JoeyJ0506

So, I guess, it was only a matter of time before something happened and I ended up with stitches or in the dentist's chair because I don't(didn't) wear a cage when I play. Well, I finally didn't get so lucky and got popped in the teeth, with a stick, by some jabroni that had been playing physical and reckless the entire game. Luckily(?) only one tooth got messed up (broken in half), and it was an "easy enough" and relatively inexpensive fix from my dentist. I will be putting a cage on going forward. Of course, no penalty was called on the play even though i was spitting blood, and holding half a tooth in my hand as evidence. Now, I am not a short person by any stretch of the imagination, so this guy's stick had to get up pretty high to hit me in the face. This jamoke had the audacity to tell me that he "barely got" me and that it was my fault entirely because I wasn't wearing a cage. I hate people.

Well, I have been officially DQ'd from SJ participation. I was denied the PTO. See you guys in December!

Watch out Dave, you look like a hockey player. 😁

My Mammoth Bag (I have the First Generation IPA bag) has been worth every penny I spent on it. Not to mention, Made In America. Pretty much no-frills, but built like a tank. I have a couple toiletry bags from @JunkyardAthletic one for tape, etc. the other for my shower stuff. In my opinion a good skate blade cover should alleviate the need for separate skate pockets. Pretty sure that works for the majority of NHL teams. In my past experience, the more stuff on a bag, the more likely it is to fail. Just my humble opinion.

I have to be on the reserve list for this, unfortunately. I'm in a buddy's wedding and his bachelor party is holding me hostage... No one will set a date for it.

Looks familiar... Although, in your situation the people that run the league have the option to move the dominant teams up (from the sounds of it). This is a small local rink, one adult league, no skill tiers... makes for some not-so-much-fun nights.

Not a dick move, let the clock run out. I mean, I've been in games where I have thought about calling it a night before the third period starts... 😜

Do the skills competition, have them do some charity work, and call it a day. The 3v3 tournament has lost its novelty, and the players don't care at all (why should they). Just do away with it.

The 10% off everything on PSH was pretty clutch for me. The sticks I like happened to be on clearance and I bought a bunch of already deeply-discounted sticks for 10% off. ☺️

I don't know much about goalie equipment. But I wonder if, being a smaller company, they were able to adapt to the size/fit regulations on C/As more quickly than the "Big Boys." I know the major players, based on an article I read the other day, were having issues getting the new stuff done in time.

If it is lingering go to the doctor and get the steroid pack. If it is bad enough it can overwhelm your immune system's ability to fight it off naturally. I worked landscaping one summer and had a massive pile of it fall out of a tree and hit me in the face, neck, arms, and legs. I'm with you, it is nasty nasty nasty stuff.

I had no idea you had one available

My brother and I just went halfsies on a Sparx. We are both very excited for the convenience this machine is going to give us.

This

I thought about that point, but I'm not so sure about that. I am sure there are plenty of players that feel comfortable with a certain person doing their skates, and would not be too happy with the idea of "that guy" not having done their skates for them. There are guys that don't care about their gear specifics, but there are also players on that team that are known fanatics about things being the same Every.Single.Time. (See: Crosby, Sidney).

Pretty cool seeing Dana Heinze tweet this morning about how the Penguins make use of The SPARX machine:

I have had pets my entire life, Collies as a kid until I moved out after college, and now Mere and I have two cats. I have been in your shoes with a couple of the Collies... It's just heartbreaking. I really feel for you. Again, there aren't really words when a part of your life/family suddenly isn't there anymore. It just sucks, plain and simple. I am right there with you, I plan pretty much everything around my hockey schedule. Very rarely will I not make a game unless I am significantly ill, or I had prior obligations that cannot be avoided or delayed. Fortunately, the teams I play for are mostly comprised of similar-minded people. It blows my mind that some of these teams have 20+ players on their roster and cannot get 10 to 12 guys to a game. But, even if you have to forfeit, at least let the other team know so they can save themselves the late-night drive to the rink and loss of sleep.

I'm very sorry to hear this. Nothing to say that will make it any easier. On my own rant: Holiday-Season hockey has been a nightmare. 6 of my last 8 games have been forfeits by the other team. All but one of them were done via the "Don't tell anyone and just don't show up" method of forfeiting. A few have been 11pm or later games where we don't know we won't be actually playing until we are already dressed and ready to go on the ice... There is also no penalty or disciplinary action done for forfeiting a game so... Teams will continue to do it. I have two games this coming Saturday (12/23) and am just waiting to hear that the other teams cannot get enough skaters.

Locker rooms are a disaster there, but new lighting, new boards, new benches, and a new chilling unit have all been installed in the past two years (Chiller was done last week). There are plans in the pipe for spectator seating and new locker rooms/showers. It just takes time to raise the money needed for the projects. But, the place is definitely on the up-swing.

Mark, it's actually at Hess Ice Rink in New Castle, PA. Honestly, the majority of the guys that play in that league are from your way (Youngstown area, and a ton of YSU guys). There is only one skill-tier in the league, so you have beginners/amateurs mixed with guys that played Semi-Pro/College/Juniors, etc. The team I am on was assembled from the "Free Agent" list (Getting on an established team means you know somebody, or they liked the college/junior experience listed on your Free Agent resume) so the majority of my team is composed of college kids that wanted to try ice hockey out for the first time. We are getting beat pretty badly every game, but it is extra ice time, so that is not a huge deal to me. I paid up first game. I know what it's like to run a team and have guys that won't pay until you put a gun to their head. But, the captain and I are going to have a conversation about what we are doing for the rest of the season. I agree, 10 skaters and a goalie (max) is best. And I agree, 3 D is more than enough most nights. Talked to one of the other guys on the team this morning, he got 6 shifts the entire game.

To this point, went to my game for this team tonight and we had 20+ guys show up to play. I skated one shift and left. 7 defensemen is a joke. Subs should only be asked to come if a bunch of regulars drop out. This free for all is getting old quick.

It just seems like it is always to one extreme or the other, does it not? I got placed, as a free agent, on a team at another rink (I just wanted a team on which I could show up, play, and leave) and the captain has a "more the merrier" approach. We have between 16 and 20 skaters every game... it's rough.

Good thing you've got a month to iron it out then

Went back to play a puck in the corner last night and my left skate got caught in a rut. Well, my foot stopped moving, but everything above it didn't. Ankle twisted awkwardly under me, immediately knew I sprained it. Was "okay" the rest of the game, just laced up the last eyelet and tightened down for some extra stability. But, per usual with these things, my ankle blew up the second I took my boot off and it is a pretty shade of purple this morning. Probably will be off the ice for a week or so.

CLEARLY, this means you are getting AT LEAST two goals at WF!