Tales from the beer league part 2

I was back at it last night! Decided to play full time with my team that came to Lakewood from Artesia, we are in Bronze North (upper Bronze division). It felt great to be back on the ice after 3 weeks of not playing. The game was closer than what the score dictated. We have a new goalie this season, whom subbed for us a bunch last season, so that is a good thing. And it was cool to see everyone on our team wearing our jerseys. I don't think that ever happened last season, so that was kind of cool.

We lost 6-2, but out shot them 36-26. As Foxy would say, the puck-luck just wasn't going our way. Their first goal was a fluke, a deflection off our defenseman's leg in the low slot. But then they were able to capitalize a few goals off rebounds, and a few coming in our zone, cutting to the middle and shooting from there. Opportunities were abound for us, but the puck just wouldn't go in. Their goalie was big, not too mobile, but we couldn't seem to get him moving from side to side to exploit his lack of mobility. I had a plethora of shots from the point, a couple one-timers included. Most got all the way through, but none went in. I also had a couple chances where I was able to skate the puck in from the blue line, make a couple moves to get by their players and get a shot off, again denied on both of those attempts.


Lil Beedee has been doing great and is in her third week of Hockey Initiation 1, and my wife is now playing Rookie League. So our Sundays are now doubled-down with hockey at Lakewood. My games are on Tues/Weds this season, and so far the time slots on the schedule are favorable. Games are at 6:45, 8:00, and 9:30, not too shabby! I'm stoked the girls will be able to come watch their old man suck some wind at the 6:45 games!

So we finally have teams...

Our team name (rinks provided) is ****ing hilarious. Yall ready... This upcoming season im on the...

https://media3.giphy.com/media/D9GHQ...giphy.gif&ct=g

Yes the reincarnation of the Ducks.

But that wasn't the worst part. As I mentioned about rookie being over filled. We have 16 skaters and 2 goalies!!!

So we are either running 3 lines all across or 4 forwards and 2 D. No way is this gonna work. People dont take short shifts and everyone is going to want to feel like they got their monies worth. Im giving it 1 game before people start to request refunds.

^ Thanks for the update man, I was trying to PM you but your inbox is full @xLAxKingsx My wife just got her schedule, looks like they were able to put 4 teams together in Rookie at Lakewood.

As for my team, we won last night, 5-2. No points for me, but it was a solid team effort. We are now 2-2 after 4 games. This team we played won Bronze South last season (got bumped to Bronze North this season), so it was great to beat them with my current team (because they smoked us last season on my other team). Our game was on the Olympic rink, it is huuuumongus big compared to the NHL rink, that extra width really sucks when you are playing on the far side and are trying to get off for a change. I had a few SOG, including a couple shot-passes, but nothing went in. Next week we have the early game, which is a miracle, I hope everyone can make it since it starts at 6:45pm, yes you read that right, 6:45pm!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by beedee

^ Thanks for the update man, I was trying to PM you but your inbox is full @xLAxKingsx My wife just got her schedule, looks like they were able to put 4 teams together in Rookie at Lakewood.

As for my team, we won last night, 5-2. No points for me, but it was a solid team effort. We are now 2-2 after 4 games. This team we played won Bronze South last season (got bumped to Bronze North this season), so it was great to beat them with my current team (because they smoked us last season on my other team). Our game was on the Olympic rink, it is huuuumongus big compared to the NHL rink, that extra width really sucks when you are playing on the far side and are trying to get off for a change. I had a few SOG, including a couple shot-passes, but nothing went in. Next week we have the early game, which is a miracle, I hope everyone can make it since it starts at 6:45pm, yes you read that right, 6:45pm!

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I cleared my PMs for you.
https://media0.giphy.com/media/j2Z8k...=200.webp&ct=g

My first game is this Saturday 6:15pm only thing i cant complain is all my games are on Saturday. I will be playing D all season lets see how it goes. Beedee glad they put teams together for your wifey! Give some updates how the season is going over there. I saw its on Sundays and that might be doable for me. Especially if AI turns into a crapfest.

First game in the books!

and...

https://media4.giphy.com/media/to6Dm...200w.webp&ct=g

What is this feeling? a W?

