Men's League Last Night

[Slats432]

The best way to do it, is once you have the players score a bunch, maybe putting the players with zero goals/dmen on forward. There are times that not a lot can be done. Just hope your top players lay off the gas when you are up by a bunch.

 

[Yukon Joe]

The best way to do it, is once you have the players score a bunch, maybe putting the players with zero goals/dmen on forward. There are times that not a lot can be done. Just hope your top players lay off the gas when you are up by a bunch.

Yeah, last time we played this same team I suggested that (and as a D man with no goals, I prefer playing D, don't like playing forward). The answer that came back was "we want to get ready for playoffs - we just want to focus on fundamentals, and we'll try to ease off/pass the puck". Which is perhaps understandable, and we did really try to pass the puck around, but it can be hard to just not shoot when the option is open to you (or so I assume - like I said I'm the guy with no goals).

 

[Slats432]

I know people are competitive but getting ready for the playoffs when you play lower level rec league shouldn't be the priority. Having fun, getting all players involved, and playing various positions makes you a better player.

 

[Yukon Joe]

I know people are competitive but getting ready for the playoffs when you play lower level rec league shouldn't be the priority. Having fun, getting all players involved, and playing various positions makes you a better player.

Yeah.

So like I said, that was my suggestion last time.

But I think honestly - like last night was a 10:15 ice time on a week night. We only had 11 skaters (and I think our opponents only had 8). Guys play the positions they like to play (and like I said, while I volunteered to go F, I honestly prefer playing D). It's just the reality of rec league.

And honestly - we won the league last summer. And I 100% agree - winning a championship in low level rec hockey is pretty f***ing meaningless. But you know what? It also felt pretty good. I think it was the only time I ever won anything in sports in my life.* So "getting ready for playoffs" isn't nothing.

But then again - a 9-0 win isn't all that much fun either.


*no wait - I won my curling club's junior championship as a skip like 30+ years ago. So first thing I've won since the early 90s.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Yeah.

So like I said, that was my suggestion last time.

But I think honestly - like last night was a 10:15 ice time on a week night. We only had 11 skaters (and I think our opponents only had 8). Guys play the positions they like to play (and like I said, while I volunteered to go F, I honestly prefer playing D). It's just the reality of rec league.

And honestly - we won the league last summer. And I 100% agree - winning a championship in low level rec hockey is pretty f***ing meaningless. But you know what? It also felt pretty good. I think it was the only time I ever won anything in sports in my life.* So "getting ready for playoffs" isn't nothing.

But then again - a 9-0 win isn't all that much fun either.


*no wait - I won my curling club's junior championship as a skip like 30+ years ago. So first thing I've won since the early 90s.

Your league should have a mercy rule. My league has one for 8 goal defecit/lead, at any point in game.

Me personally, when we're smoking a team, i'll usually stop carrying the puck into the zone and just look to make simple passes to teammates. Defensively, i'll ease up a bit, not let anyone get around me but not aggresively stick check or close someone out.

Unless the opponents are dicks and start playing dirty, then try and run it up.

 

[Slats432]

Your league should have a mercy rule. My league has one for 8 goal defecit/lead, at any point in game.

Me personally, when we're smoking a team, i'll usually stop carrying the puck into the zone and just look to make simple passes to teammates. Defensively, i'll ease up a bit, not let anyone get around me but not aggresively stick check or close someone out.

Unless the opponents are dicks and start playing dirty, then try and run it up.

There are several rules to prevent blow outs. 3 goal per player rule is most prevalent in the lower divs. There used to be run time at 8 goal difference but some captains said that they pay their money and it is their ice time, so the mercy run time rule was eliminated in the recreational divisions.

 

[Yukon Joe]

There are several rules to prevent blow outs. 3 goal per player rule is most prevalent in the lower divs. There used to be run time at 8 goal difference but some captains said that they pay their money and it is their ice time, so the mercy run time rule was eliminated in the recreational divisions.

Yeah different ways of trying to deal with it, but never really seen a straight-up mercy rule, for exactly the reason you state. Guys (and gals) are out there to get a sweat on and get some exercise as much as anything else, so nobody really wants to go home early. And I say that having been on both sides of blowouts.

Most you really ask is to not celly your goals when you're up by a lot.

Limiting goals per player can also work to a certain extent - "encourage" certain puck hogs to actually have to pass the puck.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Depending on the league, it's always kind-of amusing when some player who clearly doesn't belong in the league, dangles around 4-5 guys and goes bar down to get his 4th of the night - Whistle! Goal disallowed, and in fact they get a penalty for unsportmanlike.

It was also amusing to me the one and only time I've ever scored multiple goals in a game - ref warns me after two I hit my max. I just laugh because I've never scored 2 goals in a game before or since, never mind 3...

