tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20836869278147403672024-03-19T03:12:45.543-07:00Squirrel’s Hockey TalesLarry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.comBlogger152125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-50299160966504972842017-02-19T21:00:00.000-08:002017-02-21T14:31:27.538-08:00Biohazard and Piranha WeekendI started off playing defense for Biohazard. We had 7 skaters for the game. I played really well. I figured I was going to play the whole game because of the few players, and conditioning our players, but I was probably on the bench more than most. That’s fine because I got to go all out when I was out there.<br />
<br />
I made a few good passes, but a lot of what I was doing was getting the puck out of the zone. I’ve really started to like using behind the net. I would pick up the puck, take a quick look, and launch it into the opposite corner. As the game went on, I gained some more confidence, and really started pushing it. I would jump up on the rush and help out. Other times I would stay back and be a bit more conservative. I did better as the game went on. I would read plays in the offensive zone, and pick off passes. It was just natural to me. I would pick up the puck off the boards regularly, and just make a subtle move from side to side and shake an attacker. It was weird being able to dance through players.<br />
<br />
In the second, I would intercept a pass at the blue line. I took a second to look on who to pass to. The corner? Covered. Across? It would get picked off for a rush. In the slot? Too much traffic. I took a small step in and saw a big hole for the goalie. I leaned into it and shot top left corner. The traffic in front distracted the goalie and I saw the net jump and knew it was in. Felt awesome. It gave us a 2-1 lead, and in the third, we mostly clogged the neutral zone and just kept it out of our zone. It ended up in no goals against, and we’d win 3-1.<br />
<br />
Sunday night 9 skaters against a team we can beat, but we had only one of our regular defensemen. I jumped back and pulled back someone who I’ve played with D before as well, hoping to reignite some chemistry there. In the first period we were probably outplayed. But we outlasted them. We just needed some time in their zone, and fast because our blue line was getting tired. We had a guy show up late and it helped a ton. That’s when we started really getting moving.<br />
<br />
I made some silly moves to start the second, such as changing on a 3 on 1 against. But then I calmed down. I had one great shot from the blue line off the face off that was just a couple of inches off the ice, hoping that someone could get there for the rebound, but it went between the goalies leg pads and just bounced a little bit for an easy cover for him.<br />
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I started jumping up on the rush to get 2 on 1s, I carried the puck end to end, looking for passes, and it worked because of our short bench and our centers would stay back. After the game, one of them said to me they were happy to do it because they were exhausted. Playing defense with one other full pairing is actually a less intense night than any night I’ve had with the Piranhas or Biohazard this season. Or maybe I’m just in better condition than I’ve been all year.<br />
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All night, I knew who was coming at me, and their strengths. It is an advantage of playing the same teams and players every year. I know their tendencies and what is coming next, so I like to use that to my advantage.<br />
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In the second period, I would jump up on the power play, get in real tight, and see no options to pass or shoot. I saw a winger joining me getting close. I put a low shot on, hoping for a rebound, and sure enough the rebound went right to the winger, and he didn’t get all of the puck, but just enough for it to gently slide across the line and in. I was thrilled for the guy to get his first goal in a while.<br />
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We’d go to overtime. 40 seconds into overtime, I stood up a player carrying the puck. I just stopped and he ran into me. I got called for interference. I’m still not sure why. I took my time getting to the box, hoping to run out some of the penalty because it was running clock, but the time keeper wasn’t running it. It is one of those gamesmanship things you do. If you can make the actual play time of being shorthanded less, then you do it.<br />
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We killed the penalty, I jumped on the bench, and then our goal scorer would assist on the game winning goal to another player who hasn’t scored much lately. I was thrilled for both of them. I was happy for the whole team since we won last week too, and it has been a while since the Piranhas have won back to back games.Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-57780423007868173882017-02-04T22:30:00.000-08:002017-02-07T11:13:25.629-08:00Biohazard - 1 Healthy Scratch - 8I have been getting to the rink later and later lately, so I made sure I was on time and got a full warm up. I needed it since I would be using a different stick than I’m used to. It is shocking to me how much different the stick can make a difference in how I feel the puck.<br />
<br />
I switched back to an old Mako I had from 2012. I wish they still made this stick. I bought a bunch because I liked it so much. For the last couple of years, I’ve used a Nexus, which is a great stick as well, but the curves were slightly different. Combine that with I had chopped off an extra two inches from the Nexus, and I had a hard time carrying the puck. But that’s to be expected.<br />
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After the first period, I started getting used to it. I caught some passes that I thought I’d miss, and I also made one play that I need to use more. When I pick up the puck along the board, turn toward the center of the ice and bounce the puck behind me to protect the puck and allow me to turn and go. I’ve done it a few times, and was able to pull it off tonight.<br />
<br />
I felt a little out of shape, but was in position for the majority of the game. During the third period, I was able to out muscle one of their defense men along the boards at the blue line. I got the puck into the zone, and just out of their reach. I kicked it forward about 4 feet, and knew I’d be alone if I could pick it up and cut across. I did just that. I put my hardest shot on net, and it went right into the goalie’s mid section.<br />
<br />
I’ve noticed I do a lot of fly by on my fore check. I’ll skate hard, swipe at the puck and hope to deflect it or pick it up and skate on the rush. I did this tonight, and the defense-man missed his pass attempt and the puck just sat there for a good two seconds. I felt foolish. I’m going to start stopping in front of the defense-man on the forecheck because I know I can take off quicker than most.<br />
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Where I was pleased was on the face off dot. I have been more attentive taking drops, trying to focus on winning it instead of just tying up the opponent. Still, that is partially a team stat. I told my left winger that I was going to try and win the draw over to him, so he needs to cut in for it. I won, cleanly only to see it slide through his legs, and he didn’t even have his stick on the ice. This caused a large amount of frustration for me for a variety of reasons, but I tried to remain focused and positive.<br />
<br />
I did make some good passes, and handled the puck much better as the game went on. I also feel I didn’t get outworked at all, which is always a plus for me.Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-1607427360688843652017-01-21T23:00:00.000-08:002017-01-23T14:05:35.596-08:00Biohazard vs 96ersI had been playing well for Biohazard for a few weeks. Because of conflicting schedules though, I hadn't been seen the last couple of games. I was excited to get back out there. I started on a line with pretty much the best line mates I could ask for on the team.<br />
<br />
In the first period, I seemed to be doing alright, winning a puck battle here and there, but I wasn't involved in the play much. Our defense was a bit more active, so I ended up covering on the blue line quite a bit. I also was the first man back quite a bit, which helped rush the opponents' passes.<br />
<br />
All night I struggled on the break out. I tried changing where I should be, coming back a bit, going forward, but the puck would regularly go into a different direction. The times I did gain the puck, I didn't enter the zone the way I would have liked. I had an opportunity for a pass to my winger, but didn't have a strong enough hold on the puck to move it to him. I put a weak shot on net instead.<br />
<br />
Most of the interesting things happened later in the game. I had made a great netural zone pass to a player who would carry the puck into the corner and lose possession. I had poke checked it back to my guy, and went to the net. He would fire a shot over my shoulder, and the goalie never saw it because of the screen and his defenseman standing in front of him.<br />
<br />
As the game would go on, we were down and making a bit of a come back. I went in on a forecheck, but then tripped - on myself. I fell, the pass was still rushed. Before I could get up, the play was coming back into the offensive zone, and I was offside! I couldn't get back fast enough, which caused the puck carrier to skate across and didn't get a good scoring chance. Bad times.<br />
<br />
In the third, I caught a pass in the defensive zone and felt my stick bend a little bit. I looked and it looked ok, So I kept playing. As I was bringing the puck up, I could feel it being unstable. I got to the blue line, dumped the puck into the opposite corner (was supposed to be a pass but ended up being a dump) and just went to the bench. Sure enough, broken stick.<br />
