Almost 57 here, and I am always at the rink really early hoping to get into the room to spend at least a half hour stretching and warming up. Last night was my >40 draft league, and as I'm sitting in the hallway at 7:55 munching on popcorn (pre-game superstition) waiting for the room for my 9:00 game, a captain from one of the 8:00 teams comes out of his room and asks me if I can play. Their 38 year old goalie forgot to get up from a nap. Whoops. So I got dressed and on the ice one minute into the game, and promptly had to stop a breakaway. I felt like the tin man after a heavy rain. Eventually, I warmed up and we ended up winning. But I was gassed for my game at 9:00. The 9:00 ended in a 2 - 2 tie and I played a good game. Normally I'm tired on nights when I play two games but not dead. I almost fell out of bed this morning because I am so beat up.
Synopsis: I'm old and need my full pre-game ritual. At the same time, I'm just happy to still be able to play hockey