Hockey :: Lollerskates
August 17, 2008 / Sunday
Last Lollerskate of the Season
All too soon, the season has come to an end. We played our final game today, and in typical fashion the Tami and Kristen line (today with Theresa) put in goal after goal, securing us a 9-5 victory to close out the season. I remarked on their second half of the season scoring rampage (which greeted me in the form of a pile of scoresheets when I returned from Russia) and asked if they were having some sort of scoring competition with each other. No, they replied, Wendy got sick of losing, that's all. Oh, I see. Previously, I had witnessed this only in moments here and there, but after all the scoresheet data and being present for the last couple games, I'm thoroughly convinced: they score at will.
End of season hasn't hit me yet. I think I'm still busy grokking the score at will thing.
09:45 PM | Lollerskates| Comments (0)
August 09, 2008 / Saturday
There's Something About Being Away...
Last summer season, I missed 6 weeks of hockey, came back raring to play, and scored a bunch in the next three games. This summer season, I've just missed 7 weeks of hockey, and came back thinking I'd get my butt kicked. Strangely, magically, and surprisingly, I had my best game of the season tonight: 2 goals and 2 assists. Granted, it probably had something to do with the fact that I got to play on a line with Tami and Kristen, who have been on a scoring rampage for the last month and a half. When I first found out who I was playing with, I thought, "Oh no! How am I going to keep up? I hope my rustiness (and out of hockey shapeness) doesn't screw up their mojo." As it turns out, I was so excited to be back that I was nothing but go-go-go all game. Not that I played a perfect game; I still had a bunch of n00by moves, but those are normal for me, and should decrease in frequency (and eventually go away, I hope) as I get better over time.
So hooray. And boy, is it good to be back!
09:32 PM | Lollerskates| Comments (0)
June 17, 2008 / Tuesday
Whoo Ride! Whoo Hockey! Whoo Goal!
My car's been in the shop since Monday, and they're keeping it until sometime tomorrow. This left me carless tonight, with a hockey game I somehow had to get to. I sent a late afternoon message out to my team and got back a couple ride offers. Thanks Char for the ride, and thanks Lindsay for offering to drive out of your way to give me a ride!
I was happy and smiley all night, I think because I was just so pleased that I didn't have to miss my game. I played on a line with Lindsay and Gwen, which was totally fun. I even managed a goal toward the end of the game, when Gwen sent the puck down the ice ahead of me and Adrienne. My first thought? "Ooh, PUCK!" My second and most urgent thought was then to skate as hard as I possibly could to get as far away from Adrienne as I possibly could. (Tangling with Adrienne is always a losing proposition.) But then, when I got the puck, I actually had the clarity to remember that this goalie had been overcommitting all night to the angle I was at, and I sent the puck across her body and into the net on the other side of the post. Or was that just luck? Naw, I meant to do that!
Final score: 6-3. I'm sooo glad I got to play this game. Thanks Char again for the ride! :)
11:24 PM | Lollerskates| Comments (0)
June 11, 2008 / Wednesday
Hello? Legs? Why Don't You Wanna Skate?
I've been pretty good about getting on the ice at least once a week since my run of too much golf, not enough real exercise in April and May. After a couple good skates last week, I figured I was finally back to being relatively hockey fit. Boy, was I wrong! My legs just burned and burned last night, shift after shift. What gives, legs? Am I exercising you too much now? That can't be it; you had a day off yesterday!
In any case, I was dying. Dying, I tell you! This means I need to either rest more or train more. I will opt for the latter. As they say, you rest when you're dead, and I was only dying. Besides, I'll get lots of inactivity rest on my two week trip to St. Petersburg next month. That is, unless I resort to running, which I may. Running, yuck. Being a lardball, yuck also. I guess I'll find out which is the bigger yuck soon enough.
I don't know what to say about the game. We got it done. Final score: 6-4.
I learned something this game. But then, I learn something every game. Some games, I learn several somethings. Sometimes it's because a teammate or guest coach volunteers, and sometimes it's because I ask. In any case, I wish I'd been writing down all these somethings since I moved up to Blue. For the most part, though, I remember them, right down to the rink, the person, and the play each particular something involved. And to all the people helping me with all those somethings, I am immensely grateful. One of these days, they may even see me do what they said! At the very least, I'm working on it in my head. :)
Bonus: April showed up to play with her new camera and lens. Ever wonder what I look like in my hockey gear through a fisheye lens? Well, wonder no more!
03:05 PM | Lollerskates| Comments (3)
June 01, 2008 / Sunday
Of Borrowed Sticks And Brownies
Given all the things that didn't go the way they were supposed to, I had a pretty decent game.
It all started in my garage, when I was getting my gear together. I remembered that I was supposed to bring my goalie leg pads for Lucinda, and called to see if she'd be at her game prior to mine for the handoff. She said yes, and I happily brought the leg pads out to my car with my gear.
I headed up the Peninsula early to do some shopping before the game. Before I knew it, I was running late, so I booked it on over to the rink.
