Semifinal

So it turns out that the team the Zombies played yesterday was definitely up to no good. Apparently, I was just one of many people who contacted the convenor yesterday, and she talked to that coach prior to today's final to let him know he is not allowed to double-shift their best players. From what I heard from someone who watched both games, that team didn't play nearly as well today and consequently lost. It's a shame that our kids didn't get to go to the finals as as result of this, but as I said to one of the other dads, the silver lining is knowing that even though the other team cheated, they needed two overtimes and a shootout to beat us.

Pictures from hockey games are never as good as watching them, but since none of you are here, I guess this will have to be the next best thing. As mentioned yesterday, I was really into the game so I didn't take that many pictures, but here are the highlights.

The other Novice B semifinal was right before ours, and the kids came out of the locker room early to watch the end of the game.

You may notice Lucas's different colored socks. He wanted to wear them like that after watching his friend Carson do the same thing a couple of weeks ago, In that case, though, it was because Carson's parents forgot one of the socks. The superstitious sports fan in me didn't want to let him do it, but I acquiesced and sure enough, they lost. Never again!

The warmup skate.

Last minute huddle by the bench prior to the start of the game.

These next three show an example of Lucas using his body to break up a play. Kid has the puck, Lucas knocks him off of it, and the play goes the other way. Woohoo! Apologies for a bit of blurriness. The net around the ice makes it difficult to focus with the camera sometimes.

Doing some defensin'. :) Incidentally, the kid in white next to him is in his class.

Bringing the puck out from behind the net.

Lucas waiting for the whistle when it was his turn in the shootout. Words can't describe how nerve-wracking this moment was for me. I remember yelling out, "If you score, I will buy you literally anything!" Alas, it was not to be. Both goalies were phenomenal.

The boys congratulate their goalie Matthias on a good game after the shootout. What a great group of kids.

So that's that for Zombie hockey this year. Like I think I said in the last post, they have their year-end party next weekend, and then Lucas's first 4-on-4 game is about 2 hours after that is over. There will still be a little Zombie influence as his good friend Matthew (#12 in the picture above) is on his team. Should be fun!