bunnyman666

Drop-In Report: Lacklustre turnout leads to lacklustre play with the exception of today, which is why no reports until now. 2 on 2 that turned into 3 on 2 was interesting, to say the least. My bitter rival whom we nearly had a dust up a year and a half ago was there. Our rivalry was from when I used to skate out, and he would do crap like headlock me in the corners. I was in touch with my inner Doug Gilmour when I played against him, I admit. I still could dig the puck out of a scrum and it perpetually pissed him off. We nearly came to blows when I ran him whilst winding up at the point after all 250# of him accidentally on purpose fell nearly direct upon my knees. Needless to say I was amped to play against that jerk... I stopped almost every one of his shots. I did a nifty two pad stack that turned into a toe save; of course I also ended up getting a goal in on a bank off of my arse from someone else on the next play. I only let in one goal against him, and it was a play that spread me everywhere with no defense to be found. If he would not have gotten that goal in, I would have laughed out loud at him. Schmuck. My bitter rival tried buzzing one by my ear, which turned into a shoulder save. I caught many in my elbow floater and on the shaft of my stick (my signature save, it seems). In the end, I frustrated my bitter rival. I smiled like the Cheshire Cat. Not a bad end to my regular weekday drop-in play.

I read body language for a living, so I read people who like you a whole bunch!!!!

@badger_14 Your boys LOVE. you. I can see by the pic. No mystery there. NEVER question that- I can see it from the pix. Matey- you have a group that has your back! That is gurt lush!!!!! Hang onto them as long as possible!!!! You are blessed, matey!!!!!!!

I'm not. I clap my stick onto the ice to goad a shooter into making a crappy shot, but that's about it. This kid WAS super aggressive in this pick up game. He ran me a few times and ran into my head, which knocked him down. "Head checked" was a bit in jest (sometimes deadpan humour doesn't come through on written posts), but he would have knocked a kid into the net with how he was going. He skated through the crease regularly. I did not give him the "ol' nine o' hearts*", but a few others were tempted and told me so. He also kept poking the puck in my glove or under my pad. No respect for the goalie from this kid. Again- I see why his play was not welcome on his team. Lots of penalties are in his future. Ugh. * "Nine o' hearts" is a Darren Pang-ism that seems to entail a hook, a trip, a deke against a goalie, or anything that ends poorly for the opposing player.

He ran into my head. My head checked him. Idiot.

@badger_14 Something told me you have heart. Heart is what impresses your teammates, heart gets you noticed. I have nothing but love for the rest of y'all- but our buddy badger_14 has heart in spades! I know the rest of y'all have it, too! Just keep on keepin' on, matey!

Cat Herding Report: A bunch of youngin's with their stupid parents were shooting one after the next after the next. Then I was comandeered into playing no-defense shinny. It was a nightmare. One kid with wheels kept going through my crease and I incidentally head checked him (I say this in jest; I did not head butt him or anything like that) as he buzzed me in the crease. My fibreglass SK2000 that he ran into knocked him on his bum. I was not surprised when I had heard that he was kicked off of his team for the way he was playing. He's a little bastard in training. Ugh.

@badger_14 Good onya!

Thursday Drop In, a.k.a. Exit Out of Benderville: Bad turnout the last two days. Yesterday was crummy, as in not worth reporting. The last week was not worth reporting. Today was. I stopped a lot of shots in a 2 vs. 2. Of course I was tired, DEAD tired. But I finally figured out one guy had the same move all of the time. Of course there is NO defense in 2 vs. 2. My crease movement is slow when there is no D. I actually felt better, as a whole month with benders doing 85 dekes taking five minutes on a penalty shot took it's toll on my ability. I was offered the new job. I accepted. I should start 1 September. Looking for a league as we speak.

Monday Stick and Puck: Play was meh. My warm ups were mainly groin-pulling dekes. Could not track the puck AT ALL. I have decided that I absolutely freakin' HATE when people scrimmage wearing t-shirts and shorts. First of all, I have no freakin' clue who is on what team. Second, I feel a bit hand-cuffed, as if you go through my crease, normally you end up on your bottom, or you're hooked or slashed. I'm not going to do that with kids in T-shirts and shorts. Maybe I'm not on my game with the upcoming changes. After all, I am going so far outside of my comfort zone with the possible new job. Wednesday should be better, I hope.

@Hills The videos are great. I have also come up with a few band name ideas from the names of the videos (e.g. LavishWeirdAss).

