It seemed that the puck gods were against us tonight, though is obviously not the only reason we lost so comprehensively to the Rockers. We might have had 26 shots on goal to their 13, but we didn't have the cannon who scored all five of their goals. Weak excuses? Perhaps, considering we defeated them in the first round of the season, but it seemed we didn't do anything very wrong in our game tonight and it seemed to make no difference. I guess some nights are like that!
We kept the same lines as we had last week, and everybody had shots on goal. We all covered defence fairly well. One of their goals was gotten on the break, one was an unchecked forward in the goal mouth, the rest were slapshots from thirty feet.
Despite the scoreline, I was fairly happy with my defensive game. I blocked or deflected several shots and more passes, did a couple of stick checks (including one from behind a breaking Rocker, much to his disgust), delayed and forced onto the outside their star attackers on several occasions. My passing was pretty good, although one was intercepted. I had four faceoffs and won three. Crashed into the boards several times, slightly straining my left tricep in an offensive jam in the corner. I had six shots on goal, all trapped by their young goalie, and went off to the side on three. None went in. I set up our first goal, directing Krystal into the net and passing off to Craig who then moved it to her and then in. I wasn't credited with any points. I was on for both of our goals and two of theirs.
If anything, we could do a bit more talking amongst ourselves. Apart from that, one can't complain about having 26 shots as a team. Will just have to learn to shoot harder!
Tomorrow night, Knights v Sharks at the Ice Arena at 6:15pm.
GP 4 G 5 A 3 Pts 8 +6 1/1/2
Fridge
Saturday, 15 November 2014
Thursday, 13 November 2014
Wednesday Skate - full movement!
I went on my own to the Arena for about eighty minutes' skating last night. It was a good session, not a huge amount a people so there was lots of room to be able to push myself through various large scale maneuvers at speed. I didn't once push myself into overspeed, but took things to my skill limited maximum velocity for several laps at a time while powerstriding, 'running', forwards and backwards crossover and gliding slaloms across half the ice with each loop, tight forwards and backwards slaloms and heel to heels along the goal lines, transitions both ways along the boards and on bends. I ended the evening with tight figure eights using outside edges, heel to heels, forwards and backwards crossovers both with and without transitions. Basically, my essential hockey skating routines without my stick.
No pain. No limitations out of my right knee. I intentionally put myself through routines featuring elements that had jammed my leg as recently as one week ago. This took a bit of fortitude, but the idea was to test out my recovery to see if I am ready for the next phase. It seems that I am.
Better get to it then...
No pain. No limitations out of my right knee. I intentionally put myself through routines featuring elements that had jammed my leg as recently as one week ago. This took a bit of fortitude, but the idea was to test out my recovery to see if I am ready for the next phase. It seems that I am.
Better get to it then...
Monday, 10 November 2014
Game Day - Knights (7) d Kings (2)
We played the early game on Sunday afternoon against the Kings at the Ice Arena. It was our biggest victory to date in terms of score. We played with ten skaters and Tommy in goal. The Kings had eight skaters plus goalie. I found out after the game that the Kings had had their star centre promoted up to First Division (he'd been dominating the ice too much in the five previous games).
We scored our first goal after half a minute, the second was seven minutes later. In the second period we scored within the first two minutes, and then again five minutes later. The only penalties were simultaneous slashing and roughing minors given to Aaron for his striking back at their goalie for her constant chipping at our player's feet, and subsequently pushing their D into the boards when that unfortunate skated in to defend his goalie. On the subsequent penalty kill we scored a short handed goal and they got onto the board with one of their own. Five minutes later we put on our sixth goal. In the final forty seconds of the game we scored our seventh, and they put in a final rushed goal with three seconds to go.
We had three players who scored three points on the day, with five others scoring at least a point. We now sit second on the ladder, one game behind the Flyers (our season opener victory over them being their only defeat). We lead the table in penalty minutes, and have the two most penalised players. Next week we play the lowly placed Sharks.
I played around twenty four minutes on the ice. I started on the wing for a couple of shifts, was just making the mental adjustment from having played defence so far this season when was given first option to go back to defence. I had no problems with doing this and played out the rest of the game there, generally partnering Mike. I was given the option to go back on offence if I wished, but I was more than happy learning my chops on D (one also gets more ice time on a the back end). I didn't get any points but was on the ice for three of our goals. I was also present when they scored their power play goal (though I didn't have any direct input around their scoring play).
My two shifts on the wing were played in the offensive zone, nothing particularly memorable in them except that I was beginning to get the feel of it again by the time I was given the option of moving back into defence.
For a change, I didn't ice the puck once, wasn't caught offside, didn't pass the puck offside, didn't have any of my passes intercepted. I kept the puck in their zone a couple of times, and several times held it in the neutral zone before relaunching the attack. Did a couple of nice D to D passes in these circumstances. I was not involved in the play which resulted in their first goal, this despite being out there on the penalty kill. The only advice I was given on my play through the game was after a couple shifts on D when Coach gave me some guidance on positioning (the concept of one up, one back) which I followed from then on.
I had a couple of shots towards goal from the point in the first period, neither with a chance of going in as I effectively put it into a melee of players before the crease. These were my only shots all game, the rest of it was generally in a containment role (when we were in attack) or last line defence.
I lost my feet from under me on four occasions when skating. Once in the first when back checking on a rushing forward with no one else between me and the goalie. I managed to control my slide so that still kept the opposition on the outside, giving time for our centre to get involved. I also fell down once on the break (transition) with no loss except a possible scoring opportunity (I would have been clear into the O zone if hadn't fallen) and once in the corner.
