Tales from the beer league part 2

^truth

it is especially obvious at the lower levels with players that should be in a higher division.

we beat the first place team yesterday, 4-2. first goal that i gave up i should have saved, i was too slow to drop and it squeaked under my left pad. the second goal i was hung out to try with a 2 on 0, i actually got over in time with a butterfly slide but still got beat above my right pad.
 
mudfisher said:
Peggy get use to it. Every league has players that do not belong at that level. Normally higher skill players playing in lover levels to pad their ego. However, some play in lower level because of the night fits their schedule(ie: me when I do play in leagues)

I don't think I have ever seen a rink coordinator ever successfully move a ringer from a league.
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There are a few other legitimate reasons "ringers" end up in the wrong levels too.

1) teams drop levels because guys move etc and a better player ends up in the wrong division
2) guy moves to an area and puts his name out, only one team responds, he's just looking for ice time
3) friends or spouses/kids playing on the same team who are at disparate levels

Then there are the straight douche bags who are out there to get 10 goals a game and arent even looking to pass since they know there's nobody to pass too they are so far ahead of their teammates.

Our league does have a rule for the bottom level teams though. If you play at that level you can't play for any other levels for the rest of the season. It prevents the random ringer greatly.
 
Thanks for the insight guys. I suppose at least at Anaheim and Lakewood they're aware and trying to do *something* about it. I guess I won't sweat it too much and just try to have fun. Makes a bit of sense that its impossible to police anyway.
 
Solution? Use the old Italian Hockey tactic of waiting for the guy by his car after his game....4 people hold him down and someone with a boot steps on his hand until you hear a crunching sound.
 
First playoff game today. None of our goalies or backups could make it so one of our guys who plays beginner level goal brought his stuff. We were actually winning 1-0 before they got their first shot on net.....and then they realized how bad our goalie was. We lost 13-1.
 
Playoff game number two was much better. 3-2 win where we controlled and dominated play. We were the 2 seed playing the 7th seed but let me tell you how league play can get ridiculous when it comes to playoffs.
Remember my other team had to suit up a skater to play goal because none of our rosterd goalies could make it? Well the score keeper comes out and tells the 6th seed that their goalie's not on the roster. We were all kind of wondering since we don't get along with the other team real great and their goalie didn't look familiar.
So the ref comes over and asks us if we want to let this other goalie play. Then the scorekeeper comes over and tells us we can't decide if the other goalie can play its a league decision. So we're like ok decide. Well the scorekeeper cant decide they have to email the league director. So the refs are just letting us all hang around for about 15 minutes while they discuss this and finally the refs have to start the game. So we line up and the other team calls time out to stall for more time for the league to respond. At the end of the time out scorekeeper announces the goalie can play. 20 minutes after we were supposed to start we finally got to line up and play.
Their goalie was the only thing that kept them in it. Both their goals came on breakaways (one out of the box, another just a real bad turnover at our blue line). Worst part was they have these 2 guys that will absolutely crush you with a check, or kick your skates out and then apologize to you for doing it. Just the worst kind of d-bag. They both ended the game in the box thankfully for us. Anyway it was a cluster**** but we managed and I feel bad for all the other teams playing after us that had their games all pushed back.
 
jammer06 said:
harsh league man

How long until next season?
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not sure, tomorrow is the championship game so i'm guessing 2-3 weeks from then

PS - if anybody is interested in joining a silver level roller team in NoHo, lemme know! we've had tons of no-shows which no doubt contributed to our awesome record. it would be great to have some consistency!
 
wow we usually roll the next season the weekend after the championship. This year that means the exhibition games will be labor day weekend.
 
I have managed to put myself in a little conundrum. Our rookie league is winding down, only 2 playoff games remain. Most of the team is coming back, but in Rookie because the Copper division is bursting at the seems according to the league, so no room for new teams. My buddy plays in Bronze at Anaheim Ice and asked me to play goal for them. It will be a jump up in skill level, and I'm confident that I could hang.

Rookie league, the play is slower, and the shots are cattywhompus. However, the rink is 10 minutes away, and game times have been consistent and are ALWAYS on Sunday afternoon.