 

[Nathaniel Skywalker]

Nothing more annoying than a team only passing around due to a score. Either play or ask the ref to call the game

 

[Yukon Joe]

Friday night men's league, 10:30pm start time, which is late to begin with. But there's a U17AAA game on the ice which goes to overtime, so we're delayed. It's a twin arena so they're able to just move us over to the other ice sheet, but it's still a 10:45 puck drop.

During the game we offer to drop the flood we get after the 2nd period, but arena staff say they're obligated. We don't get off the ice until 12:15 am. Of course we have to stay for a beer, so don't leave until after 1am.

The irony is I'm back at the same rink at 9am with my kids, and I'm back on the ice at 10:30 for my weekly practice session. It was the last week though so we shinnied.

The further irony was my one kid's team had scheduled a fun parents vs kids game that same day at 4pm. Of course I had to play, being one of the handful of parents who regularly plays hockey.

That was three hockey games inside 24 hours.

I made it through, and with no injuries to boot, but I was in bed by 9:30.

 

[Slats432]

So I am reffing a couple games at a newer facility. Ref the first game and the whole things goes off without a hitch. Nice clean game. After the 1st game there is no flood since we have a flood every 2nd period. There is about 5 or so minutes of dead time.

I go into the timekeepers bench, grab my coffee and have a swig. A couple minutes pass and I hear some yelling in the hallway between the two rinks. I figure maybe there was a player argument, which would have been weird since it was a very tame game.

I go out to check it out and two guys in street clothes are yelling at each other. Then they start pushing. Me and one male and one female bystander get between these guys and peel them apart. We get them apart and one guy threw something at the other guy and it hit the wall. (Keys maybe) He walks the opposite way.

I get on the ice, referee the 1st period of the 2nd game. Zamboni guy comes on the ice. I said to him, "What the hell was that?" He said they both work there and he called his manager and he was going to deal with it.

I guess now refs have to break up fights between rink rats....

 

[Yukon Joe]

@Slats432 dammit - you ref my league too?

Crazy you need to break up a fight between rink employees though.

Am I going to see you tonight at Kinsmen?

 

[Outl4w]

Weird game last night. We played a team that gor moved up to b/c league from d league that wouldn't cut their 4 best players to stay in the d league. The first six minutes it tied,but we were dominating them while their goalie was standing on his head. He got tied and we scored 8 straight goals but end of period just cycling and passing around them. We were letting their low players skate by us but were only playing their four college kids hard. Ended up being 10-4 and their two best players scored all four goals. The lower players thanked us for letting them get by and telling them to shoot or pass. The better players were getting mad we didn't do the same for them. They have no business being the b/c league outside of the 4 kids from the club college team and the goalie. I don't know why they wouldn't just stay down and have them move up.
We offered ti trade 4 players and goalies after the first and they said no.

 

[Slats432]

@Slats432 dammit - you ref my league too?

Crazy you need to break up a fight between rink employees though.

Am I going to see you tonight at Kinsmen?

Us old guys need to stay in shape. On the ice elsewhere tonight.

 

[Outl4w]

Friday night men's league, 10:30pm start time, which is late to begin with. But there's a U17AAA game on the ice which goes to overtime, so we're delayed. It's a twin arena so they're able to just move us over to the other ice sheet, but it's still a 10:45 puck drop.

During the game we offer to drop the flood we get after the 2nd period, but arena staff say they're obligated. We don't get off the ice until 12:15 am. Of course we have to stay for a beer, so don't leave until after 1am.

The irony is I'm back at the same rink at 9am with my kids, and I'm back on the ice at 10:30 for my weekly practice session. It was the last week though so we shinnied.

The further irony was my one kid's team had scheduled a fun parents vs kids game that same day at 4pm. Of course I had to play, being one of the handful of parents who regularly plays hockey.

That was three hockey games inside 24 hours.

I made it through, and with no injuries to boot, but I was in bed by 9:30.

Did the beer ease the muscle soreness?

 

[Yukon Joe]

Did the beer ease the muscle soreness?

You're quoting me from months ago.

Let's be honest - beer tastes AMAZING after a hard-fought hockey game, but it does nothing for your physical recovery (and probably just straight water would be better).

After that "3 games in 24 hours" time period I was definitely stiff, but I was surprised how generally well I felt. I'm sure it had everything to do with getting a massive sleep.

 

[Yukon Joe]

So last night at rec league...

The Oilers/Stars game was going on at the same time we had a game. Nobody said so directly but it's probably why we had a short bench for what was otherwise a game at a pretty reasonable hour (8pm).

So people have the game on their phones on the bench - completely understandable.

I'm just stepping onto the ice for a shift when a big cheer goes up - the Oilers have won and are going to the Finals. But I'm thinking - hey wait a minute, the puck is right here and everyone's distracted! So I grab the puck and take it to the net.

It would be an even better story if I had scored - I didn't. The distraction only lasted a second or two, although it was my best chance of the night. But the connection between NHL results and rec league was kind of interesting.

 

[Yukon Joe]

So last night, at rec league...

