NHL Playoffs and Who’s Left Standing – a guest post

As all good fans know, the Stanley Cup is hockey’s Holy Grail. The competing teams play their best for the entire season with the hope of bringing home that silver cup to display in a place of honor. Bragging rights are included, of course.

The National Hockey League, or NHL, team that rises to the top of the conference then goes on to attempt to beat the best of the opposing conference. The winners of the very-large trophy keep it only until the next season’s final when another team may become the best in professional hockey. Champagne (or any other variety of refreshment) is sipped from the silver bowl by each of the team members upon receiving the coveted award.

Fierce competition

This year the competition is quite fierce. The two Eastern Conference teams left in the competition are from New Jersey and New York, where the winters are cold and hockey is revered. The New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers will go into their Hudson River rivalry match tied at one game apiece, and if games one and two are any indication, it will be quite a physical meeting. The formidable wall created by goalie Henrik Lundqvist of the Rangers versus the seasoned Devils’ goalie, 40-year-old Martin Brodeur, should keep the scores low and the action intense.

The Los Angeles Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes have not been without brutal physical action either, and it could cost the Coyotes dear. A one game suspension of their critical forward, Martin Hanzel, issued for a game misconduct after boarding the Kings’ Dustin Brown, left the Coyotes at a distinct disadvantage for game three as they were already trailing the Kings by two games.

Any of these four remaining teams will put up a fierce battle in the finals. It may come down to a matter of who wants it most; the Kings or Coyotes – neither team has ever won a Stanley Cup. The Devils and Rangers, teams that have each seen plenty of action and tasted success, may fight harder for the prize.

Gambling on the outcome

To gamble successfully on the final outcome of this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs will take real in-depth knowledge of the game, familiarity with the last two teams standing, and of course an element of luck. Much like winning a seat at the high stakes tables on partypokerbonuscodes.com knowing your game and the players very well is always better than throwing down a blind bet.

In this year’s NHL playoffs, the top seed team to beat is the Rangers. They tend to play with more determination when they aren’t at the top of the heap. The Kings have the distinction of being low man on the totem pole this time around but are playing like they really want to bring home the Cup. The Coyotes and Devils are not the two that the sports writers and the media want to talk about when the finals begin to take shape. Knowing that they aren’t really favored just could light a fire under either team and send them steamrolling over the favorites, just to prove the media wrong.

Photo courtesy: http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/08/phts-2012-stanley-cup-playoffs-central/

A Brief Lull in the Action

We’re in an odd sort of stage of the hockey year; hence my recent silence.

The Boy’s season is long-since over with a final team party at a local watering hole in a couple of nights.  Though he’s going to be heading back to the ice for a Junior “A” tryout in a couple of weeks; as much for the experience as anything else.  No doubt more on that to come.

On the Devil’s side, once the league playoffs are over, which prematurely occurred for us a few weeks back, there is a month delay until the Provincial Championships start. For some teams, who exited earlier than we did this can mean 5-6 weeks without meaningful games before having to hit the ice for a relatively important tournament.  Hell, even the NHL is off for nearly a week.  I hope I don’t start shaking uncontrollably or speaking in tongues.  We have had a bunch of practices over the last couple of weeks, but that’s just not the same.  Even though we finished our league play with two losses, the Sharks had established some pretty good momentum.  The Provincials start this weekend. All of the competition is sure to be stiff, but we’ll see who’s able to rev the intensity back up in a hurry. There will be plenty of teams who feel they have something to prove.  In an initial three-game round robin format over two days, a team’s fate can be determined pretty quickly so it will be important to motivate them in a hurry.

One bit of added incentive for our girls and those from other centres is that tryouts for next year will begin just a short while after this season-capping competition. All will be acutely aware they are not only trying to win the Provincials; they are also potentially auditioning for a future coach tucked away strategically in the stands.  Our association’s coaches for next season were actually assigned well before our league playoff series was done, so those auditions have been going on for a while. The Devil has already commented about feeling the judgmental eyes following her during one particular game; one in which she did score on a power-move to the net this soon to be just-a-hockey-dad-again might proudly, if not slantedly, add.  She will have her work cut out for her being the youngest in a three-year midget division next year.  No doubt more on that to come as well.

All said we should be able to get a rest in about a month’s time.  Then, depending on the coach, it’s off to dryland training or summer skating in preparation for 2012-13.  I said “brief lull”, not “full stop”.  Did I start this by complaining about too much or too little hockey?  Such is the fickle rink life.

