Happy New Year

I love these holiday skates. I love seeing the guys and I love the pace that comes with all the new faces. Andrew was back this week and on a line with Timmy G, Mikey, and of course Nolan himself. It was just a matter of time before the inevitable…his first goal at Nolan’s hockey. Not sure how much that means to him at this level but it’s something his father has been talking to me about for over 15 years. So glad I was there for this milestone.

Walter also brought out his son Darian for the first time. With Jordan, Darian, and Andrew that’s three fathers out there skating with their kids. That also means that some of us have been skating at Nolan’s long enough to know these kids, or know of them, their ENTIRE LIVES. Now they are skating with us, and well. That is pretty scary and awesome all at the same time.

Could Johnny Be Back?

Nice to see John Sullivan lacing them up again. After recent knee surgery I was wondering when we would see him out there again and he has hardly missed a beat. Well, he’s a little slower out there but for Johnny that means he’s skating just a little faster than us. His hands and hockey sense are still there and that means trouble for the opposing teams.

Next week we are back at Old Ex at 3:00pm – 4:00pm. It’s the same place we played this week so no excuses G. Look for Sweet Len between the pipes this week and possibly another showing by Johnny.

New Era

No skate this week due to Grey Cup Sunday!

Next week, special time and place due to the annual Glenwood Tournament. We skate Sunday Dec 4th 4:15 PM at Old Ex .

On a personal note, last Sunday’s skate was a special one for me. The first real skate with my son Andrew. Been waiting for that 9 years for that moment, ever since his first ever hockey game. As I saw the teams, I noticed he was wearing Black. Class act by Peever and Porter to put him on my team. I handed him the jersey number 4. I had added a black # 4 about 3 tears ago, waiting for this day.

As I took to the ice for warm up, yes, I felt a special feeling. I saw my son, # 4, skating around with my friends. We were on the same ice together. And yeah, I also shed a little tear. The game had finally gone full circle for me.

My love for this game started in 1972. Great emotion, running down the streets yelling and screaming after Paul Henderson scored. Sunday, I felt that same kind of emotion again.

The whole game was a surreal feeling. He played fine, he fit in with the guys, it was all good.

That game Sunday,? It was one of the things checked off on my bucket list.

I thank you all for being there.

Week 2 – Team Jacob

Back to regular time next week fellas.

Joel and I arrived early to the rink this week as usual and found the guy from Twillight out in the hall. He said he was Brad’s cousin so we invited him into our room and made sure he was on black. Somehow we got the nickname “Team Jacob” and whenever he got the puck you could hear “Teen Wolf” being yelled from our bench. Man I love this hockey.

Joel had a big game for black coming away with a hat trick but the highlight for me was watching Jordan chase down his dad on one of his 9 breakaways. I think Mike even had a step on him and then out of nowhere Jordie came flying in and knocked the puck off his stick. Mike was tired and slowly skated to the bench and you could hear Timmy G on the bench yelling “THAT’s RIGHT, GO GET A DRINK OLD MAN…”.

Speaking of G, he will be taking over as the new Timmy GM for black next week. Should be interesting to see how the teams unfold. Especially if Timmy gets to the rink at 4:58pm.

After the game Nolan presented Joel with a puck for his hat-trick and to Jordan for his first goal at Nolan’s hockey. I wish I had mine from from 15 years ago.

Confirm Your Spot

Nolan has a contract and this year we are getting the action started a couple weeks early.

First skate is 5pm Sunday September 18th at GWood.

Confirm your spot ASAP. We need $150 by September 10th.

You can pay Nolan or myself with cash or cheque and I will also be accepting email money transfer.

Can’t wait.

Vintage Nolan’s Hockey

Already can’t wait for this season.

Fine Handed Down

Visual proof of Timmy’s injury, all as a result of Big Rob’s aggressive style of play, and careless use of his stick (although it was on Timmy, so some slack has to be cut) .

After careful review by the league rules committee, Big Rob has avoided suspension, as it is his first offence, but he has been fined 2 beers, payable to the injured party, at the annual windup.

Any appeal of the above mentioned fine will cost a minimum of 1 beer, also payable at the annual windup.

Sunday Reminder!

No ice @ Glenwood the next two weeks due to their annual tournament:

Sunday Feb 13th 10:30 AM @ Roland Michener in Transcona.

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The Grove

Another pretty fast skate this week. Still no pucks and that will be the second batch of pucks we have lost this year so I hope they turn up. Maybe Big Rob has them?

It was battle of the tenders this week with Matty Ice and Sweet Len going head-to-head with big save after big save. In the last shift of the game Nolan had us at 5-5 and I think that was the final. That is what Sweet Len scored it at as well and he was the White goalie. Somehow Joel “Sunshine” Grant had 7-5 White but he got bumped around a bit out there so he might have been a little shaken up. Even the GM Darryl “Toe Drag” Porter had 5-4 Black!

A few dates have been added to the calendar in April along with the wind-up following the final skate. This year we will be going to “The Grove”. It’s the old “Charlie-O’s” at Stafford and Grosvenor. Choice of burger and fries, or one of 2 pizzas. Plus 2 domestic bottled beers. 4 huge screen TVs and NHL playoffs.

January 16, 2011 Skate

No shows really hurt this one. I think it was the first time in a long time that the spread was more than a goal. Matty Ice really stood on his head though and Black was getting all kinds of breakaways on Gavin. Any week I have 2 breakaways you know strange things are happening. Nolan was up potting goals like nothing. By mid game the hats were on the ice for him!

I brought Bosak out this week for protection. It was nice to see him out there again and he was skating like a demon back there so it looks like the knee and his running endurance has paid off big time.

Gould buried one right under the cookie shelf so tight that Gavin had to dig it out from behind the post. Dickenson and Rick are now the “Grind Line” but Mikey needs to focus on the finishes from last week. He seemed to have a million chances that either went wide or got swiped away.

Looking forward to next week fellas…shooting on Sweet Len!