My First Carnival Hockey Game

             I discovered something very important at the Carnival week hockey game that others who are currently suffering from post-concussion syndrome might want to take note of: earplugs really do work. At first I was skeptical about going to this game because I knew that McConnell arena would be packed to the rafters with enthusiastic Management Carnival participants whose screams would surely give me a pounding headache. I was willing to try whatever I could in order to avoid missing out on the festivities, so I put in the earplugs and I’m very glad that they were so effective. I was able to enjoy the atmosphere and the game without feeling as though my brain was about to explode.

                Had I not been wearing earplugs, I’m sure that my concussion would have forced me to leave after only a few minutes. The crowd at this game was wilder than any I have seen out so far this year to support the Redmen hockey team. The stands were filled with Carnival participants, decked out in jumpsuits and screaming at the top of their lungs. Several items were thrown on the ice, gallons of beer were consumed and many creative signs were on display in the crowd. There was a frenzied vibe in the building from all of the people, and of course there was much taunting of the opposition from a few obnoxious fans. The Carleton goalie in particular was forced to endure hundreds of people jeering at him and a few very classy spectators informing him of exactly how fat his mother is. Remarkably, he still managed to pull off a shut-out in both regulation play and overtime. Talk about unshakable focus.

                The same cannot be said for many of the other players on the ice. Both McGill and Carleton seemed quite rattled by the fans, as they are not used to playing in front of such a large crowd. Neither team seemed able to keep possession of the puck for long periods of time, or to set up good scoring chances. Not much offense was created by either squad, as was apparent from the 0-0 score at the end of regulation time. This is extremely rare, especially at the University level when games commonly end with both teams scoring upwards of 4 or 5 goals. 

                The overtime period was no more exciting, with neither team generating any gasp-worthy scoring opportunities. In the shoot-out, both goalies managed to save the first two shots they were faced with. When it came time for McGill’s third shooter, the entire crowd was on its feet shouting encouragement. As the red light came on to signal that the first goal of the night had been scored, the entire building erupted into cheers. Carleton had one last shooter that could have tied the game and forced the shoot-out to continue, but McGill’s goaltender managed to pull off one final save, earning a 1-0 victory for the good guys.

                If you missed this epic game and are feeling upset about it, do not worry! There are plenty of opportunities to attend exciting athletic competitions at McGill. Click here for a list of all upcoming games.

See you in the stands!

-          Martlet Girl

Scoring with Shinny: Why Outdoor Hockey is Simply the Greatest

           There is something deeply Canadian and magical about an outdoor hockey game. Whether it is played on a beaver pond or at the local rink, shinny hockey is one of the many reasons winter is such a wonderful season. Personally, I have never had a bad experience playing outdoor hockey. It is somewhat of a miracle that even with terrible ice and random teammates, the game always ends up being an enjoyable experience.

            Last night I played in my first “real” shinny game of the winter. I had already been skating several times and had played some hockey with my friends and family, but due to the unfortunate accidents and illnesses described in the last post, there haven’t been too many good hockey days that have coincided with good health days. Last night the moon was full and the air was clear, and when my brother and sister wanted to go check out what was going on at the rink I couldn’t say no. My post-concussion syndrome symptoms have subsided considerably in the past few days and I felt well enough to at least give it a go. Don’t worry: this accident-prone-walking-disaster-magnet has learned to wear a helmet.

            The crowd at the rink last night was less random than is sometimes the case with pick-up hockey. Most of the players were around our age, and the skill level was good without being too intimidating. It’s always fun to play with my siblings because not only are they much more talented than I am (both have been playing high-level hockey for years), but they are also nice enough to pass me the puck sometimes. They make me appear better than I actually am, and for that I am extremely grateful.

            If there is one thing Montreal does well, it is outdoor hockey rinks. In a city that lives and dies with its NHL team, it comes as no surprise that a lot of emphasis is placed upon the promotion and preservation of hockey culture. This is shown through good maintenance of the city’s many outdoor rinks, which are kept in admirable condition throughout the winter. The large number and good quality of these ice surfaces encourages Montrealers to get out and enjoy their city’s athletic obsession. The closest outdoor rink to the McGill campus is located in Jeanne-Mance Park, and I would strongly recommend checking it out during your next break between classes. Whether you are a beginner or whether you have a full childhood of 6am practices under your belt, a good time is almost always guaranteed.

            If this post has not managed to convince you to sharpen the skates, tape up the stick and take to the outdoor ice, I hope you will at least consider coming out to support the McGill Redmen hockey team in their upcoming Carnival Game. You can read all about the shenanigans of last year’s “Fill the Arena” game in this post. The 2012 carnival game on January 20^th promises to be just as exciting and action-packed. Definitely an event you don’t want to miss!

            See you on the ice!

- Martlet Girl 

Life is a Game of Inches: Thoughts on the Worst Christmas Break Ever

          It has been awhile since my last post, and the reason for my absence has very little to do with laziness or a busy holiday schedule. For exactly a month now I have been out of commission due to factors outside of my control. When I say “out of commission” I mean that my days have consisted of sleeping, reading and watching episodes of trashy TV shows. Not exactly the vacation I had planned for. Back in November I was dreaming of spending my time off playing pond hockey, cross-country skiing, skating and snowboarding in the winter paradise of the Gatineau Hills. Instead, a series of unfortunate events derailed these plans and have left me hiding under blankets trying not to feel too sorry for myself.

            As a whole, 2011 has not been a lucky year for me. Before this disastrous Christmas vacation, I had already had the flu twice, developed a stomach ulcer, bruised my ribs, flipped over the handle bars of my mountain bike, developed piriformis syndrome from running, broken my nose playing soccer and gotten a concussion. It was a frustrating year filled with set backs and recovering. Then Christmas vacation came and things went from bad to worse.

            The first day of vacation I got the flu yet again (which probably had a lot to do with working in an elementary school for a month and a half). This lasted a week and a half before I finally felt normal enough to get out of bed. The next day I was in the passenger’s seat when our car got rear ended, which resulted in my head smacking back against the headrest and yet another concussion. For a few days I was once again confined to bed with the lights out and a splitting headache. I had been feeling better for about two days when, on December 30^th, I went to watch the Redmen hockey team take on Waterloo in a holiday exhibition game. Apparently 2011 was not done being hard on me because a puck came over the boards and smacked me in the head. Concussion #3 of the year was confirmed, and I have been in bed ever since.

            All of this has gotten me thinking about luck, both in sports and in life. It seems that no matter what we do, how much we practice or how talented we are, it all amounts to nothing without a bit of luck on our side. Life really is a game of inches. If I had been sitting an inch to the left, I would not have gotten a puck in the head. If my mom and I hadn’t taken an extra minute to choose what kind of coffee to order, we would have been clear of the accident.

            The theme of luck came to mind again as I was watching Canada play Russia in the World Junior Hockey Championship semi-final last night. Canada was down 6-5 with seconds remaining on the clock. They had a very good chance to score, but instead hit the goal post. The announcer summed up my thoughts quite nicely when he said: “Sometimes you get a miracle, and sometimes you hit the post.”

            In 2011, I managed to hit a lot of goal posts. I’m hoping that 2012 will be a bit kinder and that my head will stop throbbing before classes start.

Hope everyone had a great break and best wishes (and luck) for 2012!

- Martlet Girl