Picked up our keys today, so Alice and I are officially homeowners. We are excited, but not too excited. I think it will hit us more once we start moving in. It won’t be for a while though since we are planning some additional upgrades before we move in.
I played well tonight but had nothing to show for it on the scoresheet. I guess I shouldn’t complain too much since we did get the victory. Acutally, I did have 5 shots on goal and four of those shots were excellent scoring opportunities, but the goalie just had my number tonight. Here’s a recap of my scoring opportunities. With heavy traffic in front of the net, I fired a shot off the goalie’s right shoulder for my first SOG. Later in the game, I blocked a shot attempt from the opposing defenseman which resulted in a fast break in the other direction. I skated in from the right side and tried to wait out the goalie. As he moved to cover the near side, I tried to fire a shot across his body to the spot he vacated. I almost had him too, but he was just able to get a piece of the puck with his right arm. My best opportunity came when my linemate fed me the puck in front of the net for a one-timer. I unloaded, but drilled the puck into the goalie’s facemask. I had one more solid opportunity later in the game. Right off the faceoff, my center drew the puck to his right where I was. Although I had the opposing defenseman draped all over me, I was able to protect the puck, spin and fire a forehand shot which the goalie paddled away.
I decided to give my back a rest and skipped out on last week’s consolation game. I had played hockey for five consecutive weeks, and I didn’t want to push my luck in a meaningless game. This week was the start of the Fall 2007/Winter 2008 season, and I was assigned to the Geckos. Some familiar faces that joined me on the Geckos were Ryan Aberg and Dan Brukwinski, who were both on my team from last season and the season before. Guy Fullerton was a former teammate from a few seasons ago. And then there was Mark Wilson from a few years ago, but he was out due to a foot injury that he suffered while on vacation.
I think weve got a good team this season, but well have to wait and see if the league will break us apart. We dominated most of the game and was ahead 8-4 at one point. I contributed 2 goals on 4 shots on goal. My first goal was actually a busted play. While carrying the puck towards the net, I spotted my teammate trailing the play to my left. However, I made a poor pass and put the puck at her feet. She couldnt get a solid shot off and it caromed off a defenders skate. The goalie (Ed McKnight) scrambled to locate the puck, but I found it first. It had bounced to my right, and I had a wide open net to shoot at. My second goal was another one that resulted from being at the right place at the right time. I was trailing the play as my teammate was on a 1-on-1 fast break. He got a shot off that the goalie was able to stop, but I picked up the rebound and flipped it over the goalies outstretched glove.
The week off did help my back. It’s not completely healed, but I was able to skate more aggressively. My back did get a
little bit sore after the game, but not as bad as after previous games.
There wasn’t a game scheduled on July 4, but I also missed the July 11 game since I was returning from Canada that day. The three weeks rest worked wonders for my back, and I had awesome game. I scored two goals on two shots, had an assist, and was a +1 for the night. My first goal came while shorthanded. My teammate Jason and I were on a 2-on-1 fast break. He drew the defender with him into the corner and passed the puck to me out in front of the net. I caught the puck and quickly fired the puck past the goalie to put us up 2-0.
For my second goal of the game, which was the eventual game winner, I was once again the recipient of Jasons grunt work. While battling with the defenseman for the puck behind the net, Jason spotted me in front of the net and passed the puck in between the defenders legs. I fired quickly and had my second goal of the game.
Jason and I almost hooked up for a third goal. On another fast break with Jason to my right, he passed me the puck as I was approaching the net. With my teammate Ryan trailing the play, instead of shooting for a hat trick, I decided to do a one-touch drop pass to him. The goalie had no chance as Ryan scored an easy one.
I promised myself that I would not rush my comeback, so I decided not to play hockey on consecutive weeks just yet. After skipping out on last week’s game, I decided that the extra week off would be enough of a rest. It was a good thing I showed up this week, since attendance was light due to it being the 10:45 game. It was a close game, but the lack of skaters was hard to overcome. I contributed an assist but was a -2 for the night.