The Cuppa Joe Grinders

Remember the Good Ol’ Days?

Constantly glancing down the other end of the rink during warm-up in hopes of seeing players on the other team that skated and shot as poorly as you did. Getting down by a four goal deficit and secretly hoping that it increases to five so that they let the clock run in the third period to end this misery. Ahhh yes, I remember it well.

Stepping out onto the ice for your shift with your legs feeling like lead, and your mind filled with dread. Hoping, just hoping that your line doesn’t get scored on this shift.  Wondering what it would be like to get a shot on goal, yourself. Ahh yes, I remember it well.

Thinking you’ll set an example for the team on how to work and skate hard except but you just didn’t get the opportunity during your shift.  And you were out there for 2 minutes. Ahhh yes, I remember it well.

Hearing voices in your head screaming, “Point!, Point! Who’s got the Point? The Point! The Point! Who’s on the Point?! The Point! Point! Point! Point! Point!” Hoping the other team can’t hear it or else they’ll realize their point-men are open and feed them the puck for a wide-open shot on net. Ahhh yes, I remember it well.

The bickering on the bench. The yapping at the ref. Screaming at your own players to calm down. Whining about the calls. Ahh yes, I remember it well.

Forgetting that your team-mates are as out of shape, unskilled and downtrodden as you, until you step on the ice and find yourself out of position and trying to get back to your end as fast as you can, but your legs just won’t go, and suddenly wishing on the previous shift you hadn’t been hollering at your team-mate to Hustle! Hustle! Hustle!  Ahhhhh yes. I remember it well.

In fact it seems just like yesterday.