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Published: April 6th 2014
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It was the moment we'd all been waiting for and the day we trained for--Game Day. In game one, we would be taking on South Korea, the newest team in Division IIA having won Division IIB in 2013. We were anticipating a hard-working, fast-skating team from South Korea. We knew that by working hard as a team and sticking to our defensive system, we would be able to create goal-scoring opportunities, and hopefully pull off a close win.
As we took to the ice for warm-ups, we looked sharp with our passing and shooting, and I felt the team was ready for a good game. Coach came in to the locker room to give us our pre-game speech and explain the game plan. His plan was to shorten the bench for the first quarter of each period from three lines to two with the idea of creating some goal-scoring opportunities. Unfortunately, this meant sitting on the bench for the first 5 minutes of the game, but I was more than willing to sacrifice ice time if the coach thought that was the most beneficial thing for the team. We started the game with good intensity and disciplined defence, and I was inspired to play heads-up, smart hockey and tough defense when I jumped on the ice for my first shift. Our line was working well together, making good decisions and shutting down the opposition. My legs were flying and I felt good out there. As one of the centres flew behind our net to set up a break-out, I set a pick for a quick second to give her extra time, and the ref blew the whistle on me--penalising me for interference--two minutes in the penalty box. Bugger! Our penalty kill was successful. It was followed by penalties against South Korea, but we were unable to capitalise on the extra man advantage. Bugger again!
With 9 seconds remaining in the first period of the game, coach pulled our line off and put the first line on. With two seconds remaining in the period, we scored and our emotions soared. A goal by Toronto-based Kiri Langford from Brazilian-born Renata Gottogroy and kiwi Anna Goulding. As we went to the locker room between periods, we focused on keeping our intensity high over the next period. We knew we couldn't let down with just a one-goal lead; we would need to continue playing the best game we could. The second period was much like the first. We drove to the net, played smart defence, and there were penalties against both teams. In the final minute of the second period, with just a few seconds remaining, one of the Korean players slipped past our defenceman and got a goal on a quick pass across the front of the net. Bugger! Now we were tied 1-1.
In the third period, I had only been on the ice for a shift or so when our line forechecked the puck in the offensive zone and as I went to pinch the puck on the boards, a Korean girl went flying down. It seemed like she took a dive, but at any rate the dice weren't in my favour and I was sent to the "sin bin" for the second time that game. Irritating! The game carried on, and at the end of regulation time, we were still drawn at 1-1. A five minute sudden-death overtime ensued, but again, it was still a tied game. To decide the game, each team selected three players for a shoot-out. In a shoot-out, an individual player must skate the puck from centre-ice against the opposing goaltender and has one attempt to shoot and score. Korea scored first, and New Zealand failed to retaliate with a goal. It seemed so surreal that after such a long duel, it all ended so suddenly. It was isappointing that it all ended with a somewhat mediocre series of shots. Since the score was tied at the end of regulation time, we still walked away with one point in the tournament, but Korea got two points for winning the shoot-out as well. And that was that. Game over. Tears welled in my eyes and disappointment brimmed in my heart. I had been so confident that New Zealand would prevail. There weren't too many negatives to dwell on. As a team, we had played better than in our exhibition games, and individually, I had a great game apart from the penalties. We would simply have to carry on and charge into Game Two against Great Britain tomorrow.
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David
non-member comment
Well done.
Congratulations to you and the team on a great effort, one more ounce (1oz = 28.350g in Italy) of effort each for the next game and you can do it :-)