Those fateful words were uttered by Al Michaels in the last seconds of the US Olympic Hockey team defeating the Russians in the 1980 Olympics. These same words were uttered tonight by the Grave Diggers after we defeated the Chiefs 5-4.
In a game that can only be described as MIRACULOUS, the Grave Diggers amounted a consistent attack and pushed the Chiefs to do something they have not done all season and chase another team for the lead. Though they were able to tie it up, the arrival of our regular goalie John made it that special to have our complete team together. Both teams had 25 shots on goal yet we were still able to squeak in the deciding goal with 4:46 left in the game.
Being my third time to play for a championship and my second winner, this one proved to be the most special. Playing with a group of guys who were more concerned with having fun and playing as a team allowed us to win. We were not individuals focused on being difference makers we were teammates playing for each other.
I would like to thank our fans for showing up for tonight's game. You made this game that much fun for us to have shared it with you. At times your cheers proved to be the extra teammate we needed to push us. I also want to thank Raul for taking the position of our coach and being our ready to play to player to fill in for some of our injured guys who fought to stay in the game all night. Raul you have been a detriment to this team for numerous seasons and your accomplishments will never be forgotten. I look forward to many more seasons with you. I also would like to thank all of my teammates tonight for making this victory special (Ron, Steve C., Stephen S., Randy, Bob, Tim, Billy, Mel, Howard, Brian, Tom, Bruce, David, and John). I look forward to playing with each and every one of you again next session and growing as a team.
Here are some pictures from our celebration (at least the clean ones, you know how those hockey celebrations can go).
Saturdays epic battle between the Grave Diggers and Warriors turned into a Diggers classic game style. It was a game of puck position, making plays to take the puck away, and passing. The Diggers were able to put 33 shots on the net (the Warrior only registered 12). The dominance continued even when the Diggers went short handed due to penalty infractions by yours truly and others. Don't worry my penalty came when a guy did not like me pushing him out of my goalies way. He smacked my stick causing it to hit his own teammate in the face and giving me a highstick penalty (hey that's hockey ref's only see 25% of what occurs and only call 10% of that).
All in all we ended up with a 3-0 win. Giving our goalie the only shutout in the playoffs this session. Next up is the Keg game against the Chiefs. The Chiefs have advanced with an perfect undefeated record making us the underdogs (wouldn't have it any other way). The game will be Saturday 4/11 @ 8:30pm at the Dr. Pepper StarCenter in Euless.
If you can make it we would love to see you there. If you come you must yell loud and proud!
Sitting atop of mount Calvarious listening to the chantings of Coolio and Lady Gaga (a little old school with the new) I am reminded of how things meta morph and every dog has its moments of zen. Going into this year I knew that I would be making adjustments in leaving the board of directors for the homeowners association. A daunting task that I was looking forward to. Last week I was finally voted out and achieved the separation I was wanting. This freedom has given me some extra time to myself (and taken some worries away from me).
The second change that I planned to make this year was to reduce the amount of teams I am playing with at the rink. Three games in one night takes a beating on you. This coupled with the changes that were occurring with my teams gave me some concerns. Unfortunately the Komets took a big change late last year and went from a team focused on fun, learning, and gamesmanship to one focused on winning. Don't get me wrong winning is great but it does not help when you want to learn and become a more complete player. For me this development meant that I needed to leave my comfortable position as a winger and play as a center men. For those of you not familiar with hockey this is a position that requires you to be both on offense and defense at anytime. It's a lot of work and always requires you to be thinking ahead of the play. This season it has made me the best player that I have ever been. For me to make this change I left the Komet's and became a full time player of the Grave Diggers. The perennial "bad news bears" of the hockey rink (just remember this team was once called the Leftovers for good reason).
I knew going full time on my part time team would require me to be a more vocal member in the locker room, on the bench, and off the ice. I was concerned that this would be quite a formidable duty. To make matters worse the coordinator for the team was going to be away on business for most of the season and unable to participate in much of our games. This put added pressure on my friend Mel to step-up and fill this coordinators role. This now made me feel even more vested to perform at a higher level than ever. In the past I have always led by example and by the assertiveness in my actions. I knew that this alone would not be enough. I can stand here today and say that I have been able to transform into a vocal leader. I have even played better on the ice like a little kid skating with no worries in the world (even with two sore groins reminding me that they do not care for what I am doing). I have shared glorious moments with my teammates watching them score goals, make slick plays, or just simply skate with the puck.
Going into the season I expected to learn the nuances of a new position. Instead I have learned about how I can lead others in more ways than I am aware of. Knowing that I would be with team underdog I fully expected to see a mediocre season. Call it special leadership from Mel, mystical play, perfect timing, growth of teammates, or my efforts (I feel it is all of the above) the Grave Diggers have finished the season in 2nd place with a 6-2 record. It has been almost a week since the regular season has ended and I still cannot grasp the concept of how this team has turned around in such a short period of time. When I look at this team and its motley crewof players the most discernible fact is that they have HEART! They play with passion. Not the passion for the game but the passion of little kids out on the pond having a good time. Win or lose we have walked away all season saying "wow that was fun"!
This Saturday at 7:15pm we will be playing the first round of the playoffs. Winning this game would put us in position for the championship keg game. When I look at all of the teams out there I can't think of a more deserving lovable group than the Grave Diggers. If you have some free time and want to see the Rodney Dangerfield of hockey teams then come watch us play. Just remember it takes a special team to draft a player like Becky to play for them next season.
On this note Becky has already chosen number 29 to wear. She is doing this as she anticipates to be the Steve Ott agitator on the team. When I took her to the Stars game she became quite interested in Ott's move called clipping. It causes a penalty but definitely is a cheap way for a smaller player to make a giant impact on a bigger player. Watch for your self and then pray. Pray for Becky, pray for the other player, and most of all pray for all of the humanity that could come from this if she ever pulled something like this off (yes I actually envision that this would cause the world to turn upside down and for cats and dogs to start loving each other). I hope everyone is doing well, until next time . . .
As you read through our family's blog, please feel free to click on "comments" at the bottom of each write-up to read what others have posted or to leave your own comments.
#63 from the Komets, Leftovers, Grave Diggers, Spider Monkeys, and Borracho Hockey Teams. Coach of both a softball and kickball team. I am an active person leading an active life and all it has to offer. While being the best husband and father that I can be.
Sitting atop of mount Calvarious listening to the chantings of Coolio and Lady Gaga (a little old school with the new) I am reminded of how things meta morph and every dog has its moments of zen. Going into this year I knew that I would be making adjustments in leaving the board of directors for the homeowners association. A daunting task that I was looking forward to. Last week I was finally voted out and achieved the separation I was wanting. This freedom has given me some extra time to myself (and taken some worries away from me)..jpg)