My most dramatic play was the fourth time I lost my feet. It was in the third period and I'd come out from the right corner to protect the goal from two lurking forwards. Two of us tangled and we both went down, me releasing my stick in the move so that I didn't get called for tripping. The puck was on the ice in front of my loose stick as I could see the second forward coming in for the shot, our goalie was down and out of position behind me. I didn't try and grab my stick, instead pushed it with both hands to block the shot (which I did, twice, the second time the forward came down). Then there was a welter of sticks and blades and skates striking at the puck, with my stick the main line of containment until others piled in also. Eventually there were four bodies on the ice, me and my stick on the bottom, when Tommy finally got his glove over the pile and onto the puck and brought on the whistle.
I was pretty happy with my role in this one. It was nice to have a nice win. After the game we thought that we'd been much better with our on ice communication. To me, this was confirmed in separate conversations I had with three Kings players I know after the game. All of them independently brought up the fact that our passing had been very good. I saw this as a consequence of our increased chatter. I also know that a couple of times when I either got drawn down on the offence or onto the left boards in defence (and thus out of position) I was able to direct either my wing or D partner to cover my zone, and they did. Good stuff.
My knee gave no grief. This is good as it is now five weeks since I got trampled, I was hoping to be returning to full capacity by now. Although I continue to tape it when skating I am now at the point where I need to work on its flexibility, and get back to building strength in the legs and core more generally while I rebuild my match fitness. I didn't suffer any lasting effect from playing inline hockey the night before so the back to back games every weekend might be having their own positive effect in this respect.
Next weekend, Wheelers v Rockers and Knights v Sharks.
GP 4 G 0 A 0 Pts 0 +2 3/1/0
We scored our first goal after half a minute, the second was seven minutes later. In the second period we scored within the first two minutes, and then again five minutes later. The only penalties were simultaneous slashing and roughing minors given to Aaron for his striking back at their goalie for her constant chipping at our player's feet, and subsequently pushing their D into the boards when that unfortunate skated in to defend his goalie. On the subsequent penalty kill we scored a short handed goal and they got onto the board with one of their own. Five minutes later we put on our sixth goal. In the final forty seconds of the game we scored our seventh, and they put in a final rushed goal with three seconds to go.
We had three players who scored three points on the day, with five others scoring at least a point. We now sit second on the ladder, one game behind the Flyers (our season opener victory over them being their only defeat). We lead the table in penalty minutes, and have the two most penalised players. Next week we play the lowly placed Sharks.
I played around twenty four minutes on the ice. I started on the wing for a couple of shifts, was just making the mental adjustment from having played defence so far this season when was given first option to go back to defence. I had no problems with doing this and played out the rest of the game there, generally partnering Mike. I was given the option to go back on offence if I wished, but I was more than happy learning my chops on D (one also gets more ice time on a the back end). I didn't get any points but was on the ice for three of our goals. I was also present when they scored their power play goal (though I didn't have any direct input around their scoring play).
My two shifts on the wing were played in the offensive zone, nothing particularly memorable in them except that I was beginning to get the feel of it again by the time I was given the option of moving back into defence.
For a change, I didn't ice the puck once, wasn't caught offside, didn't pass the puck offside, didn't have any of my passes intercepted. I kept the puck in their zone a couple of times, and several times held it in the neutral zone before relaunching the attack. Did a couple of nice D to D passes in these circumstances. I was not involved in the play which resulted in their first goal, this despite being out there on the penalty kill. The only advice I was given on my play through the game was after a couple shifts on D when Coach gave me some guidance on positioning (the concept of one up, one back) which I followed from then on.
I had a couple of shots towards goal from the point in the first period, neither with a chance of going in as I effectively put it into a melee of players before the crease. These were my only shots all game, the rest of it was generally in a containment role (when we were in attack) or last line defence.
I lost my feet from under me on four occasions when skating. Once in the first when back checking on a rushing forward with no one else between me and the goalie. I managed to control my slide so that still kept the opposition on the outside, giving time for our centre to get involved. I also fell down once on the break (transition) with no loss except a possible scoring opportunity (I would have been clear into the O zone if hadn't fallen) and once in the corner.
My most dramatic play was the fourth time I lost my feet. It was in the third period and I'd come out from the right corner to protect the goal from two lurking forwards. Two of us tangled and we both went down, me releasing my stick in the move so that I didn't get called for tripping. The puck was on the ice in front of my loose stick as I could see the second forward coming in for the shot, our goalie was down and out of position behind me. I didn't try and grab my stick, instead pushed it with both hands to block the shot (which I did, twice, the second time the forward came down). Then there was a welter of sticks and blades and skates striking at the puck, with my stick the main line of containment until others piled in also. Eventually there were four bodies on the ice, me and my stick on the bottom, when Tommy finally got his glove over the pile and onto the puck and brought on the whistle.
I was pretty happy with my role in this one. It was nice to have a nice win. After the game we thought that we'd been much better with our on ice communication. To me, this was confirmed in separate conversations I had with three Kings players I know after the game. All of them independently brought up the fact that our passing had been very good. I saw this as a consequence of our increased chatter. I also know that a couple of times when I either got drawn down on the offence or onto the left boards in defence (and thus out of position) I was able to direct either my wing or D partner to cover my zone, and they did. Good stuff.
My knee gave no grief. This is good as it is now five weeks since I got trampled, I was hoping to be returning to full capacity by now. Although I continue to tape it when skating I am now at the point where I need to work on its flexibility, and get back to building strength in the legs and core more generally while I rebuild my match fitness. I didn't suffer any lasting effect from playing inline hockey the night before so the back to back games every weekend might be having their own positive effect in this respect.
Next weekend, Wheelers v Rockers and Knights v Sharks.
