The Spirit of I-League?

Last week, I missed out on the happenings at our rink so that I could go to Lubbock and get beat by my baby sister in a foot race. So I needed to find a few people to cover my games. The Patriots all ready have a stand-by goalie on the roster, Doug Phillips, who ordinarily plays wing. It would not be a problem for him to pull out his old gear and act as my substitute. The Diggers on the other hand were not so fortunate.

Without a win on their record (yet) and no other guy with a set of pillows in the closet, it looked like they would face a difficult situation. But no, coordinator Bob Sirkis has the burning urge to fill the net.


Bob's son plays goalie in the mites (I think) and he decided he should give it a try, just to see what his little guy has to deal with. He let me in on his plan, and I was more than happy to loan out my sack-o-biohazard for the weekend. I had a pair of shorter pads hanging in the garage, the rest of the stuff would be close enough to fit for one night, except of course the cup, ahem. Donning a hodge-podge mix of older and newer equipment he hit the ice.


I have been trying to encourage the development of goalies in our league with little more than a nominal effort in practice sessions from skaters, some don't get any further than just asking about equipment, and techniques, and whether or not it hurts.


The equipment is really not very heavy, you get used to the bulk of it and learn to move within the parameters of it, hopefully utilizing every square inch in the process. When it comes to techniques, there are plenty of books and videos and whatever to aid in that. I am not the picture of technique, that's for sure, but whatever it takes to stop the puck (safely) is the key to goaltending. Technique changes from year to year in goaltending, some of the biggest innovations come from people who either broke the rules or played unconventionally, so make it work for you. Does it hurt? Not usually, in this league, if you are ever fortunate enough to spar with a really talented shooter, and actually stop a shot you will have respect for Turco and all the pros, where every shot is harder than the hardest shot you will ever see on a Saturday night. Making a desperation save in the NHL is often painful, despite the equipment. There is about three inches of padding in my leg pads and I have worked with guys before that make my shins sting, that's pretty amazing. Meaning, even a save that you are set for can leave a bruise.


So how did the experience go for Mr. Sirkis? He had a good time. It surprises me when people tell me how tiring it is to play net. I have read that you lose eight pounds in just one game. Bob claims he lost fifteen, we'll see. It gets hot in that gear and as Bob found the only thing you can do is skate around in circles during play stoppages to cool-off. Did you wonder why those guys are wandering around back there? He also learned to hold still until the whistle. The first shot wedged itself between his left arm and his chest, when he turned his body to look behind for the puck, it fell into the net. I know what a downer it can be to allow a goal on the first shot. . . and the second. But mainly it was about perspective, you have to follow the action through the bodies in front of you, always at the ready. A shot can come at any moment, so that tension builds in your stance until that shot finally heads your way. That sudden release of the puck fills you with such urgency, especially if it catches you by surprise, so that even the slowest shot can seem like a lightning bolt.


Perhaps the most difficult part of playing goal is that no matter how good you play, you can't score a goal and win the game yourself. It isn't much fun to see your forwards struggle all night and then you go and allow a goal against.

I was very proud of Bob for giving it a go. He doesn't think he'll become a regular, in fact he doesn't think he'll play net again until next session, maybe.








If anyone else is interested, drop me a line and I'll see what I can do to help.

Back To Hockey!

There are no perfect teams in the Majors anymore. But, in the Minors, the Privateers prove that in the regular season at least, offense triumphs over defense. The 'Teers are flawless and looking ahead at their schedule, I can see no losses. . . or wins for that matter. Is there a schedule on the way?


declare your
Major

Stickmen (2-2-0) 2
Komets (3-0-1) 1

Komets lose but hold onto first place


Coach Al sent the Komets in to battle preparing them for another tough opponent, and they respond with an early goal. Just barely half a minute into the game, Dustin "Domi-" Nation puts the Komets in the driver's seat. About the time Dustin's shift ended, Damon Flores ties it up leaving Al looking up to the heavens. Both goalies, Bryant for the Komets and Blubaugh for the Sticks, bow-up under the pressure, neither allowing the compromise of their nets. Blubaugh turns away twenty-nine of thirty. The Sticks needed to finish off the Komets in regulation in order to keep them in the middle of a three-way race for first, but Bryant would not buckle, not even in overtime, in fact, it takes six Stickmen shooters before the game would finally fall to the Sticks. The Komets lose the battle but still have the upper hand in the war. . . for the KEG.

