RPI-Fan
02-17-2004, 08:22 PM
Gym Hockey Dynasty:
I'm bored before our game tonight so I'll write this up.
I play on a C-League (there are three leagues - A, C, and D) intramural gym hockey team at RPI. We're called Wee Suk (our captain thought it would be funny, since at the end of the game, the other side has to say "Yay rah rah "our team name"". You do the math.:))
I'm the goalie on our team. There are some basic rules to gym hockey you should know. It's played in a basketball court-sized gym; maybe a smidge wider. We use a hollow rubber puck - you can take huge shots with it, and it doesn't hurt all that much getting hit, usually. You use real sticks, though most people put a roller hockey blade in. But it's still real lumber - none of that plastic blade or shaft crap. It's 4x4 plus goalies. The goals are bigger than ice hockey goals, and they're rectangular. Players where gloves and a helmet, and that's it for hockey equipment. Goalies wear everything that a normal ice hockey skater (not goalie) would. Shin pads, shoulder pads, etc. We also get to use a goalie stick. Our blocker is a player glove, and glove hand is a baseball mit. There are three 15-minute running-time periods. Most teams will rotate two lines for the whole game.
So anyways, here's an introduction to the roster (as best as I can remember... I hardly know most of the people since I only have one friend on the team).. we have more player, but these are all I can remember:
Dan Y.: Defenseman who has played ice hockey before; has a good shot. Pretty smart player, but not exceptional. Shot is definitely his biggest assett.
Andy M.: Defenseman who is a very, very good ice hockey goalie. Probably doesn't play goalie for our team because he wants a break from it. He's goalie on our ice hockey team, and keeps us in every game. He isn't a great floor player, but is solid defensively. Doesn't make too many stupid plays.
Dion D.: Defense/forward who is big with a good shot. He gets very lazy at times, and cocky. Nevertheless, is pretty good at getting rebounds. Doesn't pass well, but can stick handle decent. Not very responsible on the defensive end.
Joe C.: Forward who is good in the corners and makes solid passes. Doesn't get back on defense and doesn't shoot very well.
Rob: Co-coordinator of the league, so any rules disputes go to him.:) He plays forward, and has a pretty good shot if given time to get it off (a rarity in gym hockey). Passes pretty well with his friend Dan (up next), but other than that is pretty average. Doesn't help defensively.
Dan: Rob's friend, is a little more unselfish. Also shoots and stickhandles well, but again doesn't ever help defensively.
Me: Goalie who has average hockey experience. I'm kind of like Ricky DiPietro; flamboyant, but not very consistent. I give up too many silly goals, but I can be counted on for a big save. Strangely enough, I'm better when asked to save a 2-on-0 or something than a long, clear slapper. I just am more comfortable when I am moving my feet. I play the puck alright, but I'm smart about when to do it. I command the defense pretty well, and distribute passes to the side or behind the net when necessary. I like to keep the play moving and not cover the puck up to often. Most definitely butterfly style - I'll go down on pretty much every shot. The only reason I'm ever on my feet is to cut down the angle or to move laterally. Speaking of which, I cut down the angles VERY aggressively. I'll often be 7 or 8 feet outside the goalmouth. I read the game really well, and rarely get caught off guard on a weak-side pass.
Now onto the other teams...
There are 4 teams total in the league. Here is a rundown:
Freeze Pop Kids: Bad team. Most people use plastic sticks and blades. Couple of people who have played before, and a goalie who tries hard, but otherwise the worst team in the league by far.
Mother Puckers: This team is a lot more solid. Everybody knows how to play pretty much, but they aren't very smart. If they took more shots (they can shoot well), they'd score a lot more goals. Strong goalie and good defense; not an easy team to blow out.
Danger Penguins: The 2nd best team behind us. If we don't get all our players verse them, it will be a very even matchup. I'll probably be asked to make several big saves to get a win verse these guys.
Wee Suk (us): The best team, pretty easily. Definitely the most experience; we just need to play better defensive hockey. We get really lazy at times.
Our first game was a couple weeks ago against Freeze Pop Kids. We demolished them, 16-3. The 2nd goal I got hung out to dry. They got a shot which I saved, but gave up a small rebound. Nobody on our defense did anything to clear it, and they proceeded to pounce on the rebound. I actually saved the first couple of rebounds, but finally they got it in. The 3rd goal was very weak on my part - was a soft rolling shot on the ground which went 5-hole. I can remember the 1st goal, but I think it was equally my fault and the defense's.
So, we were obviously off to a good start. Our next game was verse Mother Puckers. They were much tougher. We got an early lead, 3-0 after 1 period, but in the 2nd things turned. They took a long wrister well above the net - I tried to glove it down and get a line change, but it popped out of my glove. I couldn't find it, and it had landed right in front of the goal mouth. I'd figured as much and tried to get low, but someone was able to poke it in. That was all I gave up, and I think we got one more to make it 4-1 after 2 periods of play. In the 3rd, I gave up an early goal. The puck was behind the net, and they worked it out right in front. I made the initial save, but left a rebound that I couldn't find. Again they found it and put it in to make the score 4-2 in our favor with more than 10 minutes to play in the 3rd. Fortunately, we got another goal soon after. Then with about 5 minutes to play, they took a very long snap shot (almost full court). I wasn't paying attention, and it snuck in the far post. It was a hard shot, but I still should have made the save. Completely my fault. We answered, however, soon after to make the final score 6-3.
Tonight we play Mother Puckers again. I'm going to work hard to get a shutout; very difficult to do in gym hockey. Will report on the game later.