Bronze league, the play will be faster, shots will be harder and more precise. However the rink is about 35 minutes away and game times are inconsistent and are NOT always on Sundays. They vary and have been on Sundays, Tues (night), Weds (night), Thurs (night) and Saturday (day/night). I did tell my buddy that if I was to play I could only do the Sunday games, so he was trying to figure out a way to keep me as a "sub" for the Sunday games, that way I don't think I'd have to pay?

I'm trying to weigh out the pros and cons of each, as I would like to play in a higher level but the convenience of the Rookie league is very hard to beat! Especially with a one month old daughter at home. And to make matters more convoluted, I have a Rookie game at 3:30pm this Sunday and the Bronze league starts this sunday with our first game being at 8:55pm...

Thoughts?
 
beedee said:
I have managed to put myself in a little conundrum. Our rookie league is winding down, only 2 playoff games remain. Most of the team is coming back, but in Rookie because the Copper division is bursting at the seems according to the league, so no room for new teams. My buddy plays in Bronze at Anaheim Ice and asked me to play goal for them. It will be a jump up in skill level, and I'm confident that I could hang.

Rookie league, the play is slower, and the shots are cattywhompus. However, the rink is 10 minutes away, and game times have been consistent and are ALWAYS on Sunday afternoon.

Bronze league, the play will be faster, shots will be harder and more precise. However the rink is about 35 minutes away and game times are inconsistent and are NOT always on Sundays. They vary and have been on Sundays, Tues (night), Weds (night), Thurs (night) and Saturday (day/night). I did tell my buddy that if I was to play I could only do the Sunday games, so he was trying to figure out a way to keep me as a "sub" for the Sunday games, that way I don't think I'd have to pay?

I'm trying to weigh out the pros and cons of each, as I would like to play in a higher level but the convenience of the Rookie league is very hard to beat! Especially with a one month old daughter at home. And to make matters more convoluted, I have a Rookie game at 3:30pm this Sunday and the Bronze league starts this sunday with our first game being at 8:55pm...

Thoughts?
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Number 1 stick with the better locker room. That's meant more to me than anything regarding levels of play. It obviously best if the locker room is at the level where you're pushing yourself but don't forget the fun aspect.

Number 2 commute times are serious, if you've done it before you'll understand, but there's a big time difference between being gone for 1-2 hours for a hockey game and 3 hours minimum once you start adding in that drive time. I'm about 25-30 minutes from my rink, but when you add the time in needed to find parking and such on concert nights I can sometimes be gone for 3 and a half hours for a 75 minute ice slot. THats for one game and right now I play on 2 and believe me it was a highly negotiated thing with the mrs.

Number 3 consistent game nights really are a huge blessing, especially with kids. Personally I'd prefer to play on a weeknight but I'm not a gold level player. Doesn't have to be sundays for me but it does have to be the same night so schedules will work.

Good luck whichever way you go with it, I'd definitely try to sub at least once though.
 
jammer06 said:
Number 1 stick with the better locker room. That's meant more to me than anything regarding levels of play. It obviously best if the locker room is at the level where you're pushing yourself but don't forget the fun aspect.

Number 2 commute times are serious, if you've done it before you'll understand, but there's a big time difference between being gone for 1-2 hours for a hockey game and 3 hours minimum once you start adding in that drive time. I'm about 25-30 minutes from my rink, but when you add the time in needed to find parking and such on concert nights I can sometimes be gone for 3 and a half hours for a 75 minute ice slot. THats for one game and right now I play on 2 and believe me it was a highly negotiated thing with the mrs.

Number 3 consistent game nights really are a huge blessing, especially with kids. Personally I'd prefer to play on a weeknight but I'm not a gold level player. Doesn't have to be sundays for me but it does have to be the same night so schedules will work.

Good luck whichever way you go with it, I'd definitely try to sub at least once though.
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Thanks for the well thought out reply man. My gut is telling me to stick around in rookie for all the reasons you mentioned and just sub here and there when needed in a higher league. Our team is full of cool people (not sure how the Anaheim team is other than my buddy and he is cool). But the commute thing is huge, I can take side streets to the rink and if I do Anaheim Ice it is basically like driving to Disneyland, around 25 miles from my pad.
 
