caught trying on my new helmet at my desk

my gear spread out to dry

two sticks, a can of peaches, and a Mac

12 April 2001
I missed last Thursday's game because I was in Baltimore (though technically I *did* play hockey that day—it was just in my sister's driveway rather than at the rink :). I can see from the Thursday standings on the Ice Oasis web page that we lost, but I haven't gotten the details yet. I imagine my teammates will tell me about it in the locker room, and of course I'll get the scoresheet for the stats.

John said he was going to add two or three new players to our roster to make up for trading Mike and the fact that we were fairly short to begin with (we only had 11 skaters); I wonder if they'll show up tonight, and what they'll be like. We don't have any real beginners on our team right now, which is probably why we've got such great chemistry (and such a great record). I hope whoever gets added already knows how to play, but if they don't, I consider it my job as captain to be patient and help them learn. It's the whole team's job, really.

Oh, I got an exciting e-mail from someone I know only as "hockeygirl" yesterday. She wrote once before to say that she'd read this journal, and to give me some tips on playing Center and buying a new helmet. (That was one of the catalysts that resulted in the purchase of the helmet in the top left photo; the other was that I forgot to pack my helmet when I subbed in that time on Tuesday, and I had to borrow one from the rink. That borrowed helmet, which looked incredibly small at first glance, actually fit me better—it made me realize I'd been wearing one that was too big. The new one is adjustable.)

Anyway, hockeygirl wrote again yesterday to ask if I'd be interested in playing on her team in a women's tournament at the end of May. I, of course, asked all kinds of questions: where is it? how much does it cost? do you practice as a team beforehand? if so, on what nights? do you have to arrive on Thursday or Friday (the tournament starts on a Friday)? The answers: North Vancouver, B.C. $65 team fee, ~$200 airfare, ~C$180 hotel. yes, they did last year. Wednesdays. Friday is fine. Well, needless to say, the idea of playing in a tournament is exciting enough on its own, but to play hockey in *Canada, O Canada*... WOW! That's like being invited to Oktoberfest in Germany. Wednesday nights are open for me, so I said that I was indeed interested. She's forwarding my contact info to her team captain; I've got my fingers crossed that I'll get to play.

The question about whether I'd have to fly up on Thursday or on Friday was relevant because I've just switched jobs again at work. I'm still doing engineering work, but my role has changed a bit, and major deadlines are involved. I'm already taking my sabbatical (6 weeks off!) this summer, so every day counts. I'll already probably end up working a couple weekends to make up for the days I'll miss on account of the classes I'm teaching at the University of Hawaii the weekend before the tournament.

Anway, back to local hockey news... My Hoffman team lost to Excite on Monday night, though the score was closer than it was the last couple times we played them. They were leading 3-0 from the middle of the second period on, I think, but we came back with two goals in the third. The game was less chippy than the last few as well, but I still think Excite's the roughest team out there. Since Al & I have agreed not to talk about his team for the sake of peace in the house/car/relationship, I won't single anyone out as an extreme offender. Two (related) incidents stick out in my mind, though.

In one, Kyle and an Excite player (usually a nice guy who doesn't play dirty) were racing toward the goal line (I can't remember who had the puck), and the Excite guy hit a divot or caught and edge or something, and both guys hit the boards head first. Kyle was about a quarter stride behind and had time to tuck his chin, but I seriously thought that the Excite guy might have broken his neck. Instead, he got to his feet rather unsteadily, dropped his gloves, and went after Kyle. In the time it took him to get up, though, the refs and his teammates got to him, and they held him back. No penalties were called.

A couple shifts later, Charles got a breakaway on Glen, the Excite goalie (who is stunningly good, btw) and the same Excite guy tripped him, sending him headfirst into the goalpost. Charles ricocheted off it and ended up *in* the net, knocking it off its moorings with his hip. At that point the Excite guy was ejected, Burke went to the box to serve the penalty, and I saw something that I've never seen before in an Ice Oasis game: a penalty shot. Unfortunately Charles wasn't able to get past Glen (I think he had a better chance on the breakway, since he had more speed and there were more distractions for the goalie). I tried to remember that we would probably be celebrating just as loudly and obnoxiously if Charles had won the matchup, and tried not to think of the hoots coming from the Excite bench as unsportsmanlike.

I was kinda glad that the Excite player got ejected, not because he was a danger to us, but rather because I thought he might have a concussion. I was actually surprised to see that it was he who took Charles out, considering how wobbly he was getting to the bench after the crash into the boards.

My teams always play Al's teams in the same week this season, so that means that we play the Suns (yellow) tonight. Al still can't play because his shoulder hasn't finished healing, but the sling is off, and he actually got out on the ice last night. We went to the public skate at the Bridgepoint Ice Chalet and skated for about 45 minutes. I had to stop because my ears were killing me (I had gloves in the car, but no earband)—a bummer, because I still had plenty of energy. Al said he felt pretty tentative and was afraid to fall because of the shoulder, but he looked great to me. He actually did fall once while going backwards, but he tucked his chin and rolled up like a turtle, protecting his shoulder really well. A guy I was talking to at the time remarked that it was the best fall he'd ever seen. :)