue to work on this. My fitness was a minor concern earlier, especially having played last night. After the first ten or so minutes, however, I got into the rhythm. I had good team mates who were happy to give me the shorter shifts I felt warranted with only four of us, and felt that I pulled my weight in time on ice. None of us got blown. In other words, my match conditioning is improving.
The technical aspects of my passing were satisfactory, with the puck pretty well always going where I wanted it to. The decisional aspects, however, were very poor tonight. I turned it over at least ten times by poor selection from my options (I probably stole it that many times also, so didn't feel as bad about this as I should do). My shooting, as said earlier, was not strong but it was on net and I did use my head enough to get a couple goals. The assist was a very neat pass, part of a larger passing sequence, involving delaying and controlling the puck in the corner long enough for Rene to get into shooting position and then passing it to her tape to tape. The later goal when we combined culminated after a swooping series of passes between her, me and Joel where we all deserved a point and even the oppo applauded the way we put the play together. Speaking of which, my puck reception seems to be improving, didn't lose any to bounces off my blade tonight.
At the end of the session, it was a case of pay up and get out of there as broomballers started arriving. I made sure this week I did some stretches before getting in the car, and had a nice warm shower after putting away all my gear and before eating dinner. So my body feels better than it did last week at this time, despite what I know to have been a more intense past 48 hours.
All good.
Again, we had one goalie (John). This time, only the one female (Rene). I think there were three blooded C graders. We had a total of nine skaters plus the goalie, which split to 3 white plus 1 orange (Joel, Michael and me, and Rene, respectively) versus 5 of the dark colours (Matt in a black blackhawks, Anthony in his beloved blues, an oiler and a plain black, and Lachie in his Canucks top). The Blues team had the most 'emotionally investive' competitive players as well as the least skilled skater, We had a work/wo/man like crew.
By the time I got onto the ice it was nearly 4:30 pm (puck drop). We played two twenty minute and one thirty minute period, with intermissions of about ten and five minutes between them. The last five minutes of the last period were 'all in'. I kept my own personal tally (3 goals, 1 clear assists), found out from the competitive ones that the score was 7-7 at the end. This added a smile to my face because I'd got the last goal to finish the last play of the evening! That's the second tied game of my weekend. At least I managed to put the puck on net when it counted tonight, unlike in last night's Wheelers game!
The final fifteen minutes saw a general drop off in skill execution. At least once in that time I went down due my legs giving out, and had to really struggle to find the energy to get back to my feet. I wasn't the only one that had that experience. My brain at least didn't shut down (as evidenced by the options evaluation and shot selection for my final skate in (culminating in the game tying goal).
Despite the hard playing and eventual fatigue, there weren't any significant injuries. I probably copped the worst one, when a slapshot puck ricocheted off of my right inner forearm. In almost fifty sessions of ice hockey this is the first time the puck has found the gap between glove and elbow pad. It stung at the time and there's a red welt there now, but that seems the limit of the damage.
'Team White'
Our team (Joel, Mike, me and Rene) had all been together the previous week so, by accident more than design, we also got the chance to experience a bit of team development. I think it really showed in how we played, and that's possibly the greatest lesson to take away from the whole experience.
I felt that I was much more aware of where my team mates were, and we were all much more willing to communicate with and trust each other (maybe the secret of here doesn't lie in juxtaposition, but an evolving feedback loop) to the extent of passing off and resetting, holding the puck to give off a pass rather than take a weak shot, etc. Thus, more offensive puck protection, as well as looking for ice amongst the non puck handlers.
We had three relatively strong skaters, two good stickhandlers, and three skaters under thirty (the oppo had four such), and we are all at least minimally competent at the various arts of the sport, and we all have heart. Despite the oppo's scorecounting competitiveness and size (they had the three largest, and four of the top five) we seemed to be more likely to out muscle it, even after an hour and a half of battling. And, perhaps most importantly, our defence held strong with aggressive checking, slot, player and lane coverage.
My Game
My own game continues to improve in its effectiveness (and not just on the scoreline). When defending, I concentrated on keeping both opponent and play in my field of view and shielding the slot. Occasionally I'd pinch in a race to the puck or to take over the pressuring role on the puck carrier. Around the boards I didn't leave an easy clearance for them, and tried to always make them feel under pressure. The main attack dog role was taken by Mike and Joel, I tried to always be able to be in a position allowing them an outlet or support if they needed it. I even did some creative stick checking, using position to lever an oppo's stick into practical immobility (despite their superior strength) or flicking that extra inch at the outstretch to just put the shot or pass off. A certain ferociousness in the one on one battles certainly added a bit of spice to the whole thing.
