magnets

Been a while since I've posted, but I've moved up a couple divisions this year to Senior A (only 2 levels below the national competition here). It's been a very tough season. I've dropped down to a 0.809SV% with a terrible 5.43GAA. I'm not playing terribly, but I've lacked some rebound control (most goals on third+ rebounds) and faced way too many odd man rushes. Our club is fairly new too, so the other clubs are stacking teams from higher levels to avoid being the ones beaten by us. Last four games we've been outshot 114 - 51, making it very tough to win. While I know my team mates need to take a lot of the blame on these, I'm not one to pass the buck. A score on me is a score on me. Technically, I'm the best goalie I've ever been, but I need to draw more on the big desperation saves to feel like I'm making an impact. On the positive, I keep thinking the day I don't take getting scored on personally is the day I need to hang up the pads. It's hurting my confidence a lot, and I need to work on clearing my mind and resetting after a goal against. Sorry, not much content here, just needed to vent to some people that I'm sure know what I'm feeling right now.

Been a while since I was here, but thought I'd post about my season. We had a short Summer season (I'm in Australia) of 8 games and post season. While not my most spectacular figures early, finished off with a SV% of 0.891 with a 1.89GAA. Went through the season undefeated (2 games went to shootout) in top place, earning ourselves a direct entry to the championship series of three games. Game 1 we took easily, winning 3-0. Game 2, I let in one goal - was a shot from the point that rebounded off me, deflected off a defender and left an easy open net. Lost the game 1-0. Game 3, had a shot from the blue line through a screen that I leant to see around the screen at exactly the wrong moment and wasn't set. Just missed a toe save. Then had a 3 on 0, that I read the pass, over-slid a little and the windmill came up empty. Lost the game 2-0, and the series. I'll take some consolation that I only let in a total of three goals in a three game series. Just a shame that our only two losses for the season were in games that really mattered. Now, on to the Winter season.

With Summer season starting on this side of the world, its back to c grade for me. Went out to the new player tryout session to help out and try to return some of the kindness I had when I started in net, and coached three guys new in the pipes. It was a rewarding night, and was great to be on the other side.

Last night played our season ending game against a team we beat in a shootout last time round. My whole team played much more aggressively at the puck than ever before, and added one extra win to finish the season up 2-15-1. Not the best effort, but still one of the most fun (yet frustrating) seasons I've played so far. I love these guys. Back to C Grade I go for the Summer.

After a long bye week, we had a game against the reigning champions on the weekend, and let's just say it didn't go well. After a few standard saves, had a shot from the point that I had covered, where my defenceman thought it would be a good idea to tip the puck over my shoulder and in. What came for the rest of the game will be tough to move past. My defenders decided they were going to be everywhere except where they should. Cutting a long story short, we lost 12-3, at least eight of the goals came from passes behind the goal line to the unmarked centre right in the slot, but I saved more of those shots than I let in. I felt like I was working hard and moving well, but they just kept scoring. It wasn't until after the game when I could see the stats sheet that I could see why it was such a tough game. 56 shots on goal to 17. While it was a long way from my best game, that stat showed I was working on my own for a lot of it. We play again Thursday night against the first team we beat, so I need to clear my head and get back in the game.

Had a game last night against the only team left in the league I haven't played against (but have played two games for). Felt good getting on the ice and taking my normal warm up shots, and had a couple players saying I looked sharp and switched on :) First ten minutes, my team were on fire, getting a quick two goals including one of the best bottle flipping top shelf shots I've seen in a long time. It was 17 minutes into the first period that I let one in through a particularly leaky five hole, then two minutes later, a freak shot that got tipped just in front of me and flipped high up and over me, resulting in a weird twisting, arms behind the back save attempt that didn't quite work. Into the second period 2-2 Let one in through the leaky five hole again in the second on a breakaway, where I realised that I'm screwing up while going paddle down, leaving the five hole open too long, and decided I'm keeping the gloves high and stick upright for the rest of the game, which seemed to work, as they kept going five hole after the early shots going in, but kept it clean after that. Some frustration on the ice from the other team led to a 5 on 3 power play for us with three minutes left, and the equaliser. End of regulation tied 3-3, and it was my time to shine as we went to the shootout. The first three rounds and the scoresheet was clean. The other goalie let in one on round four, but then so did I. Easy save for him round five, and I pulled out a ridiculous toe stretch that just kept it out the net. Sixth round, our captain completely undressed their goalie, leaving him way out of position for an easy backhand to an open net. Next shot my way sailed wide to the left of the net, and we took the win :) Felt good after being so close for so many games to get it over the edge!

Just to make it clear, I love my team, and nobody has ever blamed me for letting in a goal. And I love this game.

Thanks Badger & Bunny, it is something I need to remember. I take my role in net a little too seriously sometimes. I've done everything I can to avoid being "that guy who's too intense in a recreational league", but I will always take goals against personally. I have never blamed anyone else for a goal against, even if I'm completely let down by my d. I started hockey late in life (as did most others on this thread), and I know I won't have a long career here, nor will I ever be close to the show, but I'm doing everything I can to get as far as I can in the short time I have - luckily for me, the community is small enough that I've been able to advance as far as I have. I feel grateful that when I fill in for other teams, the players are happy to see that it's me in net for them, and I want it to stay that way :)

Had a decent game last night - kept it clean until half way through the second where I had a second rebound tapped in. My team got the equaliser early in the third. There was a breakaway coming toward me, with my defender chasing hard. They tangled up in the slot and both went down, sliding to the net. And I choked. I was worried about two players sliding toward my knees and froze. The puck slid past me and in. I will relive this ridiculous goal for way too long as the one that I choked. Final score, 2-1 against :(

Had another game last night, and it didn't go well. 3 on 0 first, took two saves before the third one went in. Then another immediately off a faceoff in my zone - had about five bodies between me and the shot, and I didn't see it until it was much too late. Third one came in after the most blatant goaltender interference you'll ever see that wasn't called. Just as one of their D man wound up from the point, I had an opponent skate from behind me in the crease, through my right elbow, taking me out of the crease, and turning me to my left, then the puck immediately flies by my right. Ref had no idea what happened, and after talking to him later, admitted he wasn't watching. Completely lost my focus, and screwed the rest of my game. Lost in the end 7-3. If it wasn't for my team mates, I was heading to a misconduct as I started losing it at the ref. Need to take a couple days to reset.

While it's not the same, remember you helped get them there. Better to recover right and be back for future hockey.

Should I turn my avatar upside down :) My first team wore Flyers jerseys, so I got gear to match.

Goalie coaching is very few and far between in my part of the world. Most coaching here involves facing dekes from every player for an hour. I played a season before anyone who had a clue about tending watched me and helped, so most of my work has been on my own with YouTube assistance. Maria Mountain's stretching seemed to be most useful.

I do still struggle with a few things as the hip doesn't rotate as well as it should, but keeping moving, and pushing a little beyond comfortable (but not painful) when stretching seems to be helping. My butterfly pushes to the left are much better than my pushes to the right, but it's amazing what your body can adapt to if you're determined.

My arthritis (diagnosed at 28) in my left hip has actually gotten better since I started playing hockey. I'm doing things now I couldn't do 10 years ago :)