Third Game v Johnson, Part 5

Just to prove that I can so shoot a photo of a defensive player, here's Wyatt under the watchful eyes of the ref, Coach McCoy, his teammates...no pressure, Wyatt.

Now back to offense.

Here's Max D., looking forward to the start of soccer, yet six months away.

There's trouble for the opposing defense: Max B, Jacob and Gavin.

Finally, it's all over. Sticks, gloves and helmets go flying in celebration. DISTRICT CHAMPIONS!

This is the only team photo we had time for before vacating the ice so that the Zamboni could get the rink ready for the next game.

Thrid Game v Johnson, Part 4

Here are some more photos of the game against Johnson on Saturday afternoon. There are lots more photos of offensive plays. One of my most perceptive critics has suggested that I'm shorting the defensive players by showing so much offense. This post only serves to prove that she's right about that, as about so much else. So next game I intend to stay in one place and shoot from the goal we defend for at least one period.

As I'm writing this on Monday night, there is a question in my mind about when that game will occur. Someone said that April is the cruelest month, but I think March comes close. We started out the month with a postponed game in Delano against the Crow River team. The forecast for tomorrow looks challenging. I just put the dog out, and the precipitation has already started. Who will drive to Hastings in a spring snow storm? So if there's a game tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 pm in Hastings, I'll try to be there, camera in hand on the defensive end of the rink. But if we get canceled due to weather, you can return here to see the final post of photos from the game against Johnson, which will be up late Tuesday afternoon.

Here's Gavin reaching for the puck.

Andrew S. looking for a shot on goal.

Stay off the plexiglass, Max.

Andrew's crazy legs befuddle the opponents.

Four against one isn't really fair...to the other team.

Third Game v Johnson, Part 3

The game featured lots of opportunities for playmaking.

Dylan takes a shot.

Garrett on defense.

Marco getting squeezed.

Dylan with a pass.

Jackson with his eyes on the puck.

Thrid Game v Johnson, Part 2

More photos of the action during the game against Johnson.

Jacob takes a shot.

Matthew controlling the puck.

That's Max D on the left and Eric on the right.

Hunter on defense.

Wyatt with the puck.

Third Game v Johnson, Part 1

The team was very excited on Saturday, March 7, to be playing St Paul Johnson for the district championship. Johnson is a team that had given the Spartans less trouble than some others, but they had played really well the day before against Irondale.

There was only one goal in the game, and it was otherwise not really remarkable. So the Spartans won one to zip, although it felt a little anticlimactic.

The ref at the start of the game.

The Spartan player in front of the net is Jacob. His arm is raised because he's just scored the only goal of the game.

A Johnson player gets ready to take a shot on goal.

Henri.

Max B.

Second Game v Johnson, Part 4

This is the last post of photos from the game against Johnson. Repeating its recent shows of strength, Richfield was ahead for as much of the game as I saw, and won 6-4. Here is one of those goals.

Max D. put the puck deep into the net.

For once, we have a good shot of his goal...

...and he didn't do the celebratory fist pump while skating on one foot that we've seen a few times recently.

Finally, team work helps in many ways, as Andrew S. impersonates netminder Andy P., who wore white in today's game.

Second Game v Johnson, Part 3

More single photos.

Another save for Jackson.

Max K. in position.

Marco, fending off a swarming hoard of Johnson players.

Wyatt persuaded one of the opponents to kick back and watch the game for a bit.

One of the Johnson players stretched out contemplating the crystalline structure of water as Jackson makes a save.

Second Game v Johnson, Part 2

Johnson played an aggressive game, strong on offense, lead by number 4 on their side. Our defense got a workout.

Jackson made many saves, and we'll see some of them.

Here's one of them.

Hunter is a key defensive player...

...and so is Wyatt.

If you click on the photo and look closely, you can see the puck just beside Jackson's stick. Wyatt and Hunter are in perfect position to get rebounds, just like in practice.

Second Game v Johnson, Part 1

The referees were very active during this league game, handing out several penalties.

This is Willy and one of the opposing team waiting to get back on the ice after his second penalty of the game. Interviewed after the game, Willy said, "the other guy lifted my stick, so the refs gave us both a penalty for high sticking." Later, Willy was penalized a third time for cross checking. He was ejected from the game, and, at the insistence of the Johnson coach, sent to the locker room.

Here's Henri rushing after the puck after a successful face off.

Our opponents' new defensive technique is to have all of its players--the entire team--stand in front of its goal.

Garrett backhanding a pass.

Jackson felt such confidence in the defense that he decided to put down his stick and take a little rest.

Game v Johnson, Part 4

Here's Wyatt teaching us a lesson in perseverance. He didn't score as he caused all this trouble for the opponents in front of their goal, but it wasn't for lack of trying.

He tried to flip the puck into the net.

The goalie stopped it, but Wyatt kept at them.

They continued to fight over the puck for several frames taken with my camera. Five seconds later, which is long enough when you're wrestling, they dropped onto the ice, looking exhausted. In the photo before this one (not posted here), the goalie was just a heap of pads.

This last photo was taken just a two seconds later. Somehow the puck ended up back in front of the net. Wyatt got back on his feet, trying to take a shot. The opponents brought in reinforcements. All but one of the team has lined up to get in the action. Good work, Wyatt.

Game v Johnson, Part 3

Here's terrific example of a player taking the puck in for a shot on goal. Max B. often plays defense, but this time he fakes out several of the Johnson players as he plays offense.

He eludes number 15 when he feints left but goes right.

Then, another Johnson player tries a well tested close-to-the-ice defensive maneuver. I thought Max was going to end up in a pile-up.

But Max didn't fall for the trap, and starts to move around the Johnson player...

...who then attempts another common strategy involving a carefully placed skate.

Overcoming that obstacle as well, Max flipped the puck up for his shot. Great job, Max.

Dave, Max's dad, said, "not bad when half the blackjack defense gets to play offense, too." Now Dave's from the Range, and those guys REALLY know hockey...blackjack, hmmm, blackjack defense. So you have to ask...Let's just say that Dave can really put two and two together, or in this case, seven and fourteen.