Goaldiggers Game - 2012-05-29

I went to this game, knowing a few things. The first being that it was going to be painful. I went to a hockey coach, and had a brief lesson. Ever since I made a couple of changes, I've been extremely sore afterwards. It happens when you change your skating stride. I knew that the games would be a lot faster than I was used to since I haven't played with the Goaldiggers for a while. I also expected me to not be at my top level based on I haven't played in a real game in a while.

First shift, I come over the boards and there's a break away from the blue line in, and I'm the only one who has a chance to catch him. I tried to push him to the right side as I was coming from his left, and he of course went to his right side, but still scored. I was really impressed at how fast I got up to speed and caught him.

I continued with my new skating stride and it really wore me out. I expected that. I didn't eat as well as I should have, and my conditioning isn't as great as it could be. I still felt very fast. I did feel off balance at times, but it'll take getting used to. At one point, battling for the puck along the boards and I just fell on my knees because I was so tired.

I had one good hustle move on the power play. I raced to keep a puck in at the blue line and dumped it back in. The other winger was able to pick up the puck, dance through two defenders and score. I don't think I got an assist on it, but if I don't win that race to keep the puck in, we don't get that goal.

Other than that, I felt I was pretty invisible. I made a mistake here and there but I didn't do much. I don't know if its because I'm in the wrong spots, or I'm just too slow for this league, but I don't get a chance to do much with the puck considering I'm a winger. Defensively, I guess I did ok. I constantly had two guys up high, and I tried to cover both of them when appropriate.

Goaldiggers vs. GoalBusters 2012-04-02

With the exception of my toes, this is the first time I've felt this good in at least six months. I knew conditioning was still poor from my last handful of games, but it is getting better. I was excited to get out there and play.

I think I did alright. I went into the game trying to tell myself to control the puck. Don't just give it up. Maintain possession, and if the opponents are going to get the puck, they're going to earn it. I think it showed. I had a couple of good showings on the break out, carrying the puck through the neutral zone. I had a couple of passes that were on the mark, and a few that weren't but I think they were all a little too hard.

My legs didn't feel good though, and it showed. This goes back to conditioning, and once that is there, I'll be fine. I'm not too worried about that. For the most part, everyone on the other team was a stronger skater than me. Having no advantage in any area makes it difficult to be productive.

I did have a couple of shots on goal, but they were weak. I didn't get a good shot off, and the goalie didn't give up a rebound.

I had one shot that I had half of the net, and yet I missed the net. It was even a decent shot. I guess if I don't take my time getting my shot off, my accuracy suffers. Patrick Roy once said something along the lines of, "I won't say sorry for letting in a goal because I did my best." Despite his issues, he's right about that one. Why apologize for something where you did your best? I'm trying to get to that mode.

Goaldiggers vs. Chicago Blue 2011-10-30

Not to thrilled about playing, I headed to the rink. Maybe it was my long weekend, crappy weather or sore back. I just wasn't excited. The team was better than last week because we had 10 skaters opposed to last week's 9. Additionally, we knew this was a team that we had the potential to beat, and have beat in the past.

I think I had my best first period ever. I had energy, took my time and was solid on the fore check. Defensively I felt I did a good job too. Most of the night, I had this big d-man near me. He wasn't heavy, but he had to have been about 6'6". It made it difficult to get pucks past him because he had such a long reach. I remember anything I'd throw even remotely near him, he had the potential to knock it down, or did knock it down. I put pressure on him whenever he had the puck and learned he wasn't an agile player, and couldn't handle the puck very well. I would disrupt him, and cause him to rush his pass, and it created good opportunities for our team. They had another defense-men who was smaller, and had similar issues but was a better puck mover. The best chance of the game for me came from a hard fore check behind the net. The d-man threw it up the boards and it just caused a little havoc. It caused some scrambling in the neutral zone, and a d-man jumped up in to the play. I called for the puck in the slot, knowing I was wide open as both d-men were on him on the wall. He put it toward the net, and I had two or three good knocks at it. I was standing in the paint, and the d-man lifted my stick so hard that it spun me around. It was a great chance but no luck. It amazes me how big the crease is when you're standing in front of it, but how small it is when you're moving even remotely quickly.