#imahockeydad

The Worst Score in Hockey and The Semi-End of a Glorious Run

I believe I’ve allowed myself nearly enough time to grieve what I deem to be the Sharks’ premature exit from their surprising Cinderella run.  But it still stings when I consider we gave up 2-0 leads in two consecutive games; either one of which would have earned us the lofty title of division champions and secured us a spot in the league finals. I guess Don Cherry knows what he’s talking about when he says 2-0 is the worst score in hockey.  One goal against puts the other team right back in the game, swinging momentum for a second and tying goal which opens the flood gates for a game winner.  Doing it twice in a row is doubly dangerous, which is just what we did.  In fact, taking an early 2-0 lead was our downfall on several occasions this season. For us I’m pretty sure it became something of a psychological barrier we’d need to battle as much as we did the physical competition on the other side of the face-off circle.

As always our two final games were not without their share of dramatics.

In game two we did not help ourselves from taking nine penalties vs. three doled out by the refs to our foes.  Let’s just say our competition’s style of play involves getting under the skin of their opponents.  In the final two periods of the second match they did that quite well.  In fact, all three of the opposition’s goals were scored while we had someone sentenced to the sin bin. While I readily admit most of our penalties were well deserved,  at least three were questionable; particularly based on precedents set earlier in the game by the refereeing tandem. One which irked me in particular was a boarding call which the ref explained to me was made because he didn’t actually see the infraction, but he heard it and saw the result which was an opposing player lying on the ice. Now in my way of thinking, if you don’t see the infraction there should be no penalty called whatsoever. But enough with what could be misconstrued as sour grapes (by readers like my father, in particular, who is quick to rightly point out the referees don’t let in the goals) – we gave up the lead and lost the game; not the officials.  Reducing our time in the box would be a major theme discussed before the final confrontation.

While game two saw many calls go against us, game three included a number of questionable non-calls involving our players being knocked abruptly to the ice pre and post-whistle.  My pleadings around these apparent infractions fell on def ref ears, or in one case, drew an unappreciated smirk from the man in stripes striding across the ice.

In this final game we took our 2-0 lead into the second period, but found ourselves deadlocked at 2-2 entering the third.  During the Zamboni break between the second and third, there was definitely a sense of panic, which I tried to balance with the notion of only having to win a single period pointing out we had won several against this team to date.  I also looked to lighten the mood by reminding the girls to have fun…that this moment was what it was all about and that a few weeks back we would have been very happy to have the opportunity to reach this point.

One incident worth noting came courtesy of the lone rival goaltender. This young lady had throughout the season displayed a flair for the dramatic whenever opponents neared her crease during a stoppage in play.  On more than one occasion she would fling off a glove, toss her stick or once even her helmet.  More often than not she would vehemently jabber at the refs for her protection.  In this particular game in the third period and amidst a 2-2 tied score, one of our players was pulled down from behind on a partial breakaway (which did result in a penalty) and found herself sliding into the fragile keeper. What followed was a fifteen minute delay as the goaltender lay semi-motionless on the ice.  Now, I don’t want to sound heartless or insensitive, but the collision was not of a particularly violent variety. I’m not saying the goalie wasn’t shaken or possibly hurt, but if that were the case, then she should have been removed from the game; problem being she was the lone netminder. And so, after a lengthy delay, she shook off her ill effects and the game resumed – our side with the man advantage and their side well rested to kill it off.  To that point in the final frame we certainly had controlled the balance of the play.  But alas, we missed this opportunity to capitalize on the chance afforded us.

Unfortunately, a power play goal for the other team would prove to be our death knell as our rivals put the proverbial nail in our coffin with just over five minutes left to play with a shot from the high slot that weaseled its way to the twine. Our charges would continue to battle to the end, but not find the back of the net with an overtime-forcing equalizer.

Post-game, post-series my assistant coach and I let the team know we were very proud of their efforts; having battled to a division final game three after limping through the regular season at the back of the pack.  We always knew they had the potential for greatness and that is still the most frustrating part. Even though making it as far as we did was an impressive turnaround, I still believe we were the better team and should have won the series.  And a good part of the blame for not being able to preserve 2-0 leads has to fall in the coach’s lap.  So maybe I’m not quite done grieving and will spend a good part of the next week or so going over what we could have done differently in either of those two final games to coax our way through to victories.

