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PFG returns triumphantly

It's been nearly a year since Pig Farming Goalie last strapped on the pads at the Sunday Morning Road Hockey courts. Sunday, he picked up right where he left off, backstopping his team to a tough 15-10 pre-season win.

Not that the veteran agrarian goaltender has been idly slopping out his pig stalls. Hobbled by nagging injuries and dismayed by last season's relentless weather woes that exacted a tough toll on his protective equipment, he sought solace and kept sharp in various rogue games in palatial indoor facilities. And while that experience may have honed his reflexes, it also fueled his hunger to return to his roots in the small Sunday Morning bandbox where defense is at a premium and the action never lets up.

"I think the challenge of this game is that it's a lot quicker," said Pig Farming Goalie, whose shotstopping skills kept his mates in the game until they could find their offensive spark. "On this surface, there's lots of turnovers, you have to be quick in front of net, you have to go back and forth very fast."

After staking his team to a quick 4-0 lead, PFG's resolve, and notorious temper, were tested by a series of defensive miscues that allowed their feisty opponents to claw their way back into the game.

"It's tough to stay calm," said the fiery netminder. "I just have to try to stay focussed on the ball and not let goals get me down too much."

He did this just that. As his team rallied in the defensive zone, he stabbed shots with his lightning glove hand and smothered rebounds under his big leg pads.

"We had to weather a few storms and he really kept us in it," said Bird.

More importantly, Pig Farming Goalie's shotstopping heroics gave his mates the confidence to flood the offensive zone to try to regain their offensive touch.

"If you know the goalie can make the saves, you tend to slack a little more defensively," said Bird. " We had to start shooting a bit more, we just had to get back to the basics."

That including finding a way to thaw out Frosty's cool creaseminding at the opposite end of the court, as he overcame his slow start to put the big freeze on opposing shooters. It was a few lucky bounces that turned up the heat.

"Whenever you get a few lucky bounces, it certainly helps you get back on track, especially if you've lost the momentum for a bit," said Bird, who counted a pair of dubious goals on fortunate deflections.

While both goalies came up big in their pre-season test, most roadsters agree it's the offensive players who have the advantage after the long off season.
"I'd say players have the advantage because goalies can get rusty," said Pig Farming Goalie, who spent much of his off season playing in rogue leagues.
"I think it's whoever keeps themselves in shape over the summer," said Bird between labored breaths.

The pre-season pace also benefited from the infusion of fresh, young legs, as sophomore speedsters Doo and Scrappy indicated their intention to play their first full campaign alongside their quick cousin, Scooby, who's entering his third season at the courts.
"We're getting a lot of regulars from a new generation," said Bird. "It's good to see, it'll keep the game going."

But even as the fleet-footed forwards ran around veteran defenders, the roadsters couldn't help lament the absence of one of the slowest players, Wink, who has yet to be heard from since he achieved officially-sanctioned sex during the off-season.
"I'm very disappointed in Wink," said Pig Farming Goalie. "I know there's commitment to the new wife, but just put her in stable and lock door, that's what we do back home."
"I think it's pretty disappointing, to have so many of the longtime roadsters fade away and disappear like this," said Bird. "He used to rag on some of the roadsters for not coming out and now he's doing the same thing. He's going out with a whimper."

Posted by jaysuburb at September 23, 2007 03:38 PM