So it didnt go as bad as i thought yall. Well mostly because no one wanted to play D so they decided to run with 4 lines at forward.

https://media3.giphy.com/media/Qaoh3...iphy.webp&ct=g

How I felt inside since im the one that brought the line combinations up knowing damn well I wanted to play D.

Game went smooth! Played D still cant skate backwards for **** or turn around on my left side. But i did make little changes to how i play to help with that. Will play D all season so hope to improve. Had a few bad passes expecting my D partner to be somewhere he wasnt but luckily hes a buddy of mine. So after the game we started to work on some strategy.

Team overall is finally a good combo. Our goalies are pretty good and we had some forwards that def back checked and helped out on D. We won 6-3. I had a few shots but i really need to work on my shooting from so far out. I have no clapper so most shots were weak and i didnt do so well with getting them thru traffic. I couldnt find a lane and felt it was because id take to long to let go of the shot. With it being a weak wrist shot i didnt create much rebounds for team to score on. I do play on my offside (left) being RH i had to catch pucks from boards on my back hand which caused me some problems.

I really need to work on my shot any tips? Also any tips for finding lanes?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xLAxKingsx

First game in the books!

and...

https://media4.giphy.com/media/to6Dm...200w.webp&ct=g

What is this feeling? a W?

So it didnt go as bad as i thought yall. Well mostly because no one wanted to play D so they decided to run with 4 lines at forward.

https://media3.giphy.com/media/Qaoh3...iphy.webp&ct=g

How I felt inside since im the one that brought the line combinations up knowing damn well I wanted to play D.

Game went smooth! Played D still cant skate backwards for **** or turn around on my left side. But i did make little changes to how i play to help with that. Will play D all season so hope to improve. Had a few bad passes expecting my D partner to be somewhere he wasnt but luckily hes a buddy of mine. So after the game we started to work on some strategy.

Team overall is finally a good combo. Our goalies are pretty good and we had some forwards that def back checked and helped out on D. We won 6-3. I had a few shots but i really need to work on my shooting from so far out. I have no clapper so most shots were weak and i didnt do so well with getting them thru traffic. I couldnt find a lane and felt it was because id take to long to let go of the shot. With it being a weak wrist shot i didnt create much rebounds for team to score on. I do play on my offside (left) being RH i had to catch pucks from boards on my back hand which caused me some problems.

I really need to work on my shot any tips? Also any tips for finding lanes?

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Congrats on the W!

Regarding your shots, without seeing you play, its hard to recommend/suggest things. But, if you are able to practice at home, that would help. You can watch YouTube videos as well, and during warmies, apply what you watched against the boards and eventually your goalie(s).

Take this advice with a grain of salt, but here is what I have done over the years.

Besides using your backhand side of your stick to retrieve the puck off a rim-around on the boards, get your butt against the boards, with the heels of your skates flush to the boards too, I do that from time to time when playing my off side and it works to keep the puck in the zone and usually it will carom towards the middle of the ice (depending on the angle of your skate).

Shooting lanes, this might be a little tricky since you are playing on your off hand, and can't really "walk the blue line".
• I'm LH, and play the left side, so I'm able to receive a pass off the boards and skate backwards towards the center of the ice a bit and shoot when ready.
• Another thing I like to do is wait for traffic to develop (if time permits) and then let the shot fly. You can change your angle of attack by moving towards the center of the ice, or away from the center.
• Most times you'll have an opposing forward in front of you, if you can do a small dangle around him and then take a couple strides closer to the goal, that is another strategy.
• Another thing to try is, you can wind up like you are going to take a slap shot, and watch if the forward kind of tenses up/freezes with their stick in front of them perpendicular to their skates, if they do, either toe drag the puck back towards you and take a stride or two forward, or simply just push the puck right at and through their feet and get by them that way.
• I've also been doing a lot of shot-passes recently, often times you'll see a forward on your team just off to the side of the net, get the puck in there and hope they can deflect it in.

Bottom line is, keep thorwing the puck at the net and weird stuff will happen, and sometimes it will go in!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by beedee

Congrats on the W!