However, the lamenting will have to end quickly as we have yet to battle through a Provincial Championship tournament to close out the year.  The crafting of the tournament is a little questionable as some teams from populous regions have to jump through several hoops to qualify while others gain automatic entry if they’ve no suitable competition within their zone. That being said, a good representation of teams from the entire province, including many from our region will be present.  Making it through to the top of this tourney will be no small feat.  So we have a couple of weeks to prepare with some practice time and perhaps an exhibition game of two mixed in.  I might suggest we start any exhibition games with at least the premise of a two-goal lead and perhaps on the penalty kill since it would seem this is where we need the most preparation.

#imahockeydad

Pre-Game Jitters

Heading into game two of a three game division championship series with a one-game lead in our pocket, I laid awake for well over an hour last night running through our first victory in my head.  A win secured by hustle, determination and some great goaltending. Game two will require more of the same.  Here again at 6am this morning, I beaten the clock to the strike of 5 to rehearse my pre and post-game comments; wanting to deliver simple, consistent messages around maintaining the momentum which has propelled us to this point. I chuckle to myself as the coach of a Bantam A level girls team wondering what it must be like for coaches at much higher levels when it comes down to crunch time. Those guys either don’t sleep at all or more likely reached their lofty posts based on the volume of ice coursing through their veins. I’m betting it’s a little of both as few could quell the ever-present human factor.

Superstition is nearly keeping me from posting this brief reflection, however, my young charges’ efforts over the past few weeks have supplied me and I believe them with ample confidence to advance to the final round, which seemed pretty distant before we started our little playoff run.  Proof again that success, confidence and momentum go a long way in any sport, as they do in life.

Going back to pre-season tryouts (seemingly ages ago), I advised my squad’s then hopefuls that being nervous was a positive sign marking the importance of their personal task and desire to reach their goal of making the team.  Another sage life lesson – If you’re not a little nervous, it doesn’t matter enough to you.  So though we’re not presently competing for the Stanley Cup or an Olympic gold medal, I should heed my own advice and be pleased with the few dreamless hours I’ve been giving up of late.

#imahockeydad

The Road to Cinderellaville is Paved by Fate

The Sharks inspired play continued last week as our two playoff series both came to happy endings.  Of course, none of our three games to close these two rounds out were without their tense moments.  In fact, one ended with us on the wrong side of a 5-3 score. But even in that game, the young ladies displayed a resilience which has become their calling card of late. A resilience which has landed this team squarely on a collision course with the most unlikely, but also most poetically just of foes.

In Game Four of the Provincial Playdowns they entered the third period down 3-1.  A tie or win would be enough for them to move on to the Finals.  That deficit would be extended to 4-1 only a couple of minutes into the final frame. Yet the talk on the bench was not defeatist.  My players were talking about how they would stage a comeback; and come back they did. Within a couple of minutes and after some furious pressure they cut the lead to 4-2.  A minute or two at the most later they scored another and I let them know they were never out of any game.  I was fairly certain even down 4-3 this game would go our way. Then unfortunately one of our forwards ran headlong into a defenceman leaving an opposing player with the puck all alone in the slot.  She flung a shot under our shocked keeper and the momentum we’d established was gone.  The loss would force a particularly unwanted, but necessary fifth match.  Our girls were still in the driver’s seat, but some faint hope had undoubtedly been injected into the other side – hope we all knew needed to be quashed in short order. However, game five also introduced one more challenge in the form of a casualty. One of our other defenceman, on a seemingly innocent battle for the puck against the boards had her hand stretched awkwardly backwards resulting in what so far has been determined to be two painfully broken bones.  Suffice it to say, we will be without her services for the foreseeable future.  For better or worse, her loss has become a rallying cry to be loudly echoed until the end of our playoff run.