<br />
We were down a man, and down by one goal at the end. Again, a defensemen pinched. I saw this, and went a little higher to help cover up high. But we needed the goal! The puck would squirt out, and up to me. At this point, I was exhausted, and needed a change. I took one stride in to see if anything would open but had nothing. I see the other defensmen wide open, knowing he'd have a better angle. I gave him a great pass, saw it slide right onto the tape of his stick. I turned and went for a change. I threw my skate over the board and heard, "Bad change! I looked, and there was a break away going against us." They would score, but I felt responsible for that.<br />
<br />
We'd give up one more, but it was a whole lot of bad that night.Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-79885420285949779722017-01-16T22:20:00.000-08:002017-01-17T12:51:53.139-08:00Piranhas vs. VipersMy hips were tight and I didn't get as long of a nap as I wanted before the game. I knew it was going to be a difficult game as a result. I did my best to stretch as much as I could as long as I could before the game but it wasn't helping much. My back felt great though.<div>
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I had different line mates than I usually do, but that's expected when you have a short bench like the Piranhas have all year. I started off on center, and for a change, I was actually winning faceoffs. I had won a few the game before, and I was winning them cleanly and with control tonight. At the very worst, I was tying up the opponent and the puck would just sit there.</div>
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My line had a lot of speed, and it showed on the first shift. We had a couple of shots, but not great ones. We were in the offensive zone nearly the entire time we were on the ice for the first period. But eventually the short bench would come back and bite us. Wingers would go to low to help out tired defensemen and centers weren't getting low enough. </div>
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There was a lot of board work, and it seemed this team was made of giants. They moved the puck well, lifted sticks, and made it difficult to move out there. I made some ok passes, but a few were too hard. Others were off the ice.</div>
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I really tried to focus on possession of the puck this game. The team had discussed a few things openly that we could change. I get a lot rushes because of my speed. I shoot, and have no one there for the rebound. I need to figure out something else to do with the puck because the shots are being seen clearly. I tried carrying the puck low and coming back up, gaining some time, drifting a little bit wider, and even driving to the net once. I didn't let that distract me from when I had the puck in a high scoring area, I was getting it to the net.</div>
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The Piranhas lost 3-1, with the empty net against. A close game, but still a loss.</div>
Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-21151718699072317602017-01-09T10:04:00.001-08:002017-01-09T10:04:54.242-08:00Piranhas vs. ArsenalI didn't get anything resembling a warm up. It was my own fault. I spent a lot of time at home stretching before coming to the rink.<br />
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The first few shifts of the game, my line did really well. We got the puck deep, and kept possession. I was playing with two players I normally never get to play with, and one was usually a d-man. I had a really good jump to my game early on. Our team would dump the puck in for a change, and their defense man would slowly go back to get it. I'd bet him to the puck and gain possession, but before I could get a handle, I'd stumble and not much would happen. This continued, and it forced the goalie to make some bad decisions that lead to scoring chances. Early on, I noticed I was able to control a few faceoffs. In a draw in our own end, I was able to have my wingers line up in the slot, and I shot right as the puck was dropped. The goalie was beatable.<br />
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At the end of the first we were down 4-1. In the second we really started to click. There was a good 90 seconds where our team was able to cycle the puck, and get scoring chances. It was exhausting for both sides. We were able to get a goal after I won a faceoff to the winger in the middle. He shot, I tapped at it to put it in but it got deflected somehow and went in from the rebound from my shot. The official gave me credit for the goal, but I think it was the winger. That same shift, he and I had a 2 on 2. I acted like I was going to pass to him, but used the defense man as a screen, and silently slid the puck through his legs, and the goalie barely saw it and it went in. Two goals in one shift. I'm really liking that play where I have the option to pass and I do the no look shot.<br />
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I had a battle in the corner in the offensive zone, where as I was falling to the ice, I saw a forward in blue right in front of the goalie. I made a very lucky pass and got it to him, but he fanned on the shot. I also had a couple of good passes to my defense man in the offensive zone, but not many solid outlet passes. Defensively, I didn't do much, but I didn't make mistakes. Overall, one of the better games I've played this season. The team played very well, but we lost 5-3. We didn't get enough quality shots in my opinion.Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-3590463772310767882016-06-22T03:27:00.000-07:002016-06-22T08:12:08.160-07:00Three months off<div class="MsoNormal">
I haven’t played hockey in three months. It wasn’t
intentional, it just worked out that way. It was nice to have a break from
hockey. <o:p></o:p></div>
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At the end of the winter season, I was happy it was over.
Some seasons I’m ready for a small break, but this winter was different. The
season was disappointing in a variety of areas for me. I wasn’t happy about my
performance on the ice. I started whining towards the officials. All of these
and more were just evidence and/or consequences of me not wanting to be around
hockey. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The three months without hockey were actually productive. I
started recognizing how bad my diet had become and made steps to change it. I
got back into the gym enough so that I spent more time there in these three
months than I did all season. I rediscovered old hobbies and found new ones as
well. I did quite a bit.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When it came time to put the skates on again, I wasn’t that
thrilled. I knew if I didn’t do it though, I’d probably not play for another
year. Still, I committed to playing and I know how bad it is to have people
fall short on commitments. I’m going to put forth my effort like I normally do.
I’m going to follow through on my commitment. But I’m doing this season for
myself. I want to just have fun. I’m not going to focus on making things go
smoothly for everyone.<o:p></o:p></div>
Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-26038732295731324042015-10-05T18:28:00.000-07:002015-10-05T18:28:00.679-07:00Summer 2015 Playoffs Review It’s ova’! The summer is done, playoffs are over and it is time to start preparing for winter. The winter season is just a few short weeks away.<br />
“But Squirrel! What happened in the summer playoffs?”<br />
<br />
Settle down there, and I’ll tell you. The Piranhas (2nd seed) would play the Shooters (3rd) to get to the championship. The Piranha line up is out on the ice, taking warm ups, and there’s only two Shooters on the ice. The fish start hearing that they have no goalie.<br />
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The referee came up with these rules on the fly that neither side fully understood, allowing the Shooters to put one of their 8 skaters into the net and cover the puck. Oh, and the Shooters are missing their top center.<br />
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It was brutal. The Piranhas played down, and the Shooters played desperate. It made it into a difficult game. I could not get anything going. I would try to use my wingers to help break out of the zone, but I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have the endurance to skate the puck down, I didn’t have the patience to look. The Shooters played outstanding, and it threw me off. My frustration grew and grew. I would put one into the net, and it would go around the bottom so fast, that the official would not see it go in and out, and not count it. Even Shooter players admitted it went in, but obviously aren’t going to admit it. Piranhas win ugly, 6-5.<br />
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The very next night, the Moose would play the Force for the championship. I would jump onto the wing for the first time with that team, playing with an old team mate from the Coyotes. I kept making mistakes in the first period. I wouldn’t play my “safe” hockey. I would stumble, drop the puck, make bad passes, pretty much anything I could do poorly in the first two periods. Going into the third we were down by a couple of goals, and I knew I had to play better. I had to carry the puck, and dig quite a bit deeper. The entire team had to carry the puck – especially me. I would eventually pick it up and try to take it end to end. I did a lot of work below the goal line, and stayed strong on my skates. I would kick a backhand pass out to the slot, allowing my center to put one home. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough and the Moose lost.<br />
