Piranhas vs. Maroons 2011-07-14

It has been a long time since I've had a smile this big on my face. The Piranhas won tonight, breaking their +20 game winless streak but that isn't why I'm smiling. I'm not smiling because I played well. I'm not smiling because of the events after the game. I'm smiling simply because I'm having fun.

The Piranhas were playing a new team, the Maroons. No one knew much about them, their talent level, where they came from and so on. The league put them against us as a measuring stick from what they saw. The league believed that they should be in our division. During warm ups, a few of us just studied them and didn't see anything alarming. No standout players, no players glaringly weaker than the others.

We scored 28 seconds into the game, and continued generating chances in the first. It really felt like I should skate all over these guys. I was faster, I was stronger on my skates. Their defense had weaker skaters which I'm not a fan of. But because of this I was able to help the defensemen out a little bit and come lower. I'm not sure if that was a good idea. I was playing the right side tonight, so as the puck is going along the runner, I have to turn and try and stop it with my backhand. More than once did I stop it pick it up, and drop it. But that's what I need to work on. I had many opportunities along the boards to work for pucks, and skate with it.

At one point when I was working along the boards, I got checked fairly well. The hit felt like an eternity, as did the fall. The guy was playing the puck, it was accidental and he just wasn't a strong skater. I think we got tangled up, so I tried my best to push off from the boards to get away from the guy and get back to the other end. This makes the hit look worse than it really is, but there is no question that it left a mark.

I am pleased with my offensive performance. I had three great passes. The problem is when I make these great passes, no one is ready for them, so are they really that great? The first period, I had a great pass to a guy standing in the slot. I had two opponents skating right at me and I was able to put it right on his stick. The puck hit his stick and knocked his stick around, meaning he wasn't really looking for the pass which is a shame because he was five feet in front of the net. In the second period. I had a pass from below the goal line to right to the center. He caught it, but couldn't put it past the goalie. In the third, I had a backhander off the faceoff to the center as he was cutting right to the net. As he was cutting from the dot to the crease, he picked it up and put it right into his glove. But a common theme is that I carry the puck as fast as I can, and don't cut to the middle, putting me behind the goal line frequently. I need to start pulling up to get the pressure off, cut to the middle, or do something other than go into the corner. We'll figure it out.

Defensively, I did a fair job at getting the puck out, but there were times where I didn't. I would do a poor job. I think this happened for a few reasons. A big one was I was at the end of a long shift, and tired. I didn't feel the need to just blindly move the puck like I usually do. Another time I waited too long for the center to come out and pass to him which caused a turnover.

After the game, needless to say the Piranhas were happy with their 3-1 victory. But the Immortals, my last team, had the game after us. I hadn't seen them in a while, so I sat and talked to a few of them as they were hitting the ice, and then watched a period of their game. Afterward, I stayed in the parking lot and stayed there for a while. After their game, the Immortals came out and I talked to them for a while.

It made me realize how much life has changed since I last played with them. I'm healthy as ever and that is a huge part of it. When you aren't feeling well, depressed and so on, it just weighs on you. I finished school, and I've improved my play so much. I've put on weight, I eat better, and I've got a better job. Life is just a higher quality now. I am on two great teams to top it off. I enjoy being around both the Goaldiggers and Piranhas.

Piranhas vs. Grizzlies - 2011-07-06

I made the mistake of staying up too late the night before. I've had an issue with this in the past where I just stay up really late for no reason. Needless to say, I felt tired all day, and I required a solid nap before the game.

The game felt opposite of my most recent Goaldiggers game. I started well, but ended poorly, or at least it felt that way.

My stick handling was off all night. I would catch passes, take them up the ice, but as soon as a defenseman came by me, I would drop it. It became a little frustrating to me. Our team as a whole didn't get a whole lot of shots off, and when I got the puck I was unable to as well. We would scramble in our own zone, and wouldn't spread out to create opportunities to pass.

My line mate had never played with this team, so I was glad to play with him as I still am new. We both were decent skaters, and he was very good, but had some rust. We did trip over each other it seemed. I can remember us trying to go to the same open area, and then noticing each other than we'd try to stay away by changing direction, but then just follow each other. It will take time to see how to play with each other.

I had a glorious opportunity to score, but the goalie made an outstanding save. While I was standing in the slot, the center made a great pass in front of me. I was able to walk in, and get a great shot off. The goalie on the other hand had other plans. He was able to get over, make the save, and cover it to eliminate any second chance opportunities.

I need to work on my stick handeling. Had it been better, we could have had more chances. Additionally, I need to be more discipline about preparing for the game. This includes plenty of rest, being hydrated, and having the right food in my stomach.

Piranhas First Game - 2011-01-24

I had been looking for a second team for a very long time now. At this point in the year, I felt that joining the beginner league was my best bet. I hate joining teams mid-session, especially when they’re playing well. However, a few of the guys I’ve played with in the past has had issues with players showing up to games, and were losing nearly every game. I’ve seen their team, the Piranhas, play multiple times because I do know some of them, and they’d frequently get games right after the Immortals.