And so we entered Game Five, again knowing, though never saying, a tie would be sufficient to move on.  The moment you start playing for a tie and not a victory you put your team perilously close to allowing a loss. Our opponent played like a much more desperate group through the first two periods. We had to rely on our goaltender to make a few important saves to keep the game at a 1-1 deadlock heading into the final frame.  What I particularly didn’t like was a negative vibe seemingly coming over our bench.  Forwards were blaming defencemen for missed assignments in our end. The Devil expressed her displeasure at me for a shortened shift (an error on my part I will readily admit), which went over with me like a lead balloon. This was not an ideal time for dissension in the ranks.  Between the second and third periods I let the team know it.  They needed to get back to the positive team game which had brought them to the brink of a Provincial championship berth.  Several players acknowledged my assertion; promising a renewed focus for the final fifteen minutes.  While it wasn’t pretty, there was a marked determination by our forces to end the game and the series. The referees had decided to put away their whistles for the most part prompting some slightly aggressive maneuvering by both camps.  Players were pinned hard up against the boards or knocked down in front of the net.  The Devil and one of her line-mates actually decided to gang up a little on one specific old nemesis they’ve been up against for the past couple of seasons; a player for whom they will readily admit they harbour a degree of ill will.  This same young lady, a fierce competitor in her own right, would air her displeasure with me in the post-game handshakes to which I giggled a little inside.  Our keeper would need to backstop a few dangerous enemy volleys to seal a settled-for 1-1 tie. The draw was enough to end this series and hopefully enough to propel us through another the following day in our league semi-final.

The next day’s critical series-ending game would find me making a less than enjoyable decision to sit one goaltender in favour of another.  I, by my own standard, have tried to commit to providing equal ice time for both of my goalies. I’ve said time and again that I am coaching development hockey, which by definition means everyone gets a fair opportunity to play.  In my mind, a goalie sitting on the bench is not developing. So I argued with myself for a day or so over the merits of starting one netminder or the other.  I knew which one would give our team the best chance to win as well as which one would be the popular choice among my parent group. I even thought I knew which goalie would prefer to start in this pressure-packed contest. Yet, I felt something of an obligation to stand by my principles; otherwise putting future decisions at risk of the precedent I was setting.  With more hockey to play after winning our two series, we are guarateed more “very important” games to be sure in which at some point I will have to play my other goaltender.  I worried about how much decision to sit her might affect her already shaken confidence moving forward. Maybe I need to work on convincing this team they will win no matter who’s in goal.  Taking everything into consideration I believe I decided in the best interest of the team to go with my stronger goalie — this time around.  By doing so, I reasoned there was better potential for everyone to play more games in the long run.

Our second elimination match in two days would be against a team which found itself still shorthanded after icing a shortened bench all season and now having lost two players to injury.  Our 14 skaters were tasked with tiring out their depleted 10.  The coaching staff and I were pleased to note more of a spark than we had seen the day before.  The Sharks did as we asked by keeping the bulk of the play in the other team’s zone with a tenacious forecheck backed by a solid defensive wall.  There were a couple of odd-man rushes following momentary breakdowns, but our forwards skated back into our zone hard with support and our goalie continued to keep the puck away from the mesh behind her.  We carried a 1-0 lead successfully into and through the third period; which included an empty opposing goal for a six on five player man advantage for the last three minutes. Three minutes of stress I and a few white knuckled on-lookers could definitely have done without.

Sharks Win Sharks Win

The Cinderellaic (now there’s a word you don’t see every day, if ever) light at the end of our league semi-final tunnel is a very familiar rival squad. A team we’ve gone back and forth with in league and tournament play.  A group with two would be evil sisters who chose to turn down an opportunity to part of our fairy tale family way back before this fabled season started along with a third who was unceremoniously cut by yours truly to complete this now unholy hockey triumvirate .  It somehow seems fitting that we’ve come all this way through 30 odd games, albeit via very different paths, to meet again in what is sure to be a storied battle for the minor hockey ages (I’m allowed a little poetically licensed hyperbole here, no?).  I hope my hard-working cast of characters are up for the test as I know I’m most assuredly motivated to motivate them.  I’ll even don some Fairy Godcoach wings and a pair of sparkly glass slippers if need be.

#imahockeydad

Playoff Tales – Falling a Bit Behind While Charging Forward

The Boy and the Devil’s teams are both well into their playoff schedules taking my better half and I wildly off in all directions.  Including a trip to the drug store to pick up bleach for da Boy’s playoff hair; an annual tradition on most teams the kids have been on. Other boys have gone the mohawk or mullet route all in the name of good fun and team spirit.  The girls, for their part, have gone with strips of blue in their locks.

hockey hair

The Boy’s team unfortunately made a relatively quick departure from the provincial championship round; though they put up a valiant effort going out in four games.  They fell behind a good, if not overly cocky team, in the first round; a function of finishing lower in the regular season standings than they probably should have. They battled through two initial losses staving off a sweep, but found themselves relegated to what’s pejoratively known as “The Toilet Bowl” or regional playoffs.

