My over-30 team finished 1-2 in the USA Hockey Nationals in Green Bay and once again failed to make the medal round. We played better than we did the previous year, but we’re still coming up short at key moments in games. As we watched the final, I was wondering what made those two teams [...]

As my Edge over-30 team enters the final week of practices before heading to the nationals in Green Bay, I’ve been thinking about the difference between recreational hockey and competitive hockey. While my house league team has some players with college experience and we strive to win, or at least play the best we can [...]

Just got back from a tournament in Port Colborne, Canada. I love playing in Canada. Scoring a goal there (alas, our team did not get enough to win the tourney) is like a religious experience.  The community rinks are clean, and each has its own personality. The Teeder Kennedy rink has open benches. Having the [...]

I was warming up with a teammate before a recent game by passing one of those balls that has the same weight as a puck. We have a new assistant coach this year, and a while ago he was giving us tips on catching a pass. He said that our stick should always be to [...]

I play in a house league, and I think in all the seven or eight years of  the league we’ve had fewer than a half-dozen games reffed by women. Now, refs of either gender can miss a hook or a trip or not want to call icing in the 9:30 p.m. game to get everyone [...]

Our Rochester Edge Over-30 team, which won the New York title last year and hosted the USA Hockey nationals, is gearing up for Green Bay. Most of the team has returned, and it’s interesting to see the difference. Many of the players last year were new to a high level of competitive hockey (all the [...]

It’s back on the ice Sept. 21 after a long summer off. After a few pickup games earlier in the summer, I was glad to hit an open skate the week before to work on some turns and  cuts — the quick moves that will make the legs burn during practice and ache a few [...]

Some women come to hockey in their 30s or 40s after having played other sports. They are good athletes, so learning to skate isn’t a problem. But learning to coordinate skating with stickhandling  all the time keeping their heads up is the challenge. So, too, is finding a level of play where they can compete [...]

Well the numbers are crunched, the results are in, and there are 23 young women absolutely elated to have the honor to represent their country. It was not an easy 24 hours for all involved. The coaching and support staffs had a tougher job than I can imagine, but in the end, as Coach Johnson [...]

Well, I spoke too soon in my last post. Last night the White team came out flying and defeated us with superior puck movement and general get up and go. The blue squad fought valiantly, however, in vain. Though, we did win the compulsory post game shoot out, so I would charitably call the afternoon’s [...]