So many scrimmages
In my last post about hockey I mentioned that I'd had my first full ice scrimmage. The National Ice Centre (NIC) has been running at least one of these a week since then and I've been going to all of them. Unfortunately they will probably come to an end soon as the ice schedule fills up with panthers practice and games.
During this out of season period, NIC have also been running Power Play sessions, which are basically skating drills for 50 minutes, followed by 25 minutes of free time - stick and puck or mini across-ice games. Unfortunately the power play sessions are immediately before the scrim. Doing both is extremely tiring. The first time I did this, I fell over and landed with the stick such that it bruised a rib (while trying to skate backwards… which I'm bad at), and then later pulled a muscle in my butt, which is only just starting to feel better.
I don't really know where I'm going with this post to be honest, other than documenting where I'm up to in the ice hockey world. There's still a bunch of stuff skating wise which is holding me back. For example, I still can't hockey stop. I'm just doing tee stops :'( Also I'm really bad at using my outside edges, although this is gradually getting easier. Despite all of this, playing the mini ice hockey games has been one of the funnest things I've ever done.
Compared to the first scrimmage, I now feel like I'm actually being a net positive to the team (even if that is very small positive), rather than getting in the way and fumbling about. I definitely feel like I've gotten better, but I still absolutely suck :D
For the last game, Jon managed to convince M and A to also play. It was really great to play on the same side as them and there was a very cool moment where M (playing defence) passed the puck just as I started a shift. I got it and dribbled it towards the other net (before losing it, or passing it somewhere, I don't remember). It was good though.
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Comments and feedback are welcome by email (aaron@nospam-aaronsplace.co.uk).