At the Midget level, there are several players who may be participating in their final year of hockey so for some the games at this level may be the last of the competitive hockey careers. Some may move on to play college, university or Junior level, but others may not have the talent or interest to carry on.  This fact brings an extra level of challenge to playing any team you face where you have players looking to go out in a blaze of glory.  Couple that with dangerously high levels of teenage male testosterone and you have a potentially explosive cocktail on ice.

Such was the case in the Boy’s most recent series against a rival to the North.  On paper, the boys faced a squad they should have been able to handle quite easily. However, a two game scoring drought, some questionable refereeing and a hot goalie actually saw the good guys facing elimination. The lads would battle back pushing a normally five game series to a sixth match, which is when it all got a little ugly.  On the scoreboard, the Boys were able to open up a 4-1 lead heading into the third period of the deciding game. With the contest and series out of reach for the other side, a parade to the penalty box commenced.  The losing side’s reserves dwindled down to just a couple of players as one by one they were ushered off the ice after an extra jab of the stick, elbow to the head or wild swinging left arm – not exactly what you would call hockey or good sportsmanship.  The game would end unceremoniously with one of their players exiting the penalty box only to make a bee-line towards one of our defencemen.  Sensing the oncoming wrath, our player braced and knocked his assailant to the ice. Said assailant jumped up looking for another victim which happened to be the goaltender standing innocently nearby as the buzzer sounded to end the game.  The now crazed combatant flung himself at our keeper in a flurry of fists which fell meekly on the netminder’s well padded blocker and gloved hands.  Seeing the attack, another of our players strode in to provide assistance. The skirmish was really much ado about nothing.  Meanwhile, another sour opponent, who had been a chippy player all series, took it upon himself to rush at our players’ bench as the clock ticked down to zero – another classless move. The referees were somewhat able to restore order.  Handshakes were exchanged with a few remaining and thankfully more civilized players from the defeated side.  One such player actually commented to my hockey-wife/trainer that his teammates were “psycho”. She told him she was sorry he and a couple of others had to be part of that. On to series two for what should be something less akin to the WWE.

Unfortunately, as I write this the Boy’s are already down two games to none in their next series, facing elimination in game three. This is a particularly interesting round from the Boy’s perspective as one of his best friends, a former school and teammate from when we lived in another town, plays defence for the opposing squad. His friend has been a visible agressor who’s gained no fans on our side. Both games so far have been much more pleasurable to watch versus the previous gong show; though the outcomes have not been favorable with 3-0 and 4-3 losses.  In both contests, our lads have actually seemed to be the more skilled side or at least have had more scoring opportunities. That being said, they’ve been consistently knocked around by an aggressive group of opposing competitors; with the Boy’s buddy leading the charge. Our guys will certainly need to make the most of their opportunities and push back a little more in their next game if they hope to advance.

– – –

Meanwhile, the playoff story so far on the girls’ side has been wild and unpredictable; so not all that different from what we’ve experienced all season. My troupe of young ladies are actually in two playoff series for two different regions at the same time.  One is for their regular league championship while the other is a playdown to see who will represent our region in the provincial championships in April.  Having posted a meek, albeit misleading, regular season record of 3-11-8 they are decided underdogs in both series.

By finishing in last place on the league side, the girls would draw daunting task of having to play the number one team in the division.  As it turns out this same number one team had a scintillating record of 18-1-3.  In a best out of three scenario, we would have to beat our first round counterparts twice as many times as they’d been beaten all year. That being said, we had competed with this and so many other teams that a ray a hope shone through in a short series scenario. One of their coaches did us a bit of a favour as he was overheard telling his players that the only reason they had been able to come back and beat us in a previous match was because we were “just a last place team.”  A slight like that was not lost on me.  I quickly related the same comment to our players hoping it would incite and enrage them to new heights of competitiveness.  Unfortunately, the erstwhile ray of hope was fleeting and my incitation seemed to fall on deaf ears to say the least when we opened the round with a 7-0 loss. It was only 3-0 heading into the third period, but then the wheels completely fell off and the rout was on. Not the best of ways to start or build momentum.  Now the chore became larger as the two games we needed to win became of the consecutive variety.

