To start off this blog I need to give you a little bit more details about my playing style and attitude on the ice.

I am NOT  the kinda player who will take crap from anyone. Not a teamate, another player, another coach a referee no one. Not that I am disrespectful or cocky, I just stand up for myself.

So, I play in a summer league that is 98% boys. There is one other girl on my team. The team we were facing this day was all boys, coached by all women. An odd combination, something I'd never seen before.

Anyway, the first time we'd played this team it was BRUTAL. It's supposed to be a non-contact league. The boys on this team were throwing body checks, starting fights, spearing our goalie, telling off the ref, and chirping at our players all up and down the ice. It was so bad our coach refused to shake hands after the game.

The second time we played these guys, well, let's just say we were a little bit more 'prepared.'

Our coach called us to the game extra early. We had about a half hour pep talk. The rules were simple, we'd play our game at first, score our goals play to win. About ten minutes into the game, we had one player from the other team kicked out and two injured players on our team. Then the words were said "One mroe hit guys and it's open season."

The grins were unbelieveable. We were all anxious to see which green player would throw the next hit. Then, bam hip check delivered to on of our players. It was on now.

So, here I am in the corner digging for a puck like I normally would. Fairly. All of a sudden I take a quick glance up and see I have 3 green players surrounding me. Hard to protect the puck whens it's 3 against one. Finally they get the puck, and I'm starting to get up and get away, a green player starts throwing punches! PUNCHES! So at first I brush him off and he keeps coming, so I drop my stick and start punching back.

We both get penalties. Boo hoo,

Then were back down in our end and one of the green players i chirping at me along the blueline. Me being unable to hold my temper any longer gives him a shot in the face. "Oh keep it coming honey." he kept chirping. Oh how, I wished there was no cage there to protect his face. How I wished I had my bare knuckles to knock his teeth out with.

Once again we both get penalties. Somwhere along the line I get another penalty and get ejected from the game. (3rd time this season, all new record. :)

Later on in the game, two mroe green players get kicked out. Anyway we wind up winning that game.

Later in the week I get a call from the guy who runs the league. Notifying me that the player I fought with was being suspended, and I quote "For fighting a girl."

This upset me a bit. If I had gotten into a fight with another girl would we have been suspended. Why was the punishment more for fighting with a girl? Why is the consequences not equal if a boy fights a girl, a boy fights a boy, or a boy fights a girl.

So, my question to end this blog is, what do you think? Should the penalty for fighting vary if it is a boy or girl fighting?

 

Marian Hossa, whuta guy.

 

I was sitting in front of my television watching Game 6 of the Stanlet Cup finals between the Penguins and the Red Wings. When I noticed something odd. I could've swore last year Marian Hossa was wearing a Penguins jersey. Now he was wearing the Detroit jersey.

 

Marian Hossa left the Penguins last year after the 07-8 season after losing the cup to Detroit. He turned down a $22,000,000 deal to go play in Detroit for next to nothing just so he could have a shot at the cup.

 

Hossa's a great guy whos in the NHL for the right reasons. He's there to win and not just for the money.

 

Unlike some other plays, cough cough Mats Sundin.

 

:)

UGH, Today was another fun filled day with two games of hockey.

Let's start with game one shall we?

So, game one and were off. We've lost the past 2 games I've played on this team so were all going into thhis determined to win.

So, first shift out I decide to intimated the other team a bit. Lol, first shot, ringed off the goalies mask and i checked three kids into the boards. DON'T WORRY THEY WERE LEGAL HITS, lol.

Anyway, the game continues and it's close. Were tired 3-3. Kids from the other team start hacking at our goalie(also my brothers) so me, being the strong defence clear the crease. Penalty.

Hacking at the goalie. Clear the crease. Penalty.

Hacking at the goalie. Clear the crease. Penalty.

Hacking at the goalie. Clear the crease. Penalty.

Hacking at the goalie. Clear the crease. Penalty.

This went on for about 5 or 6 more penalties. Finally 9 minutes left in the game. Buddy comes in and crashed the net. So I put him in his place. And what happens? I get tossed! Tossed! For protecting my goalie! Man, I was mad. But the funny part was as I skated off the ice the other teams fans were cheering. So, me being the cocky idiot Tie Domi fan, pulls a Tie Domi on my way off the ice.

Aha, you should've heard the things those parents had to say to me.

Well anyway, we wound up losing the game because of all the penalties.

The main pint of this story is, while all of the other parents of the other team were complaining to the league about me, the coach of the other team stops me in the hallway and says "Are you the poor girl that ref was calling all the dumb penalties on?" I laughed and replied "yes" He then went on to tell me that he was very impressed with the way I played and he wished all girls could play that agressive. He said not to let the refs intimidate you and for me to keep going as I was. He then proceeded to ask me to tryout for his Midget BB team, unfortunatley I'm only in  Bantam. But he told me he'd keep an eye out for me and leave a good note with the Bantam BB coach. This was all said by the coach of the other team. :)

So on to game 2.

We went in strong scoring tons of goals as usual (we undefated) and we won the game 13-12.

That's are cloest game all season.