GP 4 G 0 A 0 Pts 0 +2 3/1/0
Sunday, 9 November 2014
Game Day - Wheelers (3) tie Bumpers (3)
Another close game last night at Gawler saw us open the scoring, eventually surrendering a 3-1 lead for a tight draw. We had our full team of skaters for the first time (with a reserve goalie, however). It was nice to be able to run two 'permanent' lines of three skaters, letting us keep the shifts to manageable length and put some effort into the team work. I was on the rink a little over twenty two minutes, split into maybe five shifts per half.
I was on a line with Craig and Krystal. Craig was solid on the backcheck, Krystal was most useful when closing on their net, I played my usual utility role. I had about three decent shots at goal, and rushed for the rebound that many times also. I took about five face offs, clearly winning three and tying up the other two.
My line faced their 'A' line most of the time during the first half, but only about half our starts in the second were against them. It was their 'B' line which scored on us with five minutes to go and tying the game, which just goes to show.
I was on the rink for all three of our goals, and the last of theirs. The first goal saw me carry the puck out of defence, holding it after a quick exchange of passes with Craig to allow him to put himself closer to the net. A tape to tape pass and he popped it in. I didn't get credited with anything for our second goal, because I was in the high slot and covering defence as Craig took the puck from the right corner behind their net while I urged Krystal to get in to the crease. She did so, and was in a perfect position to receive a short pass from Craig and one time it in from about three feet before the goalie could scramble across to cover her.
Our third goal, in the second half, turned out to be a relatively simple affair. I had a shot which rebounded into the left corner, where Krystal gathered it. She held it long enough for me to maneuver in the slot to give her an outlet as the oppo closed in. She moved it towards me through traffic. It would have been awkward for me to do anything but gather and settle it down. Thus I was very pleased to hear Craig's voice behind me as he pinched down from centre calling for me to leave it for him. So I pulled my stick up at the last moment, allowing him a clean scoring shot. Sweet.
As the above shows, all three of our goals relied on passing and communications. The goal they got against my line showed the danger of not talking. We were in attack, should have made something of it. On three separate plays, though, there was confusion and hesitation on our part in close in play, each time allowing their players to move it closer to our goal. It ended with the puck in the back of our net, tying the game.
My favourite play for the evening was crashing near the boards in our defence, with one of their players down with me and another coming in. My stick was knocked out of my hands, but I still managed to push it to knock the puck with the shaft and prevent their loose skater taking it away. I was onto my feet quickly, still stickless, used my feet to block their next attempt to retreive the puck. The puck rebounded a few feet towards their goal, I chase it and kicked it a few feet more. Used my body to shield it as it moved, then kicked it again just before they could get around me so that the puck cleared over half way. That gave me time to turn back and get my stick.
Very satisfying.
Tonight, the Knights take on the Kings in what should be an even grungier game.
GP 3 G 5 A 3 Pts 8 +6 1/0/2
I was on a line with Craig and Krystal. Craig was solid on the backcheck, Krystal was most useful when closing on their net, I played my usual utility role. I had about three decent shots at goal, and rushed for the rebound that many times also. I took about five face offs, clearly winning three and tying up the other two.
My line faced their 'A' line most of the time during the first half, but only about half our starts in the second were against them. It was their 'B' line which scored on us with five minutes to go and tying the game, which just goes to show.
I was on the rink for all three of our goals, and the last of theirs. The first goal saw me carry the puck out of defence, holding it after a quick exchange of passes with Craig to allow him to put himself closer to the net. A tape to tape pass and he popped it in. I didn't get credited with anything for our second goal, because I was in the high slot and covering defence as Craig took the puck from the right corner behind their net while I urged Krystal to get in to the crease. She did so, and was in a perfect position to receive a short pass from Craig and one time it in from about three feet before the goalie could scramble across to cover her.
Our third goal, in the second half, turned out to be a relatively simple affair. I had a shot which rebounded into the left corner, where Krystal gathered it. She held it long enough for me to maneuver in the slot to give her an outlet as the oppo closed in. She moved it towards me through traffic. It would have been awkward for me to do anything but gather and settle it down. Thus I was very pleased to hear Craig's voice behind me as he pinched down from centre calling for me to leave it for him. So I pulled my stick up at the last moment, allowing him a clean scoring shot. Sweet.
As the above shows, all three of our goals relied on passing and communications. The goal they got against my line showed the danger of not talking. We were in attack, should have made something of it. On three separate plays, though, there was confusion and hesitation on our part in close in play, each time allowing their players to move it closer to our goal. It ended with the puck in the back of our net, tying the game.
My favourite play for the evening was crashing near the boards in our defence, with one of their players down with me and another coming in. My stick was knocked out of my hands, but I still managed to push it to knock the puck with the shaft and prevent their loose skater taking it away. I was onto my feet quickly, still stickless, used my feet to block their next attempt to retreive the puck. The puck rebounded a few feet towards their goal, I chase it and kicked it a few feet more. Used my body to shield it as it moved, then kicked it again just before they could get around me so that the puck cleared over half way. That gave me time to turn back and get my stick.
Very satisfying.
Tonight, the Knights take on the Kings in what should be an even grungier game.
GP 3 G 5 A 3 Pts 8 +6 1/0/2
Wednesday, 5 November 2014
Knights Training
On Tuesday night we had Knights training at the small ice at the Arena. Coach couldn't make it for personal reasons, so Nick took the session. He's a goalie, which was good for the two goalies we had turn up (one of whom was our new Knights goalie, Tommy). There were about six other players, both Div I and II players, so it was a nice size grouping.
