Another week of LFA activity where the spares «stole the show» ! The first game, between the Avengers and the Express was a pretty tight one, prompting Pat Baldwin to say: «it was a fun game to play "... And yes, even if we lost, it did not feel as bad as loosing in other circumstances…. (see last week)A close game that could easily have gone to one side or the other, but in which the Blues showed a little more opportunism by «cashing-in» on their scoring chances , while the Blacks missed several of theirs : final score 4-3 Avengers ...Unfortunately the game was punctuated by the first event that will require the holding of a meeting by members of the discipline committee of the two teams: A Blue spare having cut to the net a bit «too aggressively», provoking the Black’s goalie to react a bit «too aggressively» taking it upon him to make the player at fault understand he didn’t appreciate his move…
This is the kind of play that too often ends in a collision with potential for injury for both the attacker and the goalkeeper . The attacker coming in at full speed succeeds and/or tries to outflank the defender to cut to or in front of the net. If the defender «pushes the envelope» and tries everything to prevent him to pass by , he ( the attacker) is likely to end up in the boards , the post, the goalie or all of the above. If he succeeds in passing , more often than not he is now too close to the goaler and there is still potential for disaster ... This is what happened , fortunately without serious consequences, but he did end up in the crease and it was definitely «too close for comfort». Let it be known that the size of the guy in question allowed him to pass where a taller and larger guy would have "plowed" everything in his path ... ( this is why I no longer attempt this kind of play, for my well being and that of my opponents who are still buddies after all!)The risk of injury is high enough in our beloved game that we should act accordingly and not «ask for them to happen»… (Ask Les Perreault who self «fucked-up» his leg mysteriously along the boards, or to «yours truly» who caught a hard shot on the inside of the thumb and ran inadvertently into Jonathan Mutch at full speed, «reorganizing» my collection of fucked-up joints, yet again...
No jokes , I know you know what I mean , we have to use common sense and not get carried away, forcing plays to the point of "make or break" ... I've said it once and I say it again , the goalies are the most "vulnerable" players out there and we must do everything we can not to fall on them or run into them as we need them to remain healthy for the good of all. (especially for theirs !!!)I’ve noticed (first hand), the referee does not miss an opportunity to call a penalty on anyone he finds too close to the crease. (even if sometimes we wonder why ... ) He doesn’t take any chances and presto! In the box you go for interference on the goalie... Better safe than sorry as there say ! (I’ll have to get used to playing with a rear view mirror I guess !!!)
I was not able to attend the second game because I had to leave for work , but having caught-up with a few guys afterwards, they gave me an account of the Tomahawk’s unequivocal victory. They undoubtedly benefited from the " Dave Douville effect" who, with his usual exhilarating performance, sealed the outcome of the game with three goals and one assist in a 4-1 victory ...Looking at the score sheet I noticed that no «regular» Toms players contributed (at least not on paper), so I guess they definitely owe this one to the subs ! But since he allowed only one goal, I feel it also had something to do with a great performance by Pat Bouchard ... Then again with only 11 shots in his direction, he may have been bored out of his mind ! What went wrong with the Czeckers ?!? Can’t win them all I guess !!!Have a good week !