Checking Line

We played another upper-division team this week: The Firebirds. We were a bit short, with Mattias, Gerry, Mike, and a few others out; Fred was the only regular Defenseman in the locker room, so Bill and Eric dropped back, and the remaining six of us played O. I'd been thinking for a while that I wanted to try being on a line with Matt Z at Right Wing and me at Left, and I almost got my wish this week... except that I played Right Wing and Matt Z played Center. I don't think the fact that it didn't work out so well—we got in each other's way a lot, unfortunately—is necessarily a reflection on how we might work as a Wing pair; I still think I'd like to try that. I think we really might be able to get something going by playing dump and chase, and we might even be able to hit each other with passes.

Speaking of hitting each other with passes, Adam and Derek turned out to be really good at that, though I suppose it's not too surprising given that they've been playing street hockey together for like 15 years. This was our first chance to see them in action, though, since I think it was their first time playing on a line together. Adam and Derek (together with Murph at Center) were definitely the scoring line in this game; Doug, Matt Z, and I made up the checking line.

Much as I'd love to score a goal, I have to say that I get a total thrill out of being an effective checker. I felt like my job was to tire and frustrate the Firebirds, and, if possible, prevent them from scoring. (Oh, and to give Adam a rest so that he could score next time he came on the ice—he had both of our two goals :). I knew I was doing my job effectively when the Firebirds started hitting and hooking me; it meant that I was at least an annoyance if not a threat. (That's totally better than being insignificant!) I have a lovely (and painful) bruise on my upper arm where one of the Firebirds hit me with his stick, lacrosse-style, though I honestly can't remember whether he was trying to push me out of the slot in the offensive zone, or to get me off him in the defensive end. Either is equally likely.

five days after the check

Speaking of defensive forwards, Eric was excellent on D. He took his job very seriously and ALWAYS got back, even if he'd just been inside the blueline in the offensive zone. I was kind of amazed at his energy level, given that there were only three D; I don't think I ever saw him coast. I think it helped that Eric takes his defensive responsibilities as seriously as his offensive ones when he plays Center; when Centers do that, it's not such a shock to move back to D. (Eric would probably not be too thrilled to know that I'm extolling his virtues as a defenseman given that he prefers to play up, but I wanted to give him props for a great game. And I hope to see him back at Center next time!)

Posted by Lori in Galaxy ~ Summer 2005 | August 5, 2005·12:06 PM