Once there, I realized I didn't have my sticks with me. I used to keep my sticks in my car, but when I bought my latest stick, I read the little sticker on the side that said to keep away from heat, and since I love the stick oh so much I decided not to keep it in my car with summer approaching and all. This in itself isn't a problem; schlepping hockey gear to the car usually means bag of gear and something else. Unfortunately, today's something else was a pair of leg pads. Woops.
Fortunately, a bunch of my friends were already at the rink playing the game before mine. When they came off the ice, I asked if I could borrow their sticks. First up was Liz, who had a stick I could borrow. Unfortunately, it was as long as I was tall. I joked with my captain that I would play D, until Ellaine came by and let me borrow her stick, which came up to my collarbone. Lucinda's sticks were the same length, so I went with Ellaine's stick and headed out. I figured I'd either whiff all game or bend my knees more. I'd soon find out.
In addition to having to find a stick to borrow, I was busy lacing and relacing my left skate. The swollen tendon on the front of my left ankle (from overtightening my hiking boot laces out of paranoia the day before) was really unhappy about being laced up in a boot, and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to skate. I guess I'd soon find out about that, too.
Finally, stick acquired and relacing done, I headed out onto the ice. I was pleased with how nimble the stick felt handling the puck. The last time I shortened my stick (years ago) I spent a good half hour whiffing, but not this time. I tried some shots, and everything launched just fine. Phew!
The game started, and as I'd hoped, I forgot all about the pain in my left ankle. I did notice, however, that I got tired a lot more quickly. Was I worn out from my hike the day before? Not really. As it turns out, the shorter stick was making me bend my knees more. My teammates started commenting about it, and later joked that I should cut my stick. Actually, I think I will cut my backup and play with that for a while to see how it goes. Not only does having a shorter stick make me bend my knees, it makes it a lot easier to handle the puck. I got around people in tight situations that I normally wouldn't have. I feel as if I've been missing out all these years with my chin-length stick.
Remember how I said I rushed to the rink and then realized I had forgotten my sticks? This realization distracted me from eating my pre-game pancake, which resulted in my being ravenously hungry partway through the first period. I ran out to my bag in search of food at the end of the first period, found nothing, and was rescued by Lucinda, who fed me half a Malinda brownie. If I were smart, I'd have asked her to get the pancake from my car. As it was, the half brownie got me through the rest of the game. Phew again!
Almost all of our team was present today, and we won handily. Final score: 8-4. I even managed a goal and an assist on the borrowed stick. It pretty much felt like playing with a lighter, nimbler version of mine.
So, in closing, a bunch of thanks:
- Thanks Liz for offering to let me borrow your stick.
- Thanks Ellaine for letting me borrow your stick. It rules.
- Thanks Lucinda for offering to me borrow your stick.
- Thanks Lucinda again for giving me the half brownie.
- Thanks Malinda for the baking the half brownie.
- Thanks Marci for taking the stick back to Ellaine.
Now, how much should I cut off my backup stick? I have no guidance, now that I'm breaking the "between chin and nose" rule. Maybe I should just measure against Ellaine's stick and cut it based on that. :)
11:12 PM | Lollerskates| Comments (2)
May 20, 2008 / Tuesday
The Puck Goes In The OTHER Net
We tried again today, and ended up with an even worse outcome. Final score: 0-6. Ouch!
We did a terrible job of covering open members of the Line of Scoring... and Scoringness tonight, and they did a number on us. Our poor goalie!
I felt a lot better tonight than I did on Sunday. I'm finally getting back into hockey shape... just in time for the Memorial Day break. Darn this screwy schedule.
11:27 PM | Lollerskates| Comments (0)
May 18, 2008 / Sunday
I Think I'm Built For Sitting On The Couch
I arrived at today's game with a pulled right glute and right groin. I left with a pulled left glute also. Why are you so unhappy, body? What am I doing wrong? I'm falling apart. Help!
Not cycling or playing hockey during the week probably has something to do with it. I blame work. And genetics.
We played hard, I felt out of it, things didn't go our way, and we lost. Final score: 1-2. We get to try again in two days.
That is all.
09:15 PM | Lollerskates| Comments (0)
May 10, 2008 / Saturday
Teh Suck, That Was Me
Oh my, I'm out of shape. Two weeks of not much more than golf, tennis, and ice cream will do that to you, I guess. I had no ice legs and no stick handling today. It was ugly. I would very much like to not feel this crappy at my next game. Thus, I'm getting off my fat ass (really, it feels larger today than it did two weeks ago) and back on the bicycles. More riding, more lifting, more skating, more activities that require more than just walking and swinging at a little white ball. Tennis is good, but there's not enough time to play competitively when I'm just out hitting with my coworkers. In any case, I quite dislike sucking, so I'd better do something about it.
We outshot the other team 25-22, but lost 2-5. They scored less than a minute into the game, and racked up their 5 goals in only 12 shots. Ouch.
10:07 PM | Lollerskates| Comments (0)
April 27, 2008 / Sunday
Whoo, New Stick!