One part of my game I think I struggle with, and so do some of the other Goaldiggers is moving in our own zone once we have the puck. Typically I stay on the wall and look for a pass standing still. I've been trying to move towards the net and get a better angle for a pass. I'm trying to pick the right times to do this so we can generate more chances on the rush by getting behind the -man. At the same time, I have to watch to make sure I get back if there is a turnover. It worked a couple of times tonight, so that is something to be very positive about.

At one point we had a bad change where players were changing with the puck in our end. I saw the pressure on the d-man, on the left side, and even though I was right, I raced as hard as I could to the left to help out. He got it about 4 feet from the blue line and then I tried to get it out from there. I was able to use my speed to knock it out of the zone, and create a rush. I didn't take my time though. As soon as I could, I shot it thinking I was about to lose possession. I got back to the bench, and the center said I had a good extra second or two more.

I loved my game tonight. I had energy, I disrupted their breakout passes, and helped our team get the puck out of our zone. I think the breakout part is big as I feel useless most nights in this area. For me, I think that will help the team out a lot in the future. Even though we lost 5-3 or something, there were still lots of positives to take out of it.

Goaldiggers vs. North Stars 2011-10-25

I got to the rink a little later than normal, and was the third one. I was concerned that we'd have to forfeit. We ended up having 9 skaters - a trend lately for the Goaldiggers.

Well, it wasn't pretty. Our team was just flat all night. Forwards weren't back checking, players were bunching up and playing on top of each other. It was just bad all around. I felt like I wasn't skating well. It felt like I had to skate twice as hard to go at my normal pace.

It felt like any time I'd have a puck come by me I was off balance, or I just couldn't reach it. An example was I was in a turn, and I was leaning on my stick to make the turn faster, but then the puck came by me, I couldn't do anything because if I moved my stick, I'd fall.

Once it was 5-0, I felt I needed to skate as hard as I could. Fore checking spread out their team a bit, but we just didn't have the energy to take advantage of it more than once or twice. I had one shot off the rush where I took a hard shot (slow for normal players), hoping for a rebound, but there wasn't anyone there. I tried to gain more confidence with the puck, and try different things at that point. I think total we had less than 10 shots on the other goalie, so we really had no chance the way we were skating.

It was a long game.

I wonder if I eat enough food during the week to play? I remember when I was playing well a month or two ago, I was eating fast food a lot more frequently, and the past little while, I've made some changes in my diet. Maybe I'll eat more bacon during the week.

Goaldiggers vs. Raiders - 2011-10-18

I felt I got better and more effective as the game went on. Our opponents were much bigger, and more talented than us. They had a few guys who were just amazing skaters and stick handlers.

My entire first period, I felt I wasn't going to be effective. Twice I was just outworked on the boards, either because I was pinned against the boards with ease, or they were just more talented. We went down 2-0 really early, and team morale just kind of dropped. I was fortunate enough afterward, to draw a tripping penalty when racing for a loose puck along the boards, but I think on that power play, they scored a shorthanded goal.

In the second period, they started to let up a little, as they were up 4-0. It was clear they were going to beat us, and they just let us take possession off the face off. I tried to just play my best and keep going hard, despite the score. I focused on playing defense, and covering the point better. A few times I had came back faster than the other forwards so I was in the slot. I had a decent break up in the slot. I was able to make a good saucer pass across the ice on the break out to the opposing winger that surprised myself. Another surprising area was when I was covering on the blue line and able to break up the play. The practices with the Coyotes apparently payed off.

