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Triumph of the wile

School may be out for the Christmas break, but for the third time this season, road hockey's ageing veterans gave their younger opponents and education in perseverance.

Led by the Living Legend's five goals, including a natural hat trick, the senior squad stormed back from an early 3-0 defect to win Sunday's game 15-7.

The string of veteran victories show the game is all about wile and experience, said the Colonel, who returned to action after missing last week's game.

"Younger guys typically have that conditioning more than the older guys, but the older guys tend to be able to pick their spots a bit more," said the senior centerman.

"We may be older, we may be slower, but we're a little bit wiser," said the Living Legend, the league's most senior player.

Storming to a hard-fought 3-0 advantage, the younger upstarts seemed well in control, but as the veterans found their scoring touch, the game's momentum shifted dramatically.

"Once they got one, and then two and then the third one, momentum just kinda swung their way and we weren't able to get it back," said Bam Bam, who's yet to taste victory when playing with his junior teammates.

The veterans owned the middle of the court, using a quick and effective transition game to launch lightning attacks that caught the young defenders off guard and often out of position. The Legend's hat trick put them in front to stay.

"The ball just seemed to have eyes today," said the league's founding father of his goal scoring spree that included an incredible solo effort of the face-off, bouncing the ball twice off defenders legs before ripping a shot past a confounded Twizzler. "Where we beat them though the middle part of this game was in the middle of the court."

"The veterans have experience and they take advantage of the bounces," said Bam Bam. "They don't let anything phase them."

Including the loss of their extra man, after journeyman Giebelhaus had to leave the game after he took a sizzling shot to his eye.

"A game like this is all about managing our energy," said the Legend of his team's adjustment to playing without a substitute for the latter half of the game.

With Chico seemingly invincible in the net, and Lak Attack showing his usual two-way hustle, that allowed the Legend and Colonel to conserve their efforts in the defensive zone and push the play back up court at every opportunity.

"When you've got a goaltender who's playing well then you can take a few liberties and try to get chances going the other way," said the Colonel. "I had a lot of faith in the people who were defending."

For the youngsters, Sunday's outcome was confirmation they still have a lot to learn.

"It's definitely frustrating," said Bam Bam. "You'd think the young guys would have the advantage with our speed and endurance, but Colonel and the boys seemed to have control of the ball the entire game and we were playing catch up most of the way."

"I think the youngsters have got a lot to atone for," said the Legend. "They've got to step up their game."

Sunday's game was the last of the year, as the league takes a two-week break for Christmas and New Year's. The next game is Jan. 8, which will also be the gala Shrimp Ring Bowl.

Though he's only seen limited action this season, Scooby dropped by the courts Sunday to announce he'll be missing the remainder of the campaign to travel in faraway lands. Giebelhaus will also be missing a number of weeks as he also adopts the jetsetter lifestyle.
But there is at least a glimmer of hope Gump may be able to return to action before the end of the season as he underwent successful knee surgery and is on the road to rehabilitation.

Posted by jaysuburb at December 18, 2011 07:49 PM