Return To Ice Mountain
By Wyatt Earp | March 31, 2009
Well, that was interesting.
My triumphant return to the ice rink turned out pretty well – depending upon how you look at it. It was easier for me to just post the coverage in a Good News, Bad News format. (And yes, that is me in the photo from June of last year.) Here we go.
Good News: My legs felt fine, as did the rest of me. We had 12 skaters, and I got plenty of ice time.
Bad News: I had a decent amount of scoring chances, but didn’t put the biscuit in the basket once.
Good News: I did earn two assists and was a +2 on the night. Stat-wise, I had a good night.
Bad News: I had a chance to stop the first goal of the night – a breakaway – but I wasn’t fast enough to catch the guy, and too afraid to haul him down – and risk a penalty shot.
Good News: We won the game by a score of 9-2, improving our record to 14-8-5.
Bad News: I was the team’s tackling dummy. I was hauled down or buried three times in the game. The first time, I was hit with an open-ice check that left me a little dizzy. The second time, I was dumped to the ice and landed on my elbow. It felt like it was fractured, but since I can move it, it is probably only bruised. Three hours after the game it is swollen and still hurts like Hell. The third time, I was skating for a loose puck, and the guy from the other team threw his leg out and took me down with a knee-to-knee check. It is the same knee that I injured last year.
Oh, and this is supposed to be a no-check league.
Overall, the good news (the win) outweighed the bad news (the pain). Of course, I reserve the right to re-evaluate that decision in the morning. I have a feeling the pain will be worse by then. Vincent Antonelli had his best game of the season, scoring a goal and a beautiful assist. Fish scored a nice goal from the point – his first in a few games. Badger played splendidly in goal, and Randal Graves had another rock-solid game . . . before getting thrown out in the third for fighting.
Eh, it was still great to get back to my happy place.
Topics: Ice Hockey | 8 Comments »
March 31st, 2009 at 9:59 am
Do you need an ice pack for your happy place this morning?
March 31st, 2009 at 10:28 am
It sounds like a great time was had (mostly).
Nice game face too (from a year ago). Do I see some “command presence” there?
March 31st, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Good job on the win!
Might I suggest some Vodka for the pain?
March 31st, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Doghouse – Yep. For my elbow, too!
Admiral – Actually, it’s “exhaustion presence.” It was after the game.
Jeff T – We had whiskey shots and pints of Guinness. Good for what ails ya!
March 31st, 2009 at 9:54 pm
In no checking leagues there are some dickheads that think they are in the NHL. and some are just dickheads.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:58 pm
What I mean above is that everyone has to go to work the next day so think about what you are doing. There is no need for dirty play in a no checking league.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:28 am
If the Ice Mountain won’t come to the Marshall, the Marshall must go to the Ice Mountain.
April 1st, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Joe – Usually, it’s pretty tame. Don’t get me wrong: everyone plays hard, and sometimes we run into each other, but few go out of their way to check/injure other players.
The guy that creamed me was one of those morons. He cross-checked everyone who got near the crease, and checked at every opportunity. He was a douche.
Alan B – If I must . . .