WWTBAM Bored

But I did get as close as I likely ever will last Friday.

I have had the pleasure of handling the scorekeeping/public address duties for our high school girls' hockey team this year. On Friday the Storm won their sectional final, which earned them a berth in the state tournament. The game was as electric as anything I have ever worked...two highly-ranked and evenly-matched teams in a high-school tournament atmosphere. And, beyond that, it was an extremely emotional game for another reason. The coach's father-in-law (who was also grandfather to the coach's two daughters, both of who play on the team) was killed in an accident earlier in the week...needless to say, this was not going to be easy for them.

Neither team scored in the first period, both teams put one in in the second, and that was it for the scoring until the final three minutes of the game, when the Storm scored on a power play, and then added an empty-net goal with just over a minute left to play...only to see the visitors put one in a few seconds later. Final score was 3-2, Storm.

Unfortunately, I will not get to call their games at State, as the tourney is held in Madison every year and they use their own off-ice officials down there. I have done state championships in the past (youth tournaments, ranging from Mite up to Bantam levels) at our home rink, and those are always a lot of fun to work as well; you have the best seat in the house, and you get to see some good hockey played just about literally under your nose. But this game was something special. And if I will never be able to call their state championship, this will still do nicely, thank you.

Keep your fingers crossed for the girls on Friday and (hopefully) Saturday!

Congrats to the team and good luck!

Keeping everything crossed!!!!!!

Is this the team your daughter's on, AD?

Good luck to them!

MarleysGh0st wrote:Is this the team your daughter's on, AD?

No and yes. This is a bit difficult, as she is on the JV- uhh, "varsity reserve" squad. This is something of a misnomer, as the JV kids seem to have been somewhat forgotten about this year. It's a long story, and not something I really want to get into too much. But when Jess asked if she could have this Friday off to ride down with the parents of one of the varsity players (who also happens to be her best friend, on or off the team), I immediately told her "yes"; as far as I was concerned, she is still part of the team even though she did not make varsity, and she deserved a chance to watch them play.

That having been said: I do appreciate what the coach has done. The Storm won last year's state tournament and only lost one player to graduation - so expectations are high, and he is in a spot where he and the team are expected to do very well...so he already has a full agenda on his hands. And whatever my daughter's situation may be, the girls who are playing this coming weekend have earned this shot. I have come to know a lot of them through the years as well as their families, and they really are a good bunch. I will be cheering as loud as anybody (at the TV, that is; I cannot break away from work to be there in person). As loud as "anybody", that is, except possibly my daughter. You cannot "out-loud" Jess...trust me on this one.

Good luck to them!

Thanks! We will keep you posted...

AlphaDummy wrote:

MarleysGh0st wrote:Is this the team your daughter's on, AD?

No and yes. This is a bit difficult, as she is on the JV- uhh, "varsity reserve" squad.

Okay. I thought I remembered something about that varsity reserve squad, but I wasn't sure if you were talking about that one or the varsity here.