Our First Non-Win

OK, here's what I can remember writing last night...

I was going to call this entry "Our First Tie," but somehow Saturday's 2-2 game against Rebels 3 felt more like a loss than a tie, so I went with non-win. I jotted down some notes in the locker room after the game, but of course I left the piece of paper in my hockey bag, so I'll have to write from memory again.

The main thing that sticks out in my memory of this game is how FREAKING TIRED I was. I'm not sure whether it was the heat (it was awfully warm in there, for an ice rink), the fact that the ice didn't freeze all the way, or that I'd eaten more sugar on Saturday than I had in the entire previous week—perhaps all three—but I felt like I was towing an anchor behind me all night. Most shifts I came off exhausted and shaking, and the muscles that attach my hip bones to my thighs (i.e., where front jeans pockets are) have been sore for the past four days.

The other two stories that stick in my head both involve Wilson. The first occurred during the 2nd period, when the puck popped out of the offensive zone, and we were forced to clear. As I skated over the blue line, I saw Wilson had control of the puck, so I shouted to him to go in, and that I would cover back. I did this for two reasons: (1) Wilson looked eager to go in, and (2) I was too tired to be very effective on O. Wilson was definitely more effective than I could have been, getting several shots off in the few seconds he was in deep, but as the puck richocheted off players' shinpads, skates, and sticks, I started to worry that the play would turn around, and the small bit of rest I was getting at the blue line would all be for naught.

Just then, the play *did* turn around, and I stayed at the line a second too long (i.e., long enough to say, "oh shit") before turning to give chase. I was determined not to let Wilson regret having gone in for a scoring chance, so I used every ounce of energy I had to try to catch my opponent. He had half a body length on me, but I managed to keep my legs moving while I swept my stick in front of him, trying to poke the puck away. As we crossed the far blueline, I started to worry that he had me beat... when suddenly he lost the puck. It took an enormous effort just to stop where the puck had (he kept going); there was nothing left for clearing it. I feebly attempted to knock it out of our zone, and when one of my teammates got control, I staggered to the bench. It took until my next shift just to get my breath back.

The other Wilson thing happened in the 3rd period, when I was chasing an attempt-to-clear up the boards near the hash marks. I could see a Rebel coming toward me from the left, and when I looked up in front of me, I saw Wilson coming in, too. My first thought was, "Wilson, why are you coming *at* me???", and my second thought was "ack!" Picturing some kind of horrendous collison, I panicked and knocked the puck weakly out to the middle, where it was promptly picked up by a Rebel. (He didn't even stop to say thanks for the breakaway, btw.)

I asked Wilson about it later, because I wanted to understand what I should have done in that situation (giving the puck to the other team was obviously wrong). He said that what he was looking for was a pass up the boards. It's hard to imagine having passed right then, since I didn't have control of the puck even at the "ack!", but I will certainly keep that play in mind for next time. Or perhaps I will just step away from the boards, taking out the person charging in from the left, and let Wilson come down and grab the puck. That could work.

I had one moment of almost-glory when I picked the puck off an opponent's stick and nearly had a 1-on-0 breakaway. I say "nearly" because the pickoff happened right in front of the blueline, and as I crossed I worried that my feet had gone over the line before the puck did. In the mad scramble to get back onsides, I completely lost my momentum (and the puck). Next time I'm going to just wait for the whistle and skip the mad scramble.

Meanwhile, Al had a moment of actual glory when he scored a goal in the first period, extending his point streak to three games, I think.

My line did not score any goals, but we're playing quite well together, so it's hard to find specific reasons for the point drought. I got a one-timer off on a pass from Baldwin, and for once, it was on net. The goalie had to make a rather nifty save to stop it, so I can't complain too much that it didn't go in.

Tired as I still am, I can't wait to play hockey again. I'm kinda bummed that we'll be going to Baltimore tomorrow and will miss a practice opportunity, but at least there will be a game when we get back. And then, of course, next weekend is the Vancouver Tournament (hooray!), which guarantees me at least 3 (and possibly up to 5) hockey games in one weekend. I'll have to miss one of my Gang Green games for it (boo!), but I'm really looking forward to showing Al around Vancouver (he's never been) and shopping for a new hockey stick, as well as playing in the games.

Posted by Lori in Gang Green ~ Summer 2003 | May 14, 2003·01:21 PM