Written by Well the rain finally stopped falling and this morning the wind was blowing but the sun was playing hide and seek with remaining clouds. The Flames showed up in a cold parking lot on the banks of the Merrimack River and started to run around like 10-year olds.
I suppose they are 10-year olds and they got the blood pumping with warm-ups and kids games involving a big river, some rocks, and a forsaken Christmas tree. Regardless of the details, the Flames were dressed, scanned in, and ready to play when game time arrived. They skated their way to a 6-0 win against the Capitals. It was not an easy game as this Concord team is resilient with good goaltending and an edge to them. The Flames just strung together more scoring chances and a determination to get pucks into the net.
I am fortunate, and thankful that the folks at Everett Arena let me get up into the balcony to take some pictures of the kids playing hockey. I am also thankful that the kids are playing hockey, because frankly, their lives shouldn’t be disrupted any more than they already have been. The pleasure is all mine. Kids, keep being kids. Play kids games. Run around and enjoy your friends and teammates. That is how it’s supposed to go. Youth sports, it’s all about the kids.
Enjoy some pictures from the game this morning in Concord. They run a first class organization and rink up there. Thank you.
If I were going to start the photography section of this thing with a unique picture, I think I would choose this one.
Then maybe I would go with a sequence of shots that would look something like these. If Deb had her glamour shots (Napoleon Dynamite), then I have my drone shots.
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- Travis leads the team from the locker room, onto the bench, and ultimately to the ice.
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- Three defensive players, all with a left shot, feeling left out? Or just resting between shifts.
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- “…All the world’s indeed a stage, and we are merely players performers and portrayers. Each another’s audience outside the gilded cage…”
The faithful. They write stories about the stories behind the ones who make it. That’s all of you. I miss the gatherings as they were, in rinks, at tournaments, or team parties. But hat’s off to the parents behind the controlled chaos that is youth hockey, but more importantly, the times of the kids lives. Oh, and feel free to patronize any of the businesses advertised in this photo.
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- Teddy and Garrett come off of the ice secretly discussing their plans for a future goal.
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- Soucy clearly gets this shot past the Concord goaltender only to see it carom off of the crossbar and out.
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- Jax shows the others a demonstration in flex. Oh, and the forwards, are wondering if they are safe.
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- The boys celebrate the first goal of the game. See earlier picture with explanation.
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- The Mighty Fin and her shot from the point. Oh, and by the way, she is quite a celebrity when it comes to wings and winks. Trust me.
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- Remarkably this did not result in a goal but I thought it was a good picture and also possibly discussed previously with Teddy and Garrett.
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- Kids playing hockey with friends, a puck, cool uniforms, some open ice, and the pursuit of greatness.
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- What else would you rather be doing? Garrett, I am pretty sure, agrees.
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- Jax weaves through a crowded Concord street to get a shot on net.
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- I know I am getting older, but does anyone else think of the old Merrill Lynch commercials when Jax stick handles through a crowd? Anyone?
Okay, we’re just over halfway there, 15 of 28 pictures that I kept from this morning. Thanks for hanging in there.
So, you’re saying they went to the right?
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- Caleb lets fly on a shot at Concord. It appears he was open.
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- Jax, open. Shot fired.
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- Travis stands by inviting passersby to take a shot on net.
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- Teddy hears the banging of the bench door, the coaches yelling “Dump and change”, McCain’s air horn, and a random car alarm, and comes back to the bench for a line change.
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- Jordan reminisces through an old “Airplane II” scene, and wonders if he left the iron on at home.
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- Logan takes a shot while charging up the left wing.
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- Sean fires a shot hoping for a goal, or at least a rebound for Jacob in the slot.
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- My indoor hockey drone hovered for a great shot of Colby showing his flexibility and artistic creativity.
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- Again, Colby who cleaned up in the artistic portion of today’s program, shows how to shoot from the blue line with one leg tied behind his back. Don’t try this at home.
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- Travis didn’t get a ton of action today, but he did scoop up or kick out everything that came his way.
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- Jax made no mistake with this rebound shot off of a Jacob shot from the right side.
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- The Flames rush onto the ice and congratulate their goaltender, Travis, on a shutout win.
Many of my hockey articles, especially covering high school hockey, have included a picture from a few winters ago, and a quote from a legend. Here you go: I hope you have enjoyed being here.
The beginning of every article. (C) 1inawesomewonder 2017.
The thoughts and opinions expressed here are those of the individual contributors, mostly mine, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the schools, coaches, players, or characters listed in any of these blog posts. Or, maybe they do, but you would have to ask them directly. Either way, “It’s a great day for hockey” ~ the late “Badger” Bob Johnson.