Anyway, I only took 2 penalties this game and scored a goal and got 3 assists. :)

Aha, so I've just ended a long day-acctually scratch that. The day is nowhere near done yet, as I still have one hour of hockey training tonight.

Anyway, I took the morning off because I was feeling horrible. Headache, ear infection and I'm all stuffed up. But I crammed some Advil's and went to school this afternoon, because I had Track practice then Soccer tryouts. Well, I thought it was soccer tryouts. It was more like my own little version of hell.

Track went well though. Lol, did sprints today I forget my time for the 100m but it was pretty good. If I could only skate that fast.....

Now soccer. Oh god. Now before I explain the story I must tell you I play soccer only in my school and in a summer houseleagu to keep conditioned for hockey. But I hate soccer more than anything! Lol, so anyway. Tryouts start with 3 warmup laps around the feild. Which is okay because I'm a distance runner and can usually run laps around this feild no problem.

Then me move onto passing. We do this passing drill where you follow your pass (we do it in hockey too) but it was so windy and the ball kept flying eveverywhere! Then onto dribbling, and that went well for the first part but then the wind was overpowered by the heat and the tempature spiked to 28 degrees again. Then we do some shooting drills and run another lap.

By this time, I can barley breathe because I'm all stuffed up and my head is pounding like crazy and I can hear my heart beating in my ears. But I made the walk home and I made it to the computer-after chugging 2 watterbottles and another Advil.

Now, I need to redeem myself for another hour of hell tonight at hockey.

Ahh.....this is why hockey players shouldn't play soccer!

 

Sydney Crowe........

-_-

 

Lol.

Pulled this from The Hockey News and I thought it was halarious. :)

1. You shall play hurt
2. You shall play hurt & keep your cakehole shut
3. You shall sprout some of the most ungodly facial hair ever known to mankind
4. You shall block shots
5. You shall never, ever touch the Prince of Whales or Clarence Campbell trophy

Well, today was the start of my spring hockey season and it went great.

I had to play two games today, one for my normal team and then my brothers team was short a few players so I played for them.

The game I was subbing in for was early in the afternoon. We were facing a team that was all AAA players. And our team? All Houseleague except me who played A and two other players who played B.

So, we wound up losing 6-1. Which isn't THAT bad when you have AAA vs. Houseleague. Plus it was my first game on defence since I usually play forward.

In my second game I was the one on the AAA team. My friend and I joined this team so we could play against out teammates from last year. This game we were playing them. I was shuffling between forward and defence and got into a few checking matches with some of my old teamates but it was all fun. We wound up winning that game 13-2.

Anyway, spring hockey has finally started and I am so happy to finally be on the ice again. Even if it is only once a week.

:)

Yes, spring hockey starts in 2 days!

 

This sunday I get to play 2 games one of them being against some ex-teamates.

 

Can't wait!

 

This will give me plenty of time to condition for fall tryouts.

:'(

Canada lost the gold medal game to the USA. Giving them there second back to back gold medal win. :'(

 

Well, I didn't get to see the whole game but Canada played good but they played much better in the first game they played the USA.

 

I'm really impressed with the way Canada's goalie plays. Sorry, don't know the name. But she's reeeaaalllyy good!

 

Another thing I noticed, I don't suaully watch Womens hockey. I'm so used to watching NHL,AHL,OHL whatever you name it. And as I was watthis game I realized Womens hockey is so much faster then Men's hockey.

 

I guess because there is no body checking theres more fore-checking and skating. So it makes it faster.

 

i just thought that was interesting. :)

 

 

This summer I'm going to be playing in a summer league. Some of my teamates from this season are too, but were not all on the same team.

I was talking to one of my teamates a few days ago and she said "Since were friends, I'll take it easy on you and you take it easy on me."

My reaction. I laughed. Sure, were best friends. But on that ice were competiting for something. And she's going down!

Lol, so just remember if your friedns off the ice, on the ice nothing matters.

Free for all. ;)

My dad is in Ottawa right now at the Sens game.

A couple hours ago we were texting. And he told me that not only was Hilary Duff staying at the hotel he was staying at, but so were the Philedalphia Flyers and Cassie Cambell!

Not to mention his seats are two rows from the glass. -_-

 

Anyway, just thought I'd share that with you. :)

Lol.

I've been playing hockey for 3 season, and every season I'd played forward.

Well, this year. I played on an "A" team. My coach was set on me playing defence.

But, it wasn't because I was good at it! I could not skate backwards well enough to be a defensive player!

But, all he saw was a girl who was probably at least 3 inches taller than any other girl in the league, with a big attitude and wasn't afraid to be agressive.

So, I played defence for the first 2 exhibition games. We lost both. And some of the goals were probably my fault.

But he wouldn't let go of wanting me to play defence. Finally I explained to him, that all I could do on defence, was clear the net, take good shots form the point and dump it in. I was also one of the faster players on the team, which is a perk for being a forward.

He seemed a little crushed since he'd have a 5'7" player on forward and all of his defence were no taller than 5"5.

But, he learned that mean on forward wasn't a bad idea. I was probably one of the better back checkers on the team.

But, I figured maybe learning to play defence wouldn't be such a bad thing after all...