Any readers?
I'm bored before our game tonight so I'll write this up.
I play on a C-League (there are three leagues - A, C, and D) intramural gym hockey team at RPI. We're called Wee Suk (our captain thought it would be funny, since at the end of the game, the other side has to say "Yay rah rah "our team name"". You do the math.:))
I'm the goalie on our team. There are some basic rules to gym hockey you should know. It's played in a basketball court-sized gym; maybe a smidge wider. We use a hollow rubber puck - you can take huge shots with it, and it doesn't hurt all that much getting hit, usually. You use real sticks, though most people put a roller hockey blade in. But it's still real lumber - none of that plastic blade or shaft crap. It's 4x4 plus goalies. The goals are bigger than ice hockey goals, and they're rectangular. Players where gloves and a helmet, and that's it for hockey equipment. Goalies wear everything that a normal ice hockey skater (not goalie) would. Shin pads, shoulder pads, etc. We also get to use a goalie stick. Our blocker is a player glove, and glove hand is a baseball mit. There are three 15-minute running-time periods. Most teams will rotate two lines for the whole game.
So anyways, here's an introduction to the roster (as best as I can remember... I hardly know most of the people since I only have one friend on the team).. we have more player, but these are all I can remember:
Dan Y.: Defenseman who has played ice hockey before; has a good shot. Pretty smart player, but not exceptional. Shot is definitely his biggest assett.
Andy M.: Defenseman who is a very, very good ice hockey goalie. Probably doesn't play goalie for our team because he wants a break from it. He's goalie on our ice hockey team, and keeps us in every game. He isn't a great floor player, but is solid defensively. Doesn't make too many stupid plays.
Dion D.: Defense/forward who is big with a good shot. He gets very lazy at times, and cocky. Nevertheless, is pretty good at getting rebounds. Doesn't pass well, but can stick handle decent. Not very responsible on the defensive end.
Joe C.: Forward who is good in the corners and makes solid passes. Doesn't get back on defense and doesn't shoot very well.
Rob: Co-coordinator of the league, so any rules disputes go to him.:) He plays forward, and has a pretty good shot if given time to get it off (a rarity in gym hockey). Passes pretty well with his friend Dan (up next), but other than that is pretty average. Doesn't help defensively.
Dan: Rob's friend, is a little more unselfish. Also shoots and stickhandles well, but again doesn't ever help defensively.
Me: Goalie who has average hockey experience. I'm kind of like Ricky DiPietro; flamboyant, but not very consistent. I give up too many silly goals, but I can be counted on for a big save. Strangely enough, I'm better when asked to save a 2-on-0 or something than a long, clear slapper. I just am more comfortable when I am moving my feet. I play the puck alright, but I'm smart about when to do it. I command the defense pretty well, and distribute passes to the side or behind the net when necessary. I like to keep the play moving and not cover the puck up to often. Most definitely butterfly style - I'll go down on pretty much every shot. The only reason I'm ever on my feet is to cut down the angle or to move laterally. Speaking of which, I cut down the angles VERY aggressively. I'll often be 7 or 8 feet outside the goalmouth. I read the game really well, and rarely get caught off guard on a weak-side pass.
Now onto the other teams...
There are 4 teams total in the league. Here is a rundown:
Freeze Pop Kids: Bad team. Most people use plastic sticks and blades. Couple of people who have played before, and a goalie who tries hard, but otherwise the worst team in the league by far.
Mother Puckers: This team is a lot more solid. Everybody knows how to play pretty much, but they aren't very smart. If they took more shots (they can shoot well), they'd score a lot more goals. Strong goalie and good defense; not an easy team to blow out.
Danger Penguins: The 2nd best team behind us. If we don't get all our players verse them, it will be a very even matchup. I'll probably be asked to make several big saves to get a win verse these guys.
Wee Suk (us): The best team, pretty easily. Definitely the most experience; we just need to play better defensive hockey. We get really lazy at times.
Our first game was a couple weeks ago against Freeze Pop Kids. We demolished them, 16-3. The 2nd goal I got hung out to dry. They got a shot which I saved, but gave up a small rebound. Nobody on our defense did anything to clear it, and they proceeded to pounce on the rebound. I actually saved the first couple of rebounds, but finally they got it in. The 3rd goal was very weak on my part - was a soft rolling shot on the ground which went 5-hole. I can remember the 1st goal, but I think it was equally my fault and the defense's.
So, we were obviously off to a good start. Our next game was verse Mother Puckers. They were much tougher. We got an early lead, 3-0 after 1 period, but in the 2nd things turned. They took a long wrister well above the net - I tried to glove it down and get a line change, but it popped out of my glove. I couldn't find it, and it had landed right in front of the goal mouth. I'd figured as much and tried to get low, but someone was able to poke it in. That was all I gave up, and I think we got one more to make it 4-1 after 2 periods of play. In the 3rd, I gave up an early goal. The puck was behind the net, and they worked it out right in front. I made the initial save, but left a rebound that I couldn't find. Again they found it and put it in to make the score 4-2 in our favor with more than 10 minutes to play in the 3rd. Fortunately, we got another goal soon after. Then with about 5 minutes to play, they took a very long snap shot (almost full court). I wasn't paying attention, and it snuck in the far post. It was a hard shot, but I still should have made the save. Completely my fault. We answered, however, soon after to make the final score 6-3.
Tonight we play Mother Puckers again. I'm going to work hard to get a shutout; very difficult to do in gym hockey. Will report on the game later.
Any readers?