THE DROUGHT IS OVER!!!!

I had two separate hockey league games yesterday and they couldn't have been more polar opposites. The 1st game was a 12-2 blowout at Wells as we had no goalie.  I also decided to use my head to closely inspect the ice and the boards about 5 minutes into that game.  The second game was later at Columbia and I was on the right end of a 9-2 decision.  I finally broke both the Columbia and the Mutineers Red Jersey curses with two goals and an assist on the evening.  The second goal was particularly pretty, a one timer on a cross ice feed.  Today I'm paying for it, as I'm tired and sore, but ohhhhh was it worth it.  What a fun day!

s

Weekend Post Mortem...

I experienced a first this weekend. Winning games at the Labatt tournament. Twitter followers know that the Crush won on Friday and Saturday morning, but lost on Saturday afternoon.  Sadly, even though 2 out of 3 ain't bad, thanks MeatLoaf, we still didn't get to play in the championship round on Sunday.   Carey and I each contributed and assist to the effort and I took a two minute penalty along the way.  The tournament and time spent with the team was great fun.  I had a Mutineers game last night to cap off the weekend.  We lost 3-1, and had only ten skaters, guess everything can't go perfectly 'eh.    I'm very sore and tired today.  Looking forward to getting home and relaxing.   I've got a busy week planned between more hockey tomorrow, scorekeeping and work.  Here's hoping everything goes smoothly.

s

A Dose of "Humble Pie"

I decided this spring to try playing on a higher level hockey team.  I've been playing for 5 years now, and have always been on the beginner/novice level teams, and am having great fun.  I realized over the winter that I wouldn't continue to improve without doing two things. The first was practicing, so I addressed that by doing about half of the sessions at the Wells Hockey Clinic. The second was playing against better competition.  The levels of play are designated by letter and number.  The closer you get to A1 the higher the level of competition.  I have been playing D2 and D1 level hockey my whole career.  When I started with the Mutineers last summer, we played C3.  The Mutts eventually got moved down to D1 becuase we weren't winning, and players weren't interested in getting better.  Getting moved down to D1 is what sparked this interest in moving up for me.  I met a lot of people over the winter while I was scorekeeping, one thing led to another, and I found a spot on the Unknowns, a C2 level team.    I played my 1st game with them last week, and I was pleasantly suprised with my ability to keep up.  I played my second game with them last night, and boy did I learn some things. The team we played last night was seriously fast, and seriously physical.  I was telling my buddy Kevin today, that I felt like all my decisions were wrong.  Things happen so much faster, I didn't have the time I expected to figure things out.  It has been a long time since I've been outplayed like I was last night.  The silver lining for me are several things:
1. I didn't do anything that led directly to a goal.
2. I was on the ice for more goals FOR us than AGAINST us.
3. My straight line speed is fast enough to be able to play at this level.
I'm sure I will be able to play at this level, but I'm going to have to put in some work to get my game to a level where I can contribute. I like this challenge, and I'm willing to put in the time to make myself better.  I will make sure to keep you aprised on my progress.  

Talk to you soon!

s

Hockey on the Caps home ice.

Below are the pics from my scrimmage at Verizon Center last Friday.  We lost 8-3, but I was on the ice for two of our three goals.  The ice was terrible, I can't believe the best players in the world play on that. The ice had nothing to do with why we lost, for the record.  It was also very hot playing under those lights.  I haven't sweated like that in a long time.  Overall it was a wonderful experience, I'm so glad I got to do it.

I've got some new stuff going up on Down N Dirty, so keep your eyes peeled!   Enjoy!

Post 200.

I never would have thought when I started blogging that I would have gotten to two hundred posts, much less get the opportunity to blog on someone else's blog. I have to say, blogging is a lot of fun for me.  Thanks to all the folks who stop by and read my little corner of the internet. I will keep 'em coming as long as its fun.

I've had a pretty good week so far.  I got invited to play with my friend Kevin's hockey team at the Verizon Center after the Caps game with Tampa on Friday night. This is exciting to me for two reasons:

1. Verizon Center...DUH
2. Someone thinks enough of me as a person and hockey player to want to include me.  I like the way that makes me feel.

I've also started blogging with the Down N Dirty guys this week, and the response has been very positive.  I will make sure to link to the site as new posts go up.

My first HNA winter season came to an end last weekend, with a 6-1 win.  We did not win enough games to quality for the playoffs, so no free trip to Toronto for us.   The spring season starts in April, and it looks like I'sm going to start playing for a second team.  This will be my first try at a higher level, faster game.  I'm looking forward to testing myself and seeing where I measure up.

That's all I have for now. 

s

What are you staring at??

Carey and I went to see "The Men who stare at Goats" on Friday night. The movie has it's share of funny moments, but overall I wasn't all that impressed. George Clooney is one of my favorite actors, but it just didn't do much for me. If I were you, I'd wait for it to come out on home video.

My HNA team got a tie last night. We still haven't won a game, but we do have two ties. We have been "in" all of our games with the exception of one or two. I have a feeling that it won't be long before we turn the corner and start getting our wins. I think it would help if we could get more than 10 or 11 skaters per game, and number 31(me) could actually SCORE on a breakaway. I've had three in the past two games and I'm 0 for 3. One of these times I'll guess right and get one. I did have an assist last night, so that made me feel better. I'm score keeping three times this week, because I'm a glutton, and I love the idea of getting paid to watch hockey.

All else is well, the week is off and running, hopefully it will be uneventful.

s