Last night was my first game with them and I was one of 9 skaters, meaning lots of ice time. Unfortunately, the game was against a team in the tier above us, and they were also losing badly this season, so little mercy was shown.

I felt incredibly nervous going into the game. The Piranhas are a tier higher than the Immortals, so I knew there would be some more experienced players. But at the same time, it was calming that they were a relaxed group, and didn’t put any pressure on me. I couldn’t have asked for a better scenario for a first game. I broke another skate lock for multiple reasons. One being I tied my skates way too tight, and I really felt it in my first few shifts. I fell flat on my face 5 seconds into the game with no one around me.

I felt the first period I played average. I was a little nervous but I kept to the basics of my game, and just skated hard. I had a few plays where I had a hard time getting the puck out. I iced the puck once in a panic, which was par for that first period. I was too busy slapping the puck around instead of controlling it. The whole team was like that in the first.

In the second, after I calmed down, got my legs under me, I played a lot better. I was controlling the puck, I was making passes and getting attempts. I was able to use some explosiveness to get around the d-men a few times, but had a hard time staying in front of him as they were faster than me. Because we only had three d-men, one winger would come down lower than normal, leaving the other to cover both d-men. I actually liked that. I found it rather easy to shift back and forth, and the other forwards would recognize what was happening.

Going into the third, I was tired and out of it. When I don’t play multiple times a week, staying in playing shape is more difficult. But it was more of the same that was in the second. I tried to win some board battles and just keep playing through the game as if the score was tied.

In the end, I really couldn’t be more pleased. The team has a good attitude, takes the game serious enough to win, but not serious enough to make it “work”. I hope I get to play more games with the Piranhas, and build some confidence with them.

Decisions, decisions. Where will I play?

I spent some significant time during the day yesterday trying to figure out where I would be playing in January (one night a week of Goaldiggers hockey isn't cutting it). As I stated before, there is a league that is part of the class I'm currently in. They play real close to home, and seem to be at the same level as me, and are genuinely nice guys.

I sort of talked to a few people around the league, and it seems to be full. That is crazy to me. They cannot add extra teams, and get more ice time? It sounds as if the league also is filled with ringers. I don't like that. If a team wins +80% of their games, move them up a level! I am a firm believer in that the players you add to a team should not be better than your best player, or worse than your worst player. It'd be difficult to do, but is a rule to stick to if possible.

HNA is not as ridiculous as I thought, because I've noticed that the closer you get to the city, the more expensive the league is. I've also been noticing at their games, the more ridiculous rules haven't been enforced. It ultimately is like every other league, except it is played at a few different rinks, and has the levels broken out fairly and evenly.

Now I could just go back to the Immortals which are an HNA team, but they're mid season, and can't add players. I'd have to wait until May or something. Instead, I'd go through the beginner program again. This time I'd at least know the goalie really well who would be on my team. It would result in one more training class, but until I learn to stop the way I want to, I can still attend those.

I talked to a player played with once or twice about his skating classes. Apparently, he's taken and loved the Laura Stamm power skating classes. From the look of it, I don't feel I'm a good enough skater to be in them. The other important part is that they're only a weekend deal, and don't happen until the summer time in the Chicago area, so taking skating classes looks grim.

What is important to me is to be on a team where I know at least a few people. I've noticed it makes a big difference in going to the rink when you're not super excited about it. When I was first on the Goaldiggers, I didn't know anyone, and rarely said a word, ever. As I got to know them better and be a bit more outgoing, it was more fun, even if there was a bad night.

Bottom line, I'm not sure where I'll be for a second team yet, but it doesn't feel like it will be the Immortals. I am in search of pure skating classes, and decisions need to start being made.

HNA Practice - 2010-02-16

A few weeks ago I joined the HNA beginner's class. Based on what I had been told about it from friends and people who ran the league, it sounded like a solid step for me. I made the first two weeks, but I then missed two weeks (one for a Goaldiggers game, and then another for my lung).

When I look at the other 40 something players out there, I know they're all at about the same level as me and that really makes me feel better. I am more likely to talk to someone, or just be more outgoing.

Anyway, this week was a practice. It was probably what I should have done before I went into a full game like last night. It was very light paced to my tastes, but enough to really improve. It is clear that I need to improve on my skating. Crossovers are just not coming easy to me. Stopping is still a problem. I'd like to be a faster skater too. We also ran some drills passing to each other and taking shots on the goalie. My favorites were the 2 on 1s where I played defense. But I noticed I knew what to do, but I didn't do it. I think that's a common problem for me, doing what I know I should be doing.

We made three teams, and I volunteered to captain one of them, but someone else had already taken some of the responsibilities. Instead, I became an alternate. I'm looking forward to it. I think forcing myself to be a leader will not only help me be more vocal in games, but to build some confidence and social skills away from the ice which I admit aren't that strong.