I wasted no time replacing the stick I broke Friday night. I'd gotten used to its grippiness, but I still wasn't a fan of it. This was my chance to get an even better version of my favoritest stick ever! I called up the local hockey shops and located one at Power Play. I have to say, given all the details that go into describing a stick, those hockey shop guys are good at picking all of them up on the first pass. How many descriptors for my stick? It's an Easton Synergy Elite Intermediate Non-Grip Right-Handed Sakic. Minus the brand, that's still six unique descriptors. I guess they're used to it.
So, the new stick. I luf it. I luf it more than I luffed the last one. This stick, it doesn't just like to score, it likes to steal the puck on penalty kill and score. Good job, stick. I think I'll keep you. Try not to break in six months like your grippy sibling, okay?
We played the team with the Line of Scoring... and Scoringness today, and it was during today's game that I realized they're also the team with the D That Kicks Your Ass. What a combination.
We had a much better showing against them than last time, but lost in overtime. Final score: 2-3. So close!
Next time, Gadget, next time!
10:05 PM | Lollerskates| Comments (0)
April 25, 2008 / Friday
Friday Night Lols
I'm ambivalent about Friday night games. I love them because I spend the day looking forward to hockey, but I hate them because I'm usually tired by game time. Fortunately, tonight was not a usual Friday night, and I actually felt pretty good for the game. Racked up a goal and an assist, thanks to two rockin' linemates (it's hard not to have rockin' linemates this season). Final score: 4-0. Lollies!
In other ambivalent news, I broke my stick. This is a bummer because I've put all of one season's worth of play on it, and it cost me a bazillion (okay, ~180) dollars. On the other hand, I'm stoked because this means I get to buy a new stick. While I'm disappointed that this one disintegrated so fast, I really do love the stick, and I think I'll be getting the same thing, sans grip.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get some rest. It's hard work, you know, breaking sticks with my BIG BOOMING SHOT. ;)
• • •
I suppose I should have thought to check my stick when all my shots went wide and my passes fell short in the 3rd period, but I never even considered that breaking my stick was a possibility. I'm little and weak; my sticks don't break!
11:26 PM | Lollerskates| Comments (2)
April 13, 2008 / Sunday
Lololololollies!
Made it to my game tonight. PHEW! I got about an hour's worth of lost pre-riding the Sea Otter XC course earlier in the afternoon and wasn't sure if I'd get to the rink in time. Fortunately, I did, and all was well, except for the fact that my legs were so tired from riding that they hurt just walking down the stairs. I'd considered showing up to not-flake and then asking one of the Maroon skaters from the game before ours to sub for me, but once I was at the rink I entered hockey hockey hockey hockey hockey mode and knew that I absolutely had to get on the ice. My legs felt terrible at first, but once I warmed up I didn't notice them much at all. I tried to focus more on positioning and plays than speed, and that helped a lot. I even scored our first goal. Whaddaya know, hockey's not all about speed. There's hope for me yet!
We got off to a slow start, but after from the end of the 2nd period to the middle of the middle of the 3rd we put in 6 goals. Final score: 7-2. I'm hoping this is what Destiny looks like the next time we face the other team. Hello, Magical Line of Scoring... and Scoringness, how about a rematch?
Just kidding... sort of. It seems that no one has figured out how to counter the Magic of teh MLoSaS yet, but given that there are only 3 teams in this division, we will have plenty of opportunities to do so.
10:55 PM | Lollerskates| Comments (1)
April 07, 2008 / Monday
Lollerskates!
Thanks to zero suggestions from the rest of the team and my captain's prompt executive decision, we played our first game of the season with a team name: Lollerskates! I was pretty happy about this, especially after a failed attempt to name my team ROFLcopter last season. I don't love Lollerskates as much as ROFLcopter, but I do suppose it's more appropriate for a hockey team.
That said, when someone joked before the game that we were the Team of Destiny, I thought that would have been much more appropriate. My jaw seriously dropped when I first saw our roster; we have some really good players on our team, and I have no idea how my captain managed to assemble this group at the draft. Of course, that also means that I'm the team n00b again, by many many years.
But with *that* said, we lost the game to the team with the Magic Line of Scoring... and Scoringness. The Magic Line scored, oh yes they did, three times on our goalie and once on our open net. We tried to answer, but they had Bridget in net, and she had a really good game, and when she has a good game there is no scoring to be had. Destiny be damned.
Still, I had fun, as usual. I even had a few good plays. I'm finally starting to get the hang of how this passing thing works in Blue, although I still have a long ways to go. I also got a couple breakaways from within our own zone. Those are much harder to come by these days, so I was pretty happy about them. Now, if only their goalie didn't suck everything up. Black hole! Srsly!
Final score: 0-4. Oh, and I hurt my shoulder. I dove right to make a pass (which made it, hoorays) and landed with my right arm outstretched, which jarred my shoulder up. It didn't feel good then, and it feels even worse now. Aleve is my friend.