Before game two I did what I could to buoy the team’s spirits; letting them know I had not yet seen a plump lady enter the building as yet. This series was hardly over.  Their fate was in their hands. Only they could reverse their fortunes. The coaching staff had every confidence they could because that was what needed to be said.  The second match started with a decidedly negative tone as one of our opponents managed to dipsy-do her way around all five of our players on the ice, depositing the puck in the back of the net with only a few ticks off the clock.  Not at all the start we wanted.  However, I stuck to my shift-by-shift mantra, imploring our players to keep fighting. And fight they did, eventually tying the game at 1s heading into the third period. With unwavering effort and dogged determination the home side would take and hold a 2-1 lead to tie the series at one game apiece. To say the visiting team was crestfallen would be a significant understatement. As mentioned, this represented only the second league loss they had endured to this point.

Handing the league leaders only their second loss would have one of two effects.  A truly elite team would come back harder than ever or a team with a questionable foundation might not be able to bounce back. We naturally hoped for the latter.  I decided to try to use the the other coach’s words against him again; only this time I would put marker to paper and hang a poster in our dressing room as a constant reminder of the opponents misguided opinion of our charges’ abilities.  In my pre-game attempt at psychological warfare I told the team I had two words for the enemy coach “BULL SHIT” as I scribed a giant B and S over the dastardly quote. The theatrics were perhaps a bit much for tender young ears (or who am I kidding when it comes to 13 and 14 year olds these days?)  but I believe I succeeded in at least grabbing their attention. I also made a half-pledge to tape the offending poster to the other team’s door following a win for our side.  A promise I knew I might regret should we have the success we desired.

The game was a back and forth affair with our side striking first with what I’ve come to call a beautiful, ugly, garbage goal; of which our ladies have become adept at scoring.  In girls hockey putting the puck on the net and then driving hard after it is never a bad strategy.  We would hold the lead through the first two periods, reconvening in the dressing room for a final chat before the final 15 minutes.  I untaped two corners of the poster to indicate we were halfway to the promised land. The next quarter hour seemed like an eternity.  To begin with, we played a good part of it with at least one player in the penalty box.  The game would be tied with about six minutes left; an opportunity for our players to fold up their tents, lose momentum and cede victory to the first placers.  However, their demeanor on the bench remained resolute. They simply talked about turning the match back in their favour. Then with only four minutes left a 2-on-1 advantage ended with one of our forwards sending a lazer shot over the outstretched glove of the opposing goalie. The bench erupted along with the parents in the visitors perched in the stands above. The final challenge between us and a huge upset was a lopsided 5-on-3 penalty kill for 90 seconds of the final two minutes of the game. Our carousel of three players somehow hung on amidst a frantic onslaught by the desperate home team.  The final buzzer mercifully sounded. The visitors bench re-erupted. Our underdogs’ incredible comeback was complete.  Hockey’s David took down Goliath.  Post game handshakes were marked with a distinct dichotomy of ear-to-ear grins and streaming tears. The mood in our dressing room was unsurprisingly euphoric.  I, of course, was exhorted to honour my pledge to give the poster a new home; however, I was able to convince them otherwise in the interest of good sportsmanship. Instead, the poster was signed by each player to become a banner for future series.  It will be hung in every dressing room along the journey moving forward.

the poster

Moving forward, as mentioned, also includes our Provincial qualifying series.  After a 3-0 win yesterday, the Sharks have moved into a two game lead in a best out of five series.  Perhaps most importantly was the shutout recorded by one of our two goaltenders who has been challenged both physically and mentally of late as she has dropped a few games in a row including the 7-0 decision in our other series.  In her defence, the team has not played particularly well in front of her.   My concern has been what appears to be a bit of a vicious circle. 3-0 last night was just what the hockey doctor ordered.

Next up is round two of league playoffs where we’ll look to ride the crest of a now four-game winning streak. Yes, one more win than we were able to secure through the entire regular season. That fact is not lost on me by any stretch.  But like we said at the start, the playoffs represent a whole new season where inadequacies of the past can quickly become faint memories in the bright light of present success.  Onwards and upwards we go with plenty of hockey still to play.  BELIEF, which the girls now seem to have in abundance, can surely take them a long way. So I will keep preaching that important B word, combined with the occasional S, when and where necessary.

#imahockeydad

It’s Mostly Over…for Now

The Devil’s season ended with a thud a couple of nights ago as game four of what should have been a three-game series found them on the wrong side of a 5-2 score. Before the game, there were some nervous parents, including yours truly, pacing around and trying to decide where to stand for the game in order to satisfy their superstition. One parent even decided to stay home so as not to jinx the team. He was away for their last win and then present for their last loss so he chose to stay away.  I actually remembered just in time that the team manager had asked if I would handle the timekeeping/scoring for this critical game.  In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t agreed to perform these duties.

