When I see commercials on television talking about chronic back pain, I would usually say to myself that I am lucky not to have that. After tweaking my back last week, I have a whole new appreciation for pain killers. Not being able to sit comfortably or lay down comfortably for the last few days has really been a pain (no pun intended). The good thing is that I see the light at the end of the tunnel I think. My back pain is slowly disappearing. I haven’t taken a Ibuprofen yet today, and I am able to sit comfortably in my chair as well. With any luck, by Saturday I should be totally better so long as I rest it.
I am missing ice hockey on Thursday this week, so this small injury is not without its costs. My focus is on getting better, and doing some reffing on Saturday.
After over a year of playoff disappointment, I finally got to the top once again. My Wednesday team accomplished their 1st championship since the days when we were playing at Marketlab. A 3-1 victory against Bluevortex.net and a 7-0 victory over the phantoms. Two of the biggest victories in a row that we have had in a playoff series. One thing is certain, we all came to play, and I am proud of my team for doing so well. After such a long drought, it feels good to get my 28th championship. I am going to keep my promise to not be totally upset if I don’t win another one, but I know I will be disappointed if I go this long without winning my last game again.
Really, when it all comes down to it, I played solid in playoffs this season. I have had my issues in the past and I thought my best days were behind me. This season, I played much more solid. A total of 4 games played, only 4 goals against total, and a 3-1 record. My only loss was a 1-0 game in the finals for my beginner team. I really was a little disappointed in the outcome of that game. I thought we could pull that game out if things fell into place for us. As it turns out, it just wasn’t meant to be.
On Wednesday last week, I tweaked my back slightly in a hockey game. Thursday I was feeling a little better and I rested it on Friday. Saturday I was sore but feeling pretty good. By the end of the night, I was in pain even worse than I was on Wednesday night. I thought knee pain was bad. This is horrible because of the fact you can’t twist certain ways and getting up after going down in a butterfly is not pleasant. I spent my time Sunday and Monday resting my back, no exercise at all. Today, I am stretching and slowly feeling better. I am going to take Thursday off of ice hockey and rest up a little more. Its my hope to ref ice hockey on Saturday and be 100%. I am on target for that date.
I am pretty happy I have some time off before the next season begins. Back about 6 years ago, I would get all upset about the break. Now, with me getting older, I am cherishing the time off a little more often.
I have sat here with this blank journal entry in front of me for the last few weeks. Apparently, my status updates on facebook and twitter are getting a bit too short. Its time to jump back on the blogging front. All in all, 2010 was a great year. Life treats me well that is for sure. I have a great family, job, and I still enjoy playing hockey. My knee pain is all but gone, and I have a great bunch of friends. I don’t think things could be any better.
Last year, one of the goals I set for myself was to achieve 30 hockey championships. After all I had 27 heading into the new year. I promised myself I would never complain again if I lost in the playoffs after I hit 25 total championships. Unfortunately, I have been true to my word. I have been faced with many playoff disappointments over the course of the last few seasons. Most of them where my teams have just been outplayed. Of course, I probably shoulder the load of losing more than I should, which is a bad habit to get into. Heaven knows I have had my chances, and this season is no exception. I have 2 teams with top seeds that have the skill and ability to win division championships. I am eager to get out there and prove myself once again. The only thing standing in my way is my confidence level, which has not been very high after losing out over the course of the last year in situations like this.
There once was a time where I was considered to be the playoff goalie. I would come up with those big saves in key situations. I could steal games from top seeded teams and do what needed to be done in order to win games when the score was close. Now, with me getting older, I have felt my confidence ebb away from me as I have come up empty in playoffs.
The glass half full part of me looks at my last ice hockey playoff victory when my 7th seeded team played the 2nd seeded team and won 2-1 in what probably was the best game I have played in a long time. Not since I won my first ice hockey playoff game by a final score of 1-0 was a win that big for me and my team. I intend to bring that same intensity and focus into the games tomorrow. With any luck, the puck will bounce my teams’ way all day and I will turn my fortunes around.
Obviously, it’s a team effort. We will win as a team and lose as a team. No exceptions.
