Hockey :: R4
March 20, 2007 / Tuesday
Most Vivlike Player
Okay, how do I approach this post without being all, "Whoo, I'm MVP!"?
Maybe I can't. Whatever, it's my blog.
Whoo, I'm MVP!
I have a bunch more to say, but I'd like to make clear that this post is neither an acceptance speech nor a well thought out reflection. I just want to document details for future searching. Welcome to my online brain.
Rewind to Sunday at the rink, where I saw our awards coordinator handing out MXP awards for last season. "Is this season's tally done yet?" I asked. "I sent the e-mail for approval today," she replied. "Ooh! Tell me tell me tell me!" I wanted to know who on our team had won. She paused, thought for a bit, and said, "Congratulations!" Cool, I'd won something! But what? I waited anxiously for the e-mail.
Monday came and went. No awards e-mail. Why was approval taking so long?
I didn't spend much time thinking about it; I was too busy with work and school. Tuesday evening, during my school meeting, I got an IM from a teammate. I didn't get to look at it until afterward, but when I did I saw "congrats" and "MVP". Heeey, how come she knew and I didn't?
Went home and sent an IM to another teammate, who said that the awards e-mail came out yesterday. I searched my inbox, trash, and spam folder. Nothing. What's going on here?
In any case, thanks to the wonders of the internet, I was forwarded a copy of said e-mail. This is the part where I get to say again, "Whoo, I'm MVP!"
This is especially sweet because we had a great team with a lot of great players this season. I wasn't the one with the best positioning, shot, passing, stick handling, dekes, or defensive stops. I wasn't the one with the most hat tricks, goals, or assists. I played my ass off, though, and I hope that this award means that it showed.
This is also sweet because I haven't won anything since I moved to up Maroon. Season after season I've played my ass off. Have I improved? Have I been positive? Have I made a notable contribution to the success of the team? At the end of each season (except maybe the first one) I've always felt that the answer to one or more of those questions was yes, but it's really nice to see one of those yeses reflected externally.
But wait a minute, did I really win something in Maroon? Aren't we R4? Did I just win another Red MVP? Oh, my braaain, it hurts! Someone please make it stop.
• • •
No acceptance speech, but definitely a thank you, thank you, and thank you to those of you who gave me an MVP nod. You know that big smile I get on my face when I step on the ice? I'm sitting here smiling it now. :)
March 04, 2007 / Sunday
R4 vs. M4
I woke up this morning feeling really down. I moped around all afternoon, shopping and buying candy, until game time. I hadn't had enough water, I'd been eating junk all weekend, and I felt like crap. I felt even worse on the ice, tiring early in the game, legs burning, head light, coordination not quite there. Still, I made it through the game, got a few shots on net, and didn't do anything totally stupid. I'll take it.
Before the game started, one of the refs asked me which team we were. "M ... 4," I replied, "No! Uh, R4!" She looked at me kind of funny. "R4! We're R4! Or, uh, M ... 1? I don't know! I don't know who we are! I'm so confused."
We had a decent game, built up a lead like the last time we faced this team, and hung on to it this time for the win. Final score: 3-1. A nice way to finish off the season.
At Christy's request, I searched again for decent lemons and found some at Trader Joe's on Saturday, which meant lemon bars for the team after the game. Christy did her part and brought her Red division jersey, which we unfortunately aren't allowed to wear because of some unsilly league rules.
So there it is, our last game of the season. It's been fun, R4.
What? Who? I'm so confused.
March 02, 2007 / Friday
Sweet Sorrow
Dear R4,
I was going to make lemon bars and bring them to our final game of the season, but all they had at the store were little, airy, bumpy ones for a buck each. What a crappy price for such crappy fruit. So solly, no lemon bar for you. Maybe once I get over that unlemony sour taste in my mouth I'll make you some peanut butter cup brownies.
