After a hot beginning to the playoffs we got eliminated last Sunday losing 3-1. In the end we fell victim to bad scheduling and one bad game. The bad scheduling was the first of our three game series where only 7 skaters were in town to play. If you know hockey and do the math that leaves one sub for the three forwards and one sub for the two Defencemen. Yeah, that a lot of skating. We played well, and kept it close but in the end we just ran out of gas and fell 3-1. In the second game we were excited to have 11 of 12 guys there and ready to go. We were technically the third seed skating against the second seed but we had beaten them twice during the regular season by playing a solid team game and being patient. Well on Sunday we were neither of those things we were 11 guys all trying really hard, not one team playing to win. Again we played alright and kept it close but fell 3-1.
So were were swept out of the playoff by what was probably a better team, but it was still a bitter pill to swallow. When we played our game we could beat anyone in the league and I really thought we had a shot. Personally I was playing some of the best goal of my life and I wanted to be able to carry a team if it needed me. I wanted to improve my reputation in the league. I wanted to win a championship the year my son was born. In the end none of that happened and that is all…ok.
Sure its bittersweet but we improved on what we did last year, we finished 3rd out of 11 in a very competitive league, I put up my best regular season numbers and pretty good play off numbers (1 shutout, 2.00GAA) and had a great time with the team. I have had a hard time shaking off the loss (this fucking cold isn’t helping) since I tend to take my teams success or failure pretty personally, but we really did have a great year.
In other hockey news I have decided to take the upcoming season off for many reasons. The first and foremost is money. Hockey, even old man hockey, is not a cheap sport. Like around $500 a season not cheap and while you average that out over 25 weeks its a decent entertainment value its still $500 when we are in sticker shock from having started to pay for Child Care for the boy. Also my left knee could use some maintenance and rest. I might need to get it scoped, but I am hoping some therapy and maybe acupuncture can get it back to healing.
I am going to miss playing and especially miss the team. They have been fantastic to play for and I’m hoping there is a slot for me in the fall when I look to come back. I know they need to find a goalie in the meantime though and I wish them the best of luck in the summer.
More soon.
