Muse back!
January 19, 2009 / Monday
The Difference A Year Makes
I was pretty disappointed in myself after last year's MLK tournament. We didn't win a single game, I felt I should have been able to help the team more, and I didn't score a single goal. Not one! It was my first scoreless tournament, and I was pretty bummed about it.
This year, things went better. We won a game, I felt like a contributor, and I earned four points in four games.
It got me thinking once more about this past year. Remember my meh review of 2008? Lack of hockey improvement was part of that mehness. I honestly didn't think I'd improved much.
Perhaps "much" still applies, but I've definitely improved some. When I read all those posts from last January about not wanting to play center, I realize I've gotten over it. I played center in Colorado last October, and it was fine. I play center once in a while in my Blue games, and when I do I feel just as comfortable as I do at wing. I have various coaches and captains to thank for trusting me enough (more than I trusted myself) to put me there.
Then there's my backhand. I don't have a great backhand, but I've been practicing against the boards before every game. All that practice finally paid off last night with that breakaway shot over the goalie's shoulder.
[ 2009-02-08 Update: Speaking of backhand, I also learned how to go around a defender with the puck on my backhand and one hand on the stick. It's amazing how much space that buys me. ]
I've also done other little things right or for the first time recently, and I need to remember those things when I feel down about my rate of progress. I also need to remember that hockey is not my day job.
I leave you with a teeny tiny picture from this year's tournament. (It's teeny tiny 'cause I can't buy just one picture in its original electronic form.) My knees, they are kind of (but still not very) bent, and I'm using my edges. Improvement, yes!
Comments
Somthing to remember: you improve at different rates in different parts of your game. Your skating, shooting, positioning, etc. aren't all going to get better at the same time. So take your small improvements where you can and know that over time, they do add up.
Posted by: Megan at January 20, 2009 11:16 AM
oh, knees are meant to bend? sheesh, maybe i should try that! ;-)
awesome picture, Vivo!
Posted by: cheddah at January 20, 2009 11:23 AM
Good point. Improvement comes in small enough steps in different enough areas that it's hard to notice each little step as it happens. The difficult thing for me is seeing all those steps and putting it all together into what I feel is a notable quantity. Not that it changes anything, but in my head it's nice to know that I have something lasting to show for my efforts.
And my knees, they have many more degrees to go before I can call them bent.
Posted by: Viv at January 20, 2009 02:42 PM