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I wasn’t frustrated or angry after the Moose lost. I spent more time focusing on the next steps. The winter moose, the Piranhas next game, and that was about it. I wasn’t playing well, and there’s little you can do to play better in the short term. Just mentally prepare.<br />
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The Piranhas would have a full bench against the Mastodons (1st). I would pop the goalie’s water bottle in warm ups, something I had never done before. I had my time to get my skates right – which is nice because they had felt off for a month or two. We shook up the lines a little bit, and gave me a little bit stronger of a winger as my line had been struggling a lot lately. Dividends would immediately pay off. My line’s first shift, I would poke check the puck away from the puck carrier in the neutral zone, and my new winger would cut across, pick up the puck and score on a break away. It set the tone. Each shift from every line was hard. The Piranhas didn’t give up anything easy, and that helped me out and play my best. It is easier to dig deeper when you’re surrounded by guys who are digging deep as well. A couple of penalty kills, a few solid defensive plays, and the Piranhas would win the championship.<br />
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I finished the summer on a down note performance wise. When I was rolling fairly well, I hit a dry patch. I now know why. I stopped working to get better, and as a result, I got worse. My conditioning didn’t improve, I lost battles, and I lost confidence. I’m fortunate to have had the team to pick up slack. Now it is just time to get ready for the winter.<br />
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Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-32182873153829827502015-09-27T12:26:00.000-07:002015-09-28T12:27:11.378-07:00Summer 2015 Regular Season ReviewWhen I look back at the summer season, there wasn’t that much growth for me. I had a lot of problems off the ice, and I still haven’t regained my focus from that. It never ceases to amaze me how mentally prepared for the game I need to be to perform at my best.<br />
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At the start of the season, I questioned if I would be able to handle a second team in addition to the Piranhas. I joined the Moose with the knowledge that I have already played with a few of those players. If I had to take time away for a bit, I knew they would understand. I also knew I needed to be on the ice a lot this summer to have something to look forward to.<br />
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I started off the season thinking, “Man, this is going to continue how I left off last season…” playing well. The moose to me looked completely dominant, and the Piranhas were solid. I scored an important and pretty goal for the Piranhas against the Aces that would draw some attention from quite a few players on both sides. By flipping it gently over the goalies leg pad and having it come down in the goal but without hitting the back of the net.<br />
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I would then miss a long string of Moose games because of injuries, personal problems, and one even because of the weather. I stopped my training, my diet was poor, and I generally just stopped taking care of myself. I would make it worse two days before with the Piranhas, and then not be ready for The Moose. It was not a good pattern. I hit that skid, and just did my best to not be a liability on the ice. Normally in a scenario such as this, I would force myself to be disciplined and get back on the right track, but instead, I gave myself a break.<br />
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My typical fire and jump in my step would come and go for about a month, then would come back. I rejoined the Moose. I had a two goal game against the Shooters, where one I was skating full speed, batted the puck out of the air and into the goal, without hitting the back of the net, and another no look, fast shot along the ice that the goalie never saw coming because I used his own defensemen as a screen. I’d have another goal against the Shooters where I walk from the corner, through three of their skaters, across the slot, and then score that I will never forget. I was feeling really positive about my play, despite not being in my best physical condition. I started playing with confidence – carrying the puck into the slot, successfully performing moves that that I had only tried in practices. But I hit a small slump the last few games, playing with hands of stone, and still not being conditioned as well as I’d like.<br />
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Aside from a few highlight worthy goals, this summer regular season didn’t do much for me. The Moose would finish first in their division, and the Piranhas would finish second in their division. Both teams have an excellent shot at their championships. But for the playoffs, I’m going to focus more on mental preparation than physical. I don’t think the conditioning will improve enough to make a difference, but if I have my focus, I can be a difference maker.<br />
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Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-80995686271463560462015-06-23T21:40:00.000-07:002015-06-24T08:38:15.927-07:00Piranhas vs. Mastodons 2015-06-23<div class="MsoNormal">
During warm ups, I felt like I was moving better than ever. I was low, quick, going left and right well. I couldn’t handle the puck at all, but that’s nothing new. My mind was so focused on the game, and I was so well prepared, I knew I would have a solid effort. I was going to be the third line out. The first two lines were dominated on the ice. It made me a little concerned that the two stronger lines were not controlling the play better. I jump out onto the ice, receive a great breakout pass from my winger. I bring it in, and end up going into the corner with the puck. I had the puck on the wall for a good 10 seconds. Going left, look up, I have nothing. Back to the right, and I look, another opponent. Can I go backwards and into the slot? That crosscheck from behind tells me nope. </div>
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The game went on a lot more like that. I played extremely well on the wall. I was very strong on my stick and played the body well along the wall. The Mastodons are a big team who play a more physical style of hockey, so they’re prepared for that sort of play. That though drains you a lot faster. It definitely impacted me in the second and third periods. In the defensive zone, I found it harder to go into the corners and put pressure on the puck carrier. I had a few shots on goal. One was on a power play where I carried it through the middle, used the defense men as a screen, kept going as fast as I could, got around the defense men, picked up my rebound and shot again. I would up with four shots I think, but only one that was really solid.</div>
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I liked my game. Conditioning needs to come back, but it will quickly. I only made maybe one or two mistakes, such as a softer pass to enter the zone that got picked off, or miscommunication with my line mates. </div>
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The Piranhas would win 4-3 in overtime.</div>
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Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-37021202088688466212015-06-18T21:40:00.000-07:002015-06-19T14:23:54.340-07:00Grim Reapers and Aces scrimmageThe Reapers and Aces invited me out to a scrimmage to help evaluate a newly formed team. I was asked to play defense, which is something I haven’t done much of in almost two years. New skates, and just a new mindset would make it very different for me. But I did it, not knowing about the team I was playing against. I recognized a few players but not all of them.<br />
<br />
I started out a little shaky. I broke the chin strap on my helmet, which threw me off my first shift. But as the night went on, I felt much more comfortable attacking as a defensemen. I had this speed and trust from my forwards that I could take it in, get the puck to the net, and then come back to the blue line before the opponents could regain possession. I think it is because all night the forwards kept giving up the blue line and coming back when I’m used to a more aggressive fore check.<br />
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My positioning needed work. I need to remind myself as I play on the blue line that I need to stay within the dots, and that there isn’t a third guy in the middle to help cover it. I need to push players to the outside, and not give so much space towards the middle of the ice. I did better with that as the night went on.<br />
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I am happy with how I played. I had a little rust but it came off quick.<br />
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<br />Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-76869753797028027742015-06-17T21:29:00.000-07:002015-06-17T21:29:42.320-07:00Equipment Changes for Summer 2015<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw6Z413FYD2Xv5Cu1sEuBI8tW8Vxgq_vHHRDaHxdoBUCkBukuQlbajTT5hcI68NiD4Kx55kzeHEeBWLC0eTZR_mlahDOtDpYbyosxTYRvbKrn5r1WXh-SAFp58CV4evzAmYLcTE11_s8/s1600/20150614_145627_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw6Z413FYD2Xv5Cu1sEuBI8tW8Vxgq_vHHRDaHxdoBUCkBukuQlbajTT5hcI68NiD4Kx55kzeHEeBWLC0eTZR_mlahDOtDpYbyosxTYRvbKrn5r1WXh-SAFp58CV4evzAmYLcTE11_s8/s640/20150614_145627_resized.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evaluating new stick options.</td></tr>
