Fullright

Got to skate this past Friday, 6/30/23. Once again, a beat down from college and high school players more interested in beating on an old man. This was one of those skates where I didnt play poorly and still got bombed. I can say two positive things. One, had a ball! Two, I got revenge on the hot shot who beat me with the lacrosse goal a few weeks ago; I stayed on my feet, hugged the post, and the attempt harmlessly hit me in the chest. Best part was he called me an MF-er. 

There used to be a syndrome called "Illinois Hockey" where players made dumb mistakes despite being skilled and for some actually thought they had potential until they left Illinois and played against high end players and reality crashed into them. I think the syndrome is dead. These young guys are so skilled and strong. Meanwhile, photographic evidence that I still exist,

@WillyGrips13: I did try a pair of bauer modern pads a few years ago and they killed my hips and I felt top heavy. Thanks for the kind words, Willy. I think however I am no longer even a beer league goalie anymore. A practice target is probably more accurate.

@seagoal: fair point. I do agree about the gloves. I have a Passau 60 and it become comfie after a few skates. To be honest, I dont know how you guys move as well as you fellas do in modern gear. Certainly, modern goalies are better trained and stronger than me and my peers....the few left standing.

This isnt going to come across well here.

Same pads since 1984. My pants are 9 years old. Same chest/arms since 1984. Gloves for at least 7 years, before the current ones, about 20 years. Cup for about 14 years. Knee pads about 10. One mask is about 7 years old and the other, which I cannot wear in some buildings, is about 6. Not a question of dollars although that is important. I just hate breaking in new stuff. I maintain my stuff carefully and it has held up good.  Mrs. only really complains about the smell. 

In the words of Tony Montana from Scarface: "I demand my juhuman riiittes".

Funny story: In 3rd grade, Mrs. Palermo tried to convert me to rightie in her penmanship class. I flunked the class and my 

                          Dad was not happy with the F on the report card. After several raps on the head, I blurted out what she was 

                          doing. My Dad then had a conversation with her; I was excused from penmanship class forever which

                          probably explains why no one can read my cursive writing. Pops was a hard guy but had my back on my 

                          handedness which is surprising because not a soul in my family or extended family is leftie. At the time, lefties

                          were considered children of the devil. 

@A.YOUNGoalie13: very well done. Snob righties....they just dont realize how hard it is to cope on this right handed biased planet. Going to start an organization:

American/Canadian Civil Liberties Union for Lefties...ACCCLUL. Might have to work on the name.

Forgot Gilles Villemure. 

I suppose I am biased against forwards and a little against D-men but I put that all aside for Mogilny. What makes his career even more impressive and HHofF worthy is that he defected. He had no option but to excel and made good on his decision to book on the USSR. Heavens knows what happened to any relatives he left behind.

I also dont get this business that "since he didnt win a Cup, he doesnt belong". I dont see the legtitimacy of that point as a criterion to make it in. 

@Wonder35, primo Fibrosport/Jacques Plante bucket. Still have mine in the basement. 

King Henrik is a slam dunk. Barrasso....never a fan (apparently a large type A-hole) but his record is great. Mike Vernon deserves it also. Little surprised Cujo didnt make it in.

Thoughts, comments?

Good to hear you got to play w your son @MTH

Weird how time passes and things change. Being a 60 yr old gas bag, I try to keep an open mind and use more modern save selections and incorporate modern concepts into my "game" such as it is. I mentioned above that last time out, a college player beat me with a lacrosse goal. He beat me while I was in a classic - thanks MTH - VH up tight against the post. I should have realized that with my Darren Pang height, if I had stayed on my feet up tight against the post, the puck would have just hit me in the chest. Best part: I stopped him staying up last summer - he told me this time that as he went behind the net, he was surprised I VH-ed and knew he had me beat before he stuffed the puck in.  Go figure!

This has been a really good Finals. Neither team has stunk (G2 by Fla was not good). Both goalies have been great. Hope it goes more than 5.

Really impressed by Vegas. Hill has been great and Fla seems to not have an answer so far. A little conflicted though. I like Vegas a tad more than Fla (what can I say? I like the town a lot) but I think Bob is one of the best around for a long time.

21 hours ago, Chenner29 said:

You're a brave man for subscribing to XM radio.

Those guys are relentless when you try to cancel

You're not kidding. I had it on a leased car. Lease ended, returned the car to the dealership, and they still kept calling to get me to subscribe. 

Skated this past Friday, 6/2/23. Positives: got on the ice & my conditioning is better than I expected. Not hockey shape but kinda close. Negatives: high school and college hockey is done and boys are home from college and high schoolers have no leagues right now, several bruises (maybe a positive?), and didnt play so hot together with one college fella beating me with a lacrosse goal and another deking me into the parking lot leaving my jock on the ice. Had a blast. Here are two examples of a relic long past its shelf life.

So after being off since November of 22, I got back this past Friday, 5/26/23. Pleasantly surprised that I was able to last the entire 90 min skate. Couldnt stop a beach ball but it felt really good to see shots and get a hockey sweat. Going to try on 6/2/23.

17 hours ago, coopaloop1234 said:

Jokes on you, my ego is all over this fucking board. 

Bah....you just like to sound like an egoist. 

So the board's save percentage is 99.999999999? Pretty effing great.

One of the best parts about this place....just about everyone here has been beat up enough to leave the ego elsewhere. 

Vegas played really well last night. Leaning towards the Cats simply because of Bob but Bob's resting so open question how that will affect his game. 

'Cats have a good coach who always figures how to get the most of his players, they rarely turn the puck over in their end, and Bob is playing extremely well. The lack of turnovers is minimizing the 'Canes forecheck. We'll see.

@coopaloop1234: you should change your name to "bag skate"....lol. 

Geez....just saw Dubas is out in Toronto. What is going on with this outfit? 2 steps forward, 5 back. Really hate to see this happening to Leafs; seems to be blowing up again for umpteenth time. 

1 hour ago, coopaloop1234 said:

Brossoit was awful against Edmonton before he got hurt in game 3. 

Adin Hill took the reigns from there and was great. 

Being in the central time zone, I missed some of the Oilers games due to being an old guy who cant stay awake past 10 pm cst. Didnt realize he got hurt; I saw Hill in goal for one of the games and wasnt sure what happened. Thanks!

Ottenger has been real good & LB in Vegas has been real good. 

I am cringing about the Leafs....wth? Saw a few blurbs on NHL Network with Double M, Matthews, and the GM. Tumult! How about getting the goaltender deal squared away for the first time in decades?

Anyway, the 4 best teams playing their best at this time are in; if Bob keeps playing like he has played in the playoffs to date....

Not that it matters but is Quick dressing for the Knights?

The games have been fun to watch. Out of all the goalies so far, Bob has been the strongest but a long way to go. 

I wish I could offer you some comfort. I am shocked to see this; you write more about your family than playing net so I can only imagine how painful this is for you.

Good advice up top here about protecting yourself and your rights to your kids. We are all here for you.

Great job, fellas, having MTH's back.