As the game started, the girls appeared to be nervous too, letting an opponent walk in from the corner with the puck to score the first goal only a minute and a half in.  I think we all knew that getting behind by a goal was not preferred.  Goals had been at a premium for the Devil’s team throughout the playoffs.  Prospects for a win got even bleaker a few minutes later as the visiting side deposited another puck in behind our goalie.  A one-goal deficit was not good; coming back from two goals down was nearly insurmountable.  The Devil would bang home a rebound to cut the lead to 2-1, but the bad guys would restore their two-goal advantage.  The girls would spend an awful lot of the game in the penalty box. For whatever reason, they simply did not play their typical game.  Many of the penalties were for hooking, which meant they were getting beat to the puck.  Once you’re beat, the natural reaction is to reach out with your stick to try to slow your opponent down.

With around three minutes left in the game, the Devil and her mates would cut the lead to 4-2.  The visitors would take a couple of penalties around the two-minute mark. After pulling their goalie, the home side had a rare six on three advantage for about 3-0 seconds. However, in that time they were not able to cut into the lead.  An empty net goal would seal the deal; sending the bad guys on to the provincial playdowns and leaving our girls with countenances that hollered out their dejection.  Just like that the season was over.

We do still have a few practices left. The first was yesterday.  Only four players showed up for what became a disjointed game of shinny. Not surprising with the season over and March break just beginning.

The remaining optional practices will be primarily used to keep the girls’ legs loose for next season’s tryouts, which start in about a month’s time. Yup, we all get but a wee rest before the cycle of a season begins anew.  Particularly your truly who has to start thinking about evaluators, on-ice helpers and drills to help select my own team.  New teammates, parents, coaches, friends and stories will follow in short order. I’m just hoping I can find time to keep telling them.

#imahockeydad

It’s Mostly Over…for Now

The Devil’s season ended with a thud a couple of nights ago as game four of what should have been a three-game series found them on the wrong side of a 5-2 score. Before the game, there were some nervous parents, including yours truly, pacing around and trying to decide where to stand for the game in order to satisfy their superstition. One parent even decided to stay home so as not to jinx the team. He was away for their last win and then present for their last loss so he chose to stay away.  I actually remembered just in time that the team manager had asked if I would handle the timekeeping/scoring for this critical game.  In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t agreed to perform these duties.

As the game started, the girls appeared to be nervous too, letting an opponent walk in from the corner with the puck to score the first goal only a minute and a half in.  I think we all knew that getting behind by a goal was not preferred.  Goals had been at a premium for the Devil’s team throughout the playoffs.  Prospects for a win got even bleaker a few minutes later as the visiting side deposited another puck in behind our goalie.  A one-goal deficit was not good; coming back from two goals down was nearly insurmountable.  The Devil would bang home a rebound to cut the lead to 2-1, but the bad guys would restore their two-goal advantage.  The girls would spend an awful lot of the game in the penalty box. For whatever reason, they simply did not play their typical game.  Many of the penalties were for hooking, which meant they were getting beat to the puck.  Once you’re beat, the natural reaction is to reach out with your stick to try to slow your opponent down.

With around three minutes left in the game, the Devil and her mates would cut the lead to 4-2.  The visitors would take a couple of penalties around the two-minute mark. After pulling their goalie, the home side had a rare six on three advantage for about 3-0 seconds. However, in that time they were not able to cut into the lead.  An empty net goal would seal the deal; sending the bad guys on to the provincial playdowns and leaving our girls with countenances that hollered out their dejection.  Just like that the season was over.

We do still have a few practices left. The first was yesterday.  Only four players showed up for what became a disjointed game of shinny. Not surprising with the season over and March break just beginning.

The remaining optional practices will be primarily used to keep the girls’ legs loose for next season’s tryouts, which start in about a month’s time. Yup, we all get but a wee rest before the cycle of a season begins anew.  Particularly your truly who has to start thinking about evaluators, on-ice helpers and drills to help select my own team.  New teammates, parents, coaches, friends and stories will follow in short order. I’m just hoping I can find time to keep telling them.