Offensively, my game involved more seizure of the puck, when it came up for dispute, a little bit more thought about where or who to pass it to if I didn't have a good shot, and on several occasions the creation of enough time in the slot to select a shot that pierced the goalie's guard (a backhand on a flyby, taking up position by the weakside post to receive a pass, and the final shot from the top of the slot as their skaters covered all my team mates, momentarily creating a clear shooting lane for a 'saucer shot' that fooled the goalie as it dipped). My shots aren't necessarily strong, but the slower puck can still easily lead to a goal (Rene was there and unchecked for the rebound on that final shot).
My skating is improving, though I need to continue to reduce skating backwards when supporting the puck carrier. I am more quick in my accelerating starts, wasn't beaten today. Will need to continue to work on this. My fitness was a minor concern earlier, especially having played last night. After the first ten or so minutes, however, I got into the rhythm. I had good team mates who were happy to give me the shorter shifts I felt warranted with only four of us, and felt that I pulled my weight in time on ice. None of us got blown. In other words, my match conditioning is improving.
The technical aspects of my passing were satisfactory, with the puck pretty well always going where I wanted it to. The decisional aspects, however, were very poor tonight. I turned it over at least ten times by poor selection from my options (I probably stole it that many times also, so didn't feel as bad about this as I should do). My shooting, as said earlier, was not strong but it was on net and I did use my head enough to get a couple goals. The assist was a very neat pass, part of a larger passing sequence, involving delaying and controlling the puck in the corner long enough for Rene to get into shooting position and then passing it to her tape to tape. The later goal when we combined culminated after a swooping series of passes between her, me and Joel where we all deserved a point and even the oppo applauded the way we put the play together. Speaking of which, my puck reception seems to be improving, didn't lose any to bounces off my blade tonight.
At the end of the session, it was a case of pay up and get out of there as broomballers started arriving. I made sure this week I did some stretches before getting in the car, and had a nice warm shower after putting away all my gear and before eating dinner. So my body feels better than it did last week at this time, despite what I know to have been a more intense past 48 hours.
All good.
Sunday, 8 June 2014
Sunday Skate - Noarlunga Shinny
As mentioned yesterday, I recently had an invitation to join a shinny (scratch match) down at the diminutive Noarlunga ice rink this evening. After reorganising the weekend to some degree (taking advantage of the fact that there was no inline matches over this long weekend) I had the space, and so headed off in the mid afternoon to the deep south of Adelaide's urban sprawl. Getting there in plenty of time, there was no one I recognised but the rink confirmed that the ice was hired for a couple hours from 4. So I grabbed a cuppa and hung out to watch the troops arrive.
Which they duly did. By the time we were scheduled to start we had the ice set up and teams formed. The ice is squarish in dimensions, and smaller in length than the small ice at the Ice Arena. It's a cool little place, actually, set up originally by a Scandinavian emigre simply for the love of the ice, and it's kept going now for decades with a little government and a lot of community support. Anyway, its ice is more accessible than that of the Arena (both in terms of availability at civilised hours and cost). Which is ironic because it lies much further away for most of those that came than does the Arena, the majority of whom seem to reside in the northern suburbs. The rink manager manually prepared the ice while we were getting changed. It's all so much smaller in scale than Thebarton, and I wish I could use it more. So it was a total pleasaure to reaquint myself with it (I was last here 18 months ago, before I'd ever hit a puck with intent, so the experience was almost as new).
Our gathering of players was really what this was all about, however. Despite not being told who was likely to come by the fellow who invited me, I'd pretty well guessed many of the participants before I got there. Which was really cool, because if they consider me to be part of their cohort then that is an honour and privilege! Mitch I'd known from my first 'learn to skate' lesson, Ben from Wednesday evenings, most of the others from various phases of mine at the academy. There were a couple others, but good blokes so all was well. One goalie, two sheilas, three or four blooded C graders, for a total of 12.
The people side of the experience is pretty significant. Everyone present was of similar level in hockey ability, different abilities and skills meant that everyone had a role and no one was totally outclassed. More importantly, we mainly knew each other and there were no strangers. No ego and little uncouth emotion. Those I knew, I have seen under high pressure mental and physical and have respect for all as decent people. We all share the peculiar passion for this game which is a bond in itself, and were willing to put our safety into each other's hands to prove it. To an outsider, would have been interesting to see, the cameraderie and friendship as we came in, the no holds barred physical and mental struggle that followed, the business like friendly departures. It's a nice feeling of belonging.