Let's all wear red jerseys this Sunday,
Viv (not Lucinda)
#97
08:02 PM | Food:R4| Comments (4)
February 25, 2007 / Sunday
Hockey Double Header
Despite feeling mostly better, my knee was still bothering me enough to make driving uncomfortable. I ended up passing on go karting so I could stand a chance of skating later in the afternoon. The decision paid off; I was able to finish both games without too much pain in my left knee, although for some strange reason my right knee started hurting. Compensation? Neglect? Who knows.
Our team started off the game half asleep today, which seemed pretty out of character for us. The other team went up by 2 goals early, but we managed to tie it up by the end of the 1st period, the tying goal being yet another Lucinda-to-Viv play, this one a great lead pass for a breakaway. For the first time ever (Hooray, a first!), I had the presence of mind to tell myself to stick around for a rebound after my shot. It paid off; the goalie stopped the shot, but I was able to pop the rebound up over her stick and into the net. Yes!
We felt much more like ourselves after that. We went on to score 8 more goals. Final score: 10-2. That looks kind of ridiculous, I know. Our team discussed whether to change things up between the 2nd and 3rd periods, but decided not to, since we've been having a problem holding onto leads the last couple games. (We built comfortable leads early and either lost or tied after getting complacent toward the end.) We did, however, switch to quietly celebrating our goals in the 3rd.
I played D for M3 in the next game. Oh, how I miss playing D! I focused mostly on defending, keeping the puck in, and making good passes. My biggest concern was to not screw up, and I didn't want to wear myself out by running the puck up and down the ice ... at least until my final shift. One of the fun things about playing D is taking the puck from one end to the other, and when I got a hold of the puck deep in our end with one minute left on the clock, I took off toward the other net. I made it past 3 defenders and even remembered to curl around the last one and in toward the net. (Hooray, a second!) Actually, I was surprised at how easily I got around her. I don't remember what kind of shot I took, but it resulted in a freeze, so I guess I got something on net. I haven't played D in a while, so it's nice to know that I can still generate some offense from that position. Final score: 6-0.
Here's (to) hoping that I'll wake up with magically healed knees tomorrow.
Does anyone know whether it's "here's hoping" or "here's to hoping"? The former seems more correct to me, but the latter seems a lot more prevalent.
February 18, 2007 / Sunday
Yikes, That Was Fast
Played what felt like a very speedy game against M3 today. We had a strong start, and, again it seems, a not so strong finish. Fortunately, we were able to hang on for a tie. Final score: 3-3. I totally forgot to find out about shot count. I didn't see the score sheet floating around after the game. Out of sight, out of mind ...
Claire started off the scoring for us, stepping in from point and sending one in through traffic. Lucinda and I then scored on yet another Lucinda-to-Viv 2-on-1 for the second goal. Then came THE SLAPSHOT. Christy, from point, wound up, whaled on the puck, and put it into the back of the net so fast the goalie didn't even see it. Not a flinch. I didn't see it either, and not for lack of trying. All I remember is (1) wind up and (2) back of net. What an awesome shot.
Burninator teammate Becky was on the other team playing D on my side. She has really improved a lot. I remember thinking that while watching her play in Vegas, but having to play against her really drove it home ... literally. I tangled with her all game. At one point, I tried to get by her on the boards and was stopped so hard I had to get off the ice after I picked myself up. Uffa!
Andrea and Val were in attendance tonight, which made for much waving and flapping between shifts and before faceoffs. At one of the faceoffs the ref seemed to pause for a moment to allow me to finish waving. I don't know if that's what she was really doing, but if it was, thanks ref! :-D
February 13, 2007 / Tuesday
Losing Is Fun?
Well, no, losing in itself is not fun, but even though we lost today, I still had a good time.
We started off the game strong, scoring 2 goals in one shift early in the game. Julie scored one off a rebound in front of the net, and I followed suit on a 2-on-1 with Lucinda shortly afterward. Then the other team woke up, and the game got exciting. We had lots of great shifts, but weren't able to get any more past Cara. The other team scored 3, and when we pulled the goalie at the end, they put another one in for good measure. Final score: 2-4. The shot count wasn't bad, at least. 34-25 (+/-2) or something.
