Jump to content
Slate Blackcurrant Watermelon Strawberry Orange Banana Apple Emerald Chocolate Marble
Slate Blackcurrant Watermelon Strawberry Orange Banana Apple Emerald Chocolate Marble

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

mgoblue

Hockey's Simple Pleasures

Recommended Posts

I caught myself daydreaming today about the little things in hockey that make me happy... here are some that I'm coming up with:

-A freshly-taped stick that comes out perfectly

-2 goalies showing up for shinny

-Shooting a prayer backhander that hits its mark

-Beer league uniforms that match the gear you've already got

-Beer league uniforms that don't match the gear you've already got so that you can go buy new gear

-Throwing a saucer pass that lands exactly where you wanted it to

-Putting on freshly-baked skates

-Being the first skate of the day, allowing you to hit the ice as soon as you're ready

-A perfect ice cut

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

- Sitting in the locker room with all my sweat soaked gear still on after the skate drinking beer, eating pretzels and popcorn with my best friends.

- Packing my hockey bag

- Sitting next to the same guys in the locker room week after week

- Putting my sticks in the corner of the locker room where I sit

- Skating on a clean sheet at the Ice House by myself in the morning before work

- Taping and waxing the stick blade

- Picking out a jersey to wear when packing my gear

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

-Letting yourself into the rink.

-Being on the pond alone.

-Being on the pond with your 10 best friends.

-The beginning of a new season.

-Coaching learn-to-play hockey.

-Free tape.

-Signing an autograph.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

- Watching my 5yr old going from a stumbling little skater to a hockey player and how happy it makes him.

- Good intense hockey, win or lose, I love being in a tough, skilled game that comes down to the end.

- Scoring a garbage goal to win the game, over a highlight goal in a meaningless game

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Good call on "learn-to-play," Greech. I've done that the past couple summers - you can't go a whole session without smiling, and it's great to see how much the kids progress over the course of the summer.

Forgot the most important one - I've been lucky enough to play on some beer league teams with my Dad; There's nothing like feeding him for a goal or vice-versa. I hope I'll be able to do that with my little tyke someday.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

-making an impossible pass across the crease for a tap-in goal.

-taking a hard hit from your opponent to make a play. After the play ends, you both are smiling. Your opponent says "nice play" and you reply with "great hit".

-setting up the game winning goal!

Mike

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Realising that you've prevented more than 90% of the things listed in this thread that make other hockey players happy.

Belonging to the most perverse sub-species of sportsmen since the guys who showed up for Olympic wrestling with no clothes on...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Great thread!

- watching that slapper from the point go in thru a crowd in front

- ringing that shot off the post and smiling in disbelief

- making that crisp clean pass to a team mate for a goal

- sneaking on to the ice at an outdoor rink late at night with some friends

- late night shinny with a bunch of friends then enjoying a nice cold brewski in the locker room

- watching my little cousins grow up playing the best sport on earth

- getting my girlfriend into watching and understanding the game of hockey, she loves it now

- and watching the Leafs game with my pops

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

-getting to the rink and no one's on before you, and the ice is already zambonied

-hearing someone from the other bench say "nice play" or "good shift" on your way to the bench

-cold beer

-hot shower

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

-When your skates are sharpened perfectly

-Being in the room with the boys

-Scoring bar down

-A crazy sauce pass that works out

-Looking at all the new gear in the pro shop

-Adding a "y" to everyones last name

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

-Rivalries

-First Goal of the season being a beauty

-Testing out newest equipement

-Last second block shot preventing a goal

- Tournament Celebrations

- Last game of the season knowing its your best yet

- Early season bag skate... trying to get in shape

-Working out to get better during the summer

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Blocking shots. You know it might hurt, but you do it anyways.

Skating on a fresh sheet of ice by yourself.

Shots that hit the post. Everyone loves that sound.

Getting better at the game. It's so awesome when you start doing things without even realizing it. Everyone's been there before. Every time you improve, the game gets to be that much more fun.

A nice, hard fought game against a team that plays hard, but clean. Even if you lose, those are the best types of games. The ones where you smile all the way through the hand shakes and genuinely mean it when you say great game.

Having an opponent tell you nice job, or great play.

Coming back to the bench and getting taps on the shin pads. Maybe you didn't score a goal, but it's nice when someone recognizes your hustle.

Watching a beginner team or player score their first goal. The excitement is so awesome.

And of course, finding the back of the net. Whether it's coast-to-coast and taking it straight to the crease, or a garbage tap-in, it never gets old.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Knocking the puck pyramid onto the ice... not a whole lot beats that.

I love the smell that hits you when you walk into the Joe Louis Arena as well.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Not getting scored on on a 5 on 3

When you get your first goal of the season

Locker room, before and after

That shocking upset...in your favour

Poke checks, off a cockey d-man winding up

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Knocking the puck pyramid onto the ice... not a whole lot beats that.

I love the smell that hits you when you walk into the Joe Louis Arena as well.

I love walking into Copps Coliseum when it's empty...going out the bench and just look around. 17,000 empty seats...the banners...the ads. The blank scoreboard.

I can only imagine what JLA or ACC or Bell Centre must be like.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

- Freshly sharpened skates

- Smell and sound of the ice at 6AM when you're the first one out there

- Sound of the stick hitting the ice

and nothing beats the feeling of a nice hot shower after the game

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

-being a D man and helping your team have the best GAA

-beating the goalie over his catcher on a slapshot from the point

-acknowledging the ref after a game "nice game stripes"

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
-acknowledging the ref after a game "nice game stripes"

Only once last season out of maybe 40 games I reffed did someone give me a nod. I know it's a thankless job, but those little things make you feel great.

-Pushing yourself and feeling the rewards next time out on the ice

-Breaking in a new piece of gear

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

-stick lifting someone on the back-check and taking it back the other way

-standing around the cars in the parking lot with the teammates talking, no one wants to go home

-having people you don't know want you on their team in pick-up

-seeing someone who started off with no idea what they're doing start to take good shift after good shift

-flying after a teammate to join in their goal celebration

-pregame prayer with the team.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

-Having a crowd wait for the bus to come back home, that's unreal.

-Hog pile with the boys after a big upset.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...