A few days ago, I heard that an ex-teammate of mine, Billy Wondergem, passed away in his sleep. Here is a guy who was in great physical condition and a lot of fun to play hockey with. I had the opportunity to play hockey with him over the course of the last few years. Like most of my teammates, I took him for granted. He had a huge heart, and I really wish I got to know him better than I did.
Just to hear of his passing really made me think about the little things. Here is a guy who was on the up and up. He was incredibly intelligent and fun to play hockey with. He was working at Van Andel Institute and had his hands into some very important things like kidney cancer research. I didn’t know that before he passed away. I feel ashamed that I didn’t know more about him when he did pass.
This whole situation reminds me of another friend I lost a few years ago, Ben Pauls. He was a very close friend who even today I feel bad that I wasn’t as close as I should have been. Maybe if I had insisted to keep in touch with him, and pushed my way into his life more, he might not have committed suicide.
What is a man who does not make the world a better place to live? A waste of a man. Billy made the world a better place to live through is hard work and dedication in professional and personal life. I strive to do the same thing, but I feel that I haven’t done enough. Especially considering my age and experience.
In the end, its important to cherish every moment. Live your life to its fullest. You never know when it will all be over. I will not be regretting my choices in life or regretting where life has taken me. Life is too short to regret anything.
The outcome again this season was the same as the last one. A disappointing one. I feel that I played average today. I had a great first game, in fact, my team had a great first game in the beginner division. My semifinal game in the beinner division was less than desired. Then my undefeated team got bounced in the first round by the eventual champs. I have to give kudos to both teams that won the championships in their respective divisions. They were more skilled, and wanted it more. We just couldn’t get anything going, and I didn’t play as good as I should have in either of the losses.
I am already planning on coming back again next season. Both my teams are returning and I am looking forward to coming back for both of them. It was a very successful season and I had a lot of fun playing. At the same time though, I am not as skilled as I used to be. My goaltending in big games has got to improve.
It has been a very successful rollerhockey season for me. Both my teams qualified for playoffs. Now, I find myself in familiar territory. My teams are going to show up and we will have our chance to win a championship. Unlike seasons past, where my teams were outgunned or short players, this seems to be a situation where all the stars are aligned. My players are showing, and they are competitive. The big question is, can I deliver in the clutch like I used to be able to.
I remember a time when I was counted on to be the steady player. Today, for the first time in a long time, I am nervous. As hard as I try to shake it, I feel like karma is going to bite me in the ass in the playoffs. It really is a dreadful thing to think. There are two types of players in this world, those that keep their composure and head in the game and win championships, and those that do not. In the past, I have had problems like this. Now I have to shake the negative and focus on the positive.
One major positive is that my undefeated team has found a way to win in every situation. Down in the 3rd period? They come back to win. Playing well in OT. They find a way to get it done and with balanced scoring. I have played well enough to win, but not dominating the league. I have come through when it mattered, but I have also had my share of bad games. Yet, my team always finds a way to make it happen.
One of the downsides is that the league has been very competitive. We have won by just a goal against the top teams in the league, and they will be gunning for me this time around. After not playing well in playoffs the last few seasons, I have a lot to prove coming into this playoff series.
To quote Harry Vardon….
“To play well you must feel tranquil and at peace. I have never been troubled by nerves in golf because I felt I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.”
I have to get this kind of mentality back. I must forget about the dread and concentrate on the good that will come about tomorrow. Win or lose, it will be fun tomorrow. It will be competitive. When the sun sets and the day is over, I will be drinking with my friends at the local pub and talking about how much fun we had. Yes, it will be a great day to play hockey. I really have nothing to lose. Its rec league hockey. Not the stanley cup finals. I have everything to gain, including my confidence to do well as I get older.
Now for some much needed sleep before the day starts tomorrow.
The last 6 weeks or so has been very good to me. I continue to play in net 2-3 times per week which is quite fun to do. With my injury issues behind me, I have been concentrating on playing a solid game in net. It really is amazing just how much better you play when you aren’t worrying about a tweaked groin, knees hurting, and just the general aches and pains associated with playing hockey and other activities.
All my hockey teams are doing well. My summer ice hockey league team just completed the season and now we are looking towards playing on Thursday nights. The good news is the rink is closer to my house. The bad news is that the competition will be just as tough for us. We didn’t have a lot of luck beating teams in the league we just left, and now we are playing in another intermediate league. It won’t be easy, but I will see how many games I can steal.