When we pulled the goalie, I hopped onto the ice. We had the puck in their zone, I was wide open in the high slot, and Christy sent me a perfect pass. I sent a hard shot at the net (I was fairly surprised and somewhat pleased that it sailed so wobble-free) toward what I hoped was the gap between Cara and the right post, and watched as she snapped her glove out and plucked the puck from the air. The motion was so quick and effortless. What a great grab. It sucks to be denied, but it's damned cool to watch a pretty save. Nice, Cara.
Someone on the other team (they are this season's cookie team) brought heart cookies for everyone. So cute!
My right shoulder kind of hurts. I landed on it after I scored, then slid feet first into the boards. On one hand, it was kind of amusing because I don't think I've done that since Green Division, but on the other hand, that hurt!
Wendy scorekept this game, and she brought with her a CD with videos of me from a game earlier this season. (Thanks Wendy!) Out of 13 videos, there's only one in which I sprinted for the puck with knees bent. It was amazing how much faster I looked when I did. I don't know if it was actual speed, but even if it doesn't make me faster, it sure makes me look like I am! I must remember to do that more.
Speaking of knees, my left knee that doesn't like scuba or cycling is fine with hockey. Um, hooray?
The paragraphs in this post seem all out of order, but I'm not fixing it, so deal ... me.
February 09, 2007 / Friday
Woop, Almost Forgot ...
I was reminded by a picture on Flickr just now of my favorite moment from last Friday's game.
Ahem ...
My favorite moment of last Friday's game was when I missed a faceoff because I was too busy standing at the glass waving and making faces at Val.
February 02, 2007 / Friday
Hey, That Wasn't Bad
After a half-team showing last week, 13 out of the 14 of us made it to tonight's game. It's nice to get to play with no subs; you get to see how good your team really is. How good were we? Good enough to outshoot the other team 47-17 and win 5-0. Yikes, not bad.
Christy opened it up for us early on, scoring 2 in the first period. We followed up with 2 more in the second when Karolyn threaded the needle through a 6 inch gap and Julie put one in after many great plays and almost goals throughout the period. We then mixed things up, swapping 3 forwards for D and changing all our lines. Despite the change, I converted on a breakaway in the 3rd, bringing the tally to 5 goals.
In retrospect, perhaps I shouldn't have gone for the goal. It was late in the game and we didn't need it. It's hard to think about that, though, when all you see is open ice between you and the goalie.
I guess we kind of annoyed certain members of the other team with our cheering toward the end of the game. Some of us, myself included, always cheer for our teammates when they make a good play or have a scoring opportunity, regardless of the bigger picture of the game. Kind of like with the breakaway, I find it hard to extract myself from the moment to think about whether it's something the other team would appreciate. I guess if I were in the other team's shoes (skates?) I might find such cheering to be a little excessive, too. So, other team, if you're reading this, sorry if it came off as unsportsmanlike. The cheering was meant to be teammate supportive, not "Yeah, let's kick the other team's ass."
Next game isn't for another week an a half. Hurry, hurry!
January 31, 2007 / Wednesday
Where'd My Team Go?
And who the hell is R Four?
January 22, 2007 / Monday
Okay, Now I'm Really Confused
Yesterday, I got back to the Bay Area and had a brief moment of "What team am I on?" when I checked the NCWHL schedule. "Where's R4?" I wondered, before I figured out that we're really M1.
I just started in on e-mails from my new team at school (the one that formed while I was gone). Our team name? M5.
What?
08:09 AM | R4:School| Comments (0)
January 21, 2007 / Sunday
Yikes, It's Been A Month
More than a month, actually. Thanks to the Christmas/New Year break and a mid-January vacation, I went five weeks without an R4 game. I was worried that I'd be totally out of hockey shape, but seemed to hold up okay. I skated the puck in a bunch, got a lot of shots on net, sent probably an equal number of shots wide and into the boards. A sharpshooter I am not.
Slammed my left middle finger in the bench door during the game. Good job, me.
Paid a short visit to the newly opened bar upstairs at Fremont Ice. Played some air hockey. Got my ass kicked. That Sharon, she's good!
There's probably more, but I can't remember it. I've been up since approximately 2AM California time. Yawwwn.