Commenced with basic tight turn skating drills, forwards and backwards doing full loops around all the circles. I pulled off tighter loops with more accuracy going in reverse! Then, side stepping practice across the ice up and back, basic breakout drills from the corners, centre based D drill, Big passing horseshoes, point to point passing, 3 on 3 small game, closing off the hour with a few runs at penalty shots. Totally knackered by the end of the 3 on 3.
Knee held up on me beautifully. Very encouraging considering that I didn't hold back on any of the drills. Only the one minor moment of weakness when didn't bend the knees enough on the tight turns. Conditioning will need work, but survived better this week than would have done last week. Doubt that I'll make it next week due work commitment, but will if I can.
When I got home my knee felt the best it has in over a month, nice and loose and no dramas. Was good to get the tape off of it (am only leaving the tape on for games and skating now, taking it off for general day to day stuff as much as possible).
Will try and start up with some quickness and conditioning exercise over the next few days leading into the Wheelers game on Saturday (when we play the Bumpers) and the big one on Sunday (playing the Kings for what will be a tough match in the early game).
Commenced with basic tight turn skating drills, forwards and backwards doing full loops around all the circles. I pulled off tighter loops with more accuracy going in reverse! Then, side stepping practice across the ice up and back, basic breakout drills from the corners, centre based D drill, Big passing horseshoes, point to point passing, 3 on 3 small game, closing off the hour with a few runs at penalty shots. Totally knackered by the end of the 3 on 3.
Knee held up on me beautifully. Very encouraging considering that I didn't hold back on any of the drills. Only the one minor moment of weakness when didn't bend the knees enough on the tight turns. Conditioning will need work, but survived better this week than would have done last week. Doubt that I'll make it next week due work commitment, but will if I can.
When I got home my knee felt the best it has in over a month, nice and loose and no dramas. Was good to get the tape off of it (am only leaving the tape on for games and skating now, taking it off for general day to day stuff as much as possible).
Will try and start up with some quickness and conditioning exercise over the next few days leading into the Wheelers game on Saturday (when we play the Bumpers) and the big one on Sunday (playing the Kings for what will be a tough match in the early game).
Monday, 3 November 2014
Sunday Skate
The Knights had the bye during the current round in Div II ice hockey so I had Sunday afternoon off. Came through on my promise to B, that we'd get to the Arena on those weekends when I don't play on Sunday. We were accompanied by Craig, who is definitely developing a taste for the sport of skating.
We were there just under ninety minutes. I stayed on the rink the whole time. I didn't go over once. I took it very easy for the first fifteen minutes, then slowly worked my way through the various maneuvers, paying particularly careful attention to those that have previously given me discomfort or pain. The only maneuvers that I drilled with any discipline were maybe thirty stops, tight gliding turns, 'running' crossovers. I spent much of my time skating backwards, trying to replicate a few of the moves I do fairly comfortably forwards (eg C cut power strokes, slalom and outside edge turns, alternating crossunders).
By the end of the session I'd given my body a good workout, hitting about 90% effort at times. The knee held up admirably, and didn't swell later. Starting to regain my skating confidence. It's now been four weeks since I was crashed and trampled. On schedule, in other words.
I have Knights training on Tuesday, possibly a public skate on Wednesday, Wheelers game on Saturday. I'll need to keep my priorities clear, DON'T injure myself again before the game on Sunday arvo, DO push my limits further with each session and start regaining game condition.
We were there just under ninety minutes. I stayed on the rink the whole time. I didn't go over once. I took it very easy for the first fifteen minutes, then slowly worked my way through the various maneuvers, paying particularly careful attention to those that have previously given me discomfort or pain. The only maneuvers that I drilled with any discipline were maybe thirty stops, tight gliding turns, 'running' crossovers. I spent much of my time skating backwards, trying to replicate a few of the moves I do fairly comfortably forwards (eg C cut power strokes, slalom and outside edge turns, alternating crossunders).
By the end of the session I'd given my body a good workout, hitting about 90% effort at times. The knee held up admirably, and didn't swell later. Starting to regain my skating confidence. It's now been four weeks since I was crashed and trampled. On schedule, in other words.
I have Knights training on Tuesday, possibly a public skate on Wednesday, Wheelers game on Saturday. I'll need to keep my priorities clear, DON'T injure myself again before the game on Sunday arvo, DO push my limits further with each session and start regaining game condition.
Saturday, 1 November 2014
Game Day - Wheelers (5) tie Shufflers (5)
We played a tough and tight final game of the night against the Shufflers after a pretty dramatic day on the rink. My night began upon arrival, when I noticed that the game that was underway was paused, and a player was down on the rink and in a bad way. All play stopped while an ambulance was summoned. The player was my nemesis from last week, Greg of the Rockers, and it became pretty clear that he'd snapped his leg just above the ankle. This was the result of a 'blue on blue' collision. What could you say except that bad shit happens, that's hockey, and join the round of applause as they stretchered him off.
This had served to delay the evening by about fifty minutes, which had consequential effects upon the rosters in our game, the final one of the evening. For example, we lost Merrilyn who had to get to work. Paul, who'd played in the earlier game, played with us as a reserve. Apart from him and me, Brenton and Natasha played, Jordyn was in net (she'd played in goal in the tied game before ours also), and Krystal came on board for her first game as a Wheeler (she'd also filled as a reserve in an earlier game). The Shufflers had three reserves playing for them, Donna, Mal and Nat the Goalie staying on from earlier Div II game to join the three Shufflers present.
The late hour, the earlier injury, the plethora of reserves and the fact that they (together with Jordyn, Krystal, and Nikolette of the Shufflers) had all played in an earlier game meant that it would be an interesting gig. We had three 'fresh' and two 'tired' skaters. They had two 'fresh' and three 'tired' skaters. Both teams had a 'tired' goalie.