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This off season has been the most difficult one I’ve had. I believe it is probably the longest time wise, and there has been a lot going on away from the rink. It has been difficult to plan for anything really with so much in the air. The result is a lot of “day of” plans for preparation. Still, there is no excuse for not being prepared for the upcoming summer season. I like to use the off season to try out some new things and become more comfortable with changes.<br />
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Last season, I couldn’t be more pleased. I set a personal record for goals scored, I feel I helped my team defensively and stepped up in a variety of other areas. Toward the end of the season, I got sick. I lost a lot of weight. The last game of the season, my pants were too big, and I had to tuck my jersey in slightly different. I got my stick caught in my jersey at one point. These things never happened before. Additionally, over the course of the season, I broke a couple of sticks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdAMI8I3YI__0SrJPI3gUoBCFjeZtBpxjgWjjXhYegOd8cX-EiXPE83gvba_5FGE1t5y6JWEkOjjJhz_Sk3pJaTHG6vDiz-UkRbRDe9BdXHW8z4ulVAbxyEeIwFkK5bOKAvnUzXYQY_4/s1600/Bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdAMI8I3YI__0SrJPI3gUoBCFjeZtBpxjgWjjXhYegOd8cX-EiXPE83gvba_5FGE1t5y6JWEkOjjJhz_Sk3pJaTHG6vDiz-UkRbRDe9BdXHW8z4ulVAbxyEeIwFkK5bOKAvnUzXYQY_4/s1600/Bike.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of time spent on the bike.</td></tr>
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I attribute a lot of my success last season to the added strength from previous seasons. I spent a lot of time in the gym and on the bike to make sure that I was in the best possible condition. This off season, I continued the work in the gym, and have focused on adding even more strength this off season. I needed to gain back the weight I lost during the season (18 total pounds, 12 just from the illness at the end). That is a high percentage of my body weight. I’m pleased to report that I’m putting up my own personal records in the gym regularly. People have noticed that I’m visually looking bigger, and I’m back to my target weight. The problem is that I do have some equipment that is still a bit loose. I’m making the adjustments still, and will continue to do so as needed, but I don’t anticipate any major changes in equipment I wear for the summer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65H0eWvVpGaTxaY59y4RZKaXQ9Tu6JS-ETnz0HNiVbWMQwMyu8CLkKAk7KsndX_JsyB3FNkuJWYwNeRgjbxC7tLl29Y7U7dyo91Dgsqrn-jDAfM916kgpjgHGLxvurML6-l6rOaTgvFg/s1600/short-sticks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65H0eWvVpGaTxaY59y4RZKaXQ9Tu6JS-ETnz0HNiVbWMQwMyu8CLkKAk7KsndX_JsyB3FNkuJWYwNeRgjbxC7tLl29Y7U7dyo91Dgsqrn-jDAfM916kgpjgHGLxvurML6-l6rOaTgvFg/s320/short-sticks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left is my regular length. The right is my new experiment.</td></tr>
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As I mentioned, I broke a couple of sticks over the course of the season. All of my sticks have been set up the same way. I really like the 2012 Easton Mako E7 65 flex stick. They’re incredibly durable, light weight, and couldn’t be more perfect for me. I’ve used Easton sticks since before I made the transition to ice. I’ve tried Bauer, Warrior, and RBK sticks and I’ve always found something I did not like. Sticking with the stick is an easy choice, but Easton has not made a stick I like since 2013. They’ve seem to fallen in love with rocker patterns, and grip finishes. Easton discontinued my pattern, and I’m running out of backups. I’m considering making the jump now to the Bauer Nexus 8000, and just getting it over with. I’m also experimenting with shorter sticks for better puck control. I’ve taken old back up sticks that I would never use them in a game, and used them in scrimmages. It is forcing me to bend my knees more, stay lower, and that’s what I need to do anyway. The verdict is still out for what I do with the stick.<br />
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Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-24419154222037631852015-06-16T20:16:00.000-07:002015-06-16T20:16:00.110-07:00Summer 2015 TeamsThis summer I will play on two teams, the Piranhas and the Moose. I prefer playing on two teams, but haven’t done it as much as I’d like in the recent years. Playing on two teams helps keep me building my endurance. When I’m on one team, it doesn’t happen as fast. And there is no substitute for competitive games.<br />
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There was never question about playing with the Piranhas this summer. I expect another fun season, with a handful of new players. We had a few players drop out at the last minute, but the majority of the team is returning, and that makes me happy. I’ve played with the Piranhas since January 2011, and 70% of the team is the same since then.<br />
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The Moose is a new team being formed by a few former Piranhas, and is targeted for a lower division. There is a lot that goes into forming a team, and placed in the right division. I was shaky about joining them because on paper, it isn’t exactly what I wanted in a second team. My reason for joining this team are the players I know on it already. There’s quite a few good guys in the locker room, and we’re anticipating a fun time as well without a lot of stress.<br />
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Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-7072054719647299172015-04-13T16:35:00.000-07:002015-04-13T16:35:27.606-07:002014-2015 Season ReviewIt has been two weeks since my winter season has been completed. I’ve had time to clear my mind, and look at it with emotions cooled off and just to take it in. A lot of times I will write these posts a day or two later to reduce the adrenaline or kind of calm down and just look at things objectively. Surprisingly, in the two weeks that that the season has been over, I still feel the same way as I did the day after my last game.<br />
I walked into the 2014-2015 season with the stars aligned to have an outstanding season as an individual. I was in the best physical conditioning of my life, I felt confident in my skills from competing in the higher divisions the previous 15 months. I put in a lot of time in the gym to be stronger than ever. I was very focused on the game, and wanted to have my best season ever.<br />
I would be playing on two teams. The Piranhas who had a full calendar year of deservingly getting their butts kicked, and the Leperchauns, a team of free agents playing on a Saturday night. The Piranhas have become family to me. I get excited when I get to be on the ice with them, and I always seem to have a smile around them. The Leperchauns were a bit of a younger team, less talented, but showed signs of potential. I really felt I would fit in on the Leperchauns, based on age, proximity of the rink, and a few other things.<br />
Starting out, every weekend I was playing two games. Saturday night then again Sunday night. It worked out really well because I could use that Monday to recover, and then work hard in the gym and be ready for the next weekend. The Lepers were in a league I was not too familiar with, but curious about. The first three games, I skated through the crease in the offensive zone and play had to stop and come out. I’ve had that called on me before, but no league had ever been such a stickler. I learned to make sure to be aware of my surroundings more and more, and it had not happened after that.<br />
Despite feeling like I was in the top 1/3 of the roster skill wise for the Lepers, I could not produce. I had no chemistry with anyone on the team. Even the top skater on the team would not work out well with me. This really bothered me because he liked the way I played, and he knew exactly what I was doing. He even used me as an example for some of the newer players on what to do.<br />
The lack of chemistry and production on the Lepers lead to me going back to being more physical like I had been 2-3 years ago. There had been a couple of times where I felt I should have gotten called for checking or roughing. I had a couple of open ice hits that Scott Stevens would have been proud of. This did help create space for my team members, and allowed them to put the puck in the net, but I feel like a lot of the guys on the team looked at the stat sheet only. I really don’t feel the stat sheet does players like me justice. I’m more focused on shutting down opponents than putting up points. I started hearing a lot of negativity towards each other in the locker room, and started observing poor behaviors from the players which I could not respect. The fact that team was not winning any games did not help.<br />
It really bothers me when the energy in the locker room is so toxic. It hurt my play. I know I wasn’t looking forward to games with the Lepers, and I started getting cold shoulders from players. One game I didn’t say more than 10-15 words the entire night. My wrist had started bothering me about 6 weeks into the season, but it was a playable injury. It just needed to be taped a bit. Around January, I had a game and saw some behaviors from my team mates that really made me not want to play with the team. There was no friendly banter, no respect for each other. It was like rat hockey where everyone was out there for themselves. I continue playing, and despite trying to tell myself that I’m going to bring some energy to the team, it didn’t work. This drained on me.<br />
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While this was all going on for the Lepers, my performance on the Piranhas was the opposite. I scored the team’s first goal this season, and I knew I was going to have a great season. I didn’t have to play strong on my stick, I didn’t have a problem with chemistry with any line mate ever. I knew what I needed to do, where I fit on the team every night. The vibe in the locker room was upbeat at all times, even after a 7-0 loss. It lead to my best season. I started on a solid goal scoring pace (for me it was outstanding), averaging a goal every other game. I honestly was tickled with how well I was playing.<br />
