Game on!

BLOOMINGTON, IL – “Game on!”
 
The cry comes from center as an orange ball is placed into play during a street hockey game at Bloomington’s Rollingbrook Park. Members of Hockey Mayhem, an Internet message board, have gathered for picnics and street hockey twice this past summer. This intrepid reporter, in search of a good story, a lot of fun and a little exercise minded a crease during these games.
 
As the game starts, everyone is pumped. This has been talked about for months and the trash talking and excitement have reached a fever pitch. Many of these guys have never used a hockey stick for its’ intended function before but they all want to play.
 
Reality sets in about one minute later when, on their third trip up-and-down the court, you see most guys with their hands on their knees, completely winded. Suddenly, those 45-60 second shifts they saw on the ice last winter seem completely reasonable. Of course there is a difference in conditioning, but the pros don’t usually play under the summer sun in 90 degree heat.
 
There are other lessons to be learned. When asked what they were able to take from their games, message board denizen ‘Bucky B’ offered up that you shouldn’t eat right before playing. “I felt like I needed my stomach pumped,” he later related. Fellow commenter “QCNinja” felt that the he learned was “that I’m too fat.” ‘BeerMoney’ echoed his comments with, “I am out of shape. ‘ SASQUATCH’, an aptly named giant who played defense in front of this author, says, with a wink, he learned “ not (to) shield…my goalie.” “ChiCaps” adds that he now knows “I’m not sixteen any more.”
 
Certainly most players wouldn’t be mistaken for anything other than what they are – middle aged and out of shape. However, ‘ThunderChic’ thought each player showed a lot of resilience and determination. “I stood there wondering how all of (them) could do that in that heat?!” she said later.
 
With the amount of trash talking before the game and in the heat of competition, you might expect there to be a few short fuses as the game goes on, but there aren’t. The game stays friendly, although a few players get a gentle reminder of where the crease is when I apply the broad side of my stick against their backsides. The most dangerous thing encountered at the games is a wasp nest on the ‘visitors’ bench. A half-dozen player get stung during one game, including this author. While taking a break between periods, I was stung – twice. I guess I should have left my goalie helmet on. Only the wasps seem to take things seriously that day.
 
Everyone wants to score. By the end of the game, it seems this goalie has done his part to accommodate everyone – some several times. As the game winds down, I notice how incredibly heavy the goalie stick has become. It isn’t just the weight, either. My right hand near numb – looks like I have been squeezing that stick pretty hard for the past ninety-minutes.  
 
At the end of the game, we all agree that there is nothing like a good hockey game (and this was nothing like a good hockey game.) Everyone heads to their vehicle, spent, looking forward to a shower, some sports cream and a nap.
Contact the author at shaun.bill@prohockeynews.com.
 
Rollingbrook Park’s outdoor hockey rink is really showing signs of age. Right now, the rink is not safe for roller hockey. Dasher doors are missing, there are significant cracks in the asphalt surface, and the entire place could do with a coat of paint. Members of ‘Hockey Mayhem’ are working in conjunction with the Bloomington Park District to rehab the rink. The project should start as soon as weather permits in the spring with the replacement of the dasher boards and continue through the summer with repair of the playing surface. The group hopes to be finished with painting and other minor repairs before the first puck drops for 2009-2010 hockey season. Some local businesses are offering financial and material assistance while volunteers are contributing sweat and elbow grease to get the project done. The end goal:   a safe place for kids and adults alike to enjoy playing roller hockey in Bloomington Normal. Anyone wishing to donate time, money, or materials should contact Jason Barna at 309-830-5922.