... and a chance for us all* to catch up on those tasks
we've been meaning to get to, like ensuring the fans are kept abreast of the
team's recent exploits.
So, last weekend was a pretty tough one for the Black Wolves, playing against a couple of the top teams in the league. On the other hand, one of those teams was Waterloo Gold - and that means getting the rare chance to face off against friends from hockey, at school, and elsewhere. Sadly, a couple of kids on both teams were unable to play the game - in Black's case, one of our defensive linchpins was out for the full weekend,** putting extra pressure on the remaining five D-men.
Play in the first period was quite even - ending up at 1-0 to Gold - but our opponents managed to turn up the pressure in the second, scoring several unanswered goals. Black's single goal in the game came late, but was one for the ages, coming as a Black player skated with the puck as his teammates changed lines, and ending up in Gold's end with five Gold players surrounding him, somehow managed to get close enough to whip off a backhand shot, probably surprising the Gold goalie, and certainly stunning the crowds. The game went a little off the rails after that, particularly after the award of a controversial penalty shot against Black (though some entertainment was provided by the method used to decide which Gold player would take the shot). When the game was over, the score was 6-1, but more importantly the players and some parents*** took the chance to catch up with others who'd been team-mates from past years.
The second game of the weekend for Black was against the London Junior Knights White. As for the previous game, the Black v White game started off close, with White scoring first, but Black responding mere seconds later, recording a tie in the first period. The second period then went to the visitors, ending with a score of 5-1 in their favour. The period did give the Black goalie some opportunities to get in a bit of practice blocking shots, and with some help from a White player getting a bit entangled with him, to make a pretty cool-looking (but for onlookers, pretty scary) glove save. The third period Black made a strong come back, with excellent play to keep White out of the Black end, and a second goal scored on a laser-like shot from just over the blue line that the White goalie had no chance on. Final score 5-2 for White, but Black having shown lots of fight.
Hopefully the team and coaches will make the most of their first Saturday night off since the regular season started, before getting back in action Sunday to begin a very hectic week of hockey, with as many out of town trips as we've had so far to finish up the first round of the season.
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* Or at least, for those of us who don't have other teams they have to keep up with.
** Including, horrifyingly, for Halloween. Thankfully Canada's competent medical system has already returned him to health and the ice.
*** Particularly those whose kids seem to think there is no reason to spend less time in the changerooms after a game than they spent on the ice during the game.