Today I... (part 4)

[KyleJRM]

Three years since the first time I ever tried ice skating, I finally got the goal I've always wanted: the behind the net, bank it off the goalie facing the other way and in. Broke an eight-game drought for me too.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Not today bust last week, in my fifth ever hockey game, I finally registered a shot on net!

Baby steps, baby steps. I am playing on defence...

 

[Pez68]

...Tuesday night I had to witness this happen to my teammate, at the end of a 40-and-over game where we only had 6 skaters:

https://livebarn.com/en/videoshare?...g&dt=2018-11-06T22:59&t=385525&d=30000&mode=4

Broken ankle in two places, out for the season. Perpetrator got a match penalty, supposed 30 day suspension from all USA hockey activity, including youth coaching (he coaches a 12U travel team in Phoenix)

Unbelievable. That happens after one of my games, and myself, or one of my teammates, absolutely ends that guy. Literally. What a scumbag.

Even worse that he coaches youth hockey. Glad to see he got almost a year off...which VERY WELL SHOULD include coaching.

 

[beakerboy]

Three years since the first time I ever tried ice skating, I finally got the goal I've always wanted: the behind the net, bank it off the goalie facing the other way and in. Broke an eight-game drought for me too.

As a beer league goalie, those are the ones I hate, not because they are bad goals, but because it usually hurts when someone tries to bank a shot off you if you're facing the other way (and from behind the goal line, you're usually nowhere close to square). There isn't that much padding if you take a shot in the side or off the back.

I guess that's why we usually get to play for free though.

 

[KyleJRM]

As a beer league goalie, those are the ones I hate, not because they are bad goals, but because it usually hurts when someone tries to bank a shot off you if you're facing the other way (and from behind the goal line, you're usually nowhere close to square). There isn't that much padding if you take a shot in the side or off the back.

I guess that's why we usually get to play for free though.

I hadn’t thought of that. I assumed you guys were sufficiently tanked up on all sides to absorb my sad little wristlet. I won’t do it anymore, I believe it’s important to be goalie friendly.

 

[Glove Malfunction]

It's been a few years since I've officiated, but I habitually saved my incident reports to my Google Drive, and ran across this gem of an incident:

With 4:55 remaining in the third period the Dusters scored a goal. As I turned to skate towards the scorekeeper to report the goal, I saw Mafia Hockey #77 Bob Smith cross check a player on the Dusters. Because this action was well after the play had ended, I assessed a 5-minute major for cross checking. Dusters player #35 John Doe immediately retaliated by punching #77 Smith and tackling him to the ice. #77 Smith did not engage in the fight and only protected himself on the ice. #35 Doe was assessed a major and game misconduct for fighting and #77 Smith was not assessed any additional penalty.

As both players were on the ice, Dusters player #00 Jack Doe cross checked #77 Smith in the back, then turned his body and used the butt end of his stick to strike #77 Smith repeatedly. At this point both officials had arrived at the scene and first removed #00 Jack Doe from the altercation. The officials then broke up the two players that were still on the ice. #00 Jack Doe received a major for cross checking and a major plus game misconduct for butt ending.

Outside of that altercation the game was relatively calm. There was one tripping penalty in the third period by #77 Smith. There was also a small confrontation with 8:48 left in the third period involving #00 Jack Doe where both players received minors for unsportsmanlike conduct. There were not any other calls to be made. After the game was finished, #00 Jack Doe returned to the ice in his street clothes in an attempt to confront the officials about penalties. He was asked to leave the ice as he had been assessed a game misconduct already. He did not leave the ice and was assessed a match penalty for abuse of officials. He was eventually escorted off the ice by rink staff and the scorekeeper George Miller.

(names changed to protect the innocent; John and Jack Doe described as such because they were siblings)

This is exactly why I had avoided working adult games for so long. Then I moved to AZ, and got assigned some and they aren't all that bad. Only one incident report this season!

 

[SundayNiteBlackout]

On Monday I played my very first game of ice hockey. Needless to say I'm hooked.

