We can't stop him, we can't contain him

And #68 on the D-League Champs simply blazed his team to a 10-5 victory over the Chilly Bombers. I think he scored all their goals except one or two, and even when I took the puck away from him, it seemed to land right back on his blade.

On a positive note, Spizarny was a monster, a demon with the puck, and put in all five of the Bomber goals. And he could have easily had seven or eight, as he missed a few open nets. He was truly a force handling the puck and no amount of hooking and slashing could deter him from the enemy net. We scored 15 seconds into the game as I put a slapshot on net, and Mr. Steve poked the rebound in.

The contest was a fairly close affair until the third period, where the D-League Champs strode out to a commanding lead, due to the exceptional offensive play of #68.

Game #6 Report: Scrappy Dogs 6, Vineyard 3

Crusaders continue the descent into cellar dweller depths with a 6-3 defeat at the jaws of the Scrappy Dogs. In the second period, the game was tied at 3-3, but Vineyard was shutout totally in the third period, and faced relentless offensive pressure from a well rested and shift cycling Scrappy Dog squad. The loss leaves Vineyard with a 2-4 win-loss mark, with four games left in the regular season slate.

Matt notched the first and third goals, while Tim T. tallied the second. Matt and Tim T. hooked up on a slapshot defection that was highlight reel material for one of the Vineyard goals. Russel was incredible in net, despite facing a barrage of enemy shots and was required to deal with opposing forwards darting around him all evening, as it seems the rink was tilted to his end.

All and all, it was a disappointing team showing by the Crusaders, for everyone. Post game remarks centered on how Scrappy Dogs looked leaner and younger than our last matchup with them, but they skated as a team and we did not. I'll have more to write on this in another posting, but for now, it will suffice to say that as a team, we're capable of much much more.

Only six skaters were available, and I believe our lineup strategy hindered our efforts also, as four skaters rotated in the three forward slots, and two others split the lone defenseman duty. As the game wore on, a better rested Scrappy Dogs wore down the Crusaders.

Rollerplex Friday Night Open Hockey 6/24

Be there or be a pithecanthropus.

I am still a tad sore from Wednesday night's action, but indeed looking forward to getting some skating in…

Update: A full complement of skaters, nine total, along with two goalies, made for a exhilarating session of open hockey. I reckon I was a bit overmatched against the extraordinarily gifted young skaters, but it was a hearty workout indeed, and I think I'm going to be sore all over when I wake up in the A.M..

Hockey Tip Reminders

1. Skate, skate, skate. If you can't skate, you can't play this game. Get as much skating practice in as the body will permit and work on conditioning too. Bicycle riding is a good supplement, or even running or the treadmill.
   
   
2. Head up, stick down. Stay alert and on your skates.
   
   
3. Know what you're going to do with the puck before you get it. It's a mistake to wait to get the puck, then fumble around, and then decide upon a course of action. Have a plan before the puck is in your possession!
   
   
4. Play for next goal. One goal at a time.
   
   
5. Avoid turnovers at the red line, or anywhere in general. If in doubt, clear the puck deep.
   
   
6. Put the puck on net. Good things can happen if you just shoot on goal.
   
   
7. Develop hockey awareness where your teammates and opponents are at and are heading. Anticipate the play. Be ahead of the game, not behind it.
   
   
8. Avoid retalitory strikes after receiving a cheap shot hit or vicious stick work. Maintain poise, wait for the enemy player to head into the corner or boards in pursuit of a loose puck, then extract vengeance.
   
   
9. Don't let a shift disrupt your spirit, or become too elated. Hockey is a game of bounces where the unexpected can erupt instantly. Every shift is a new shift, every rush is a new rush, etc.
   
   
10. Communicate and deal with teammates in a harmonious manner. Win and lose as a team.

Wed C Summer 05 Week 1: Bruisers 5, Chilly Bombers 4

Since a number of Vineyard-ians are skating with the Chilly Bombers for Wednesday night C league hockey action, I thought I'd keep a log of those travails also, in addition to Crusader reports.

