Walked into the rink today still a little grumpy from last night’s game. (It takes me a while to simmer down when I get really upset.) I had fun once we started playing, though, and was in a fine mood by the time I finished my first shift. On top of that, a few of my favorite Red division players were subbing, and I was quite happy to be out with them on the ice. :)
That is, until sometime late in the 3rd period. Marci, who had been protecting her net and goalie from me all game, tangled with me for the puck deep in the other team’s zone. Sticks and skates and legs everywhere, both of us trying to win the puck. All of a sudden, Marci went down. And didn’t get up. I stood there with the puck in front of me, and I didn’t move. I couldn’t move. All I could think was that I’d done something to wrench her knee.
Thank you, ref, for blowing the whistle.
Medical know-how is not my forte. There are plenty of other people in the league who handle injuries better than I do. They came over and helped. I felt kind of useless there, but I couldn’t skate away. Not when I felt responsible for what had happened.
Eventually, we helped Marci up and she got off the ice. I still didn’t know what had happened. I assumed (1) her knee was very busted and (2) it was my fault. I was pretty distraught over that, and about ready to cry. (Yes, this from someone who wanted to bash some dude’s head in last night, but hurting a friend is a hell of a lot different from beating on a dumbfuck.) I finished my shift and got off the ice. I seriously considered just walking off the bench. I was in no mood to continue playing.
Something about that incident shifted the entire momentum of the game. In the 3 minutes remaining, the other team came back from a 2-5 deficit to tie at 5-5. We ran out of time after that, and finished without going into overtime. Phew.
I caught up with Marci after the game, and found out that (1) she can still walk and (2) I did not wrench her knee with my stick. I still feel bad that it happened, but I feel a *lot* better knowing that it’s not as serious as I’d feared, and that it wasn’t the direct result of something I did.
Anyway, it’s been a pretty emotional hockey weekend for me. It sure puts getting pissed off over a few words into perspective. Trash talk from someone I don’t really know doesn’t matter. Seeing a friend get hurt out there matters a lot.
Heal fast, Marci!
It’s best not to go into the splits inadvertantly with your toe dug in and your other heel flying quickly away in the opposite direction with your knee bent underneath you. It was a good wrench, which made me freeze and assess, which led to “ow!! that hurt”, followed by “damnit marce you just healed that knee from the same blankety-blank thing”
Sticks, skates and legs everywhere bests describes it. It so wasn’t you doing anything to me, just both of us intent on getting the puck. Which both of us love to have. :-D
Healin up, so no stress, no worries k?
Okie. Tanksh.
Yesh, puck. Mmm … puck.
The puck is my friend. And mine all mine }=)
Wha? Nooo … MINE!
What puck? :-) *quietly sneaks off with it*
I seem to be having trouble identifying which puck I want. Can someone please help?
MY Puck, but can’t have it you have to go get your own. :-)