I'm not sure who was more nervous. Colin or me. Accepting an invitation to participate in a Tampa Bay Jr. Lightning mites practice, he made his first foray onto the ice as a goalie earlier today.Yes, the puck is harder than a street hockey ball. Yes, the pads are heavier. You'll appreciate the padding, though. Will it hurt? Sorry, buddy, but yes, but only until the pain goes away.
After a couple months of stopping shots out on the back patio and the living room doorway (yes, Momma lets us play hockey in the house), it was time for him to get a taste of playing in skates on ice.
Understandably, he was a little awkward in the beginning. That equipment is bulky. A skate strap from a goalie pad bedeviled his balance. And, yes, quite a few pucks got past him.Every so often, though, his instincts -- the ones we've seen at home -- would take over. He'd make a save. Nice ones, too. His best? He's pretty proud of his first-ever glove save. So am I.
I'm sure he'll get more chances, especially over the summer break, to head back into the net. Next week, he practices again with the Jr. Lightning. This time, though, he'll be a skater.
5 comments:
Next Months give away should be a signed puck of the future phenom and current Jr Lightning star Goalie Colin Saar
I want to be eligible for it though since it was my idea!
Moody
We'll see.
Hey, I noticed in the pictures that you have Colin wearing a plastic full face visor on his helmet. As a hockey player I would recommend that he doesn't wear a plastic face visor while playing goalie. If that gets hit by a puck or stick it'll leave a permanent mark. I used to use one as a defensemen, but switched for that reason. A cage style visor will work better. They're made in black and silver. Silver is a little more expensive, but worth it because vision is clearer. With the silver cage, you don't even know that it's there. Good luck with playing goalie Colin! Great blog!
That's exactly what I was thinking last night, though I was more worried about a puck smashing through the mask.
we were told that the team had all of the equipment he would need, but a mask/cage wasn't included.
Thanks for the kind words.
at a way colin, when is your first autograph show i'll be ist in line
Love
Johnny-boy
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