Squared Sevens Floor Hockey R.I.P. 2003-2005
I make no exaggeration when I say that being the captain of Squared Sevens floor hockey team was the greatest moment of my sophomore year. Not like there was much competition, but that's beside the point. Me, Tim, Jason, Ryan, Sammy, and crew tore it up pretty good. We even won a playoff game, 4-3, in a virtuoso display of teamwork and grit. In addition to being a lot of fun it was also enjoyable to me on a personal level- I got to be Captain, coordinating and directing to squad. It was excellent.

When I was able to go to Japan, I knew floor hockey was gonna have to wait til senior year. We were really going to kick ass this time, I just knew it. Leaner, meaner, better skilled and organized. Watch out world. I even figured, hey, I'll ref a couple games, get some extra bucks. I began the season with high expectations. When the season ended for us, today, they couldn't be much lower. Total games played? One. Total games reffed? A big fat zero. After waiting two years to get back into this thing, it quite frankly didn't amount to shit at the end.

Problem? Where to begin. First and foremost, turnout. Nobody shows up. 4 out of our 5 games were straight up forfeits. I guess people just can't be bothered these days. I realize people have work and school but 80% is just sad. I wonder, would the turnout be better at a different, somewhat more glamorous sport? Basketball, perhaps, everybody's favorite pickup game? I'd probably say so. I remember when I asked this one dude in my class if he wanted to play floor hockey, he looked at me like I was stupid. Floor Hockey? Who plays that? Isn't that the sport with sticks? This would-be Ivan Lendl even bullshitted to my face about it. I'll be sure to ask him to be on my Tennis squad though. For sure.

About the reffing thing, I've got to place blame on the Intramurals office here at school. Why recruit people if they aren't going to play? Why waste both of our time? If over half of your games are going to be forfeits anyway, why bother? If the problem with getting scheduled was in the availability submission forms on the webpage, why not fix it? As a prospective employee, its not my job to go out of my way to waste my time and then never get hired. I did talk to some of the people who run it, and they actually have college degrees in this stuff. Could have surprised me.

So where to go from here? I enjoy this, but apparently that makes me world population of one. I'd love to set up some pickup games, but I can imagine the slightly annoyed look on the faces of the intramurals staff already. Didn't you guys just have your season? The goals are all locked up, you know. We'll have to get them out. And don't break the sticks either. And if you lose a puck, thats five bucks each. We'll be counting. No, I seriously doubt that will work. That leaves one option. I'm going to learn to skate, to play for real, and I'm moving to Manitoba. Peace.