In the first half we had fifteen shots on goal, they had fourteen. We led 3-2 at half time. In the second half, we had only two shots to their ten. Luckily, both of ours went in, because the final score was a 5-5 tie. I scored my first ever hat trick, matched with one by a Shuffler, from my five shots at goal. This despite the fact that played the huge majority of the game in defensive mode where I stick checked, body blocked or kicked away at least six shots at goal. My most arsey move was an almost casual backwards foot rise to kick aside a puck as it flew behind after being slapped at goal by the opposition point. It was a pretty neat trick!
I came out hard in the first half, played a seven minute shift to open (!) with no goals being scored. I spent much of my time physically checking the two gun Shuffler forwards, keeping them on the outside or out of the slot until my legs started to fade. When I got off the rink, it was 0-0. My aim was to prevent them getting into a dominant position early, psychologically perhaps moreso than with regard to the scoreboard, as they had in their game the previous week. While I recovered, both teams got a goal. For my next shift, I rushed the net in the first couple of plays, resulting in a one on one between me and the goalie with the puck beneath her body between her legs, me looking at it and pushing it through and over the line before the whistle went. Very similar to last week's goal. 2-1.
My second goal came near the start of the following shift, a fast skate up the board to gather a loose puck from Brenton, gather, steady, shoot with a low strong wristshot through the goalie's legs. 3-1. Scattered applause. This shot from the centreline is my longest distance score to date. Goes to show, accuracy is at least as important as power. They pulled it back a couple minutes later and the score at half time was 3-2.
The second half wasn't two minutes old before the Shufflers tied the score with a snapshot from point. 3-3. Then came twelve minutes of unrelenting hockey, mainly in our zone with us scrambling to cover both shot and pass. It was somewhere in this passage of play that I deflected a number of shots on goal with my feet (including the aforementioned backwards kick) and also shut off the goal mouth in some pretty brutal stick checking on the swooping forwards. Desperate stuff. But it paid off at the 6 minute mark when I intercepted a wayward pass and swooped diagonally forwards before cutting back across the goal and firing another strong wrister from about 30'. Goal! 4-3. I was off the rink when they got the equaliser about a minute later.
Five minutes to go, the game was tied at 4-4. Then came a goal to them that I am still a bit cheesed off about. I took a faceoff in our zone. I got it to the boards and pushed it forward while battling one of their forwards. Got the puck free and up the boards and 'slam' it stopped at the feet of a referee. Chase it. Win it. Referee's foot still in the way. Maneuver it past, referee moves and succeeds in blocking the puck again. I tell him to watch what he's doing (he had been busy chatting to someone off the rink!) as the battle continues. Me and opponent keep scrabbling around the puck, both eventually falling down. Their other gun pounces, I delay him with my stick blocking the puck as I get to my feet. Opponent takes off finally and I began pursuit, only to have to lose a pace or two as the referee moves across my path. Opponent swoops and scores goal. 4-5.
With about a minute to go I see Paul neatly slot his second goal to tie it up again at 5-5. I'm on the rink for the last half a minute. There's two faceoffs in that time. We end up clearing it and the siren goes. The game is a tie. It had been tough. It had been close. Archetypical moment - in the play that led to their final goal seeing Brenton throw himself onto the floor for a shot block in front of our goal. Desperate good stuff.
My knee held up for the whole game. Thus, it continues to improve. My shots were accurate, the practice is paying off. Perhaps most importantly, I had more practice at playing defence against skilled physical players. Four face offs, two wins. This was perhaps my best game. And that's not just because of my scoring, or blocked shots, or minutes on rink, or defensive play. But because it all happened together in the one game for a change.
In the last three games of the evening at Gawler tonight a total of 35 goals were scored. Two games were ties, both decided in the final minute of play. The other game was a one goal victory. The league not only feels like the competition is closer, it actually looks like it is. Well done to the organisers!
Finally, I finally picked up my gold medal and MVP trophy/plaque from last season. I haven't won a trophy since my primary school soccer days. Yipee!
GP 2 G 5 A 1 Pts 6 +4 1/0/1
This had served to delay the evening by about fifty minutes, which had consequential effects upon the rosters in our game, the final one of the evening. For example, we lost Merrilyn who had to get to work. Paul, who'd played in the earlier game, played with us as a reserve. Apart from him and me, Brenton and Natasha played, Jordyn was in net (she'd played in goal in the tied game before ours also), and Krystal came on board for her first game as a Wheeler (she'd also filled as a reserve in an earlier game). The Shufflers had three reserves playing for them, Donna, Mal and Nat the Goalie staying on from earlier Div II game to join the three Shufflers present.
The late hour, the earlier injury, the plethora of reserves and the fact that they (together with Jordyn, Krystal, and Nikolette of the Shufflers) had all played in an earlier game meant that it would be an interesting gig. We had three 'fresh' and two 'tired' skaters. They had two 'fresh' and three 'tired' skaters. Both teams had a 'tired' goalie.
In the first half we had fifteen shots on goal, they had fourteen. We led 3-2 at half time. In the second half, we had only two shots to their ten. Luckily, both of ours went in, because the final score was a 5-5 tie. I scored my first ever hat trick, matched with one by a Shuffler, from my five shots at goal. This despite the fact that played the huge majority of the game in defensive mode where I stick checked, body blocked or kicked away at least six shots at goal. My most arsey move was an almost casual backwards foot rise to kick aside a puck as it flew behind after being slapped at goal by the opposition point. It was a pretty neat trick!