We split into two teams white with the single red sweater v the coloureds. I had my Vikings sweater on and was thus with the coloureds. We played three on three, with a bench of two for each team. There was one goal set up, teams would take turns being offence/defensive, determined by puck possession. If a team gained possession while playing defence and carried it to within a couple metres of the far wall, they became the offensive team and could launch their attack.
We had two hours with three five minute breaks. Within my team we seemed to have more or less equal shift times, with only Nuono taking extra time out as he hasn't played for fifteen years (what a brave man!). Although I was tired at the end I was still able to function on the ice relatively well and use my head. This makes me pretty happy, there is no way I would have managed this six months ago. As I write this though, several hours later, I am pretty sore all over :-) and suspect I'll have an earlyish night.
My team was outplayed quite handsomly by the opposition and, consequently, I got quite a bit of defensive time. Think I might have only had two shots on goal, the one which scored actually being a deflection from a east to west dump into the crowded crease. Our main systemic problem was that we gave up possession too easily after getting it. I think by the end this was improving with a bit of 'stop and think' beginning to happen. Before that, we often just dumped the puck in hopeful long stretch passes.
I've never scored a deflected goal before, so that was a good experience. Other good experiences were application of various things we've been taught, like puck protection, backwards to forwards heel to heel transitions, poke checking, deception tactics, accurate passes, finding open ice, blocking lanes, tagging and screening. All great fun. And we're all peers, so even better!
So much so, I reckon I'll do it again next week, and then when possible.
Which they duly did. By the time we were scheduled to start we had the ice set up and teams formed. The ice is squarish in dimensions, and smaller in length than the small ice at the Ice Arena. It's a cool little place, actually, set up originally by a Scandinavian emigre simply for the love of the ice, and it's kept going now for decades with a little government and a lot of community support. Anyway, its ice is more accessible than that of the Arena (both in terms of availability at civilised hours and cost). Which is ironic because it lies much further away for most of those that came than does the Arena, the majority of whom seem to reside in the northern suburbs. The rink manager manually prepared the ice while we were getting changed. It's all so much smaller in scale than Thebarton, and I wish I could use it more. So it was a total pleasaure to reaquint myself with it (I was last here 18 months ago, before I'd ever hit a puck with intent, so the experience was almost as new).
Our gathering of players was really what this was all about, however. Despite not being told who was likely to come by the fellow who invited me, I'd pretty well guessed many of the participants before I got there. Which was really cool, because if they consider me to be part of their cohort then that is an honour and privilege! Mitch I'd known from my first 'learn to skate' lesson, Ben from Wednesday evenings, most of the others from various phases of mine at the academy. There were a couple others, but good blokes so all was well. One goalie, two sheilas, three or four blooded C graders, for a total of 12.
The people side of the experience is pretty significant. Everyone present was of similar level in hockey ability, different abilities and skills meant that everyone had a role and no one was totally outclassed. More importantly, we mainly knew each other and there were no strangers. No ego and little uncouth emotion. Those I knew, I have seen under high pressure mental and physical and have respect for all as decent people. We all share the peculiar passion for this game which is a bond in itself, and were willing to put our safety into each other's hands to prove it. To an outsider, would have been interesting to see, the cameraderie and friendship as we came in, the no holds barred physical and mental struggle that followed, the business like friendly departures. It's a nice feeling of belonging.
We split into two teams white with the single red sweater v the coloureds. I had my Vikings sweater on and was thus with the coloureds. We played three on three, with a bench of two for each team. There was one goal set up, teams would take turns being offence/defensive, determined by puck possession. If a team gained possession while playing defence and carried it to within a couple metres of the far wall, they became the offensive team and could launch their attack.
We had two hours with three five minute breaks. Within my team we seemed to have more or less equal shift times, with only Nuono taking extra time out as he hasn't played for fifteen years (what a brave man!). Although I was tired at the end I was still able to function on the ice relatively well and use my head. This makes me pretty happy, there is no way I would have managed this six months ago. As I write this though, several hours later, I am pretty sore all over :-) and suspect I'll have an earlyish night.
My team was outplayed quite handsomly by the opposition and, consequently, I got quite a bit of defensive time. Think I might have only had two shots on goal, the one which scored actually being a deflection from a east to west dump into the crowded crease. Our main systemic problem was that we gave up possession too easily after getting it. I think by the end this was improving with a bit of 'stop and think' beginning to happen. Before that, we often just dumped the puck in hopeful long stretch passes.
I've never scored a deflected goal before, so that was a good experience. Other good experiences were application of various things we've been taught, like puck protection, backwards to forwards heel to heel transitions, poke checking, deception tactics, accurate passes, finding open ice, blocking lanes, tagging and screening. All great fun. And we're all peers, so even better!
So much so, I reckon I'll do it again next week, and then when possible.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)