Last night the Piranhas played our coach’s men’s team in an exhibition game/scrimmage type setting, in preparation for the pummeling we are to receive in Columbus next weekend. To my surprise (and perhaps distress) there were even a few audience members in the bleachers at our normally empty practice rink. We miraculously had enough players for three lines and this was my first time actually changing lines and playing a “real” game. I say “real” because if someone had been keeping accurate score I think it would have been about 40-1 rather than the 9-1 that showed up on the board at the end of third period, but it was as close as we could come to realistic competition. Coach brought four other players and a goalie, and our assistant coach reffed after begging coach’s big sister for $5 from the team account to buy a whistle. I promise we aren’t normally this ghetto, but you’ll just have to take my word for it.

They were twice our size and half our numbers, but we spent most of the time trying to get the puck out of our defensive zone all night. At least our goalie never felt neglected. The turning point (at least for me) came during the short break between first and second period when Coach said in front of everyone “Jess you’re doing a great job of staying on your point. Really good.” Anyone who knows the Piranhas’ coach knows that extracting a compliment from him is not just like pulling teeth, it’s like pulling out a canine from a half-anesthetized African lion that hasn’t eaten in two weeks. In other words, it doesn’t come easy.

We had a few good plays, once where I was actually able to get the puck out of the corner and over a defender’s stick and out to #82 who was in front of the net. Yes, make a note of that, the puck came off the ice, and even more amazing, at an opportune moment. In other miracles, I was only off sides once the whole three periods.

My backwards skating is still horrendous. Worse than that is the turning around part. It’s frustrating, as in my daydreams I fantasize that I can play defense. With the way we play, I’d have the puck a lot more as a defender, and probably the same chance of scoring.

The good news is that Schenley ice rink still hasn’t asked to see me skate, and the general public probably won’t respect me any less for not being able to skate backwards. At least, one can hope.