In game #1, Bombers fight it out, but in the end, go down in a close one, 5-4. Four Vineyard skaters joined three Chilly Bombers, so that meant only six skaters. And the opposing Bruisers were blessed with nine skaters, I believe, along with a couple chaps that look to be overly talented for basic C league caliber play.

On a personal note, thought I really had a exceptional 2nd period, breaking up a number of rushes and contributing a solid defensive effort. In the third period, especially late, I ran out of steam, as the heat got to me, and I yielded too much space to opposing forwards. Also, I had a number of errant clears and a blocked shot which turned into a breakaway goal. One of these days, I'm really going to get my legs back…

I don't recall the goal scoring breakdown, but Scott had a sweet one. Steve took a stick to the head, but he plugged away and believe he got on the scoresheet. And with forty seconds to go, I fed a puck up that I thought for sure, would result in a tie game, but the puck wasn't to bounce our way, at least this week.

Rollerplex Summer 2005 C Wednesday Night Schedule

League Schedule - C Wednesday
 
*** Home Team is Listed First ***

 
 Wednesday, 06/22/05
   7:45pm  Chilly Bombers                 vs Bruisers                      
   8:40pm  Thunder                        vs D-League Champs               
   9:35pm  Piranha                        vs Thugs, Inc.                   
   10:30pm The Red Team                   vs Thursday Morning Glow         
 

 Wednesday, 06/29/05
   7:45pm  Thursday Morning Glow          vs Thunder                       
   8:40pm  Thugs, Inc.                    vs The Red Team                  
   9:35pm  D-League Champs                vs Chilly Bombers                
   10:30pm Bruisers                       vs Piranha                       
 

 Wednesday, 07/06/05
   7:45pm  Piranha                        vs The Red Team                  
   8:40pm  Chilly Bombers                 vs Thursday Morning Glow         
   9:35pm  Bruisers                       vs D-League Champs               
   10:30pm Thunder                        vs Thugs, Inc.                   
 

 Wednesday, 07/13/05
   7:45pm  Thugs, Inc.                    vs Chilly Bombers                
   8:40pm  Thursday Morning Glow          vs Bruisers                      
   9:35pm  The Red Team                   vs Thunder                       
   10:30pm D-League Champs                vs Piranha                       
 

 Wednesday, 07/20/05
   7:45pm  D-League Champs                vs Thursday Morning Glow         
   8:40pm  Piranha                        vs Thunder                       
   9:35pm  Bruisers                       vs Thugs, Inc.                   
   10:30pm Chilly Bombers                 vs The Red Team                  
 

 Wednesday, 07/27/05
   7:45pm  Thugs, Inc.                    vs D-League Champs               
   8:40pm  The Red Team                   vs Bruisers                      
   9:35pm  Thursday Morning Glow          vs Piranha                       
   10:30pm Thunder                        vs Chilly Bombers                
 

 Wednesday, 08/03/05
   7:45pm  Bruisers                       vs Thunder                       
   8:40pm  Piranha                        vs Chilly Bombers                
   9:35pm  Thursday Morning Glow          vs Thugs, Inc.                   
   10:30pm D-League Champs                vs The Red Team                  
 

 Wednesday, 08/10/05
   7:45pm  Thugs, Inc.                    vs Piranha                       
   8:40pm  D-League Champs                vs Thunder                       
   9:35pm  Bruisers                       vs Chilly Bombers                
   10:30pm Thursday Morning Glow          vs The Red Team                  
 

 Wednesday, 08/17/05
   7:45pm  Chilly Bombers                 vs D-League Champs               
   8:40pm  The Red Team                   vs Thugs, Inc.                   
   9:35pm  Thunder                        vs Thursday Morning Glow         
   10:30pm Piranha                        vs Bruisers                      
 

 Wednesday, 08/24/05
   7:45pm  The Red Team                   vs Piranha                       
   8:40pm  D-League Champs                vs Bruisers                      
   9:35pm  Thugs, Inc.                    vs Thunder                       
   10:30pm Thursday Morning Glow          vs Chilly Bombers      


PLAYOFFS -- TBD          
 

Game #5 Report: Hooligans 6, Vineyard 4

Crusaders go down in a hard fought, nip and tuck affair. Hooligans had a close lead for most of the contest, starting out with a 2-0 mark in the first period, but Vineyard answered strike for strike and in the third period we got a 4-3 lead before a final collapse in the last five minutes of the game.

