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After I hung up the skates in about 1989, I never thought I would have the chance to play hockey again. There were times when I longed to, but because I had been a netminder, the equipment would have been way too dear, and too bulky to store.
But that was before my kids got big enough to insist!
My eldest joined an adult ball hockey team last year, and one of the players told him he should bring his dad along. My son explained that I was a goalie and would need gear, and another player said no problem; they had some for me.
So as of tonight, I have competed in my first game in about 25 years, letting in only one goal (for the win!), and will start on ice this coming Wednesday.
I am over the moon, and feel like I have dropped 20 years from my age. The university ice team even sent me a message to say that they would allow staff members to play with them. 8)
Me, earlier tonight:
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How do we know it's you........ 😉
Saxon, your'e not actually playing there, but neither am I on this shot. Front row, 2nd from right.
[url= https://farm1.staticflickr.com/713/23459030750_79281729e5_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm1.staticflickr.com/713/23459030750_79281729e5_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/BJZExq ]The Dragons 1984[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmygrainger/ ]jimmyg352[/url], on Flickr
Here I am earlier in my career..
[url= https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6234/6340138234_cde895996b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6234/6340138234_cde895996b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/aEfSdb ]HALL OF FAME[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmygrainger/ ]jimmyg352[/url], on Flickr
8)
Great photos
My mates step son plays and is very good he is only 9 and plays with kids in Swindon up to the age of 14. Mum is Ukrainian so it is in his DNA I guess 😆
In holiday time the club can only get on the ice between midnight and 2 in the morning 😯
I played this a few times in Finland and it was great fun. Never seen it in the UK but a few people play it.
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I played this a few times in Finland
My office used to play salibandy after work once a week - it was great. I insisted on what they called a left-handed stick though despite being right handed. Apparently in ice-hockey and in salibandy you use the stick on the other side of your body to normal hockey, and I could not get used to it.
I insisted on what they called a left-handed stick though despite being right handed.
It is fairly normal, though not universal, for right-handed players to 'shoot left' - which is to say, hold their stick with the blade on their left-hand side. Bizarrely, this does not necessarily correspond with how the very same play might hold a bat in cricket or baseball, or a golf club.
I have always been a slightly confused mix of both hands, in that when I am not in net, I shoot right, but because I catch with my left, I switch my stick over.
@esselgruntfuttock: Do you play at all anymore? And is that pic in the UK? IIRC, you live in the Northeast. There must be teams (either ball or ice) that you could meet up with...
I would shoot with the ball on my right hand side as one does in normal aka field hockey - I was told this was not normal for right handed people, the stick I bought was sold as being for left handers. I still have it, I kept it as a souvenier 🙂
Cool pics
The university ice team even sent me a message to say that they would allow staff members to play with them
Uni Hockey is good fun, dug up a couple of pics of me playing for Birmingham
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And one from Nottinghan uni's trip to the IIHF Centre of Excellence in Finland
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@jd77: those really are nice pics. When did you play?
On a side note: is it me, or are the dimensions of that Finnish rink a bit strange?
Thanks, was lucky that we had some pro photographers turn up and take pics for free
I Played from 2001 to 2009, mostly for Bham Uni, but also for Coventry Chaos and Solihull Vipers.
Re the Finland pic, must be the camera angle: its an International sized rink, one of 3 at the complex - the US team that won the junior world cup in 2004 was there the week after us