Speaking of stealing games, I have done that a few times in my beginner league. My Here For Beer team won 4-1 last night in a game which I faced probably 30-40 shots. One of the best games I have played in a long time. We now sit 5-1 with 4 games to play. I will have to play very sharp over the course of the next 4 games though because we don’t play easy teams. Three of these games are against teams that are all playoff contenders.
Koster’s Angels, my intermediate team, is playing well but not all due to me. They are just playing solid in front of me and so far I am undefeated with this team. I have to really play sharp because we also have tough games where 4 of our last 5 games are all against playoff teams.
To be honest, I am more looking forward to some rest and relaxation. Work and my MBA classes have been challenging. Hockey has been fun but I need a small break from the game. I am going to get it. I have 3 games next week and then I am off for a week, which will be a much needed break for me. I intend to come back fresh and ready to play some hockey.
I feel that this Youtube video is a large reflection upon me playing goal. I have always had a tendency to struggle in net. At the same time, after I get knocked down, the key is to get back up and keep moving forward. After a horrible playoffs last season where I didn’t win a game, its my job to right the ship and get better.
I felt that all the pieces were in place for me to win a championship last season. It just didn’t happen for a variety of reasons. I felt bad because of my performance, but it wasn’t all performance based. My teams didn’t have the firepower, or the skill, or the manpower to compete in those games. Sure, I could have played a bit better, and I do expect to play better next time around.
My Marketlab team is done for good, but I am on another couple teams this coming season. Our beginner team will compete, but it won’t be a stellar team. Our intermediate team will compete quite well in the division, but there will be stiff competition from many other teams.
I am going to enjoy this weekend. I am going to rest and recharge for another fun hockey season.
As Lewis Black has said, anticipation is better than the actual moment itself. Well, to me, anticipating playing a hockey game has been a reflection of this. Before every game, I know its going to be a good game. I may not feel the best, and I may not be motivated to do well for various reasons, but I know that its going to be a good game. Playoffs have always been a little different. I have always wanted to do well in playoffs and I have had many fun playoff games where I have done well. On the flip side, when I have done poorly, I tended to kick myself a little too hard (and sometimes not hard enough).
After an unprecedented run of success, I promised myself I would never complain about success in playoffs again. About 5 months ago, I went from on the brink and not playing anymore due to my knees to a full season of pain free hockey. Three months after the procedure, I am a new player. I embraced a new attitude when playing hockey. I started playing with friends have never played with before. I have enjoyed hockey more this season than I have in a long time.
I have had a measure of success as well. Marketlab placed first in the division. Who Cares placed 3rd in the division. Both teams earned playoff games and I am very happy about that. No matter what happens on Saturday, I am going to sleep tomorrow night with a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
After playing that big game with Marketlab on Thursday last week, I haven’t played another game since. Missed my game on Tuesday because I was working late, but maybe that is a blessing in disguise. My body has had a chance to heal up quite a bit in the last week. At the time time, my desire to play hockey has been rekindled a bit.
Today I was hanging clothes in my closet and came across my hockey jerseys. Some of them like my Chris Kunitz signed jersey brought back a lot of memories. So did my Grand Rapids All Stars jersey. Playing against those ex Red Wings players was in fact the opportunity of a lifetime. Then I came across a yellow mesh jersey and I remembered the first team I ever played on, the Killer Bees. I don’t remember the captain anymore, but I will never forget that name or some of the teammates I played with. Some of them are still playing today. Others I haven’t seen since I left that outdoor roller rink.
I guess a little time away is a good thing every now and again. It allows me to reflect on what has happened, is happening, and what is coming down the road. It also has allowed me to recharge my batteries and get ready for the most important 2 weeks leading up to the playoffs in a few weeks.
This playoff run I am going on now is quite special. It will be my last time suiting up for Marketlab. My last time suiting up in the top division. My last chance to cement myself as a champion in the top division. To go out on top really would make things right in my world. The key will be delivering on that. Of course, so much depends on my team and who shows up for these important games including playoffs. Right now, my mind is on finishing the season strong.
