roadhockey.net

Soggy start

Billy Idol scored five goals to lead his team to a 15-6 rout in Sunday's season opener and wash away the bad memories from his lost season last year.

It was an encouraging start for the veteran forward, who missed most of the last campaign due to the onerous demands of his exploitive employer. And it was an optimistic beginning for the rest of the roadsters, who slid and sloshed their way through a driving rainstorm to launch the league's 16th season.

"The fact we have a sub for each team on a day like today, this shows the true heart, the lifeblood, of road hockey," said Gump, who recorded the win.

"It's pretty encouraging," said Beetle Boy, who made his first appearance at the courts after he missed both pre-season games. "We have two full lines, great goaltending, subs; I think it's a good start to the season even though the weather was bad."

For a time, it looked like the game might not happen at all. Only moments before the evil orange plastic ball was scheduled to be dropped, a few stalwart roadsters huddled in the relative shelter of a nearby alcove, trying to stay dry. But then a pair of new recruits, Ali and Frosty, checked in.

For Beetle Boy and his vanquished mates, the elation of that opening faceoff quickly turned to despair. A pair of quick goals by fellow founding father, the Living Legend, put them in a hole that only seemed to get larger even as it filled with water from the deluge.

"We weren't playing good defense, and we needed to because they had the snipers, especially guys like Kid who can move in the rain," said Beetle Boy. "When it's pouring rain, everybody is slipping around, it makes things more difficult."

Not if players adjust, said Gump, something his team seemed more capable to accomplish.

"You just gotta slow it down," said the veteran shotstopper. "You can't be moving across the court too much. If you try to cheat out there, you're gonna get caught."

But even as his mates celebrated the easy win, their floundering foes couldn't help but smile wanly in the wet.

"You just gotta try and get out here and play hard," said Beetle Boy. "They it just becomes about trying to have some fun, trying to get your touch back, trying to just play for yourself."

Posted by jaysuburb at October 16, 2006 07:22 PM