December 18, 2006 / Monday
Another!
Yes, another! Christy is now two-for-two on hat tricks since her return. Amazingness.
I had a totally crappy game. The ice, it was so slippery. And I'm not saying that to be funny. It was fine during the 4:15 game, and then they resurfaced it with oil or something. I fell all over the place. I'm surprised I don't have a bruise on my butt. Ow ow ow.
We took an early 4-0 lead, but the other team continued to play hard and attempted a comeback. Fortunately, we were able to put a couple more in, and finished the game 6-4. Inga did an excellent job for us in net. She is lightning fast! One minute I think she's hopelessly out of position and the next she's making a diving save across the net. Fun to watch.
No R4 for a month. Sadness.
December 10, 2006 / Sunday
My New Hockey Hero
Fiiinally, Christy is back, and in grand fashion. After a three month absence due to mono, she stepped on the ice and scored on her first shift. She then stepped on the ice again and got an assist on her second shift. In all, she finished with a hat trick, an assist, and a penalty, plus a gracious stint on D toward the end of the game.
Hero! Hero hero hero!
She also pointed out after the game that I do some sort of weird body wiggle down the ice when I'm skating hard for the puck. She even gave us a demonstration in the parking lot, which made Peggy laugh because apparently she thought it was quite accurate. All that wasted energy! At least it's amusing, I hope!
Speaking of my skating, I could not stay on my feet today. I don't know how many times I fell, but I do know that my lower back is really sore. Feels like it did back when I used to fall forward a lot. Compressed back, ow.
Favorite moment of the game outside of anything having to do with Christy and her hero return: Julie pointing at a spot on the ice for Andrea to stand in before the faceoff and putting the puck neatly on her stick upon puck drop. Yeah, I know we see that all the time from her, but it never gets old.
Final score: 5-0. It's nice to be winning again. It's even nicer to have Christy back.
December 05, 2006 / Tuesday
It's Been So Long!
Yikes, it's been almost a month since my last game. A screwy schedule and a weekend of scuba will do that, I suppose.
Came back and got put on D. Probably a good thing, since that involves less skating. Played decently, had tons of fun, and tried to remember to bend my knees. Unfortunately, I'd always remember as I came off the ice. "Bend your knees next shift!" I'd tell myself. Then I'd forget until the next time I came off the ice.
At least I'm remembering to tell myself that during a game. Maybe next time I'll manage to remember while I'm skating.
Final score: 4-0. HoOray smiles la-la-la whoo!
November 12, 2006 / Sunday
OTL
Two weeks is too long a break between hockey games, especially when the weather and daylight make it difficult to ride to and from work. Maybe I should keep my bike at work and ride at lunchtime.
Or maybe I should quit eating Doritos before my games.
We played pretty well as a team tonight, but lost in overtime when a totally crazy shot bounced off two sticks, the inside of the top corner of the post, and went in. Not sure what to say about that, except, "What just happened?"
I scored no goals, had no assists, but did manage to rack up my first ever intentional penalty. I wasn't meaning to hurt anyone, but for some reason when Hanh stole the puck from me in the 1st period I immediately thought, "She stole my puck! I must trip her!" And trip her I did. I have no idea why I did that. After the whistle blew I skated up to her to make sure I didn't cause any damage. She was fine; she looked at me and said, "You tripped me!" I gave her a big guilty grin and said, "I did!" Off to the penalty box I went. Fortunately, we scored shorthanded, but sorry centers for the sit!
Final score: 1-2. I have no idea whether we outshot the other team because we didn't have an official scoresheet. I'll just say that we did. ;)
November 02, 2006 / Thursday
Spare Change For Sticky Notes?
The team currently known as R4 is about to become the team formerly known as R4. "R4", we're told, is too confusing.
Well, geez, it's not as if we're not confused too. I, for one, find it really hard to remember to bring Maroon jerseys to an R4 game. Nonetheless, I persevere, and show up with the correct color jersey week after week. In order to do this, I had to devise a complicated system of 37 strategically placed sticky notes throughout my apartment and garage, but I did, and I don't see why others can't do it also. Besides, the sticky notes don't even have to be all that complicated or strategic for those not on the team. A simple "R4=M1" in a handful of common locations in the house and/or office would suffice.