Only six skaters available, as there were a number of no-shows, but fortunately Russell returned early from vacation, so planned substitute goalie Randy skated out. Steve tallied twice, including a put in off of a rebound from a shot from the point by yours truly. Colin got a goal and his pop Randy scored the other. A few bounces the other way and the outcome would have been different — one of the goals scored by the Hooligans was put in after the goal net moved, and Crusaders pressure early in the game was thwarted by some excellent opposition netminding.

NO SHOWS. Matt announced last week that he would miss this week, and Tim T. had a family affair to attend to, but Chris and Tim M. were absent without notification, and Roger hasn't made an appearance since the first week of the season. If you're not going to play, it would be courteous and respectful to your teammates to notify somebody about your absence.

Rollerplex Open Hockey Friday 6/17

Tonight at 10:30pm. Be there or or be a kwyjibo…

Update: Six skaters show, and a goalie stuck around from the game that preceded open hockey. Good three on three scrimmage and a hearty workout was had by all.

Game #4 Report: Vineyard 10, Git-R-Done 5

Crusaders climb back into first division territorry, evening the win-loss record to 2-2 after a convincing defeat of Git-R-Done. Vineyard jumped out to 5-0 lead early, and never looked back, though there was a scary period in the third period (again, just like last week) when Git-R-Done tallied three times in the span of a little less than a minute. Otherwise, it was a solid defensive effort, superb goaltending by our substitute goalie, and stellar offensive play from the forwards. Matt had a huge offensive outburst, scoring six goals. Newcomer Colin put in three, and Tim M. tallied on a sweet deflection from a shot by Chris.

And this week, Vineyard was blessed with a full complement of lines — eight skaters formed two four man units.

On a personal note, not one of my better efforts, but it's a win and my allotted ice time was not all in the minus. Still, I felt I put out a much better effort last week, despite having the luxury of line change breaks. But a win is a win is a win, and the scoreboard is the ultimate vindicator. Again, a great team performance.

Rollerplex Open Hockey Friday 6/10

Only 5 skaters show up, though one of the goalies stuck around for a while to face some shots.

A great workout though, as I skated for the entire two hours and we had a nice half rink three on two scrimmage.

Game #3 Report: Vineyard 6, Phunk Junkies 5

My, what a game. Crusaders sport only five skaters, yet hold off a relentless third period comeback by the Junkies. Vineyard held a 5-1 lead, only to see it evaporate to 5-4 in what seemed a matter of seconds. Then, Spizarny the Stupendous struck, scoring a much needed insurance goal that proved to be the difference in the contest. But not to take anything away Tim T. and Matt who shined, often beating two and three defenders in path to the enemy netminder. Matt and Tim tallied all of the other five goals. Or Russel, who was spectacular in net, especially early on, as the game was scoreless for a good part of the opening period.

The Vineyard defensive effort was solid, showing only kinks in the third period, or a few errant clears by me that ended up in the back our net. I sat only for one shift in the third period, though I visited the sin bin in each of the first two periods for being a bit too aggressive in clearing the crease clean of opposing skaters. Don made a trip to the penalty box too.

All and all, it was a superb team effort all around — great goaltending, solid defense, and steady, effective, "finishing" forward play. Again, we were running out of steam in the third period, but managed to gut it up enough to snatch the win.

A final note — the goalie for Phunk Junkies was not their regular netminder, yet I don't think the outcome would have been any different.

Rollerplex Open Hockey Friday 6/3

I shall be there. And would like to encourage anbody else to show up for 10:30p Friday night open hockey.

Sunday 6/5 Update: had almost a full complement of skaters, but no goalies. I skated for an hour, but my back kept locking up, so I left early. Besides, a lot of the others were from Team A.M., though I'm not sure if they knew who I was, as I wore a scrub practice jersey, not my Vineyard sweater.