In the third, I had my best period in a while. I was able to skate around a player a couple of times. I was still a little cautious around the boards and in the corners. I think maybe next practice I have, I'll practice racing to the board, picking up a loose puck, turning and looking for options. At one point in the third, I had a breakaway from the blue line in. I was trying to read the play and saw the play so I was able to get behind the defensemen, and receive the pass. Unfortunately, he caught me, and I didn't get a shot off. I had a good scoring chance when I was able to intercept the pass from the goalie behind the net. I knocked it down, picked it up and tried to do a wrap around and put it into an empty net. The problem was that I was on my back hand and had little control. It didn't bother me at all but had I been in my forehand, it would have.

So after being on the ice for the second time in two nights, I'm exhausted and sore. I'm not sure if all of this post makes sense or is coherent, but it is what it is.

Goaldiggers vs. Chiefs 2011-10-08

Tonight made me appreciate matching jerseys. Typically the Goaldiggers wear blue, but tonight, our opponents had blue, and we switched to nearly every color of the rainbow. Very frustrating to me, but no big deal.

The team we were playing against were a little bit lower than Piranha level, meaning they really had no chance. The problem is, the Goaldiggers saw that they were by far more talented, and played down to their level. We got lazy, made bad passes and bad choices. As the game went on, we did get smarter, but still made stupid mistakes.

The team decided to use this team as a way to get in shape and practice smart decisions after the first period. The team never practices together, or has really strategy talk, so this was a good practice for us.

I tried to get back to skating like I used to, where I would fore check as hard as I could. It had mixed results. One play I broke up their pass, another resulted in a great stretch pass, but one resulted in some contact. I had gotten off balance some how, and ended up just kind of tripping over the defensemen after he made a pass. I didn't fall but I stretched my neck out pretty good on his body, and it is still sore 36 hours later. I also focused on staying on the point better and not going down so low in my own zone.

At one point in the second period, I was a part of a good cycle. Five or six times we were able to pass the puck along the boards, into the slot and generate some type of chance. I was set up in the corner. We tried to get that going again, just as a practice, but for whatever reason, it didn't happen.

The game reminded me of what it is like to play against less experienced players. I have to play more cautiously for my own safety. Players having less experience make strange choices, and can ultimately lead to injury. A prime example happened in the third. I had picked up the puck at the top of the circle. I went in slowly to try and look for a spot to pass to. I heard the defensemen say that someone was coming, and made my choice right then. As I was releasing the shot, my stick wasn't lifted, I wasn't bumped, or anything I was expecting. No, instead I was tripped from behind as the skater slid on the ice and took out my legs. I assume he was back checking hard, tried to stop and tripped. Not a dirty play, but something you have to be alert for. Playing on the Coyotes, this is something I will have to keep in mind.

I had one assist on a goal off of a face off, and a few shots. The Goaldiggers one 10-3 or 11-3, something like that. We could have easily run up the score, but we were more or less playing keep away at specific times in the game.

Goaldiggers vs. X-Men 2011-10-03

The Goaldiggers had one more player than we did last week, which makes a big difference. Still, we had players playing out of position because of it. We were playing against a beatable team, but for some reason, we just don't beat.

In the first period, the team played very well. The passing was good, and everyone was in the right areas. We generated a lot of chances just as we entered the zone. At one point we had a 3 on 2, with me down the center, and the puck on the left. The puck came back to me, and I flipped it towards the goalie, through the defense men. The right winger was able to pick up the juicy rebound and pound it home.

From then on, I don't feel I played as well as I could have. Every time on the face off, I was out muscled to get to loose pucks. When I did gain possession, I didn't really generate anything.

I feel I did well on board battles though. There were a few times where I was able to pin the player along the boards and allow a team mate to come in and pick up the puck.

I didn't skate as hard as I should have. I just didn't have the energy to do so. I hadn't been on ice since our last game, so I definitely wasn't in shape, But I feel I should have still been able to skate harder. I just felt slow all night.

A bigger issue was I was no where to be found on the breakout pass. I believe this is partially because I was tired, but more so because I need to have better recognition of where I should be.