So on a Saturday night, I could go from feeling down in the dumps with a bunch of strangers, to being in an awesome locker room, where I know each player and everyone is happy to be there.<br />
In November, a lot of things started happening off the ice, and stole my focus. It just would not let up either. This string of very bad events and situations would continue until the season was over (as of this writing, we may not be out of the tunnel yet). I didn’t play as well once this stuff started happening, but I kept going and trying.<br />
In January, the drain of the Lepers and the nagging injury of my wrist would be enough for me to walk from the team mid-season. My attendance was not solid anyway because they were constantly having games on Non-Saturdays that I had conflicts with. After I left the Lepers, I never had any regrets. It was the right decision. I would take the extra time (the Piranhas had gaps in their schedule) to heal up and just take care of the off ice issues.<br />
The Piranhas started to slide a bit too. But that upbeat attitude was still there. Everyone was trying, and it was just a positive experience the whole time. I would come to the locker room with that smile on my face every time, despite us not playing our greatest hockey. Then we got a bit of a break. We had a string of games against teams below us in the standings, and the Piranhas went on a tear. Everyone knew it was necessary to just make the playoffs. We would finish the season winning 6 of our final 7 games.<br />
In that stretch of 7 games, we had to play a compressed schedule because we missed some games because of vacations, byes in the schedule and so on. For me, the worst part of that compressed schedule was being sick. I had developed some problems that did not allow me to eat or drink comfortably. I finished the season 12 pounds lighter than when I started, and if you’ve seen me off the ice, you know 12 pounds is a lot for me. I was so sick at one point that I played a full game, but was so dehydrated that I did not sweat. This was the worst point of the season to get sick.<br />
Going into the last game of the season, we still had a shot at making the playoffs against a rough team, who was favored to go to the championship game. The Piranhas had a shortened bench, but the team was in to win this game. Sick, I had my best game I ever played. I played strong on the opponents, protected the puck well, created a lot of space for my line mates, screened the goalie, cycled the puck – just about everything a winger can do. The team would win the game in overtime, but still be eliminated from the playoffs with an 11-9 record.<br />
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When I look back at the season as an individual, I’d say it was successful. I found a scoring touch with 9 goals in 19 games for The Piranhas, even though for the Lepers (a weaker league) I had 0 points in 14 games. I say it was successful as an individual because I grew significantly in maturity and appreciation for my team and showed that I’m capable of putting up a point or two compared to just making life difficult for my opponents.<br />
I didn’t want the season to end. I felt like the team was getting into a groove. I wanted to play through being sick and keep skating and producing. The high of that final performance of the season from each of the Piranhas, and myself kept me up really late.<br />
Now I have to figure out how to build upon this momentum within the last couple of years.<br />
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Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-22706762183517047362014-05-23T18:29:00.000-07:002015-04-13T16:37:11.050-07:00Stepping Away from the Coyotes<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;">Early this morning, I informed the Coyotes that I decided to step away from the team. This was not an easy decision, but probably best for both parties. It hurts because I really wanted to help the Coyotes move forward. I did not do that. To call my only season as captain of the Coyotes a failure is an understatement. </span><br />
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The truth is I cannot commit to the Coyotes, and give them what they need anymore. This season was tough because of a variety of reasons away from the ice. When I ask myself if those distractions are gone, the answer is no.</div>
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Playing on two teams is not possible for me at this time in life. I will continue skating with the Piranhas. Had I continued to play on two teams, I would not perform with the passion that I demand of myself. I chose the Piranhas because they're a significantly lower maintenance team, and can handle if in the probable scenario that I'm flaky. The Coyotes need a greater commitment, and more time away from the rink than I have.</div>
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However, that also means my expectations for the Piranhas are higher because I'm focused on just them. No double headers, no conflicts, no back to backs. Supplement my hockey requirement with my own skates, rat hockey, scheduled practices, Puck Pros, and others' scrimmages where I can pick and chose.</div>
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This is a step back for me, but will allow me to get back to having fun, and focusing on the game.</div>
Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-71219038544124165482014-05-16T21:00:00.000-07:002014-05-18T08:03:47.322-07:00Squirrel's 2013-2014 Season Review <div class="MsoNormal">
The 2013-2014 season for me was a disaster. Every year, I
set a handful of goals for the year and I usually achieve about half of them. Last
year, I hit each of them except one. This year, I didn’t hit any. These goals
are not outrageous, but they do push me. Most are statistic based and I keep them to myself during the season. For example, this year a few of my goals were:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<li>Don't get hurt - Play in a minimum of 17 regular season games for both the Piranhas and Coyotes. It isn't a full 20 because of the overlapping schedules.</li>
<li>Reduce Penalty minutes - I wanted to have less than 22 penalty minutes this year. While I did have less than 22, it is because I missed a lot of games.</li>
<li>8 points on the Piranhas, 20 points on the Coyotes. I really felt that I needed to step up on the Coyotes this year in the point producing department. I also realize that the Piranhas would be in a tough spot this year because of their new division.</li>
<li>3rd place overall for the Coyotes - It would be very difficult to take 2nd place in the division, but possible. I left it at 3rd because I knew that we'd have games where we were short handed, and we hadn't played in the summer. I expected to finish hot. The Coyotes finished second to last.</li>
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I had a total of one goal all year, and I did have quite a few assists. I didn't score my one goal until the last game of the Piranha season, but it was a beauty:</div>
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So why didn't the season go so well? As with anything, there is never just one reason. I do believe a lot of the reasons I struggled were because of off ice reasons. For example, I had family issues which created a big distraction for me. Normally, the game is my number one focus, but I can honestly say that I didn't have one game where I was fully focused. This year, I also took a leadership role with the Coyotes. That didn't go the way I wanted. I tried to believe that the reason the Coyotes were in the situation they were in was because they didn't have the leadership or opportunity to do the things they needed to. When I gave them the opportunity, or tried to inspire change, it didn't work. This created another distraction for me.</div>
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But there were distractions at the rink for me as well. One thing I tried to get the Coyotes to do was to be a little bit more self-organizing. I needed them to not have their hand held every step of the way, even if it meant growing pains. When problems would arise, I would often shortchange myself so that an individual would be happier. Probably not the smartest thing for me to do. I also feel the team didn't get to be self organizing the way I wanted them to be after 20 games.</div>
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The biggest barrier to my success though was my hip. I had a nagging hip injury that started early in October. I tried to play through it, but after a rough game in December, I needed time off. I saw a couple of doctors who gave me advice on what to do, and even though I followed their instructions, the hip is still not fully recovered. It impacted my mobility, my confidence, and my strength.</div>
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I tried to let it recover. Give it a month of no stress, I tried to skate less frequently later in the season. But this just lead to me never being in my peak condition.</div>
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I took on bigger roles on both teams this year. I'm happy about that, but the success wasn't there. The stress snowballed and it cause me to start doubting myself. I missed many easy chances on the Piranhas, including missing an empty net for a goal from five feet which I continue to get heat for.</div>
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This was by far the most difficult, and least successful season of hockey for me since I started playing. At the same time, my expectations were high as well. When I first started playing, my goal may have been to just get one shot on goal in a game in a level that is similar to what the Piranhas are in. Now I'm expecting to average a point per game from the blue line in a much lower level. </div>
Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-85807459807908122952014-05-12T21:00:00.000-07:002014-05-16T10:44:45.089-07:00Coyotes vs. Honey Badgers I knew this was going to be a difficult game. The Coyotes had too many players dressed, many hadn't been on the ice in a while, and our opponents had been on the ice twice a week as a team. That said, I was 100% ready, focused, and prepared to get the win.<br />
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I was immediately strong and aggressive. I clogged up their entry into our zone. I had to actually hold back as I didn't want to take a roughing penalty. Playing on the Coyotes is difficult because our opponents' individual skill levels vary so greatly. I don't want to lean on a player who can barely stand on their skates.<br />
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That hesitation would come back to bite me later. I would pinch in, and the puck would come out of their zone for a 2 on 1. I came back as hard as I could. My defensive partner got beat but it was ok because I was there to put pressure on the puck carrier. I went to knock the puck away, missed and he scored. Had I played it the way I would at a higher level, I would have attempted to bump him off balance, and the puck would have just kept sliding. I was not happy with myself.<br />
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Later that period, I would get the puck on the blue line. There was no traffic in front of the net, no forward to pass to because they all had their backs to me. I skated in a bit looking for a shooting attempt. I would be cut off. I saw the winger with his back to me wide open. I knew I could bounce it off the wall in front of him, have the puck come back to right in front of him. So I shot it against the wall as hard as I could right in front of him. He saw this, picked it up and shot. The rebound went to the other side, where the other winger was able to easily put it in. One assist for me down.<br />
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Because of having too many guys, I basically took most of the second period off. I would play center in the third. Playing with a full bench means extremely short shifts for me, which I did. I need to slow down with the puck. I think I will handle it much better. I didn't carry it in as well as I would like.<br />
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A few shifts into the period, I fore checked in, clogged the puck along the wall, and then kicked it into the corner. Allowing my winger to dig along the wall with it. He slid it behind the net, to the other corner. I went to chase it down, but saw the other winger there ready for it. I went to just between the circle and the crease. I saw it kicked out and I was able to circle, see that no one was between me and the goalie from about 8 feet out. I shot it up and beat him top near side. One goal down in addition to my previous assist.<br />
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I liked how I played. I played hard, I saw my players open for passes, and moved the puck well. I was able to read the play very well, and make a big difference for our team, especially on the scoreboard. I would like to start carrying the puck more, but I'll start working on that in my training sessions.<br />
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The Coyotes would lose 5-4. This is a tough loss for the Coyotes.<br />
<br />
<br />Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-29990092830834010602014-05-08T21:30:00.000-07:002014-05-16T10:22:54.730-07:003 on 3 - Franklin Park<div class="MsoNormal">
My one and only goal for the night was to have fun. I didn’t
care if I scored a goal, played well, skated well, won, etc. If I had fun, the
night would be successful for me. I had a great group that wanted to play, so I
was fairly confident it’d work out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I stepped on to the ice, which was soaked, and made sure
that the things I focused on toward the end of the season were being done. Things
such as bending my knees, staying low, and keeping my balance are were key to
my improvement.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Surprisingly, I felt good when playing. I expected to be
gassed, unstable, and slow. In reality, I felt as if I didn’t take any time off.
This is strange because I have rust if I don’t play for a week, and not playing
for a month I figured it would be exponential.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think that my passing could have been better, and so could
have my timing. Multiple times, I was told that I had more time than I
realized. Thinking there’s pressure on you when there isn’t will cause you to
make bad decisions. I find myself in those situations often. I believe it is a
confidence issue.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where I did well was putting pressure on others – especially
if they had the puck. I was strong along the wall as I usually am, and I made
sure no one got anything easy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, everyone had a blast at the skate, including me. It
was a success. I would like to set up another in the very near future.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-67331988896454187012013-10-20T19:00:00.000-07:002013-10-21T19:40:28.657-07:002013-10-20 Red Stars vs. CoyotesThis year my role on the Coyotes is a lot different than it was the year before. I have a bigger part in the team's success, and getting more from the players. I look at some of the other guys I've played with in my position, and I drew a little bit from each in terms of what I should do and what I shouldn't be doing.<br />
One was be flexible, because there are always game time changes. While I was originally supposed to float through the lines, but instead, I had to take one of the left winger's spots. I wasn't anticipating something like this but I felt comfortable in doing it. I feel I could play any position on the Coyotes and be effective.<br />
<br />
I started out really strong. In my first shift, I did things that I've only done in practice. Not only did I do them this time, I did them well. I got the defender moving, stopped, went the other way, stopped, and then went the other way, eventually getting around him - carrying the puck into the zone and generating a scoring chance. I felt like I controlled the play at the time because I had the puck for so long. It felt good. But perhaps I liked it a bit too much. I was told that I had my head down a bit, and missed an open pass to the slot. Once I was told that though, I looked for it, and I hit the guy with great passes. <br />
<br />
I did a really good job on the goal line extended, driving it to the net, getting the puck in high scoring areas. As a result, I had a handful of shots, and came away with two assists for the night. The first one I thought was my goal. I picked up the puck in the corner and drove to the top of the crease. I picked up my own rebound and put it home. Somehow the other winger got credit for it. The other assist was a pass from our blue line, into the neutral zone as the right winger was breaking up the side. He had so much speed that he didn't have to do anything to get past the defense and hammer it home.<br />
<br />
I did make a few bonehead moves. I did an aggressive drop pass at the blue line that went no where, and created a chance going the other way. I also felt that I came down too low on defense a few too many times.<br />
<br />
I was pleased with my performance. Two assists is a good night at any level. The Coyotes would win 4-2.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-5137979309444901412013-10-17T20:56:00.000-07:002013-10-17T20:56:00.931-07:00Squirrel's Personal Season Preview 2013-2014I look back at my last season, and I almost hit every goal I had for myself. I became a point per game player on the Piranhas, won a championship with the team. I developed my speed, and confidence with the puck. I created something that resembles a scoring touch (I can say that because I've scored a goal that wasn't on a rebound!). Perhaps most importantly, I developed my stability on my skates. I no longer fall when someone brushes against me. I kept my attendance up all year, didn't hit any big ruts, stayed healthy and made it to Toronto. The only goal I didn't hit was the Coyotes in Toronto. I know I pulled my weight when it was on the line for that one. What I didn't anticipate is a divisional shake up that made it significantly more difficult to get there. Therefore I call last winter a success. <br /><br />This summer though, I didn't progress the way I wanted. Personal issues made it difficult to focus and prepare. I know that it I'm not out of the woods with it yet, ut I feel like I'm on the right path to regaining that focus. But this summer wasn't a total loss for me. I saw a ton of ice time with the Piranhas, and pickup skates. I additionally skated with the Grim Reapers, a team in a much higher division. Perhaps the best thing I did this summer was add strength and cardiovascular training to my week. I go hard when I do them, and I feel stronger and more confident than ever. I have this indescribable intensity and blood flow when I'm there and I know it has spilled over onto the ice.<br /><br />I have an idea of what can happen this year. I believe that I will take on a bigger role on both the Piranhas and Coyotes. These will be more difficult years for both teams, it will be more difficult for me, and I think it is a good thing. When I hit all of my goals, I often wonder if I pushed myself enough. It won't be that way this year. I'm ready, I feel great, and I'm eagerly waiting the season to start.Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-54645635962201714722013-10-16T19:04:00.000-07:002013-10-16T19:04:01.368-07:00Piranha Season Preview 2013-2014Of the last 4 possible championships, The Piranhas have won 3 of them. Our winning percentage this summer was above 90%. The team has gone to Toronto, made it to the semi-finals and then was eliminated by a team from Chicago in a higher division, yet we did skate with them. It is hard to say that the Piranhas have been anything but successful lately. <br />
