This
one was for you Vladdy!!!!!!!!!
I am a hockey nut, as many of my friends will confirm.
I live, breathe, and sleep hockey. I play
goaltender, the toughest position in all of sports. Whenever
possible I play, be it on-ice, off ice, with guys, with girls,
etc. I love the challenge of the sport, love the fact that I am
the last line of defense, love the pressure involved. I
especially love it when guys will tell me in the locker room that
they have tried playing goaltender before and that I have alot of
guts. That is a great feeling.
Not only am I a hockey nut, but I am a Red Wings nut.
I have been a Wing's fan for about 6 years, about the same time I
discovered hockey. They have won the Stanley Cup, again. They
swept the finals, again. They're going to win next year. They're
going to sweep the finals next year. This will set an NHL record
for consecutive sweeps. I would like to comment on the Wings'
display after winning the cup. They went straight for their
friend and teammate Konstantinov. They all gathered around him
and were talking to him and showing their friendship. This
display is the best definition of a team. I am glad Konstantinov
was able to finally hold the cup. It was a great moment.
Chris Osgood has been my favorite
goaltender since I first saw him play hockey. I have been a fan
of his for years now, and would like to talk about those people
who doubted him. I have a question for them: have you ever played
as a goaltender? I know (though not with the same amount of
pressure) what it's like being out there. In a floor hockey
tournament I let in a really cheap 5-hole goal when it was 0-0
during a shoot-out. That was the first game of the night (teams
played anywhere between 2 and 8 games, double-elimination). In
the final round it came down to a shoot-out. It was against a
team in which 3 of the 4 players play ice hockey, (4 players, 1
goalie) and the other player was good too. Remembering the weak
shot I let in the first shoot-out, and playing against ice
players from a good team, and the pressure of wanting to win all
encompassed me. Like Osgood, I put the weak shots behind me and
focused and I ended up being flawless in the shoot-out. We won by
1 point. Osgood ended up sweeping the final round. So, for the
scoffers out there, try playing the position first, and maybe you will
appreciate it then. Oh, and don't underestimate a goalie's urge to win.
Three-peat '99!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