2011-2012 Winter Hockey Teams

Winter is here, and that means it is hockey season. Ok, when is it not hockey season for me? But what it does mean is new seasons for all of my teams. Summer sessions are over. No more hanging out in the parking lot after games, no more awful ice, no more early games.

Let's do a run down of the teams I'll be playing for this winter.

Goaldiggers - Since spring 2009, I've played wing with these guys, and have learned a lot. They are the first team I played on, and I had only been on ice a handful of times before joining. I'm still at the rock bottom of the depth chart, and that doesn't bother me at all. I have however gotten better, and I'd argue the most improved since we started playing together. The games are tough, fast, and always contain a lot of talent.

Piranhas - Since January 2011, I've played wing for this team. I joined them mid-season because they had a lack of skaters. I remember the first game we had, there was only 7 skaters I believe. The team is struggling in the standings area, but most importantly, the team's morale and commitment has improved greatly since I've joined. While I feel I'm near the middle in terms of statistics, I believe I can move up here with some hard work and focus.

Coyotes - After practicing with this team many times, I've decided to jump on board with this team as a sub. Why a sub? Playing on two teams while having seasons tickets is hard enough. It is unfair to commit to them knowing I will miss a lot of games. Additionally, it is unfair to my other teams to miss even more than I currently do. The plan is for me to play defense mostly for this team. They're an inexperienced team, and I will be one of the more experienced guys out there. However, this allows me to help round out my game. By moving to defense, I become more solid myself. It is a new challenge, and I feel I can really help out.

So three teams is going to be tough, but I'm up for it!

Goaldiggers vs. Chicago Blue - Playoff Round 1 - 2011-08-02

Playoffs! I had to skip a Piranhas game to play in the Goaldiggers first playoff game this session. Again with a short bench, and against a team with a decent record, we'd have to work hard to get a victory.

All night it seemed I was always playing against giant defense-men who could move really well. What did surprise me was they weren't as physically strong, or didn't use all of their strength against me. More than once I was able to pin their bigger guys against the boards for a few seconds. I wasn't playing the puck at all because I knew I couldn't control their body and play the puck at the same time. What I didn't do was call for help in this situation. I just assumed it would show up, but it did not, and we would lose those battles.

Several times I was able to skate the puck out of our zone, and push the defense-men back. Once it generated a decent scoring chance, and the other, I blew a great opportunity for the player coming down the wing. I knew he was coming, I heard him calling for it. I knew he'd be alone, but I didn't look and put the pass 10 feet in front of him. I was kicking myself for that.

I think the short bench really hurt our team. Guys were taking 3:00 shifts. I understand they feel fine, they're trying to give more rest to the guys on the bench, but most of the time, players are ready after just a minute of sitting. I can play the entire game without coming off. I've done it before, but I didn't play hard or effectively in those games. When I don't play hard, I'm useless, so why do that? Unless we had an issue where we didn't have enough guys to come out for subs, I changed every minute like I normally would. I was also ready every 45 seconds of rest, just like a normal game. I can't play 2:00 shifts hard. When I can't play hard, I get off the ice.

I'm also noticing a small trend in the past couple of games. I'll be turning, and just lose an edge. Am I leaning too much? What am I doing wrong? Maybe a recent change in my skating stance/stride?

The opponents generated all of their goals on shots from in the slot. There was no real rebound goals. It was just a simple pass from the corner into the slot and in. Their defense-men would jump up into play constantly and burn us. Our team has had issues with this in the past. It was hard to get the puck out of our own zone, and made us so tired that we couldn't generate any real shots. We'd end up losing something like 5-2, and being eliminated from the playoffs.

Goaldiggers Game - 2011-07-31

I took a nap after my afternoon skate, and woke up a couple of hours before puck drop to eat and get ready for the game. I went to verify what time the game started, and realized that I was looking at the end time. The game started in less than an hour. I quickly took the dog out, threw my stuff in my bag and got to the rink. The team was just taking the ice as I got there, and we were really short with me being the 7th guy there. I got ready, went to put on my helmet and... it wasn't there. As I was scurrying around, another player came, and I had to run to my car to get my wallet, and buy a new helmet.