Like this, see?
I do understand, though, that sticky notes don't stick forever, and over time the cost of replacing the "R4=M1" sticky notes may become prohibitive. Since I cannot afford enough sticky notes (let us not forget the Sharpies!) to adequately alleviate the mass confusion our name seems to have caused, unless I win the lottery this weekend we're going to have to change our name to something else.
I suggest OMGWTFBBQ.
October 29, 2006 / Sunday
Filler
We finally lost a game, although it came down to a final shot with 1.5 seconds left. Final score: 3-4. Shots on goal: 39 to 20-something. Winning the SOG is little consolation, though. I wanted to win the game, dammit.
I played D tonight. Haven't done that in a while, and although I didn't feel totally uncomfortable doing it, I did a really mediocre job of it. My mindset was still, "I want to go score." I guess there's nothing that says I can't do that from D, but I didn't. I felt like filler today. A contributor? No. A threat? No. Just another body on the ice? Yup, that was me.
With 2 minutes to go in the game, down 2-4, we pulled the goalie. Liz scored. Nice. With the seconds ticking down, down 3-4, I found myself on the ice during a mad scramble in the other team's zone. Julie got the puck in the corner, I found my way to just in front of the net, she put a perfect pass on my stick, and I took a good hard shot.
The goalie stopped it, and the ref blew the whistle. Originally, I thought she had stopped it between her pads. It was a great save, and I told her so. One of my teammates skated over and said it should have been ruled a goal. What? She said the goalie had caught the puck in her glove. I later verified it with the goalie. Damn. That glove had crossed the goal line, and the ref didn't see it. Oh well, that's hockey. It was a sweet move on the goalie's part to turn and catch the puck, and I would have pulled it back over the goal line too if I'd been in net.
But still, it sucks to see a great play get stuffed, oversight or not.
It sucks more to lose, especially when you know you can (and, therefore, should) win. I hate losing.
Yes, hate's a strong word.
I hate losing.
October 23, 2006 / Monday
Phew, That Was Close
We almost lost our undefeated record tonight.
Almost, but we escaped with a tie. Phew.
The team we played tonight was very different from the one we played the first time we faced them. I think they're finally starting to gel, which was nice to see, even if it meant a tougher game for us.
Still, we did manage to outshoot them 40-29. Mary was solid in net, though, stopping almost everything we threw at her. With about a minute left in the game, we found ourselves down 1-2.
The puck dropped, we moved the play down the ice, and our goalie skated for the bench. I hopped on the ice and zoomed in to, I dunno, create havoc? That's kind of what it felt like. Soon after, the puck found its way to Mary and the whistle blew.
We lined up at the right faceoff circle. I was confused about where to stand for a moment, but then I realized that I was sixth player in, so I positioned myself diagonally behind Julie on the goal side of the circle. The puck dropped, Julie won it, and slid it toward me. I took a step, pulled the puck back, launched it, and saw it tumble into the back of the net. Yeah!
No, I mean, YEAH! Just like back in the days of IPP. ;)
We continued on to a 5 minute running clock overtime. We had some good chances, but Mary returned to goalie wall mode stuffed them all. Final score: 2-2.
Keisha, the ref from last week who was telling me I looked like I didn't know what I was doing on offense, gave me more tips this week. As always, they were much appreciated. One of these days I might even manage to execute on one ...
I worked on my rediscovered slapshot some more before the game. Puck placement seems to be key for me; I'm now able to launch them in motion. I was never able to do that before. Too bad I'm limiting myself to five per warmup. I'm scared about reinjuring my wrist.
I can't wait to play with this team again. Is it next week yet?
October 15, 2006 / Sunday
Winning Good, Sitting Bad
First, the good news. Then I'll bitch.
The good news: We played the other undefeated team in the division tonight (we tied them 1-1 last time) and won 3-1. Yeah! Go us!