 

[Marshmallow]

Today I'm playing my 3rd game of hockey. Grew up just skating at open skates with friends, and playing street hockey in my neighborhood. I consider my self a pretty good skater, and I'm quickly picking up the hockey aspect. Nice being in a position in my life that I can get in to it. Been wanting to since I was young.

 

[Meuracas]

Won our first playoff game this season and advanced onto the next round - we tied the game with 2 minutes left on the clock and scored the game-winner a second before the buzzer.

Last game against the same team we played 0-0 with over 40 shots each and 22 minutes of minor penalties against the other team. I think it’s the first time ever I’ve seen a 0-0 game in a beer league.

 

[Cursed Lemon]

Jeez. My beer league has a round robin system for the playoffs, and my team got manhandled in all three games, scoring four goals across them. Terrible.

 

[NDiesel]

I took a stick right underneath the eye the other night. I wear a half visor so moral of the story for those of us who aren't going to the NHL - just wear a cage/full shield. I luckily avoided permanent damage (for the most part, it may not heal back to 100% but should be close to it) but it was a humbling experience and not a lesson I wish any of you have to learn.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

I took a stick right underneath the eye the other night. I wear a half visor so moral of the story for those of us who aren't going to the NHL - just wear a cage/full shield. I luckily avoided permanent damage (for the most part, it may not heal back to 100% but should be close to it) but it was a humbling experience and not a lesson I wish any of you have to learn.

Had this happen by my lower mouth at our roller hockey game a month ago. Have gone full-cage ever since.

 

[ArGarBarGar]

Lost my Wednesday team's championship game last night. Played the other team hard (they had one guy who could f***ing wheel) but we lost 4-3 off a bad first period goal (big guy who was one of the weaker players on the team just sent it through traffic on the ice and it went through our goaltender) and the winning goal that resulted from a rim-around play by me hitting the corner of the zamboni door and bouncing right in front of our net.

Was a hell of a season, though. A lot faster of a game than I have been used to for the last few years so it is nice to get myself into that kind of speed, again.

 

[Ozz]

Played a solid game against a tough team last night, we won by a couple and I got a couple points. My goal went top-shelf short side, and must have hit iron 4x. I lost track of what happened but it sure sounded and looked great!

I took a stick right underneath the eye the other night. I wear a half visor so moral of the story for those of us who aren't going to the NHL - just wear a cage/full shield. I luckily avoided permanent damage (for the most part, it may not heal back to 100% but should be close to it) but it was a humbling experience and not a lesson I wish any of you have to learn.

I hope you heal well. Last week a teammate caught a puck to the face, which ended up bashing a hole through his upper lip. He skipped this week saying his teeth and jaw still feel sensitive. He got a lot of stitches but nothing else was noted as damaged, thankfully. That was a cherry on top of a 6-0 drubbing we got, thanks to playing 1/3 of a period short-handed due to a questionable major penalty.

 

[icon6668]

The other night we won our league cup.

During the season we play each team 3 times. (6 teams) We lost 3 games each to the team that came first (got outscored 16-5) and the team that came second (got outscored 18-9) They had such strong teams all through the lineup with their weakest players probably slotting into our 2nd line.

In the semi's (best of 3) we played the team that came 2nd and beat them in 2 games (we outscored 14-4)
In the finals (best of 5) we played the team that finished first and beat them in 4 games ( we outscored 10-9 including 2 OT wins).

So awesome watching everyone gel throughout the season and then go and stick it to the teams that best us easily all season.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

I scored 18 points the other day. I live in a country where hockey is not very prominent and I (Canadian) was on a line with another Canadian and a Finn.

And we weren't rubbing it in their faces or anything, we stopped playing for the last half. I probably could have hit 30 points.

 

[Slats432]

Watched my kid break the glass with his shot in warmup. Had to cancel the game. Disappointed.

 

[Slats432]

Last night I had the most breakaways in any game I have ever played. (5) Goals (0). I consider it my my worst game of hockey in 45 years of playing.