I came out hard in the first half, played a seven minute shift to open (!) with no goals being scored. I spent much of my time physically checking the two gun Shuffler forwards, keeping them on the outside or out of the slot until my legs started to fade. When I got off the rink, it was 0-0. My aim was to prevent them getting into a dominant position early, psychologically perhaps moreso than with regard to the scoreboard, as they had in their game the previous week. While I recovered, both teams got a goal. For my next shift, I rushed the net in the first couple of plays, resulting in a one on one between me and the goalie with the puck beneath her body between her legs, me looking at it and pushing it through and over the line before the whistle went. Very similar to last week's goal. 2-1.
My second goal came near the start of the following shift, a fast skate up the board to gather a loose puck from Brenton, gather, steady, shoot with a low strong wristshot through the goalie's legs. 3-1. Scattered applause. This shot from the centreline is my longest distance score to date. Goes to show, accuracy is at least as important as power. They pulled it back a couple minutes later and the score at half time was 3-2.
The second half wasn't two minutes old before the Shufflers tied the score with a snapshot from point. 3-3. Then came twelve minutes of unrelenting hockey, mainly in our zone with us scrambling to cover both shot and pass. It was somewhere in this passage of play that I deflected a number of shots on goal with my feet (including the aforementioned backwards kick) and also shut off the goal mouth in some pretty brutal stick checking on the swooping forwards. Desperate stuff. But it paid off at the 6 minute mark when I intercepted a wayward pass and swooped diagonally forwards before cutting back across the goal and firing another strong wrister from about 30'. Goal! 4-3. I was off the rink when they got the equaliser about a minute later.
Five minutes to go, the game was tied at 4-4. Then came a goal to them that I am still a bit cheesed off about. I took a faceoff in our zone. I got it to the boards and pushed it forward while battling one of their forwards. Got the puck free and up the boards and 'slam' it stopped at the feet of a referee. Chase it. Win it. Referee's foot still in the way. Maneuver it past, referee moves and succeeds in blocking the puck again. I tell him to watch what he's doing (he had been busy chatting to someone off the rink!) as the battle continues. Me and opponent keep scrabbling around the puck, both eventually falling down. Their other gun pounces, I delay him with my stick blocking the puck as I get to my feet. Opponent takes off finally and I began pursuit, only to have to lose a pace or two as the referee moves across my path. Opponent swoops and scores goal. 4-5.
With about a minute to go I see Paul neatly slot his second goal to tie it up again at 5-5. I'm on the rink for the last half a minute. There's two faceoffs in that time. We end up clearing it and the siren goes. The game is a tie. It had been tough. It had been close. Archetypical moment - in the play that led to their final goal seeing Brenton throw himself onto the floor for a shot block in front of our goal. Desperate good stuff.
My knee held up for the whole game. Thus, it continues to improve. My shots were accurate, the practice is paying off. Perhaps most importantly, I had more practice at playing defence against skilled physical players. Four face offs, two wins. This was perhaps my best game. And that's not just because of my scoring, or blocked shots, or minutes on rink, or defensive play. But because it all happened together in the one game for a change.
In the last three games of the evening at Gawler tonight a total of 35 goals were scored. Two games were ties, both decided in the final minute of play. The other game was a one goal victory. The league not only feels like the competition is closer, it actually looks like it is. Well done to the organisers!
Finally, I finally picked up my gold medal and MVP trophy/plaque from last season. I haven't won a trophy since my primary school soccer days. Yipee!
GP 2 G 5 A 1 Pts 6 +4 1/0/1
Wednesday, 29 October 2014
Wednesday Skate
I met up with Jess and Craig at the Ice Arena for about ninety minutes of skating tonight. They are both doing quite well, Jess is smooth on her feet and Craig is gaining his confidence and beginning to look like he knows what he wants to do. There was a moderate amount of people there, with over a half dozen hockey players that I know. As always when the big ice is open on a Wednesday, Steve kept us dished up with good classic rock'n'pop to keep us in the groove.
I stayed on the ice the whole time, which is a big improvement from a fortnight ago when I could only manage about forty minutes, split by a twenty minute break. I was able to do all lower and moderate speed maneuvers, with a bit of softness in the knee only in very specific position (countered by ensuring sufficient knee bend). Still don't have full extension, though am improving daily. Also noticed my conditioning has most definitely slipped from where it was a month ago.
Basically, as expected.
I stayed on the ice the whole time, which is a big improvement from a fortnight ago when I could only manage about forty minutes, split by a twenty minute break. I was able to do all lower and moderate speed maneuvers, with a bit of softness in the knee only in very specific position (countered by ensuring sufficient knee bend). Still don't have full extension, though am improving daily. Also noticed my conditioning has most definitely slipped from where it was a month ago.
Basically, as expected.
Monday, 27 October 2014
Game Day - Knights (3) d Rangers (2)
The Knights won out 3-2 over the Rangers in a seven shot shootout after being tied at the end of regulation time. I'm not sure where that leaves us on the ladder, but we get the bye next week and then two more games to have completed playing all other teams in our division. At present we are in the middle of the table. I dare say that's where we'll be after the bye.
We had the most players I've skated with for a game, twelve plus a goalie (Tommy), who it sounds like will be our regular net minder from here on in. Thus we were able to run two lines, each consisting of a centre and three wings (a tyro skater being the third winger, ideally for the softer minutes, with the other two taking the tougher ice time until the tyro learns his role). If our Beau had been able to beat his hangover we would have had thirteen skaters present, allowing three complete lines up front and two defence pairings (a full roster). The most we had last summer was ten, I think.
