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Weathering another storm

On the wettest day yet of road hockey's soggiest season, there was a ray of optimism.

With only two dry games all season, the roadsters have become accustomed to dodging raindrops and charging through the puddles. But nothing could prepare them for Sunday's biblical deluge that slicked the courts and left shoe-high puddles pooling behind each goal and in the corners. Visibility was minimal, comfort just a dream.

For Smith, a rookie who's become one of the game's most stalwart players, there was no doubt; the game must go on.

"I knew I was going to come no matter what, and that's the attitude you've gotta take," said the wet winger.

Nine of his fellow roadsters agreed, sacrificing the warmth of their dry homes to soak their socks.

"I think it's a perfect day for road hockey," said notorious gameshow host gone bad, Wink.

"It's only rain," said Gump, whose rain-soaked goalie's gear weighed twice as much at the end of the game as when he first strapped it on. "This is not Sunny Morning Road Hockey, it's Sunday Morning Road Hockey."

But Bird was skeptical. The seasoned centerman has endured many a rain game through his soiled career, yet with four cancellations due to weather already this year and some of the game's most reliable veterans mostly missing in action, he said he was prepared for disappointment.

"I didn't think we'd have a game at all here today."

And that's a dangerous attitude to have, said Bird.

"If you start missing games for a few reasons, it all starts to unravel."

In fact, that's what got the venerable game, now in its 16th season, in trouble earlier, discouraging and disheartening veterans like Wink, and his fellow founding father, the Living Legend.

"I'm not gonna lie; my 'give-a-dam' was busted earlier in the year. It makes it easier and easier not to come out; all of a sudden it's too windy today, or it's too bright. There's always a reason not to come out, but you have to find reasons to come out."

For Smith, it's all about dedication.

"There's that core group of guys that you can pretty much count on. As long as you have those guys, you can get a game going, you make sure it happens."

And when there are three rookies, Smith, Scooby and Doo, counted amongst that core, earlier fears of road hockey's demise may be greatly exaggerated.

"It's great for the game," said Gump. "It shows nothing can stop this game."

"Seeing guys like Cowboy and Gump, guys who've been regulars all year, and young guys like Doo, they've really inspired me to come out on a day like this," said Wink.

"I think the fact the new roadsters see we're here rain or shine, it ensures the game does continue on," said Bird. "There's always been a core group of guys who are will to play regardless of the weather."

Sunday's rainstorm slowed play to a crawl at times, as the roadsters struggled to find footing on the slick concrete and the evil orange plastic ball stopped dead in the deep puddles behind each net. That meant making adjustments to the usual raucous running game on the small court.
"You've gotta slow it down, move the ball well and just shoot at everything," said Smith. "The goalies aren't just fighting the ball, they're going to be fighting the rain in their eyes, so there's going to be a lot of ugly goals."
"The puddles are a factor," said Bird. "The ball just dies in the corners with the water there."
"It slows you down," said Wink.

The unsure footing also sent the Living Legend to the sidelines, as he continues to nurse his dislocated shoulder back to full health.
"Whenever it's this slippery, there's always a chance of someone getting hurt," said Bird.

The dates for the Stanley Stick have been announced; the two-game finale will be contested May 6 and May 13.

Posted by jaysuburb at March 11, 2007 03:59 PM