Game's tied 2-2. Team we've played before, pretty good parity between us. We give up a goal with about 5 minutes left to go down 3-2. As the clock ticks down we pull the goalie (finally) when we get an o-zone face-off. We keep the puck in their zone, but not really generating much in the way of shots until 2.7 seconds left! Deflected off at least 2 people, we tie it up!

We have enough time it goes to 3 minute 3-on-3 (it depends on ice time, we could also go to just a shoot-out, or just end in a tie). We take it down and score in the first minute to pull out the 4-3 comeback.

I know rec league is utterly meaningless - but it's moments like those why you play the game some times.

 

[ChuckLefley]

Not me but a friend of mine. Playing a game with a chance to eliminate the other team from playoff contention. They get down 2-0 and come back to take the led 3-2 in the third. The other team pulls the goalie and the guy running the team in the lead pulls my buddy off the ice because he wants to defend the lead. Ok. Then he tells him that he wants speed on D. 6 on 5 with about two minutes left, is like a PK. If you’re relying on speed on D, you’re in trouble. Sure enough one of the D gets caught chasing the puck and leaves the middle open, goal. Goes to a shootout. Now keep in mind my friend was a part of all three goals his team scored and none the other team scored. He also chased down a breakaway and broke it up cleanly.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Not me but a friend of mine. Playing a game with a chance to eliminate the other team from playoff contention. They get down 2-0 and come back to take the led 3-2 in the third. The other team pulls the goalie and the guy running the team in the lead pulls my buddy off the ice because he wants to defend the lead. Ok. Then he tells him that he wants speed on D. 6 on 5 with about two minutes left, is like a PK. If you’re relying on speed on D, you’re in trouble. Sure enough one of the D gets caught chasing the puck and leaves the middle open, goal. Goes to a shootout. Now keep in mind my friend was a part of all three goals his team scored and none the other team scored. He also chased down a breakaway and broke it up cleanly.

So can't possibly comment on your friend's story, which is third hand.

All I can say is if "the guy running the team" want to pull me in the final minute to defend a lead - so be it. Even if I disagree.

Beyond that final minute though - f*** it this is rec league - we all pay the same amount of money to play. It's 11pm on a Monday night - just let me play my regular shift.

 

[ChuckLefley]

So can't possibly comment on your friend's story, which is third hand.

All I can say is if "the guy running the team" want to pull me in the final minute to defend a lead - so be it. Even if I disagree.

Beyond that final minute though - f*** it this is rec league - we all pay the same amount of money to play. It's 11pm on a Monday night - just let me play my regular shift.

The issue wasn’t being pulled to defend the lead, the issue was the reason given for it. He even said he was fine with it, until the guy said that it was about getting more speed on the ice.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

Does anyone find it weird when people bring significant others to a game?

My wife knows I play hockey, and she’ll watch it. But to actually bring her to a late game would be embarrassing for me.

 

[Yukon Joe]

Does anyone find it weird when people bring significant others to a game?

My wife knows I play hockey, and she’ll watch it. But to actually bring her to a late game would be embarrassing for me.

So one time I forgot some piece of gear (I think it was hockey pants) so my wife very nicely brought them to me. She wound up staying for 5 minutes of the actual game then left. Afterwards she confirmed that I am very slow out there (thanks Dear! I already knew that!).

But my rec team has more people than you'd expect come out to watch our games. One wife comes to record all of our games and then upload them to YouTube, which is super nice of her. There's one or two wives/girlfriends who will make appearances, or sometimes someone's kids together with grandparents.

So when I first started dating my now-wife, I remember driving over an hour just to watch her play slowpitch. I was also (of course) trying to impress her. If she started playing a competitive sport again I would probably come out to watch her once or twice.

But rec hockey for me at least is also one of the only things I do just for myself - not for work, not for family, just me. So I really don't mind that nobody comes out to watch me.

So... I guess this is just a long form version of "it depends"...

 

[Yukon Joe]

And in a totally unrelated "beer league" topic, after a team barbecue over the weekend two of my teammates are now scheduled to have a race at tonight's game, with part of the stakes being who gets to be my D-partner...

(yes it goes without saying that drinking was involved when the challenge was made)

(but more surprisingly is the person WANTED to be my D-partner, not in a "man, loser has to play with Yukon Joe kind of way")

 

[Slats432]

Does anyone find it weird when people bring significant others to a game?

My wife knows I play hockey, and she’ll watch it. But to actually bring her to a late game would be embarrassing for me.

My wife and kids have come to my games for 20 years. (Not all of them though)

Now the grandkids will beg to come to a game. But we have always been that way. We also go watch my kid play Div 1 too, which is much better hockey than what I play.

It goes that way for all the kids and grandkids. We go watch our kids/grandkids in their stuff, whether it is lacrosse, indoor/outdoor soccer, minor hockey, horse jumping (future daughter in law rides equestrian), whatever it is we go and support them. It sets the tone that we support each other no matter what. Family values.