Inspiration?

So today I was talking to the guy that controls the Sydney Bears social media websites/twitter/and i suppose facebook. I find out that he is a player in the AIHL and he has represented Australia 13 times. 6 Senior teams, 4 Junior teams, and 3 Youth teams. That is no small feat and to also be playing in the best league in Australia I think he is now my second Australian hockey hero. The first being my friend that went and interned with the Caps and Silvertips. But now have I finally found an Australian hockey playing idol to look up to? I think I have.

Also in our conversation today I mentioned that I probably wouldn’t make the Australian Youth team as I have only been skating 2 years and ice hockey in Queensland is so far behind the other states, and this isn’t because of the warm weather. It’s because of the stupid politics that goes on. His response was to keep at it which I plan to do but tonight just proves my point. Tonight there was meant to be a Division 1 game and as normal, I turned up sort of early to put the nets up as we don’t have any glass, I go and get changed into my gear and as I’m about to walk out, the club president says to me the game has been called off and the ice could not be used even just to skate on. There were 2 people including myself on my team and 4 people on the other team. Now that is just F’n ridiculous. This is a sceduled game in a league and no one decides to turn up. How can anyone improve or get better if no one turns up!

Anyways tha’ts my vent for tonight. Hopefully one day I can meet the guy that plays for the Sydney Bears while also doing most of the other things for that club while still managing to play for Australia 13 times.

Tonights Game

So tonight was a full checking game and someone who used to be very close to my family, until he betrayed us and pretty much stole from us was on the other team. My family and this guy have a history and one of my adopted brothers and I play on the same team. This was the first time that we had played together against him and of course, he had a bit of a target on his head. Much like Matt Cooke did when he hit Marc Savard. Savard being my Mum, the Bruins being my family and Matt Cooke being this guy. So yes there was a lot hitting against this guy and yes he was getting frustrated as he would. But towards the last seconds of the game, a hit was put on him and he got his stick and hit my adopted brother on the hip. And I’m not a very in-your-face sort of person, but when someone tries to smack a player with their stick. That is totally not on in my books. The referee did not see the hit with the stick, so I defended my adopted brother and put the guy on the ice with a big hit. Yes, I do admit, I did the hit when he didn’t have the puck, but no penalty was called. Yes things were said but after that, I skated away and the final buzzer sounded. Now my thought is, that if you want to hit someone with your stick, you are cheap and you really let yourself, your team and the whole game down. And when you do something as dangerous and as stupid as that, expect a retaliation.

So the game ended and like after all the games that are played here, there was a handshake line. And as I was going along, this guy didn’t shake my hand. Ok I half expected this but seriously dude, that is just low. And I don’t care whether or not you shake my hand or not, but that is just disrespectful. I’m not going to hold a grudge for what he did because I’m a big believer in “what happens on the ice, stays on the ice” but to hit someone with a stick is so wrong.

I would like to know what other people think as this is how I feel.

Off-Season Break

I think it would be safe to say now that most of the hockey in Australia has ended for the season but in some cases it hasn’t. I am not sure why, but the rink that I play at continues to have a Summer Season. And while this is good to have during the summer and get out of the hot weather, why is there not an off-season?? Off-seasons are a place to relax, workout, get stronger, better, faster ready for next season, right? Well, here not many people believe that off-ice training is worth it, nor do they have to do it to get better, they just assume that because they play ice hockey, they are really good at it when really, they don’t even watch the NHL so they don’t know what good is.

While it is good to keep playing the sport that I love during the summer and some of the blue tongues do come and play which is even better, but we all need a break sometimes.

It is good that during our “off-season” the NHL starts back up and when the winter season starts the AIHL starts also. So its hockey ALL year round which is exactly the way I like it.

Just another blog

Ok so lately I’ve been questioning if its really worth my while continuing to play hockey because of the politics around it and I’m sick of being in the middle of it. Also its hard to keep trying my best and trying to get better when whats the point? The game down here is not about skill or prospects, its about who you know and who can get you on a team. It sucks but that’s the way it is here, well in Queensland in particular. There was a post on one of the Australian Ice Hockey League forums that there is here and someone commented on how bush league and unprofessional the Blue Tongues are and have been, and to be honest, they are. Players got replied with disgust and hatred because of what this person had said. Do they really think that by doing this is going to change their perspective? Of course not. In my eyes, the way to prove them wrong is to change their act and start acting professionally as a club. The General Manager of the club can talk it up all he wants but cannot deliver. And I realise that if he reads this my position on the team ever, is in doubt, but seriously get your shit together. This is not a local league, this is the BEST Australia can offer!! And it is the best team QUEENSLAND can offer!!!

And so now the one person that has held the club together for the last 4/5 years (since the beginning) is now leaving. This person has done almost everything for this club. And if it wasn’t for her, it probably wouldn’t be a team in the AIHL. She knows what to do, and how it needs to be done. Shes possibly the only person that knows anything on how to run a club/team properly in Queensland. There’s a reason why the blue tongues roster has looked almost the same as it did 4 years ago. The junior program is shit so the higher end leagues and teams aren’t going to have any structure either. And even if there are kids that are good enough, they don’t want to play for the Blue Tongues. They go overseas, or play for other teams.

But my point is while this person may be a massive loss to hockey in Queensland, that’s just the way hockey is. People come and go. Players, coaches, management etc. So I would like to thank that person for everything they have done to ice hockey in Queensland because without her there probably wouldn’t be anything like the Blue Tongues. I thank you for all your hard work and time you have put into the club and haven’t asked for anything in return, just good hockey. So I thank you, and wish you all the best.

So now while I’ll go and cry in a corner
stay golden.