#imahockeydad

It’s Mostly Over…for Now

The Devil’s season ended with a thud a couple of nights ago as game four of what should have been a three-game series found them on the wrong side of a 5-2 score. Before the game, there were some nervous parents, including yours truly, pacing around and trying to decide where to stand for the game in order to satisfy their superstition. One parent even decided to stay home so as not to jinx the team. He was away for their last win and then present for their last loss so he chose to stay away.  I actually remembered just in time that the team manager had asked if I would handle the timekeeping/scoring for this critical game.  In retrospect, I wish I hadn’t agreed to perform these duties.

As the game started, the girls appeared to be nervous too, letting an opponent walk in from the corner with the puck to score the first goal only a minute and a half in.  I think we all knew that getting behind by a goal was not preferred.  Goals had been at a premium for the Devil’s team throughout the playoffs.  Prospects for a win got even bleaker a few minutes later as the visiting side deposited another puck in behind our goalie.  A one-goal deficit was not good; coming back from two goals down was nearly insurmountable.  The Devil would bang home a rebound to cut the lead to 2-1, but the bad guys would restore their two-goal advantage.  The girls would spend an awful lot of the game in the penalty box. For whatever reason, they simply did not play their typical game.  Many of the penalties were for hooking, which meant they were getting beat to the puck.  Once you’re beat, the natural reaction is to reach out with your stick to try to slow your opponent down.

With around three minutes left in the game, the Devil and her mates would cut the lead to 4-2.  The visitors would take a couple of penalties around the two-minute mark. After pulling their goalie, the home side had a rare six on three advantage for about 3-0 seconds. However, in that time they were not able to cut into the lead.  An empty net goal would seal the deal; sending the bad guys on to the provincial playdowns and leaving our girls with countenances that hollered out their dejection.  Just like that the season was over.

We do still have a few practices left. The first was yesterday.  Only four players showed up for what became a disjointed game of shinny. Not surprising with the season over and March break just beginning.

The remaining optional practices will be primarily used to keep the girls’ legs loose for next season’s tryouts, which start in about a month’s time. Yup, we all get but a wee rest before the cycle of a season begins anew.  Particularly your truly who has to start thinking about evaluators, on-ice helpers and drills to help select my own team.  New teammates, parents, coaches, friends and stories will follow in short order. I’m just hoping I can find time to keep telling them.

#imahockeydad

And Then There Was One

Just two days and technically 45 minutes after an epic win to salvage their series, the Boy’s team’s season came to less than dramatic halt on the backside of a 4-2 loss. Momentum from the previous game certainly carried the visiting team through the first two and a half periods of the game. A tied series felt like a real possibility as the boys opened a 2-0 lead with some very dominant play.  A two-nil lead could have just as easily been four-nil as the visiting side was firing on all cylinders.

Then the middle of the came turned out to be a virtual crest in the road. Aggressive play tuned into timid play; particularly in the defensive zone. The entire team seemed to collapse back into their goaltender. The home team became the aggressor after scoring their first goal. While the Boy and his teammates never gave up, they certainly seemed to back down (or at least back up).  The home team, already up four points to two in the six point series, finished the second period with a 3-2 lead. The boys had 15 minutes to square the score, which would have kept their season dimly alive. But another goal by the home side, quickly deflated already fragile spirits.  Play in the rest of the period was noticeably desperate and panicked. The crowd got quiet as we too could feel the game, series and season slipping away.

An opposing penalty and resulting power play opportunity in the last two minutes of the game provided one last ray of hope. The goalie would be pulled to create a six on four player advantage, which would in turn provide a couple of scoring chances. However, the soon-to-be victors keeper held strong to preserve the win. 

The game/series, which had its fair share of animosity, unfortunately ended on a sour note with a late penalty then a game ending skirmish. The refs, to their credit, were quick to dissipate the situation. At the end of any series, good or bad, a time-honoured tradition has the combatants shake hands in a show of good sportsmanship. In a show of poor sportsmanship, one of the victorious coaches chose to not shake hands with his counterparts – not the right message to be sending to a group of 15 and 16 year old boys. 

In quick retrospect, our group of boys had a pretty good yet that provided a lot of unique tests of individual and team character.  While they didn’t achieve all of their goals, I think some of them learned and grew – most of them enjoyed their time with this team. They and we all have a substantial store of good and bad memories.

Now the focus turns back to the Devil, who is still wrapped tightly in two exciting series – the first of which resumes in a couple of days. Just enough time to take a breath and ease some shaky nerves. With all the talk of two long seasons, I’m still not ready to see them both end.

#imahockeydad