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Dis-qualified!

The Boys’ run to the big Silver Stick tournament came up a little short today, but in all they had a very good qualification tourney. 

The day started well with a relatively easy 5-0 victory in the semi-final match.  They came out of the chute strong and scored only a few minutes into the game. Another quick goal followed.  The boys managed to stay out of the penalty box, which they had trouble with in a couple of the previous games. Up five goals in the third period, the game clock was set to run without interruption.  The only near hiccup came at the end of the game when the other team’s frustration led to a scuffle and punches thrown in front of the net.  Luckily no major penalties were assessed.  The Boys would advance to the final virtually unscathed.

The final game followed a team lunch at a local restaurant.  The Boys knew the team they were facing would be strong.  Both teams had their fair share of scoring chances early. The opposing goalie was solid, making a few good saves in the first period.  In fact, the keeper would be the real difference in the game and would be deemed his team’s MVP.  The bad guys would score two goals in the second, one on the power play, and that was all they would need. It was a hard fought contest simply won by the better team today. If I had to hazard a guess I would say a five game series between these two teams would require all five to decide a victor.

The post-game picture of the second place team pretty much tells the disappointing story; not too many pearly whites are visible. A trip to the grand show would have been nice. The team will have to be satisfied with knowing they gave a good effort. And maybe they can take the memory of the unpleasant loss into their upcoming playoff challenges, which will be just as stiff.

#imahockeydad

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Volunteers???

The Devil took to the ice last night in some unfamiliar gear along with two of her other normally non-goalie teammates. As mentioned, her team lost its regular goalie for at least a month to a non-hockey related injury last week and now find themselves scrambling for substitutes.  This is the risk a team runs when it only carries one goalie.  The league in general has a dearth of goaltenders.  As such, the options are limited to beg, borrow or steal from other teams.  This will be the case this upcoming weekend as three potential stand-ins are either playing for their regular teams at the same time or in completely different locations making it impossible for them to lend a much needed, gloved hand.

And so, the coach put out a call for any volunteers who may want to audition for the vacancy between the pipes; whether they had prior experience or not. As they say – desperate times call for desperate measures.

Never one to back down from a challenge or a chance to try something different, the Devil threw her helmet into the ring and said she’d give it a shot.  The last time she tried goal will have been over four years ago in house league, but she threw on the pads and grabbed the over-sized stick with glee.  Once in the net, you could see that while technique was lacking, sheer determination to keep the puck out was present in spades.  I was on the ice for practice and fired a few shots at her along with the other coaches. She naturally flinched and fought the urge to turn sideways on a couple of chest-high blasts.  Shots on the ice were the toughest for her to handle, as they likewise seemed to be for the other two new trainees. We provided all three aspiring backstops with a crash course in net positioning, angles and the basic goalie stance.  The Devil did actually have a pretty good catching hand.  Post-practice we all concurred that the regular goaltender’s job would be safe upon her return. The three volunteers were commended for their efforts. Each had her strengths and weaknesses; particularly in light of a single session.  One of the three has some more recent experience; displaying the most technique, but also letting in her share of “softees” as they all did.

I think my favourite moment happened during a scrimmage at the end of practice. As players fought for a loose puck behind the net, the Devil turned completely around to get a better view of the action. When the puck emerged back out front she had to spin quick while trying to regain her bearings in the crease.  On the way home from the arena she admitted this was her biggest faux pas. She knew it was the wrong move. Instinct to chase the puck took over.  I got a chuckle out of it so it’s all good.

Time and availability will determine who may have to step into the breach and take on the role in an official capacity. The rest of the team for its part will need to likewise step up. They will have to support their fledgling tender, whoever that may be; limiting the number and difficulty of the shots she will face. The team has an opportunity to turn a potential negative into a positive as they have an excellent opportunity to get stronger as a team.  In the meantime, some anxious parents will no doubt be watching a couple of games from behind slightly splayed fingers. I admit that I kinda do and don’t hope their mine.

#imahockeydad

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The Boys go 5-0 for the Richmond Hill tourney and win 5-0 in an anticlimactic Final. The semi-final was the tougher test, and a 2-0 victory, against a league rival who the boys will go up against a few times over the next few months.  Definitely a strong and promising start to the season with impressive goaltending performances leading the way. Said goaltenders were rightly chosen to accept the championship trophy as they were largely responsible for helping the team claim it. Here’s hoping the boys can carry this momentum through the upcoming league play.  After five games in four days I’m sure all are happy to be home for a rest…I know at least one Boy who certainly is.

#imahockeydad

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Yesterday it was 30 plus degrees celcius outside so where were we…in a rink of course. But it was a special kind of day because the Devil and the Boy got to play together on the same team.

The Devil’s team ran a 3-on-3 fundraising tournament which required/allowed each player on her team an opportunity to put together her own team comprised of three boys, three girls and a goalie  These players (so we understood) could be within two years of the age of the player so the Devil chose her 15-year old brother and two of his buddies along with three of her friends (her age) including a goalie.  The day before the tournament even began her team lost a girl to illness.  We were not able to find a replacement so the team proceeded with two female skaters, three male skaters and a goalie; lots of skating to come.  This was all pretty exciting for mom and dad because we never really get a chance to see our kids play together.  I took to the bench as a quasi-coach, but really just a door man, as I was soon to find the Devil telling me who was to take the ice and when.  I might add here that I came to the rink wearing shorts and a t-shirt with no idea that I would have to spend the majority of the day in what would eventually seem like sub-zero conditions. 

The Devil’s team’s first game was against an all-girls team which included a couple of very good sixteen year olds.  The Devil’s team won that first game and we were soon to learn that the Devil’s relatively large and somewhat skilled male teammate selections were a tad controversial. Her boys (including her brother) were admittedly strong players in relation to those from other teams who ranged from 10 to 16 years old. It was made clear from the very beginning that this was a “fun”draising tournament and winning/losing were secondary. Our boys were likewise instructed from the beginning that they were to compete, but keep in mind that they were, in some cases. playing much younger and/or less skilled players.  All of that being said, just try telling any 10 + year old athlete that they’re just playing for fun. All players on all teams were playing to win as each game saw kids battling at both ends of the ice.  A couple of games saw outstanding performances turned in by diminutive and reportedly unseasoned, but enthusiastic goaltenders.  The Devil and her female teammate played exceedingly well; taking advantage of and making some tape-to-tape passes to the Boys. One particular pass from the Devil to the Boy for a one-timer goal found me fist-pumping with pride.

The Devil’s team went on to an undefeated record and to win the tournament, which would cover nearly 10 hours and consist of a total of seven twenty minute games. Actually eight for the Devil and one of the Boys as both unwittingly substituted for teams missing players following their own team’s fourth game and 11 for the Devil’s goalie as she was called upon to sub for other teams who were not able to find full-time keepers. Pre-tournament we knew there were three games guaranteed, but were a little surprised to learn of four additional games which kept us at the rink until nearly 10 pm. Suffice it to say, our five players, all of whom had a post-win sleep-over at our house, ate heartily (including Dairy Queen treats demanded by the Boys and a late-night Mexican feast prepared by the anxious hockey mom) and then slept long and soundly. Even the young and seemingly resilient Devil and Boy woke up complaining of aching muscles.  In truth, such an effort probably would have crippled most parents for the better part of a week.

It was a long hot day in a cold, stanky rink, but I very much look forward to being able to see my kids play side-by-side again and maybe doing a little more selfish fist-pumping.

#imahockeydad