Hitting the Post on the Gold Coast

Inspiration?

isaacmorrison — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 13:16:01 +0000

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

isaacmorrison — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 13:19:06 +0000

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

isaacmorrison — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 04:11:51 +0000

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

isaacmorrison — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 08:44:41 +0000

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.

The Aaron Asham Signing

isaacmorrison — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 06:24:03 +0000

So most people would now know Aaron Asham is now a Pittsburgh Penguin. And if you didn’t know already, the Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins hate each other and Asham being an enforcer formerly for the Flyers makes it that much harder to see him go.

Personally, I liked the guy, I never met him but I liked the way he played, stood up for his teammates and the way he fought. I think he played an important role in the playoffs even though he only got 4 goals and 7 points, he average around 10-11 minutes a game, against strong players, and Asham isn’t known for his scoring. So it sounds as though he played pretty well.

But one game in particular, I found more admiration and respect for Asham was when Colby Armstrong hit James Van Riemsdyk, and Asham just came over and started belting him. Ok he might not of warned Armstrong he wanted to fight and Asham may have instigated it, but he was just standing up for his teammate. Here’s what happened:

Now that Asham is a Penguin, it means that the Flyers fans aren’t going to like him very much just because he plays for Pittsburgh. I however see it differently. Think of any NHL team and think of them as a business. Pittsburgh like any business wants to be the best it can be to ultimately win the Stanely Cup. And they think of Asham as a key role, so they hired him for one year, to try to win, not to try to spite the Flyers fans. Every team in this league wants to win a Stanley Cup so they are going to have to sign players who think can do that. It’s not about the best players, its about the right players.

While I did enjoy watching Asham play for the Flyers I will miss him on the roster. But while its going to be hard watching him play for the Penguins and defending Crosby, that’s hockey and people should understand that. So I hope he does well for Pittsburgh and I’m looking forward until the season starts again!

Protected: My English Exam

isaacmorrison — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:45:14 +0000

This post is password protected. You must visit the website and enter the password to continue reading.

It’s Just Hockey

isaacmorrison — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 21:11:05 +0000

Ok so last night there was a Division 2 game on and it was full checking (most of the other games are non-contact) and there were people that made some hits and took some hits. But when someone would go to hit them, they would take it personally. C’mon man that’s hockey for you. If you don’t want to be hit, don’t play in this league. You can’t expect not to be hit if you are dishing it out to everyone. Playing in the adults league I learnt something, If you want to give hits, expect them back twice as hard. And at the end of the game, don’t go on about it because after all, it’s just hockey. There is no need to slash someones stick after the final whistle, and if you do that, expect a retaliation.

And once everything is over, talk about it not fight them off the ice because what happens on the ice, stays on the ice.

Take and Receive

isaacmorrison — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 08:59:58 +0000

At most of the rinks where I play in, there are a lot of people that think that just because there isn’t many people that play the game in Australia, they think they are better than what they actually are. Most of these people don’t even follow the NHL or any other league related to hockey yet they can comment on other peoples flaws. Yes there are people that know more than others and have something to teach but the majority don’t know anything other than getting a goal makes you a good player which even that is untrue.

A team may be made up of veterans, sophomores, rookies etc and they all play a key role. My theory is that all players have something to offer, if not then why do they play? Why would they be effective on a particular team? And if rookies don’t want to listen to the veterans on their team, their learning is going to be a lot slower then someone that takes the advice of the veterans. After all, the veterans that have been playing a while do have the more experience, which is handy to have.

But what some people need to be aware of is to give advice, you need to be able to take it as well. Compare it to the game of ice hockey. A team isn’t a team if one player just continuously takes it up the ice and tries to break through the offensive zone. It may work once but to work as team, players need to pass. And to pass it requires players need to be able to make a pass and the other to receive it. Because if any of these things aren’t completed then the pass won’t make it to the other player. And if a veteran gives advice, someone either has to listen to it or forget it. But if they forget it did the veteran ever really give out advice or were they just talking to themselves? And in a team environment, communication is vital.

Reading Between the Blue Lines: the Neutral Zone

isaacmorrison — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:02:39 +0000

In some domination hockey games I’ve watched there seems to be one common factor. The team that is playing well, seems to control the neutral zone.

For example there are 2 teams, almost identical on paper, even and fair. At the end of the 2nd Team A could be winning 5-0 and have 20 shots on net. Team B only has about 5 shots on net. This may be because of the neutral zone and/or Team A’s defense is really good. Yes there could be other factors for the score line but if a team isn’t breaking through the neutral and not crossing the blue line into the attacking zone, chances won’t be made. If Team A is keeping the other team to the boards, intercepting passes, playing a good defensive game which leaves Team B to either 1) dump it in and chase it, or 2) get some fresh legs out there because that line isn’t doing shit. Hockey is a game of chances, but its a matter of increasing the chance of getting a goal, or increasing the chance of the not letting the puck go in against your team. A team creates their own chances. You will never see a team give the opposition a clear path to the net or a 2-on-1 or 2-on-0. Both teams need to work to get what they want and if they are doing something that isn’t working, have a think about what you can do you work around it. Their style of play may work great against one team, but they might need to shake it up a bit against another to get a better chance or opportunity.

I believe play in the neutral zone is one of the most important elements in the game as break-ins, break-outs, centre ice face-offs and offside face-offs are taken in this zone. This zone can ultimately decide the outcome of a game. If a team don’t win face-offs, they don’t have possession, and if they don’t have possession they can’t score a goal and goals win games.

It’s a team effort

isaacmorrison — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 10:43:49 +0000

A common question that’s asked to players is, “Did you have a good game?”. But really everyone’s game is different. On a team you would have roles such as scores, playmakers, power fowards, checkers, maybe even a goon player. But when a critique asks if they had a good game or not, it really depends on who they’re asking. It all comes down to what the player wants from his own game and what he wants to achieve. For example, if the media asks a “sniper” if he had a good game or not, look at the score sheet. Snipers are meant to score! and of course they are going to have good and bad nights but scorers want and are being paid to get points on the board. Whereas if you asked a third-line checker and a key PK player if he had a good game, he might say yes, even though he didn’t get a point in the game or didn’t get into a fight, but he might of killed of a penalty and blocked 5 shots. Yes he did have a good game, but in the eyes of some media, he didn’t score so he didn’t do well.

But why ask someone if they had a good game or not? Does it really matter? The game is already over and of course players make mistakes but we’re all human. Fans and the media often forget that it is a lot harder than it looks. Having a small town/city/state/country expecting the team to win is often pressuring. And if the team is going through a bit of a rough patch, it makes it that little bit harder. Ice hockey is known for its hard hits and the fighting aspect, but people often forget that it is a very emotional sport as well. A team of hockey players is more than just a group of guys or girls. It is more like family. And when the team loses, it can not be blamed on just one player, its everyone. If the goalie had a bit of a rough night and people were blaming him/her for a loss, what about the fowards? Aren’t they meant to be scoring? People just need to remember that its a team game and when a team loses, its also hard if not harder for the players than it is for the fans. Who cares if a certain someone had a bad game and the team lost. You can’t blame a player for a team’s lost.

I could talk about shootouts but that is for another day.