The only saving grace is that I didn't do this...

 

[Yukon Joe]

Not today bust last week, in my fifth ever hockey game, I finally registered a shot on net!

Baby steps, baby steps. I am playing on defence...

Still no goals yet, but last night I had my first multi-point night with two assists - both generated off shots to the net where someone else picked up the rebound.. Those baby steps are coming along...

 

[Yukon Joe]

Still no goals yet, but last night I had my first multi-point night with two assists - both generated off shots to the net where someone else picked up the rebound.. Those baby steps are coming along...

Playing shinny, not a league game, but I finally got a goal tonight. First since I was 9 or 10 - and I only ever scored one goal in my youth hockey career, which is now 30+ years ago.

 

[Andrei79]

Today I was pissed as I learned another arena, one that was offering a wealth of public skates and stick-pucks, would close down next year.

It's the second arena that's closing. The first closed down in May was one of the most frequented. Its over 200 hockey teams and 5000 players, figure skaters and leizurely skaters that lost their arena.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

I scored 18 points the other day. I live in a country where hockey is not very prominent and I (Canadian) was on a line with another Canadian and a Finn.

And we weren't rubbing it in their faces or anything, we stopped playing for the last half. I probably could have hit 30 points.

Those are rough. Once people know you're just too good for that level, what do you do? Looks weird to just dog it. Never had one that bad and usually my teammates are butt so I just try to play D and get them goals, but if your linemates are also fire..

My worst one was when I was drubbing a buddy trying out goalie in a roller hockey game. I had 6 goals, way too many already, so when I had the puck alone in front I tried to just flip it into his chest- dude stayed standing and it went upper five-hole instead. I felt like such an ass, luckily their coach and goalie knew what I'd intended and were both super cool about it afterwards.

 

[LeifUK]

Those are rough. Once people know you're just too good for that level, what do you do? Looks weird to just dog it.

One option is to become a game maker, and instead of hot dogging from end to end, use your skill to set up plays for the less able, and help them learn. I guess it could be a bit boring, but is hot dogging beneficial to you? After all it might mean you become lazy and over confident. By making plays, you might end up making yourself popular, as well as having some good exercise. Of course if you want to push yourself, you’ll have to find a higher level of player.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Those are rough. Once people know you're just too good for that level, what do you do? Looks weird to just dog it. Never had one that bad and usually my teammates are butt so I just try to play D and get them goals, but if your linemates are also fire..

My worst one was when I was drubbing a buddy trying out goalie in a roller hockey game. I had 6 goals, way too many already, so when I had the puck alone in front I tried to just flip it into his chest- dude stayed standing and it went upper five-hole instead. I felt like such an ass, luckily their coach and goalie knew what I'd intended and were both super cool about it afterwards.

I play in a very beginner league, and in Canada, so there are lots of players much better than us. Players can actually get kicked out of the league if they repeatedly dominate games they have no business okaying in.

So what I see often is a much better player doesn't shoot on net. They'll try to set up plays for others. Or, they play defence and try to move the puck out of their zone and feed the forwards. I don't think this counts as "dogging it", as you're still working hard.

It changes the dynamic slightly when you're playing against another player when you know they aren't trying to score, but speaking as a beginner I'll happily take that.

 

[Junipero]

Today I found out that I've been wearing skates that are 2 sizes too big for me. I decided I wanted to finally upgrade my skates after having my current pair for about 10 years. I went to a sports shop where I knew the manager so I could hopefully get a good deal. Well, when he measured my foot it turns out that I needed a size 8. I've been in 10's since 2009!!! I mean, I do wear a pretty thick sock in them, but I had no idea they were that big. And it never seemed to affect my skating ability (I'm one of the better female players in my city). In any case, I wanted to stick with CCM but didn't feel comfortable in any of those that I tried on. Ended up switching to Bauer (Vapor X500 Gen II's). Can't wait to start breaking them in at summer hockey!