We can say that this week the 2 games were good ones, with low and tight scores as we rarely see them in a «garage» league : 3-2 for the Czeckers against the Avengers and 2-1 for the Tomahawks against the Express ...
Although there were still plenty of substitutes (especially in the blacks ) the «league commissioner» was proud to have been able to balance the teams and with good reason. It is not an easy task, especially with last minute cancellations or when the subs available are not necessarily of the same caliber as the «absentees», but the "Commish" knows his boys and does not take his task lightly. Congratulations!
In addition to being tight ones, the two games were played in a «harmonious atmosphere», proof that the «message of positivism» is definitely sinking in....
What for me was the highlight of the night, (there are two in fact) But which I unfortunately was unable to witness, since I was preparing for my game, is certainly the Czeckers victory with Jeremy Lancelin scoring the tying goal and Thomas Saddi the game winner, who I was told «was a thing of beauty»...
As it often occurs in Hockey, when a player falls in battle, (in this case Mimi, who was out of the game after a bad fall against the boards) it literally «whips» the guys and gives them extra determination, allowing them to prevail even if they lost one of their top players ...
In addition , although he was helped out of the rink screaming with pain , the Captain remained «on the side lines» to coach and encourage his boys as a true team leader. If that doesn’t motivate a team, I wonder what will ...
I hope he will recover fast and will return in top shape for the start of 2014 ! (He even went to the Christmas party , I’m telling you; he’s a «tuff cookie»)Which brings me to the party , which was a success…
Even with some last minute cancellations, we were about 35 with some of the guy’s wives or girlfriends who came to join the festivities and seemed to have fun , like everyone did for that matter...
You could say that it was exactly like the league commissioner had dreamed it: a mixture of teammates and opponents laughing and drinking together, forging bonds that transcend the color of their sweaters on the ice ... next year, the spirit of the Hockey Brotherhood willing, we will be 100 or 200 !
Personally, I had the chance to get better «acquainted» with Martin Jacques Aubert the Blue’s goalkeeper, with whom we finished it off with a «grosse Mol» (FYI : a big Molson Ex) at «the Bifteck» (the Avengers team sponsor), where he met George, the friendly manager, who was delighted to meet him and who made sure we left the place even more hammered ...
in fact this is where I «sipped my last one», while JF and Martin finished it upstairs at the «club house» while I got started on the process of «sleeping it off» lying on the couch, listening to their conversation, half dreaming about what I would write about or of the 56 goal scoring chances that I missed, but which didn’t prevent me from spending a great evening!
2014 is almost here and we all know that the New Year symbolizes a new beginning, where everything is possible , so may the second part of this inaugural season of the LFA be as interesting as the first, continuing to make us experience and discover all the potential of what a «garage league» can be...Definite proof that a dream can become reality ! ...