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Had the best game of my life last night, which is funny because I strongly considered asking the captain to find a sub because I was so sick. Tracked everything well, moved well, made stops through traffic. Early in the first period I made a goal line glove save off a guy who was left alone in front. Late in the second period I made a blocker save on a shot that I lost almost immediately because of the number of bodies. I had picked it up off his stick just as he shot it and was able to track it for just long enough to stick my arm out. Lots of other pretty good saves in there as well. I wish I'd had the gopro up! Ended up winning 8-1. Unfortunately it's kind of an empty win because the other team had a goalie who had played roller but this was his first time playing ice. I felt pretty bad for him, though he was pretty decent, all things considered. He got some stick taps from me on more than one occasion when he made a big save. However at the same time, while this used to be our rival team (Dead Deer) they have turned over quite a bit and that rivalry isn't really there anymore. But they had this one dude I don't remember seeing before that went after our guys TWICE in the game. The first one I don't know what happened (didn't see the original play) but he lost his mind about our D spearing him (yeah, probably not...) and the second time was on a legit penalty where our guy interfered/tripped him and he went ballistic as a result. Normally in an 8-1 win you just feel kind of bad and keep the cheering to a minimum, etc. But then this guy acted like this (all late in the 3rd period) so that kind of changed the feelings on our bench for sure. The 1 goal to break the shutout was with about 6 minutes left. I had covered the puck against the post/side of the net and APPARENTLY it wasn't fully covered (not sure how the ref was able to determine that, considering where he was... in the far corner) and their guy dug it out and roofed it. I was pretty pissed at the ref but in a 6-1 game at the time there's no point in making a scene about it. It's my own fault for not being able to find it and make sure it was covered, I guess. We scored two more almost immediately so that took some of the sting away. Still... that's the second shutout I've been denied in my "career" on questionable calls. The first being my very first ever game in goal where we won 4-1 and the lone goal against was scored with their guy lying on top of me... Oh well. Onward!

Well I'm halfway through my winter season and just over a year of starting in net. I honestly can't believe how far my game has evolved and the confidence I've gained with my play in net. My first season, my team was towards the bottom of the league and my GAA was around 3.50. Right now my team is at the top of the league and my GAA is the best in the league at 1.40 and 2 shutouts in 5 games. Thank you to all of you guys on here that have offered advice and criticism on my play, every little bit of it has helped. On another note, I've had about 30 skates in my Bauer gear and I absolutely love it. I've always heard that Bauer blockers are some of the best out there and I can 100% support that. I think I prefer my CCM glove over the Bauer just because the CCM has a deeper pocket, but the Bauer is decent enough. The pads can only be described with one word: AMAZING. They're so light, to the point that they feel like super long shin pads. I wore my Reeboks the other night just to switch it up a bit and I was surprised that I ever felt like my slides were fast while wearing those in the past. I got one hell of a workout wearing those bricks for a 2 hr skate. I'm sure we've all seen Bauer's commercial with Lundqvist demonstrating the rebound power that the Supreme pads have and I've felt this first hand now. I had a save on a weak one timer the other night that I managed to kick all the way out to the opposite blue line. Definitely would recommend!

At the Russian Embassy, this one guy had like 6 breakaways. I was ... less than amused. Particularly also when he nailed me in the forehead, and then another time (not a breakaway) when he hit my favorite defenceman with a shot in the ankle that had said defenceman limping to the bench and sitting out a few shifts. (I was concerned. Dude once broke my skate, an ankle would not be out of the question). Dude is a getting a touch over-aggressive, I think. I mean he's a pretty - ah- enthusiastic - player anyway (he shouts a lot. Lord give me strength, I do not like the screamers.) but I'm about ready to pull a Hasek on him. Otherwise, I actually had a pretty solid game. My cranky knee felt really good (odd, since I didn't work out or stretch AT ALL yesterday, like I usually do), and I was tracking the puck really well. Other than getting whaled on by Dude, I made a lot of good stops and felt happy with my play. I've been thinking about upgrading my chest protector, which is probably going to involve a somewhat protracted effort to find something that fits me. Fortunately, my paramedic classmate who is also a goalie is always up for gear-browsing so perhaps we'll go together. (goaltending: better with a friend.)

Thought I'd mention my A7 MLX combo is going great after a year worth of abuse, I have yet to break anything on the A7's, love em.

My Kids custom Franchise's. 12" jr. They were his Christmas present.