My first shift was the start of the 2nd period, and we were down by 4. I knew the team would need a boost as they had to be exhausted, and already down by so many is tough. I set out to just disrupt chances on my first shift. I did fairly well too, directly to contributing to a scoring chance, and a goal. I felt like we were able to start a comeback with two fresh players.

Then I started to slow down. I just didn't have the energy to go full out against their two top players that were obviously ringers. I knew if I did go full out, they'd just go around me without problems, and I'd be extremely tired later in the game.

Other than that, There honestly wasn't a lot worth mentioning.

This was a good experiment for me though. I've often considered doing morning stick and puck sessions on game days when I'm not working. I know if I were to do those, I'd skate hard and work up a good sweat. This was a perfect example of a morning skate, then game. I think that I felt warmed up, but without a full bench, I didn't have the rest I needed while playing.

The being unprepared for games is becoming a problem though. I need to be more focused and prepared for games. No more showing up to games so that I don't get the full warm up experience. I need a few minutes before taking the ice to mentally prepare.

Goaldiggers vs. Draggons - 2011-07-26

I missed a Goaldiggers game simply by disorganization on my part. I forgot to write it down on my calendar. I hit the ice and I just didn't feel too much energy. I don't know why. I was sure to get plenty of sleep, I had a great lunch and a light dinner, but still I felt no jump in my game. As a result, I feel I wasn't that noticeable out there. That isn't necessarily a bad thing though.

I had done a decent job of getting the puck out of our own zone and into the neutral zone. What I did do well was work along the boards. I was able to work hard against the boards, and not give up any pucks easy. I didn't win every battle, but I'm not going to.

At the end of the first, I was just tired as hell. It was not acceptable in my book. It shows that I was unprepared for the game. As a result, the next shift I was able to take, I tried to fore check as hard as I could. When I do that, I force bad passes, generate scoring chances, and just generate a little bit of momentum. I was able to not only make the defensemen make a bad pass, but able to intercept it, and control it for a moment. While we didn't generate a scoring chance off it, it helped not only me to get going, but it helped the team as well. A couple of good shifts by our line and we started to play just a little bit better.

As the game went on, I realized that I wasn't covering the point very well. I kept coming down too low to help which is a habit I've been picking up. One of their stronger skaters tried to skate around their zone and just go around me like I was a pylon. It honestly surprised me off that he wouldn't respect me enough to protect the puck better. As a result, I worked extra hard to make his shift more difficult. As he tried to dangle around me, I knocked the puck out of the zone. He didn't like that and became frustrated with himself, as evident by him banging his stick against the glass. This put a big smile on my face. He still got to the puck in the neutral zone before me, but I didn't let up. He continued to skate around, and I stayed on him hard. It ended up getting clogged up by the boards on the opposite side, my work was done.

Overall, I played a solid defensive game. I had maybe one or two opportunities on offense. If anything needed to change, it is my mentality and preparation going into the game. Games during the week are tough because of work, but that is no excuse. I need to get into a pattern to come out flying with energy.

No one on the ice had a whole lot of energy. The Goaldiggers' bench was a little short, and the ice was very slow. We still played a solid team game, despite not getting a whole lot of shots. We won the game 1-0, and that is our first shut out that I know of.

Goaldiggers Game - 2011-07-17

I got into the locker room and noticed right away that everyone was fired up. I wasn't surprised. I cannot think of anyone who didn't know someone who was sitting watching the game. Summer time, early Sunday game, no rain, and a barbeque after the game will do that. I even had my sister and brother in law watching.