I was assigned to defence, which I take as a kind of compliment. Ironically, I suspect it is mainly because I had absorbed the very basic positioning that a winger needs to conform to at C grade ((almost) all beginners start on the wing). Watching others, I'd say that some never get it. Be that as it may, my growing game sense and ability to skate backwards as comfortably as forwards (in fact, more so while my knee remains suspect) probably have a bit to do with my progession to defence also. From Beau's one game so far, I'd say he's potentially the quickest skater on our team, so I don't imagine things changing too much upon his return.
Unlike previously, each of our defensive pairings had a 'full time' D playing on it. I was paired with Cap'n Tom (Mike and Cam formed the other pair). Tom's one of our most valuable players with probably our best shot and certainly the ability to play the most physical game. I wasn't keeping my eye on his location as closely as I should have while in our own zone which meant that I found myself out of position more than I did when the puck was in their zone or between the blue lines. In the forward zones I found myself more naturally reading the play, was more easily able to be aware of Tom's actions and thus frame my own around it.
In this at least I have the basic mindset needed to be laid over the essential positional and functional requirements of Defence. I now need to move it into our own zone. The one time our lines got scrambled I found myself on the ice with Mike. Even after only half a game, I felt the disjointedness. Our defence 'bench manager' (Bacon, a Knight through and through despite being moved up a Division) got our original lines back together as quickly as he could after both of the scrambled pairs had had a shift.
My knee didn't give me any grief all game, which is great considering that I didn't consciously hold back at all. It was, however, still lacking strength so I wasn't yet at full speed and really lacked on the acceleration ('quickness'). I made up for it with my skating facility, at least in term of (generally) holding my position relative to the play. Apart from this general observation, my lack of strength only really showed once, when I was harrassing their biggest player as he drifted through the high slot and he eventually just shoved me aside before skating off. Even thusly, I had achieved my main goal so all was not lost. But it will be good to put a bit more power into my core-leg strength so I can push back and give some of these big guys a surprise!
I only iced the puck once this game, during my first or second shift. This is a huge improvement. Instead of my previous panicked striking of the puck, I generally tried to either pass the puck, chip it off the board, or knock it down the ice with a long diagonal clearing shot. Learning to lift the puck would be handy.
My play in our zone was still very 'scrambly', a lot of forebrain decision making used up a lot of my neural energy, less fluid skating showed in the result. Taking into account my occasional moments of totally confused 'stationariness' (dangerous in a fast game such as ice hockey) I generally kept the opposition winger out of the play on the face off, covered the point when I had to a couple times, had a couple corner battles and won several races to the puck with enough time to clear the corner (my preferred with of dealing with a cornered puck, especially with my knee), tied the puck up on the boards at least once, cleared it from beneath our centre's feet a couple times, kept a fast attacking winger on the outside as he neared the goal several times (a function of speed), and manned the front of our goal a number of times when we were exposed (though was never challenged for it, someone needed to be there).
The Rangers were more aggressive in the high slot than the low. I'll need to work on stick and poke check technique and bodywork for when we meet a more efficient team (no body checks allowed in our Division, but that doesn't mean there's no bodywork, especially in front of the net). Keep mentally rehersing the principles of close-in positioning in our own zone and tracking my D partner until it becomes automatic.
I held the blue line on the offence quite well I thought, protecting the rim shot along the boards as an easy out and shutting down my wing on attempted breakouts. My puck disposal from the point wasn't that good most of the time, though I did have a couple moderate strength but long distance shots towards goal (in the vague hope of causing rebounds or at least some chaos) during the first period. Most of my passes were wayward, or merely to get the puck to a more skilled and advancing forward. In the forward face offs I several times collected a puck that came dribbling out from the circle, a couple of these occasions resulted in a short pass towards Tom for a shot, the others were basically wasted. Twice that I remember they cleared it past me, but I was able to collect and reset our offence. All in all, I was reasonably pleased with my play on the blue line.
I was on the ice for both of their goals, and involved with them in some way. For their first, it was a shitty pass of mine that was intercepted in their zone and resulted in a three pass rush that caught me entirely out of position and powerless to stop them slamming it into a virtually empty net after they'd undressed our goalie. I felt directly responsible.
Their second goal also resulted from a battle lost by me (albeit, I think I was outnumbered), followed by my player going unhindered into the low slot while I was confused by the melee around and an eventual goal from his stick amongst the chaos. I don't know if this goal was as obviously 'mine' as their first, but I certainly felt that it was.
To counteract the negative of being on ice for both of their goals, I was also core to the play that resulted in our second goal (our first was Foxy's first for the season and great to watch from the bench, after the longest and largest goal mouth melee I've witnessed in 34 hockey games of one sort or another). My role in the play was defending the blue line. In the one short sequence I recall pinching in to get the play started, stretching to cut off the boards as the puck threatened to whistle past, catching it, dropping it off to the Centre as they came to my aid, stretching the other way to cut off the soft pass and hitting it back in, getting back to the boards and stopping it on the line, racing to the puck as it was about to cross the line being chased by their forward and deflecting it off her stick back into the zone and our marauding winger. From this last, a couple passes and a sweet goal. Excellent!
As the clock wound down and we went into a shootout, tension rose. It was a great feeling to win such a hard fought game.
After the game I caught up with Jess and Craig before heading into the change room and a nice cold beer. It was really cool that they came to watch. I think I'll be catching up with them at the Ice Arena on Wednesday night (knee permitting, but I am feeling a lot better about it).
GP 3 G 0 A 0 Pts 0 +/- 0 2/1/0
We had the most players I've skated with for a game, twelve plus a goalie (Tommy), who it sounds like will be our regular net minder from here on in. Thus we were able to run two lines, each consisting of a centre and three wings (a tyro skater being the third winger, ideally for the softer minutes, with the other two taking the tougher ice time until the tyro learns his role). If our Beau had been able to beat his hangover we would have had thirteen skaters present, allowing three complete lines up front and two defence pairings (a full roster). The most we had last summer was ten, I think.