Regarding your shots, without seeing you play, its hard to recommend/suggest things. But, if you are able to practice at home, that would help. You can watch YouTube videos as well, and during warmies, apply what you watched against the boards and eventually your goalie(s).

Take this advice with a grain of salt, but here is what I have done over the years.

Besides using your backhand side of your stick to retrieve the puck off a rim-around on the boards, get your butt against the boards, with the heels of your skates flush to the boards too, I do that from time to time when playing my off side and it works to keep the puck in the zone and usually it will carom towards the middle of the ice (depending on the angle of your skate).

Shooting lanes, this might be a little tricky since you are playing on your off hand, and can't really "walk the blue line".
• I'm LH, and play the left side, so I'm able to receive a pass off the boards and skate backwards towards the center of the ice a bit and shoot when ready.
• Another thing I like to do is wait for traffic to develop (if time permits) and then let the shot fly. You can change your angle of attack by moving towards the center of the ice, or away from the center.
• Most times you'll have an opposing forward in front of you, if you can do a small dangle around him and then take a couple strides closer to the goal, that is another strategy.
• Another thing to try is, you can wind up like you are going to take a slap shot, and watch if the forward kind of tenses up/freezes with their stick in front of them perpendicular to their skates, if they do, either toe drag the puck back towards you and take a stride or two forward, or simply just push the puck right at and through their feet and get by them that way.
• I've also been doing a lot of shot-passes recently, often times you'll see a forward on your team just off to the side of the net, get the puck in there and hope they can deflect it in.

Bottom line is, keep thorwing the puck at the net and weird stuff will happen, and sometimes it will go in!

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Thanks for the Tips Beedee!

I did buy a shooting surface for home to practice my shots! It'll be here soon and hope it helps!

I will try the skate thing though that seems smart I tried doing the same concept with my stick but the puck would follow the curve of blade and get out of the zone :facepalm: did that twice haha.

Dangles i need to practice when i have someone coming towards me. A few possessions i did take a few strides towards the net to try and get a better shot. But that is where i felt i froze up and let the other player get to close and my shots got blocked (twice) Ill make a mental note about walking the blue line. I guess playing on my off side it allows me to take forward strides and get to the middle.

Playing D for sure feels like theres more thinking involved. :laugh: I hope to improve a lot more over the season. Playing forward seems much easier and i def thought about going back to it cause i feel more comfortable and less responsibility. But honestly i dont think ive ever had this much fun playing.

I love playing D...

https://media3.giphy.com/media/6ra84...200w.webp&ct=g

Quote:

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Originally Posted by xLAxKingsx

Thanks for the Tips Beedee!

I did buy a shooting surface for home to practice my shots! It'll be here soon and hope it helps!

I will try the skate thing though that seems smart I tried doing the same concept with my stick but the puck would follow the curve of blade and get out of the zone :facepalm: did that twice haha.

Dangles i need to practice when i have someone coming towards me. A few possessions i did take a few strides towards the net to try and get a better shot. But that is where i felt i froze up and let the other player get to close and my shots got blocked (twice) Ill make a mental note about walking the blue line. I guess playing on my off side it allows me to take forward strides and get to the middle.

Playing D for sure feels like theres more thinking involved. :laugh: I hope to improve a lot more over the season. Playing forward seems much easier and i def thought about going back to it cause i feel more comfortable and less responsibility. But honestly i dont think ive ever had this much fun playing.

I love playing D...

https://media3.giphy.com/media/6ra84...200w.webp&ct=g

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I definitely enjoy playing D more. Especially those front of the net or corner battles (less skating, more pushing!)

So much D in this thread

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jammer06

So much D in this thread

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Looks like many of us love playing the D!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Luc SkyBomba

I definitely enjoy playing D more. Especially those front of the net or corner battles (less skating, more pushing!)

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It's all fun and games until the forward thinks they are playing in the NHL playoffs and slashes you two or three times in the legs and thighs...happened to me last week.

When I played in my youth, and then into my 20's I enjoyed the battles in front of the net. Now, I just let the mofo camp on top of the crease and I'll stand in front of him, or to the side. Its easy enough to just lift their stick when a pass or shot comes towards the net.