So, this year in summer hockey I plan to play defence for most of the games.

Except when I play against my ex-teamates. ;)

Wish me luck. Lol.

"Only 1% of you in this classroom will become doctors. Only 1% of you will become professional athletes."

I stared. Dumbfounded. My teacher. The one who was supposed to teach me and lead me to my career had just shot down my dreams.

1%?! That couldn't be right...there must be more than 1% that can become professional athletes...

My teacher continued to bable on but I had completley tuned out. I was stuck in my own world trying to figure out what 1% of 25 was....am I apart of the 1%?

My attention was brought back to the discussion with the call of my name. "Emily, pay attnetion please." I nodded. Still not completley foccused.

"Most of you in here will grow up to get normal office jobs. Some of you who are unique, and not the average may wind up making it into the NHL of NFL or whatever professional sport your aiming for. That's only 1% that are above the average in here or will become above average with hard work"

This is where I tune out again and start thinking.

Am I above average? Am I apart of the 1%?

I knew that if I wasn't right now I'd have to put in hours of hard work to get there.

So, that's my goal. To be apart of the 1%.

 

Are you apart of the 1%?

So, we all realize that girls probably wont play in the NHL for a while.

Which I don't understand. I mean were good enouh. We can hit, fight, score, etc.

But anyway that's not what I'm here to talk about.

 

My dream job, after playing on Canada's National Team, is to be a GM or Head Coach for an NHL team.

I don't know whbt I'm always so engrossed in the NHL Trade Deadline and Entry Draft.

I know my stuff when it comes to that kinda stuff.

 

But, I don't see any girls who are coahces or GM's in the NHL. It's kinda disapioting.

I really would love that job and girls are just as capable of doing it as boys of doing that job.

 

Just thought I'd put my two cents in. Girls can play hockey just as good as boys and manage a team too.

 

Annnnd, in a few years when you see me on Team Canada or GM for an NHL team I'll be saing I told you so. :)

So, many poeple argue about shootouts and about how it's unfair because all the pressure is on the goalies.

Uhm, hello? Theres loads of pressure on the goalies but still loads on the players too!

If a player doesn't score, it might mean that they lose the game.

If a goalie doesn't make a save, it may mean that they lose the game.

So, the pressure is on both players and goalies.

I take is offensivley when people are only saying the pressure is on the goalies.

I've been in a shootout many times in my hockey career. One being, a do-or-die shot.

And I garentee you I felt more or just as much pressure as the goalie I was shooting on.

So, shootouts: may not be the greatest way to settle a game, but it's fair to both the goalies and players.

Hockey is a life journey. If your passionate about it.

If not, it's just another thing you do every weekend.

If your passionate about it it's a life journey that shapes the person you are.

Now, my question is.

How did your journey begin?

I remember mine clearly.

 

I sat in front of the TV with my Toronto Maple Leafs jersey on watching the game, eyes glued to the screen. My father walks into the room with a big grin on his face. Me, being only 10 at the time, didn't notice because I was to engrossed in the game.

He was smart. He waited until the commercials came on. Once he did, he spoke quickly knowing he only had 90 seconds to tell his news before my attention went back to the game.

"Your brother is going to play hockey this year. Do you want to play?"

"Yes" I answered in a split second. I didn't even think about it. I didn't even have to.

The images of me skating around the ice next to one of my heroes flooded into my mind.

You could say I was the happiest person in the world at that time.

I was so happy and overjoyed. But then the game flashed back onto the screen and my attention was re-focused.

 

The next day we set out for Wal-Mart to buy my equiptment. Yes, wal-mart. I didn't care about any fancy brands at the time. I just wanted to play.

2 hours later we returned home with my wal-mart equiptment. I remember practicing how to put it on everday so I wouldn't need help in change room. I remember the countless hours of road hockey played to practice for the normal season.

Every night I stayed up watching my heroes analysing there playing style.

 

Finally, the season started and my journey started.

 

Here I am. 4 years later. Still the happiest kid in the world when I'm on that ice.

And no one can take it away from me. :)

 

 

 

If you had the choice to play either Boys Hockey or Girls Hockey (based on playing style/rules) what would you play?

 

Let's lay it out for you:

 

In Girl's Hockey it's mandatory to wear cages/face masks at all levels. In Boy's Hockey you can switch to a visor or just a helmet wiht no facial protection. (In older playing levels.)

In Girl's Hockey a bodycheck is a penalty. In Boy's hockey bodychecking is completley legal and even encouraged.

In Girl's Hockey any sign of a fight about to break out is an automatic stop of the play and possibly penalties. In Boy's hockey fighting is aloud (to a certain extent)

 

So, now that you see the differences in rules and play style, my question to you is which one would you play if you had the choice?

 

I personally think that bodychecking and fighting in Girl's Hockey should be aloud. Were just as tough as the Boy's and we can take a hit and give one all the same. I know, because I play summer hockey with all Boy's.

Fighting could be a bit of a problem in Girl's Hockey because were required to wear face masks at all levels. I don't have a problem with the face mask rule but I think a little aggressive play would benifit us girls. :)

 

What do you guys think?