Oops, we did it again! Just like the last time we won (Champions! Hockey Time, 2010!, September 28, 2010), we beat WTF for the championship in our Over-35 league.
First, let me note a couple things.
Our team has a new name. Our former sponsor, Hockey Time, closed its doors and we picked up a new sponsor, a great new hockey shop in the Atlanta area called Inside Edge. We were very happy to win the championship in this, our first session with Inside Edge as a sponsor. Thank you, Inside Edge! (Sorry, had to throw a few links in there.)
Based on my posts it looks like we're winning this thing every year. Not true. In the Over-35 League they set it up so that we have short 12-game seasons, then playoffs. So we get multiple seasons in a calendar year. We won in September 2010. Then in the winter season we didn't even make the playoffs (and 4 of the 6 teams make the playoffs). And now we're back on top. The league is very evenly balanced, very competitive. Any team can win on any given night. This season it was us. Of course I'm not going to post when we finish 5th!
This was an interesting season. Team Choad was the class of the league, finishing with an 11-1 record (and an 11-game winning streak after dropping the first game). They dominated us in our head-to-head games during the season, beating us 8-2 and 5-2. WTF finished second, with a 6-6 record including one overtime lose, which counts for a point. The Predators finished third, also with a 6-6 record including an over time loss. And we finished fourth, also with a 6-6 record, but not tied with WTF or the Predators because none of our losses came in overtime.
We had to work to get into the playoffs, winning our final two games and three of our last four. And then, as the #4 seed, we had to play Team Choad, 11-1 and winner of 11 straight. Not sure what happened when we played them in the semifinal game but we played the best game we have played in a long time, utterly dominating them 7-1. It was a complete blowout. One of their guys later told one of our guys that they picked a bad time to play their worst game of the year. But I like to think our play had something to do with their bad play. I've been on both sides, sometimes you just "on" and sometimes you're not. Well, our whole team was in top gear that night. It was a special game to be a part of.
In the other semifinal, WTF beat the Predators 3-1. So it was a rematch of two seasons ago for the championship. Like us, WTF missed the playoffs last session. Once again, despite great skating on the part of both teams, it ended up being a very close defensive game, very few mistakes by either team. We got a goal in the first period to make it 1-0, and it stayed that way for a long time. There were times when we felt like we were close to taking control of the game but they never let us do that. One mistake and they could tie the score. It wasn't until the third period that we added a second goal, and we held onto that lead.
As for me, I tried to play a conservative, solid, defensive game. No major mistakes, just solid defense. And when they did get a good shot, I helped my goaltender (who played a great game, obviously) by clearing the rebounds. Nothing special, just solid fundamentals.
I'm proud of the guys I play with. We all commented how we were able to raise our game in the playoffs. Hard to get "up" for games every Monday night. I mean, it's always fun to play but with the pressures of work and family you're not always in a position to play your best. We did well enough in the regular season to get into the playoffs. And then I like to think we showed our true heart as we marched to the championship.
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