Right from the get go, everyone was skating hard. We scored 30 seconds into the game. My own first shift was a very good one for me. I had gotten a few good chances in the crease, and was able to outwork a couple of opponents along the boards. The entire night, everyone on our team was determined to help the team get the win. A couple of dumb mistakes would cause us to give up a few chances, but we kept playing. I was pleased with how I was playing. I was not panicking with the puck, I was making good choices.

I could have stayed on my point a little better, but not doing so did help us draw a penalty. As I was going below the dot, trying to tie up the skater's stick he would lift my stick and eventually grab it. Once he no longer had the puck, and I tried to get back up high but he grabbed my stick. Luckily the ref saw it and called the penalty.

The worst feeling though was when our d-man was bringing the puck up through the neutral zone and I just couldn't get out of his way. That was really frustrating to me. What's worse was that it directly caused a goal against. The team though kept playing extremely well. We'd go back and forth for a little bit.

I was able to read into the play a little bit and got myself set up for a nice breakaway. Unfortunately, their quickest skater was able to disrupt the shot before I could get it off. The fact that I was able to recognize that I had the opportunity to create that chance though made me very pleased. We'd then score a goal in close that would tie the game. I would try and keep up some speed through the neutral zone. I was able to catch the pass and have an odd man rush. I'd take my shot as hard as I could and it snuck past to give us another quick goal and the lead. I know I didn't get all of it, but I thought it had been a decent shot for me at least. Even if it wasn't, I'll take it. Sometimes the ones that should go in don't, and the ones that should go in do. Hopefully it evens out in the end.

Through the entire game we said just get shots. I try and do that every game. When I don't, I lose opportunities, and just get frustrated. I always try and put the puck into key areas. Being able to skate with the puck a few seconds more is making a huge difference for me.

The two quick goals our team scored brought a big boost to us, and really deflated the other team. While on the forecheck, I was able to break up a pass and my center was able to come down, pick up the puck and get a solid shot on goal.

We'd end up getting the winning goal with about 90 seconds left. It was an exciting finish. From my angle, the guy who would end up scoring the goal from about 7 feet from the net, took his time and was able to just put it past the goalie in an incredible display of patience. To see our bench get excited, as well as hear our family and friends cheer just added to the victory.

Goaldiggers vs. Black Ice - 2011-07-10

As I sit here bruised, sore, and still tired from the game that was almost 48 hours ago, I cannot think of a reason to not be pleased with my performance. Well rested, well prepared, I knew I was going to play well.

On my first shift, I was able to do something that has been weighing on me a little bit. In our own zone, I was able to catch the pass from the d-man, turn, and carry the puck out of our own zone into the other zone. I skated around players and wasn't intimidated as they came near me. At the end, I had three opponents around me and I was able to give the puck to one of the other forwards. But just having that first shift just put me in a better state to play.

I felt really comfortable with my line. We kept the puck in their zone very well for the first period. We generated a lot of chances, and I think it really tired their d-men out as later on in the game, our team as a whole had more time. All three of us worked on the boards really well, got shots, and made decent passes. Unfortunately, the goalie was really solid down low and nothing more would come of it.

At one point, I was playing on the power play (me on the power play is usually a disaster), when the guy came out of the box, picked up the puck and skated through the neutral zone with his head down. From what I remember, the d-man we had out there were out there a little bit longer than normal, so I attempted to come over and knock him off the puck. We collided, and it was a sudden stop for both of us as the puck kept going, so mission accomplished. But he caught me in the ribs with the end of his stick or something and it took the wind out of me, and left a colorful bruise.

For the past few games, I've been playing with the same winger, and we're seem to be playing well together despite the results not being there. Tonight we would cash in. While he carried the puck into the zone, about 15 feet away, I would catch up to him, he passed over and I would onetime it, but not get all of it. It went low, but he was able to hammer in the rebound.

I think the team got stronger as the game went on, especially in the last 5 minutes. I definitely feel we deserved the victory, and outplayed the other team, but ended up losing 5-3 or something like that. I feel I played well, and I'm hoping to continue it.