Hockey

Well, it's been a while since I've updated my Blog... I am just too busy or tired to do it. I've also been somewhat really reclusive lately and whatnot. Vague, I know.

For starters, I bought some new Ice Skates last week. The Bauer One95s (The current top of the line model) for over $400; the most I've spent on a pair of skates since the last time I bought skates (then, Bauer Supreme 7000s) some eight years ago. I figure that I'm really only spending $50 a year for one of the best skates you can play in. The difference is clear when I step on to the ice with my new skates. Nothing to dish about my old skates, they were great and done me a great service, but they were completely worn out from my constant use of them. In the end, the blades needed replacement again, and they aren't avalible anymore unless I got a new liner (the thing that holds the blades) which would cost at least $80 or 90 to install. Plus it needed rivets, had peeling leather, and well, after skating in them for 3 times a week, year after year, you get the idea. It was time for a replacement... and since I intend to keep skating till I drop, I figured a little upgrade would do no harm.

Well, four games into my new skates, and I've got eight goals; scoring at least one talley in each contest. Who says you have to feel pain and get blisters on your feet when breaking in a pair of new skates? I haven't had any pain what so ever, thanks to having my skates baked so that it forms to my feet. I've got my balance quite down, but these put me slightly higher, so I haven't found found my perfect push off and power stride yet, but I'm quickly narrowing that down. I go a lot faster in these definately! I'm able to do a lot of things faster now, that I'm almost having trouble catching my breath. Maybe my confidence is too high on these skates, but I feel like I can really fly in them.

But I do have to say, the laces that came with the skates feel like they're made of steel, because they rip into my fingers when I'm lacing up. I like to have my skates laced real tight, but when I pull on these laces, the fabric actually cuts into my fingers, but they stay tight the whole time.

Now all I need is a new stick (ack, there goes a hundred bucks) as I suspect my current one is nearing it's breaking point after four months. But hey, whatever! I enjoy playing my favorite sport, Hockey!

Well, it's that time of the year again, where the leaves turn color and begin to waver. Actually, quite a lot of leaves have already fallen, and we're only in the second week of October. It's been a while since I've updated the blog/website, so I figured now was as good of a time as any other.

I'm still working at SMDC, though still as a Manpower contractor. I've been working there for over a year now and yet I'm still a temp. It's rather frustrating for me to write about, so I'll just leave it at that. However; I know that eventually, I'll find something much more rewarding and satisfying if I keep a positive outlook.

Speaking of positive outlooks, the NHL 2008-2009 season finally started last week and the Detroit Redwings look like they're ready to defend the Stanley Cup! After a great off-season, where they picked up two great players from Pittsburg (Hossa and Conklin) and only lost two players (Drake and Hasek) to retirement, I finally got a chance to see the team in action Saturday night when they played Ottawa. For a while, it looked like they were going to lose down 2-1 in the 3rd period even though they were the better team but then Frazen "the Mule" goes and just shoots the puck into the net like magic... not once, but twice to win the game. So far, he's scored 30 goals in his last 34 games (including up to the end of the season and playoffs.) Now that's amazing!!

And speaking of hockey, I've got my TwinPortsHockey.com League going.... We're playing games already, though I have to do a bit of work on the website. Currently the pickup game schedule is as followed:
Games every Tuesday & Wednesdays at Superior Ice arena (SAHA) 10:15pm - 11:25pm
Cost: $10/per skater or pre-pay month plan at about $7.50 per game.
So far, we've had a good turnout... in fact, I may have to start limiting who can play by a first-come/first-play policy.

Well... I survived another close call Tuesday night in hockey. It's the second time in about six months that I've been struck by the puck next to or near the eye. (The same eye in fact!) The first time, It was above the eye on the ridge where my eyebrow grows. I had a big shiner for about weeks or so... But I didn't switch to a cage or shield, since it was such a fluky thing. I never wore a face shield when I first played hockey, and trying to wear one now is extremely inconvenience. After all, I've only been hit in the face by the puck relatively a few times in my whole life... and I've been playing for ten years. Yet, it happened again this week, and this time, it was a lot more serious.

I was playing defense, as a forward rushed with the puck advancing into the zone on my right. I leaned forward with my stick while skating backwards to cut off and block any shot or passing lane, and the forward attempted to deke a little, and then shot the puck, but the deke move he made put the puck on "edge", causing the puck to spring upwards on his shot (like a golf ball) rather than staying low and on target. It went straight to my face, and It was one of those split second things that you see happening, but because you're out of position, you can't do anything about it. I tried to duck/look away, but it was too late, it nailed me right in the eye. I dropped my gloves and went down immediately clutching my left eye/face and laid on the ice face down for a minute as I rode the "sting" of the shot. I had my eyes closed tightly because of the pain, and in the back of my head, I wondered if this was really it, because I was feeling really intense pain, and my hands felt wet and hot. Eventually, I opened my good eye to see if there was any blood. Boy... there was blood alright, and lots of it! I tried to open my left eye carefully, but I couldn't because of all the blood. Players huddled around me as they tried to assist me, and some were horrified by the sight of blood all over my face, hand, and ice. Quickly, we went off the ice to attend the wound and determine the extent of damage. With water, we cleaned my face and hands and eventually found the cause for the blood, a clean cut under my left eye. Once the bleeding was controlled, we bandaged it and put ice on it. I realized then that it although it was serious close call, I didn't need any EMT or ambulances. I then resumed to my normal end game routine of changing out of my equipment, putting on my street clothes, collecting money for the ice time, and paying the rink before driving myself to the ER to get stitches. Everyone wanted to help me, and I appreciated their concern, but I figured once we got the bleeding controlled, and since it was a clean cut, I could handle it from there.

Total damage... 7 stitches, and eventual scar under the eye. I also have some loose teeth on my top left side, and it still hurts. I have to thank my mouth guard for letting me keep my teeth, because I'm certain they would of been gone otherwise.

So.. now I'm in the market of a high quality face shield... something that doesn't distort vision or fog up. My mother and uncle insist on paying for it, so there is no excuse anymore I suppose. As much as I hate a cage/shield, I'd rather be able to see out of two eyes than just one.