roadhockey.net

Fog Day Afternoon

On a day where fog surrounded most of the lower mainland, Gump may have wished for a bit more to surround his own net. Despite a frequently heroic performance, the beleagured goalie could not hold off the opposing team, who freewheeled and took clear shots on net all day, winning handily 20-10.

"At least we broke the shut-out." Gump laughed after the game.

For the fourth time in as many weeks, the score was decidedly lopsided. After three weeks of identical 20-9 shutouts, this week's score seems to indicate another blowout. In fact, though, the game was anything but.

A controversial trade before the face-off resulted in Bird switching teams with Lak. The late arrival of Elvis gave Lak's team a speed advantage, but it was balanced by the equally late arrival of Hoss and his steady playmaking. And while there was post-game second guessing of the initial trade, many players from both teams decided it was for the best.

"I look up and see Lak and Kid on same team, I think, Holy Borscht, it going to be long day," PFG stated. "Trade was good. Gave both teams chance to win."

The close play of the game was demonstrated by the weight of the scoring. While Lak's team was able to use their speed and passing to leap to a 10-2 lead, down the stretch in the second half, they were only able to squeak out a 10-8 victory--a considerably closer margin.

The first half of the game was quick, and wide open, but it was clear that Team Lak had superior control. Passing was specific and unhurried, and defense solid. The constant pressure Team Lak was able to sustain with their speed was the difference, both in going to the net and returning to cover the rush. PFG was also sharp in the shots he did face, leaving few rebounds for the opposition.

All that changed in the second half, however. The habitually taciturn Lak summed up their second half difficulties with one word.

"Gump."

Again the jovial goaltender has demonstrated why he is one of the best in Sunday morning roadhockey. Three times alone, late in the game, he stoned Lak on breakaways, denying the speedy sniper chances to finish the game. The apogee of his acrobatics were probably best displayed in the middle half of the game, when, from an impossibly prone position, Gump lunged his pad into the air to block a guaranteed goal.

It was a save that had even the opposition cheering.

"What can you say? The guy's a stud," remarked Wink. "When he makes saves like that to keep his team in the game, all you can do is applaud."

"I was proud of him" PFG exposulated, grinning. "As goalie, sure, you want the win. But you're always happy when other goalie plays well, especially under tough circumstances. We've both been there. We know what the other guy is going through."

"That save was ridiculous," Unabomer stated with no uncertain awe. "He got his pad to where his blocker normally is. Incredible."

And indeed, his heroics seemed to wake up his team in the second half. The balance of play swung in their direction, and it was PFG who began facing a barrage of orange balls. The determination was lead by Colonel, in his first game of the year.

"One goal, that's all I wanted. One goal. So, not being very mobile right now, I planted myself in front of their net, and put up screens." His determination paid off when he was able to pounce on a PFG pad save, banging in the rebound before the agrarian goaltender could react.

And the closer they got to the magic shutout number, the harder they pressed. They substituted luck for hard working goals, taking advantage of a tiring opposition. With the score 19-9, directly after Gump's trio of saves on Lak, the ball was forward to a wide open Kid, who deftly slipped it past PFG to break the shutout.

That was all they'd get in the end, however. PFG was too strong, and his team's lead too big.

"Both goalies played extremely well, and both sides were getting quality chances," Elvis commented "but we got the bounces. We were good, but we were lucky, too."

The game might have been a blowout if Elvis was able to share more that luck his teammates had. For much of the game, Elvis could only shake his head as his shots at wide open nets careened wide.

"I don't know, I must have been snake-bit today," Elvis shrugged. And his teammates were not shy to point it out to the tireless winger.

"Yeah, I was getting a pretty good ribbing from the guys. Even PFG. You know it's bad when the goalie starts to pokes fun."

On the plus side, Elvis traded some of the unexplained whiffs for some extremely low percentage goals. One, in particular, Elvis roofed off of the post and crossbar from an impossibly close angle. Elvis was typically philosophical of his luck. "You take what you can get."

Although he suffered his second loss of the season, Gump found himself in a particularly celebratory mood post-game. And not because of his stellar performance.

"I bought a condo!" he announced shortly after the game had ended. After checking his messages, Gump discovered this his early morning bid on a home had been successful. "Takes the sting of the loss away, that's for sure."

New arrivals this week helped to bolster the inconsistent roster, as Colonel, Hoss and Wendel all first season appearances. Colonel, hobbled by a bum knee, and Wendel, hobbled by a new bum in the family, were happy to shake off the summer rust.

"The new kid has made it tough to get out, but I'm glad I did. I got tired of reading about the game online at my job all day when i should have been working. Whoops, I mean, I was working. Sorry, gotta go."

One roadster has already announced his absence from this coming sunday, however. PFG has had to bow out to a previous commitment, putting more onus on Lobsterboy to fill in the pipes this week.

"The goaltending has been pretty good so far, and is only getting better. Lobsterboy better not let us down." PFG remarked.

Posted by at November 22, 2005 11:29 PM