The bitching: I found myself next in line behind a wing who kept getting penalties, which left me sitting during her penalty, and then when she came back on after my shift having been skipped, she would skate a freakin' 2 minute shift. My HRM tells me I sat for 11 minutes straight, skated a half shift to maintain lines, skated a regular shift, and then sat for another 7 solid minutes. Toward the end of the game she saw me sitting there looking bummed and she asked me if I was tired. "No," I replied, "I'm cold." I don't think she got it.
Fuck. Whatever. Okay, bitching done.
We had an interesting start to our game. Liz had a little problem with da popo on her way to the game, and didn't make it to the rink until warmups. I found out with just under a minute left in warmups that she didn't have lines for us, so I ran around yelling, "WHAT DO YOU PLAY?!" and managed to put 5 people on the ice just in time for the faceoff. Worked out okay, actually. We even managed to integrate a couple latecomers without too much confusion. Phew.
Sometime in the 2nd period, one of the refs skated up to me and said, "You look like you know what you want to do on D and you do it. Now just go and do the same on offense!" I took that to mean that I look like I have no idea what I'm doing on offense. That rules.
Really, it does rule. I really appreciate that some of the refs in this league will coach us and give us advice every now and then. And no, I didn't really take it to mean what I said. ;-)
Actually, at first I thought she was skating over to scold me for running Becky over for the puck on my previous shift. Sorry, Becky, I had to! After all, it's MY puck!
It's always my puck! Ask Julie. I stole it from her during the game. D'oh!
October 07, 2006 / Saturday
I Feel Piratey
We finally decided on a team name, and it rules. It's confusing, hilarious, and, perhaps best of all, can be pronounced with a heavy pirate accent. ARRR FOURRR! AHOY!
After a shaky first period in which we looked to be afraid of both the other players and the puck, we finally got our act together and played like we did our first two games. Our improved efforts earned us a win, thanks in large part to Irene, who played wing today and sent a couple pretty pucks into the back of the other team's net. I got an assist, too, also thanks to Irene. It's good to have a wing pair who can finish the job when all the random stuff I throw at the net isn't making it in. One of these days I'll learn to take a look before I shoot. Maybe then I'll start putting pretty pucks into the back of the net too.
Final score: 2-0. SOG: 32-16, maybe? I don't remember now.
ARRR!
October 01, 2006 / Sunday
Another Close Game
Closer than our first game, actually. After 3 periods and a 5 minute overtime, we finished the game tied 1-1. No subs this time. Also, we had a new addition to the team. She's pretty good, but likes to take longer shifts than most, and unfortunately I was next in line on her rotation. Still, I got enough time to send a few decent shots at the net, including one that went in, although I had no idea that it did because right after I took the shot Gina ran into me at full speed. I remember sprinting for the puck, turning and shooting as I reached it, a massive collision, spinning around, and a blur of red, which I immediately recognized as Gina's helmet. The whistle blew, and my first thought was, "Oh no! Is she okay?" Amusingly, she told me later that her first thought was, "Oh no! Is Viv okay?" I thought the whistle was for a penalty, but my teammates glided over with grins on their faces. "Did it go in?" Yup, turns out it did. Wish I'd seen it!
We need a team name. My favorites so far: R4, Godzilla, Snakes on a Plane, VICTOLY!!!, LOL.
September 24, 2006 / Sunday
New Season, New Team
I've been super excited since Thursday's draft about today's game. A lot of my friends from Red division made it into Maroon this season, and a good number of them are on my team. I couldn't wait to play with them again.
Everything went wonderfully. Our team had an awesome attitude, played hard, and, after being down 2-3 for most of the 2nd and 3rd periods, came back to win the game 4-3. We took 50-something shots to the other team's 17. Awesome.
The best part is, our team of many new Maroon players beat a team of all returning Maroon players (save for one, who came in from an external Maroon-plus level team). Since it was the first game of the season, I had worried a bit about ramp-up, but it looks like I didn't need to worry after all.
I played wing for the first time in over a season and finished with a goal and two assists. How about that, I score more when I'm not on D. Who woulda thunk it?