I was assigned to defence, which I take as a kind of compliment. Ironically, I suspect it is mainly because I had absorbed the very basic positioning that a winger needs to conform to at C grade ((almost) all beginners start on the wing). Watching others, I'd say that some never get it. Be that as it may, my growing game sense and ability to skate backwards as comfortably as forwards (in fact, more so while my knee remains suspect) probably have a bit to do with my progession to defence also. From Beau's one game so far, I'd say he's potentially the quickest skater on our team, so I don't imagine things changing too much upon his return.
Unlike previously, each of our defensive pairings had a 'full time' D playing on it. I was paired with Cap'n Tom (Mike and Cam formed the other pair). Tom's one of our most valuable players with probably our best shot and certainly the ability to play the most physical game. I wasn't keeping my eye on his location as closely as I should have while in our own zone which meant that I found myself out of position more than I did when the puck was in their zone or between the blue lines. In the forward zones I found myself more naturally reading the play, was more easily able to be aware of Tom's actions and thus frame my own around it.
In this at least I have the basic mindset needed to be laid over the essential positional and functional requirements of Defence. I now need to move it into our own zone. The one time our lines got scrambled I found myself on the ice with Mike. Even after only half a game, I felt the disjointedness. Our defence 'bench manager' (Bacon, a Knight through and through despite being moved up a Division) got our original lines back together as quickly as he could after both of the scrambled pairs had had a shift.
My knee didn't give me any grief all game, which is great considering that I didn't consciously hold back at all. It was, however, still lacking strength so I wasn't yet at full speed and really lacked on the acceleration ('quickness'). I made up for it with my skating facility, at least in term of (generally) holding my position relative to the play. Apart from this general observation, my lack of strength only really showed once, when I was harrassing their biggest player as he drifted through the high slot and he eventually just shoved me aside before skating off. Even thusly, I had achieved my main goal so all was not lost. But it will be good to put a bit more power into my core-leg strength so I can push back and give some of these big guys a surprise!
I only iced the puck once this game, during my first or second shift. This is a huge improvement. Instead of my previous panicked striking of the puck, I generally tried to either pass the puck, chip it off the board, or knock it down the ice with a long diagonal clearing shot. Learning to lift the puck would be handy.
My play in our zone was still very 'scrambly', a lot of forebrain decision making used up a lot of my neural energy, less fluid skating showed in the result. Taking into account my occasional moments of totally confused 'stationariness' (dangerous in a fast game such as ice hockey) I generally kept the opposition winger out of the play on the face off, covered the point when I had to a couple times, had a couple corner battles and won several races to the puck with enough time to clear the corner (my preferred with of dealing with a cornered puck, especially with my knee), tied the puck up on the boards at least once, cleared it from beneath our centre's feet a couple times, kept a fast attacking winger on the outside as he neared the goal several times (a function of speed), and manned the front of our goal a number of times when we were exposed (though was never challenged for it, someone needed to be there).
The Rangers were more aggressive in the high slot than the low. I'll need to work on stick and poke check technique and bodywork for when we meet a more efficient team (no body checks allowed in our Division, but that doesn't mean there's no bodywork, especially in front of the net). Keep mentally rehersing the principles of close-in positioning in our own zone and tracking my D partner until it becomes automatic.
I held the blue line on the offence quite well I thought, protecting the rim shot along the boards as an easy out and shutting down my wing on attempted breakouts. My puck disposal from the point wasn't that good most of the time, though I did have a couple moderate strength but long distance shots towards goal (in the vague hope of causing rebounds or at least some chaos) during the first period. Most of my passes were wayward, or merely to get the puck to a more skilled and advancing forward. In the forward face offs I several times collected a puck that came dribbling out from the circle, a couple of these occasions resulted in a short pass towards Tom for a shot, the others were basically wasted. Twice that I remember they cleared it past me, but I was able to collect and reset our offence. All in all, I was reasonably pleased with my play on the blue line.
I was on the ice for both of their goals, and involved with them in some way. For their first, it was a shitty pass of mine that was intercepted in their zone and resulted in a three pass rush that caught me entirely out of position and powerless to stop them slamming it into a virtually empty net after they'd undressed our goalie. I felt directly responsible.
Their second goal also resulted from a battle lost by me (albeit, I think I was outnumbered), followed by my player going unhindered into the low slot while I was confused by the melee around and an eventual goal from his stick amongst the chaos. I don't know if this goal was as obviously 'mine' as their first, but I certainly felt that it was.
To counteract the negative of being on ice for both of their goals, I was also core to the play that resulted in our second goal (our first was Foxy's first for the season and great to watch from the bench, after the longest and largest goal mouth melee I've witnessed in 34 hockey games of one sort or another). My role in the play was defending the blue line. In the one short sequence I recall pinching in to get the play started, stretching to cut off the boards as the puck threatened to whistle past, catching it, dropping it off to the Centre as they came to my aid, stretching the other way to cut off the soft pass and hitting it back in, getting back to the boards and stopping it on the line, racing to the puck as it was about to cross the line being chased by their forward and deflecting it off her stick back into the zone and our marauding winger. From this last, a couple passes and a sweet goal. Excellent!
As the clock wound down and we went into a shootout, tension rose. It was a great feeling to win such a hard fought game.
After the game I caught up with Jess and Craig before heading into the change room and a nice cold beer. It was really cool that they came to watch. I think I'll be catching up with them at the Ice Arena on Wednesday night (knee permitting, but I am feeling a lot better about it).
GP 3 G 0 A 0 Pts 0 +/- 0 2/1/0
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