Stick and Puck Report: After seeing Troy Brower, Tommy Wingels, a Senator, a Wild, and a few others wearing pro logo'd breezers with club sweaters playing 3-on-3 half ice with Ben Bishop in goal, the shit show began at Stick and Puck! I was deplorable today. I wasn't warmed up by pro, this time! Of course everybody had to show off their crappy deke moves to the point that I wanted to scream. Could not track the puck. Tried my Mage; FACKIN HATE IT!!!! It just moves down too much (as it is chin heavy) and oddly enough limits movement with my CA. Maybe I would like a real masque better, or maybe I need to invent a new style of head protection. It sounds like this new job could be more than just a pipe dream; wish me luck and throw your good thoughts and/or prayers my way. Thanks in advance.

Today is a very short stick and puck (one hour long!). I am taking what I can get right now, as the opportunities are limited for the week. Speaking of which- I may have to try out for a league team pretty soon, as it looks like my prayers might be answered: a new job, therefore a totally different schedule may be curtailing my daytime hockey. This isn't a terrible thing, as my current occupation is not doing my body (or mind) very good. I will still be doing it on the side on weekend days until I can transition completely out of it (i.e. make enough money to quit completely). My wife came home with the opportunity. It isn't a certain thing by any means, but what I have is an "in", so to speak. This last month with my current job did my head in, and whilst giving me ample time to play hockey- hockey doesn't pay the bills. At least playing goal at drop in is free. So I guess I had better get cracking on finding a league to play in.

The wonderful management did not notify anyone who called about stick and puck yesterday that it was cancelled in favour of a rental. I drove 40 minutes to find that out. I was not amused.

@badger_14 Yes- Boston tends to be quite angry from every visit I have ever had! Still a charming city, nonetheless... STFU will be the next sweater; thanks for the idea!!!!!

@badger_14 Glad you're feeling better! Keep up the good work! Yes, #20 is a very, very unique goalie number, as is #33. As far as doing the number and name justice, none of us who are posting in this thread (for the most part) can do that. I have an England national jersey on order, with #27 (Hextall) and the last name "Collander" (yes, a statement on my goal tending prowess). Since there isn't a known English national hockey goalie, some schmuck is going to think that Collander plays for England. And compared to the rest of the world hockey scene, Collander would be an accurate last name for their goaler. Of course someone asked I knew any other Dovers once (as I have that on a jersey). "Yeah, if my first name was Ben". It's funny what opposing shooters get motivated to shoot towards. When I used to wear my "Screw U" jersey, most people would laugh when they saw it. Of course I would snap my stick on the ice and point at my "crest" for one particular player (one whom I have had a few confrontations with when I skated out) and he would whiff the shot, then swear like a sailor ('cos he's just *that* good, lol). I always would figure that if they are purposely shooting at the body, then I am more than likely going to save the goal. I also have "Supwit U" and am debuting "Forget U" today. I guess I am crazy enough to wear a Tretiak olympic national sweater, complete with "CCCP" livery. I do have a red shell for my breezers, after all...

@badger_14 That's the spirit! Put your boot in it and you'll be fine!!!!!

@badger_14 Keep your pecker up. You know that in most pick up situations, we get shelled, right? This is still better a scenario than the one you had first imagined, right?

@magnets No doubt you love your team and the game. I'm just saying how easy it is to get caught up in the competitive aspect. Sometimes, the competitive aspect can KILL the enjoyment of the game is all I'm saying.

@magnets It is very easy to get caught up in it, especially when you're competitive. I backstop people who take pick up WAAAAAAAAAY too seriously. If I took every goal too seriously, I would have burnt my equipment in a fire. My first few sessions I WAS taking it too seriously and was miserable. Then I remembered that I have the heart of a lion and balls of iron as I am standing in front of a bunch of wannabee MacInnises and Shea Webbers. Not everybody has the steel to stand in front of these shots and HOPE we get a piece of them, not matter how much they hurt. I have one particular thorn in my side that glares at me with every shot I let in. I just give him the "go back to the bench and cry" look 'cos I have the BALLS to try to stop the shot; he needs to strap on the pads, but he won't 'cos he's a whiny wimp, despite being 6'2" and over 100 kilograms. Always remember at the end of the day that it is just a game.

Couldn't have said it better, myself. Letting in that goal is not going to render you homeless, nor are you going to get shipped to a town 150 miles away from a major airport. Your health and well-being is MUCH more important than a goal.

Monday Stick and Puck Report: Knee is getting better, can butterfly on both knees. Play was unremarkable. The most remarkable part today? I was warmed up by none other than the San Jose Sharks' Tommy Wingels. Nice bloke, he was.

Think positive!

@badger_14 How did you pay? You may have a few avenues of recourse if you paid by credit card. Good luck and kick up a STINK if you don't get to play.

I would hope they make good; after all- a few displaced players and/or goalies could DESTROY the reputation of this tournament. The internet can KILL an otherwise sterling reputation, otherwise...