<br />This year the Piranhas have added 2 very experienced players, and a promising young defensemen. It is no surprise that we've moved up. Additionally, the league has combined divisions, so we'll be playing some very talented teams. I'm excited about it. However, some of the team is cautious entering the season. While no one expects us to win the same number of games as last year, most seem to be willing to give it a shot. <br />
<br />Already an established team, not too much has changed. We'll get our normal full time winter guys back, and the new guys are a welcomed addition. The challenges are bigger than they've ever been since I've been on the team. We're going to give it our best shot and see how it goes. <br />Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-28878427727425518132013-10-15T23:08:00.000-07:002013-10-16T13:03:18.205-07:00Puck Pros Session with Christian - 2013-10-15It had been four months since I was at Puck Pros. When I saw that, I was disappointed in myself. I wanted to get there more. I wanted to be there regularly this summer, but the summer had me on the ice a lot more. Anyway, the past few visits, some of the messages were the same - get stronger legs. I decided to do just that. I started going to the gym and working on it. I have felt a difference.<br />
<br />
Today I worked with Christan. It was a lot more different than my past sessions. Not surprisingly, we worked mostly on skating. But we worked on the core parts of skating that are used when you handle the puck, when you shoot, when you turn, and so on. To me these are the foundation of the game, and if you can't do it, you're not going to progress.<br />
<br />
The weight transfer is something that I'm still not doing right, that I need to get down right. I need to take a wider stance, bend my knees and get low, and when I push off I need to straighten my leg that I push off with.<br />
<br />
Perhaps the biggest thing Christan did for me was all mental. He called me a very "mono" player. I do one thing right at a time, and when I focus on something different, I lose the first thing. Bending my knees? Not going to do the toe snap. Doing a Full extension - not going to be in the forward push. I need to focus on pulling it all together.<br />
<br />
The other thing that really helped me was seeing the state Christian was in. He wasn't his normal energetic self. He was in a calm mellow state, but when he'd talk about the game, when he'd see me improve, he'd show an incredible amount of passion. Later he explained he too just started going to the gym. And it made me glad, because I'm in a similar state as him. He's a little fatigued, but when that love for the game kicks in, he was ready. And the longer I've been going to the gym, the less tired I feel, but the passion only increases.<br /><br />
Three things to take away:<br />
<ul>
<li>Weight transfer - Straighten my leg when pushing off, get low, wide stance, bend my knees.</li>
<li>When turning, with my inside skate, be on the outside edge - and align my feet versus putting them next to each other. </li>
<li>Keep my head level when transferring my weight. It should go side to side. Not up and down.</li>
</ul>
<br />Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-82230854865252503182013-10-14T22:33:00.001-07:002013-10-14T22:41:34.058-07:00Coyote Season Preview 2013-2014Last season ended in a way that created a countless number of nightmares for myself and other Coyote players. We gave up the winning goal with just a second left in the third period. The ending could only have been more "storybook" if it was in overtime.<br />
<br />
I think the impact of losing in that way is immeasurable. The body language after the game was as poor as I've ever seen it. The tone of voices in the locker room were depressing in itself. We should have celebrated though - we played incredibly well. We had never played that team so well.<br />
<br />
Summer has come and gone for the Coyotes. Only four Coyotes said they'd play with the team in the summer. I was not one of them. The captain of the Coyotes would break his leg in the summer, and be out until February.<br />
<br />
So there was a lot of unfortunate things that happened. This created a lot of uncertainty going into the season. Who will be captain? Who will our full time players be, who will be our subs, and will we add anyone new?<br />
<br />
About a week ago, the decision was made to make me captain for game day activities - setting lines, running the locker room, etc. I accepted for a number of reasons - someone needed to do it, I'm one of the guys with the most experience on the team, It'd be a good challenge for my people skills, and many other reasons.<br />
<br />
Last year, there were times where I was almost bored on the blue line. I took a "hands off" attitude. I was quiet in terms of what we should be doing, and just let the team develop and work on what I wanted to work on for myself. Maybe that is selfish? I would help when asked in the past, but it won't be that way this year. I'll be responsible for helping get the most out of the team, and taking them to the next level. This is going to be my first time doing something like this, and I have prepared myself as best as I can for these challenges.<br />
<br />
I think our biggest challenge will be our attendance since we don't have as many full time players as we'd like. We've also added a handful of players who we need to get integrated with the team. I want to get the team to the next level, and away from being just a beginner team.<br />
<br />
There are lots of good and exciting challenges for the Coyotes.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-13808252483089668862013-06-19T10:57:00.001-07:002013-06-19T10:57:20.629-07:00HNA Finals - Piranhas - 2013I drove into Toronto Thursday. I never left the US, so driving across the border myself was exciting for me, but it turned out to be really uneventful. I was the first Piranha in Toronto Thursday evening because of delayed flights. I stretched my legs, got a bite to eat and relaxed in bed until some others got in. A few of them wanted to go out right as they got in because they were hungry. I joined them, and got to bed at about 2:00. I had breakfast in the hotel, and a lunch at a Greek place. The first game was early Friday evening.<br />
<br />
It was decided earlier in the day because of a lack of bodies, that someone would have to jump back to play defense. I was that guy. I was more nervous than anything because I had only a couple of games at this level playing defense, and these were the best teams of this level. I was going to play with Jimmy, a good friend, and a player I've watched play defense regularly for a while now.<br />
<br />
Game 1 - Toronto<br />
<br />
I had started out very nervous but acted just as if I was playing on the Coyotes. I made sure to keep my shifts very short, and would do so all weekend. I think it worked out better because my forwards were more talented than the Coyote forwards. I could trust them a little bit more, and not have to worry about a turnover. At about the middle of the second period, I was playing very well, and said to myself that I was playing well, and I should capitalize on it. I tried carrying the puck more, pinched a few times, and it seemed to work out for the best. I was able to get the puck deep, get a scoring chance, and join the rush. I had to be aware because this team had their two best players hanging out at the red line for an easy break away. They got no one on one chances. There was one where I was caught flat footed, and he skated right past me at my blue line. I hooked him to the ice as hard as I could, hauled him to the ice, and got called for a penalty. I'll take it.<br />
<br />
I was reading the play well as it is much more predictable than a Coyote game. It lead to multiple keep ins, and shots/passes from the point. One actually tipped off my center's stick, so I had an assist. We would win 6-5.<br />
<br />
That night we went out for a team dinner, then I went right to bed. It sounded as if my roommate was amused with how fast I fall asleep once my head hits the pillow. I was up the next morning getting my normal walks in, went out and grabbed some things for the team and breakfast from some coffee place.<br />
<br />
The second game was Saturday at 1:00. An hour before the game, I grabbed my stick to retape it. I inspected it and noticed a small crack in it. I put a little stress on it, and it snapped at the crack... And just a few days after the warranty was void! I played with my backup stick, and played defense again as the team really liked me back there. It was more of the same, but less chippy and cherry picking. I continued to keep the puck in their zone, and put pucks on net. I had two goals this game - all because of traffic in front of the net. I don't have a hard wrist shot, nor were they good shots. They just were quick, quiet, and in an area of traffic. I was reminded to watch the score as I was trying to get too aggressive with a multi-goal lead. We would win again, but I can't remember the score off the top of my head.<br />
<br />
I bought a new stick that was very close to my old one (I hated my back up). I cut it down, got it ready and tried to get ready for game 3 at 7:00 Saturday night. I couldn't do it. There wasn't enough time to eat, sleep, get a new stick, and travel.<br />
<br />
The third game I was just exhausted. Our opponents seemed fresher, they wanted it more, and knowing we were in for Sunday, I don't think we wanted the victory as much as they did. I tried to battle my hardest, and played mediocre. Jimmy and I had had multiple miscommunications, were conflicting with each other, and so forth. Mostly because I didn't have the energy to think. We would lose this game.<br />