Patriots (2-1-1) 1
Blue Devils (3-1-0) 2

Pats half-ass into losing skid


Can you blame the lack of schedule for this? In what should have been one of the more important games of their regular season, the Pats only bring half of their players. Questions of commitment are popping-up around goaltender, jon ellis, and the absence of Captain Les York did not go unnoticed, either. The Devils came prepared, their extra manpower allows them to fight through six minutes worth of penalty kill until in the second period they finally get a power play opportunity of their own. Jay Peters collects the goal to put the Devils on top. Bryan Brookman evens the score a few minutes later, but the short bench catches up with the Pats after another Blue Devil goal, this one belongs to Charlie "Kiss My" Heine. The Devils hold-on for the win in the third.

Snipers (1-2-1) 5
DFW Titans (1-3-0) 3

Snipers shock the major world


Matt Walker had a good week at Mike Moore's goaltending clinic, and comes up with an impressive win. It certainly wasn't just the work between the pipes though, Jesse Henderson and Chris Hale prove to be a very effective combination the team-up for the first two goals, Henderson gets the first, Hale the second. Tyler Klunder puts one in for the Titans, but Henderson gets the assist on another Sniper goal, this time it's Ed Vogel with the "g". All of this Sniper offense before the fourth minute ticks off the clock. . . Then another goal from Henderson in the last minute of the first? Maybe James Barber, Titan netminder, needs to do some self-examination? Bill Turner scores one for the Titans early in the second, but the Snipers tie the period and hang-on to their three goal lead until the third. Sniper, Chris Davis, puts the Titans on the advantage one too many times and Mike Kirkland makes them pay. . . I guess, the Titans still lose by two. Lunchbox has a four point night with no penalties, he was due.

Brewzers (1-2-1) 3
Ice Bats (3-1-0) 4

Bats, a one man crew


After a long, boring first period, the Brewzers, vias John Parker, manage to generate a goal, the first one to get past Tony Marra this season (according to my records). Before the period ends, Eric Petty steps-up from the point to even the score. In the third, Petty takes the lead and then one more. Young Joshua Sutton of the Brewzers scores two of his own to tie the game, the second on the power play. But unable to contain himself, Petty skates to the other end and grabs the winner, with less than thirty seconds left in the game.

contributing to the delinquency of a
Minor

Privateers (4-0-0) 3
LSI (4-1-0) 1

Privateers triumph in best test so far


The Privateer offense wasn't able to run free as in some games, but Steve Haley does get the only goal for the first period. Kevin McGlaun commits a hooking penalty as time expires putting the Imports on the power play to start the second, but the 'Teers kill-it-off and hang on to the one goal lead until the third. In the final frame the Privateers punch one more in off the stick of Patrick Haley, LSI needed something. Gabe Rivera maintains his scoring streak and brings the Imports to within one, with nearly half the period left to play. Ryan Haley makes a key save just after the seventh minute, and spots a breaking Joel Bush, she hits him with the pass at center ice where he carries it in untouched for the spirit killer. A few more awesome saves and Ryan secures the Privateer win.

Whalers (3-2-0) 3
Chiefs (2-2-0) 1

Whalers, get-up, stand-up


After a scoreless first, despite having a power play opportunity, the Whalers stir it up with a goal from Paul Thurston. They have to wait until the third to get another, it comes from Ben Schechter. Thurston is jammin', and collects one more. On their exodus to a three nothing shut-out the Whalers give-up a goal in the last half of the period, Jimmy "Stone-Cold" Welch sends one in from the point and Tom Harntichek tips it in past the otherwise flawless Gregg Mata. The Whalers have only one love this session, and that is winning. Could this session be the Whaler's redemption song? Couldn't work-in "No Woman, No Cry".

Grave Diggers (0-4-0) 2
Puckers (2-2-0) 4

Puckers bury Diggers


Ellis is still out, and Bob Sirkis ably fills-in. . . David James scores two unanswered goals for the Puckers. Randy Cappel finds a way to beat Donaghue at the other end. Prodigal forward Teresa Leon gets a goal (first time, in a long time) to pad the Pucker lead. Chappel scores another, but proves to be the only one able to solve Donaghue, the Diggers give-up one more to Larry Nouanemany, before falling-out of the play-off picture. While Sirkis played well in his debut, the Maestro at the other end has convinced him to hang-up the pads forever. . . or at least until next session.

Silverwings (1-2-1) 4
Team Euless (1-3-0) 5

Someone had to win


The "C-train" Sergio Castillo, leaves the station right on time, scoring a Wing goal in the first minute. Paul Reid adds to the lead a couple of minutes later. Late in the period, Casey Jenkins stops the bleeding with a Euless goal. In the second, Val Kuntz ties the game with her power play goal, and Guy Riggs puts Euless on top. Scott Alcon knots it up again leaving the decision for the third. Larry Nouanemany scores on the power play for Team Euless, and Rick Gregory makes the lead into two. The C-train pulls-in again but this is the end of the line, there would be no hat trick, no over time, no shoot-out, just a sick feeling in the pit of the Silverwing stomach.