Lucky Pucker

And I’m thankful that we celebrated it when it actually happened; six weeks ago.

All I would comment here - and I’m confident you’re one of those people - is to enjoy every ice time! As you say, we are getting to play the sport we love.

Oh! So here I was thinking I got injured because I’m too old (ish). From your example, it seems that the problem is that I’m not old ENOUGH!

Had a goalmouth contact last week with a buddy (himself a former goalie) while my D-man tried to gain position on him. Basically his body weight took my head in one direction, my own body pulled in the opposite direction, and my neck paid the price. Was pretty alarmed when it happened, as my left arm was all pins-and-needles for a few minutes. Luckily, one of the players on our team is a Doctor, so he did a quick check to make sure there were no signs of something serious. Obviously, I left the game. Guys were freaked out because while I never lost consciousness, they said I didn’t move at all for like 3-4 minutes. A day or two later, doesn’t seem any worse - so I continue in my coaching duties, and play the next game. The neck still hurts, but the pain gets worse after the game, spreading into my shoulder and bicep. Headaches and difficulty finding comfortable sleeping positions lead me to book an appointment with our physio. Saw the physio today. I’m out for at least 4-6 weeks. Nerve injury in my neck down my arm. Physio says I’m “currently in the acute phase of the injury with highly elevated inflammation” and I can’t play until the nerve starts to generate scar tissue, pain recedes, and I can do abrupt movements- in a controlled fashion - without pain. My buddy feels terrible, but it was just one of those freak accident type of things. I still haven’t processed that I’m probably not playing again until after Christmas… that said, I’m very relieved that it wasn’t more serious. But a fucking nerve in my fucking neck…(?) of all the things…

Might have gotten a bit of a sideways look; that’s more “France” French than Quebecois joual…

Also crazy to see how many guys had >20 goals. And Robinson had 19! I think that’s the year they went to the finals against Calgary (but lost). I guess they were a better team than I realized or remembered.

Diving blocker save from Primeau on Tuesday https://www.nhl.com/video/cayden-primeau-with-a-spectacular-goalie-save-from-montreal-canadi-6339799984112

I swear, @MTH - you’re like my long lost brother! I saw this post and instantly recognized it from the Panini books! I still have this one (and two others). Unlike the rich kids whose parents bought them BOXES of stickers to fill their books, I was missing a few… but I got Hayward that year!

Was on the Custom Cages site recently, and noticed that they now offer vinyl for pads and gloves. https://www.custom-cages.com/goalie-pad-vinyl I’m fine with ~$40 for mask vinyl, but I doubt that that same ~$40 worth of “highly durable vinyl” would be good for more than a special cause tourney or something. That said, at $40, it might be the difference between me being able to get some green on my pads and gloves to match my Whalers jersey. (I am an avowed matchy-matchy maniac - but have been told in no uncertain terms to pump the brakes on goalie purchases. Period.) Not sure how long this has been available, so might be too new for anyone to have tried it - but if you have, what do you think?

Definitely close enough though. And the green not matching is just because I didn’t waste too much time trying to colour match in MS Paint - lol!

Rush job, but got the vinyl on this afternoon. Went a bit off-script from the Custom Cages pictures. But then it’s my fucking mask and vinyl. wondering about green pad skins to cover the red colour zones in my gear… did a quick and dirty mock up to get an idea. Not quite the right green, but I think it might work

Ummm… disagree. On the same roster, even more awesomely ugly

When you’re right, you’re right, broski

I fucking hate the Leafs. But I think it’s a good (maybe even great) move for the Leafs overall. That said, see earlier comment about fucking hating the Leafs. …and while I don’t hate them, I’ve been calling the Oilers “Toronto - West” for a few years now. Too many parallels to deny.

Reaves came into this season all hot and heavy, pumping a bicep in the player intros and stuff. And in the Leafs nation, that played well since they haven’t had guts or character since Wendell and Gilmour. But then Wifi comes in, throws Reaves around, and tells Leafs nation:

They’re great - and really good members of the local community, doing a lot of charity events and partnerships. And their beers are on point - as evidenced by some of the breweries that have collaborated with them, including Wood Brothers, Bellwoods, Collective Arts, Blood Brothers, 5e Baron, and Bas Canada (one of my favourites - I’m drinking one of their DIPAs right now!) I don’t have any Fighting Geese swag, but I do have a DCBC rugby jersey

Anybody else see this from the Habs- Leafs game last night? Fucking Arbor “WiFi” Xhekaj. What a beauty!

For reference (looked it up since I didn’t know either), they’ll be wearing these sweaters:

There was more variety in shape and placement than you might think; D&R dabbled, Wilson had a different placement as well. Probably more examples besides. We tend to think of the Cooper as the only waffle blocker, but while perhaps the most common, I’d also say they were the most boring. But then ubiquity usually is boring - lol!

I like what @Fullright said about short memory etc. The mantra and/or routine after every play (good or bad) can be very helpful if you’re not already using that. But of course there are some games where it all feels like it’s going to shit (I’ve totally been there, allowing 6,7,8 goals in a period). Specifically for your game, it sounds like the team in front of you allowed 8 prime scoring chances. So unless your Goals Saved Above Expected is sitting at about 8 (NHL leaders, I believe, are around 3-4), I can’t see this being on you. More generally, I try to only “get mad” when I know exactly what technique I should have used, but didn’t. And even then, it doesn’t last or hang over me after the game. My philosophy is that I’m grateful for every ice time I get. I wanted desperately to play as a kid, but my folks couldn’t afford it. I started at age 39, which maybe gives me a different perspective. But the bottom line for me is that I feel very lucky that I get to play (hence the “Lucky Pucker” alias )

Of course Coop’s review is a thinly-veiled penile brag

I’m obviously kidding, by the way. You don’t have to wear anything on your head. Imagine making toques and hockey helmets mandatory… that would be absurd!

Luckily he has Canadian friends like us to help him out.

“Wear”…? Canadian thanksgiving is traditionally a no-clothing affair (except for the mandatory toque or hockey helmet). Can’t believe they didn’t tell you that; could have saved you a lot of stress, worrying what to wear.

LOL!