Playoffs started today and we lost 2-0 today to the first place team...that we beat last week 4-2.

According to the scoresheet I saved 20 of 22 and both goals came in the first period. One was a hack rebound after I made two initial saves. The second goal came with 25 seconds left in the first, from right around the left faceoff dot. Our d got beat around the corner and I was on the edge of the crease and had the angle. It was a great shot that snuck by lower blocker/above right pad and just inside the far post.

Our team took around 25 total PIM I believe and it felt like we were always short handed. At one point we were facing 5 on 3. Luckily nothing got by me. It really is a bummer when your team cant score one goal. Their goalie was good and has more experience than I do. I heard he plays on a higher level team there, maybe lower Silver?

I am still torn on what to do for next season, Peggy_GKG pointed out that I looked bored more or less...and it was true. Not only that but he mentioned there are a lot of new rookies coming into the league next season. Which is a great thing! But for me it means even more slow-mo shots and lack of game flow.

Big thanks to [MENTION=19179]Peggy_GKG[/MENTION] for coming out to support and check the league out.
 
Well played our semifinal game last night. We did a lot of things right but ended up 2-2 and it came to a shootout. Their goalie just was better. According to the stats we outshot them 36-21 but I think it was worse than that. It went 4 rounds in the shootout and I would have shot 5th so that was frustrating. Personally I played well which is what I think makes the whole thing so frustrating. Their tying goal came on one of those plays where you want to chain quick to the net. Our goalie came out to play the puck, whiffed on it, our d got back with the oncoming forward and actually blocked the follow up shot, but then couldnt clear from his knees, just fanned and the forward was able to poke it into the net.

The team that won the other semifinal game actually stayed to watch ours. We noticed them all lined up in the stands when it was shootout time. I think they really wanted us since we were the only team to beat them this season. Unfortunate that we won't be able to play them for it.

Anyway another season down, looking forward to the next one.
 
beedee said:
Playoffs started today and we lost 2-0 today to the first place team...that we beat last week 4-2.

According to the scoresheet I saved 20 of 22 and both goals came in the first period. One was a hack rebound after I made two initial saves. The second goal came with 25 seconds left in the first, from right around the left faceoff dot. Our d got beat around the corner and I was on the edge of the crease and had the angle. It was a great shot that snuck by lower blocker/above right pad and just inside the far post.

Our team took around 25 total PIM I believe and it felt like we were always short handed. At one point we were facing 5 on 3. Luckily nothing got by me. It really is a bummer when your team cant score one goal. Their goalie was good and has more experience than I do. I heard he plays on a higher level team there, maybe lower Silver?

I am still torn on what to do for next season, Peggy_GKG pointed out that I looked bored more or less...and it was true. Not only that but he mentioned there are a lot of new rookies coming into the league next season. Which is a great thing! But for me it means even more slow-mo shots and lack of game flow.

Big thanks to [MENTION=19179]Peggy_GKG[/MENTION] for coming out to support and check the league out.
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All good my friend. You're probably a bit more familiar with him than I am, but I wasn't all that impressed with the other goalie. More often than not it seemed like he just flopped down on the puck when it was in the crease. He did make some saves on pucks shot from away from the net and was actually pretty busy there at the end...maybe it just seemed like he wasn't working cause most of the shots were pretty low and soft.

I'm real curious as to who would play goalie in rookie if you move on. As I said way back, playing goalie has always sort of been what I'd like to do, but I'm having a lot of fun skating and I think it would be beneficial to get at least a few seasons under my belt before I even considered making a transition. It's not like I'm playing to move up anyway, best case scenario after a few years *maybe* I go through Copper and make it to Bronze but that's likely the highest level I'd ever get.

Anyway, hey personally I'd love to see you come back, I know it would help ME out personally, but that's just me being selfish. Wouldn't blame you at all for moving up, with Mid-Ice going to Copper it's probably going to be worse this year in Rookie, not better.
 