<br />
I got back to the hotel, ate something and went right to bed because game 4 was at 9:00 am Sunday. I didn't sleep well. I woke up angry, unrested, and just sluggish. I felt better once the game got going. I felt this team was just as good as the Piranhas, minus one player. I tried to focus on him, but he was deceivingly good. I'd try to knock him off the puck, tie him up, or take away his pass and didn't do so successfully. We were saved by goal posts a lot, and we had a couple of ugly goals, to be up 2-0 after the first. Then we were up 3-0. Then I made a huge mistake. Their top player came down the middle of the ice. I went to take the puck from him, and tripped him. Our opponents would score on their resulting power play. They didn't let up after that, and I became more stupid with my aggression, and didn't have the success I needed to make a difference. I felt I still played above average for me, but the other team was just more skilled. We would lose, and be eliminated from the tournament, in the semi-finals.<br />
<br />
The team went back to the hotel, cleaned up, and some of us went to lunch before I started my drive home. What was funny was I drove home, while others were going to fly. I still made it home before them - but they got to spend more time in Toronto than me.<br />
<br />
The tournament was a blast, and I obviously left out a lot. I can't wait until next year. Pictures to be posted later.Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-28441038184277199102013-06-19T09:44:00.001-07:002013-06-19T10:58:04.516-07:002012-2013 Season in ReviewThe season, the playoffs, the Toronto trip are over. It is all done for the 2013 season. No more late night games, no more circling dates on my calendar, or refusing plans because I have a game.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Who am I kidding? Hockey season is never over. I'm going to keep playing, staying up late and looking forward to my next ice time. I've made numerous friends while playing, and had even more fun times on the ice this year.<br />
<br />
I started out the season with a handful of goals on both the Piranhas, and the Coyotes. Each of them were based on what I viewed my role is on the team, what I felt would challenge me, but is still obtainable. I reminded myself after every couple of games to make sure I was on track to complete these goals.<br />
<br />
The Coyotes are a lower level team, and I play defense for them - a position that I wasn't fully comfortable with at the start of the year. I felt I was one of the more experienced and skilled players on the team, and as a result, I expected a lot from myself on the blue line. I wanted to be a good example of playing both ways because so many guys just want to score goals. I got paired up early on with another guy who has just as much experience as me, and is a very smart player. I really felt comfortable playing with him, and it was great having confidence in him, and him having confidence in me. He got hurt, and then I went into a span of a few games where I was average. I didn't do a good job of contributing in the zone, or keeping control of the puck. I got paired with a friend who I've played with for a while, and we really worked on verbal communication while playing. I also felt he wanted me to start being more aggressive in the offensive zone, and using my speed. It created a problem for a period or two, but we both felt comfortable enough with each other to help each other out. Toward the end of the season, I didn't like how I played this year, and I knew I was capable of much more. I turned up the aggression, and had finished the season on a string of really strong games.<br />
<br />
From the second game forward, I had the chance to play with arguably the two most talented individuals on the roster. The logic was I had the speed to keep up with these two and my game would compliment their free wielding style. It worked out really well. Any time us three were on the ice together, there was a good chance we'd get a scoring opportunity. Once we were set up in our zone, a scoring chance was a sure thing. Typically, I was staying in front of the net, creating traffic and room for those two to do their thing. I lost count how many times I was covered by a defense men (or two if they collapsed really low) causing a screen, which would help out in a goal. It doesn't mean I got a point on the play but I know I helped out. We also had a really good cycle going of keeping the puck away from the opponent because we all battled harder than our opponents. I played one game on defense, and two in the center position and felt I did fair in all of those games. In fact, I had very few poor games this year with the Piranhas.<br />
<br />
I wanted to win a championship with both teams, but was only able to do with the Piranhas. I know that my expectation was to win it with the Coyotes based on the teams in our division, but two other skilled teams were added to our division, and we were not able to overcome them in the playoffs. I wanted to make sure I had a positive +/- with the Coyotes, and with the exception of a game or two, I never had a minus rating in a game. On the Piranhas, I did become a point per game player, and really felt like I solidified my position on the team. I'm really pleased with how both seasons went, despite the Coyotes not winning the championship.<br />
<br />
I believe the great success I've had can be tied to many different things. I didn't stay up late watching pro hockey games because of the lockout. I worked in the off season with the Phantoms on small ice. I did many stick and pucks early on weekends. I did a few sessions at Puck Pros to grasp the mechanics of skating better, and I eliminated a lot of unnecessary stress from my life at various points of the season. Most of these remind me that preparation is key. I also cannot discount the fact that I felt much more comfortable around my teams as the season went on. Having them gain confidence in me was a big boost. </div>
Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2083686927814740367.post-75146349422033598682013-06-16T13:00:00.000-07:002013-06-17T15:03:25.609-07:00Puck Pros Training - Brian I hit the surface probably 30 minutes early. It had been longer than I wanted since I've been there, and I wanted to familiarize myself with the surface again, and just work on my skills myself. It also helps to warm up as well. I felt like I was flying out there. I felt like I was handling the puck well and skating well.<br />
<br />
Brian called me over, and we chatted for a bit. We decided to work on skating. He immediately reminded me of the three things I need to do with my skating stride that I don't do - full extension of my leg as I push off, bend my knees, and keep my chest up and out. It is difficult to break those habits. I don't know if it was because I was hearing it for the 100th time, or because it was someone different, but I felt like it clicked much better. There were a couple of times where I slipped, but I'm OK with that. I felt I did a really good job of putting all of my weight onto one leg as I skate. I normally don't do that well, but I have been focusing on improving my leg strength, so maybe that had a part in it as well.<br />
<br />
The Brian wanted to make me run through a few drills to get me to stop thinking, and I felt like it all clicked. It started out with some quick feet, then full strides, into a few quick turns, accept a pass and put the puck on net. Go behind the net and pick up a puck, skate back through the slot, tight turn carrying the puck, stick handle through the pucks, cradle the puck on my forehand, bring it over, then backhand. Got that? Yeah - I felt overwhelmed when he was explaining it, but it just made sense. The first thing he wanted me to correct is in a tight turn to keep my feet in line, rather than side by side. Then he noticed I handle the puck like it is a bouncy ball.<br />
<br />
He gave me a great idea that I absolutely loved. When going from side to side, you're supposed to cradle the puck on your stick, even on your backhand, which I never thought to do. I tried to cradle the puck but still couldn't do it. While I thought I was using my top hand to control my stick, he said I wasn't. He grabbed a small piece of PVC pipe and put it over the shaft of my stick, made me hold the PVC piece, and this made me unable to control the stick with my bottom hand. It forces me to rotate my top wrist. It is a damn good drill, so after trying it for a few minutes, I noticed an immediate improvement. Going through the pucks was much easier.<br />
<br />
Towards the end, he asked how my one-timers were. I laughed. He asked about my slap shot. I told him I tried it a few times in practice. So I did it naturally how I thought it should be done, and he noticed I golf right away. I brought the stick back behind me, bent my right elbow, rotated my hips and transferred my weight well.But he made me keep the stick square with my chest, no bringing it back. He made me take a very wide grip with my stick. I noticed it was a little bit more consistent, but felt very different. I had a hard time NOT bringing the stick behind me because it is so natural from golf.<br />
<br />
That was it for the session. I felt much better. I'm very pleased with the session I had, and I can't wait to try it out later this week.<br />
<br />
The session was over, and I went back to practice by myself. I worked more on my hands and my feet. I felt more and more comfortable asking for help, slowing down and practicing things on my own. That PVC pipe was really great, and I'm going to get my own to try out. I should be back next Sunday.Larry Gasikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09106462814011682487noreply@blogger.com0