 |
| Logo Protected by Copywrite and property of the Hamburg Hawks Organization |
|
|
Adventures with the Hamburg Hawks 97
|
As you can guess the opinions expressed here are only those of one player. Those opinions happen to be that of an upbeat player with a very crass sense of humor. A grain of salt is a good way to view some of my remarks.
Now and then I do take it too far. Here is a prime example of one of my slapshot remarks last year. One night after a practice we were having supper at Tully's with coach. His son who was on my team was done eating so he was off playing Tully's games. Since the goalie sees a lot of what players do from the net perspective it was not unusual for coach to ask my opinion about a player or two's actions. Sometimes Coach brought his younger son to practice too. As we finished our meal Coach asked me how I thought his son was doing. Well I felt his son wasn't truly giving it 100% and I think Coach was well aware of it.
So my answer was, "I'd forget his hockey future and hang my hopes on your younger son." I thought Coach's eyes would pop out. Too late it was out of my mouth. I weakly mentioned I intended a joke, sort of.
Oh well, new Coach, new year, new horizons, and new organization. I still find my sense of humor confuses the locker room at moments. I'm learning not to call a spade a spade but sometimes it's plain hard to resist.
VG
|
I'm with Hamburg Hawks 97 team because of the coaching. The opportunity to progress yourself is what it's all about. My Coaches believe not only in improving us as a team but improving every player by working on what each one needs. Ideally this concept is Pee Wee Hockey at it's finest. It's not always about winning your games and we don't. It's about learning the game of hockey and for that your need coaching with insight. We got the coaching part!
Now what it also takes in AAA hockey is every player wanting to play outstanding hockey and really loving the game. That takes drive and self discipline. As the season is moving along not all the team appears to love hockey as much as some of us truly do. When it comes to triple A hockey one would think all the players would be gung ho but I find on every team I've played so far this is not the case. If the whole team, meaning each player, is not seriously into their best game it handicaps the rest of the team. I've yet to play on a team where all players give 100%. I'm a believer in giving 110%. AAA hockey players should at least be 100% because this is not house league where it can be excused. OK I'll say it ... play hockey with your heart in it or get another sport. I cannot grasp how anyone playing hockey cannot love it with their whole heart and soul.
Go Hawks and Go Figure
|
 |
| In the Net? You Bet! |
|
|
One Minute Plus to Go
Up in net at Leisure Rink
Game riding zip to none.
One minute thirty- three to go
I went and let in one.
A save I tried, but then the puck
Deflected off my pad.
Giving the opposing team
The ONLY goal they had.
A goalie’s woes are many.
He is the last defense.
Of what the puck is apt to do
His job to make some sense.
It looked amighty simple
To control that little puck.
But on the ice it misbehaved.
A lot came down to luck.
A goalie hates the losing
When he plays up to game.
Depending on the ice and such
No puck reacts the same.
Shots I took were thirty-six
And not a shabby lot.
But all that gnawed upon me was
The “one in” that they got.
Still hanging in the locker room
Long after all the rest
Goalie grief was festering
As slowly I undressed.
Reliving those few seconds
Of that final fatal play
Searching what I might have done
To help to save the day.
|
A goalie sorts the blame of it.
Was it luck or me?
With mental instant replays
Of the way things came to be.
They keep it in a toolbox
As a lesson, if they’re wise.
That history repeats itself
Should come as no surprise.
Evaluations tucked away
And gear stuffed in my bag
I went to find my hockey friends
And listen to them rag.
The longer you play hockey
The more friends that you make.
If they contribute to your loss
A win they ‘re PROUD to take.
I know anything can happen.
It’s what the coaches say.
Part of the fun of hockey?
It goes this or that a-way.
Another day, another time
The way it goes is this -
It’s going to be my shut out
Their every shot will miss.
©2008 Artica Burr
St Catherine's 1 Hamburg Hawks 0
Win or lose, it's great to see friends
from Canada!
|
 |
| Practice is going to get me THERE |
|
|
My Percentage Stats keep on moving along .958 in a game I think is my highest so far this year. We're playing 96's and 97 teams. Despite the great number of shots and saves I get it's been a losing year to date. It's a team game and it's not getting to the other net enough. A spade is a spade. Goalie's do not win a game. My part is to keep my team close. You have to shoot to score and score to win. On a top rated team I would not be getting the 50 60 and over shorts per game. It should be a clue to my team that so many shots on me are possible. I point I fear is missed. The only upside to this season is I do love crusin' in the crease and making big saves and I'm being afforded the occasion every time I'm in net.
VG
|
©2008 Last Update Oct 2008
|
|