Peggy_GKG said:
All good my friend. You're probably a bit more familiar with him than I am, but I wasn't all that impressed with the other goalie. More often than not it seemed like he just flopped down on the puck when it was in the crease. He did make some saves on pucks shot from away from the net and was actually pretty busy there at the end...maybe it just seemed like he wasn't working cause most of the shots were pretty low and soft.

I'm real curious as to who would play goalie in rookie if you move on. As I said way back, playing goalie has always sort of been what I'd like to do, but I'm having a lot of fun skating and I think it would be beneficial to get at least a few seasons under my belt before I even considered making a transition. It's not like I'm playing to move up anyway, best case scenario after a few years *maybe* I go through Copper and make it to Bronze but that's likely the highest level I'd ever get.

Anyway, hey personally I'd love to see you come back, I know it would help ME out personally, but that's just me being selfish. Wouldn't blame you at all for moving up, with Mid-Ice going to Copper it's probably going to be worse this year in Rookie, not better.
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Thanks again man. He was certainly busy later in the 3rd, I wasn't. I did notice he didnt really have much in the technique department when making saves...he did just flop and flail on loose pucks. No lateral movements or butterfly slides at all. Even though we were down 2-0 in the third it isn't even worth pulling the goalie in rookie, that is why I stayed in the net last night. Even when we went on the PP with 3:34 left, it wouldn't have made a difference. Some people have told me that if I didn't tell them this was my first season they wouldn't have guessed that it was, I guess that is a complement. :) I totally agree with you on that front about next season getting even slower. It will be interesting to see how the team shapes up. Scott W. was pretty adamant about avoiding full teams returning in rookie (which I do agree with). I'm thinking of doing the draft skate to see if I might be able to get put on a Copper team there. Worse comes to worse I juggle subbing at Anaheim Ice Bronze with subbing Rookie and Copper at Lakewood Ice.

As always, Im glad to help you out when I can. So many people helped me out along the way so it feels great to give back to those who have the passion to learn and play the game.
 
"Worse comes to worse I juggle subbing at Anaheim Ice Bronze with subbing Rookie and Copper at Lakewood Ice."

Sounds like this might be the best plan, just from everything you said.

I'm kind of looking forward to the draft skate, it will be an experience. As far as the teams, I mean it would be cool to play with you and Marco and whoever else you guys bring back but at the same time don't feel obligated either to make a huge push to get me, it's not as if I'm noticeably better than the average guys on your team now and it seems like they are really going to make the effort to even the teams up. The only thing I'd be concerned about is a massive influx of LTP'ers who are true n00bs, I do think I have an advantage on a lot of them, but I guess we'll see. The draft should be interesting, if they do it similar to Anaheim, they rank everyone either 1, 2, or 3, based on skating as well as game play.
 
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well our season came to an end last night. it couldn't have been a better game to end it on, tied 2-2 at the end of regulation, then went to an 8 round shootout. our team couldn't manage to score once during the shootout, talk about aggravating! i stopped 7 of 8 shooters, the last guy beat me blocker side in between my arm and chest...i was kind of fatigued at that point and got lazy and didn't seal that area up.

I'm proud of my team, they really did improve and worked hard all season long. Some people "got it" while others I really feel like they just "don't get it". Others are more naturally talented and coordinated while some people aren't. This completed my first season as a goalie and I feel like I learned a lot about the position and improved as the season progressed. I will reiterate once again how playing goalie really opened my eyes to the game from a different perspective. You see EVERYTHING, the good, the bad, and the flat out ugly of positional play. I learned that you really can carry your team and keep the game close when it shouldn't be nearly as close as it really is...I also learned that you can royally blow the game and have it be out of reach when it should be in reach.

I did sign up again for Rookie at Lakewood but do plan on actively subbing higher levels. This time around I am just going to focus on my position and my position only. If people want help, I will gladly help them out. At the beginning of our season I was the only one with experience on the ice, so I gravitated to trying to coach from the crease and I was expending way too much energy on that, as well as trying to play and learn my new position...it was exhausting. We did eventually get a coach about 3 or 4 games into the season and that was a huge load off my mind as he handled everything from there on out. In between periods I would offer up what I saw from the crease, but that was it.

It was a great experience overall and I'm glad I met some new friends.

Post game team photo.
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