Game 3: Internecine Warfare

Game 3 was a meeting of the two town teams. Our guys were designated as the visitors, so they got to wear their dark, away uniforms. That was a nice change for for me since I don't travel to the away games. 

The game was fast and furious, seemingly more so than usual, because I expect that each town team desperately wanted to prove themselves better than the other. Hence the title: Internecine Warfare, using the first definition below, with thanks to Merriam-Webster. Watching British tv can enhance one's vocabulary, for I learned the word on A Touch of Frost, many years ago.

The speed made the photography challenging, but the other challenge was the haze in the air. Apparently, spectators didn't notice, but I could see it when I peered through the lens.

In one of my first photos of the game, the boys lined up nicely for the camera and mostly facing it.

If possible, I must include at least one JJ pic per post. Here he is leading the chase after the puck which has disappeared from the scene.

Two very focused faces ↓ watching the play, plus raised sticks.

Gotta move that puck up the ice, away from danger.

I think the goalie's stretch makes this my favourite image of the game.

While there is officially no bodychecking at this level, the games are fast and furious. There is jostling and pushing, and there are collisions, sometimes verging on intentional. Players seem to be instructed to stay down on the ice when they feel they may have been injured. The other players then retreat to near their respective benches, and the trainer comes out. Both teams tap their sticks when the injured player gets up and skates to the bench. I have never seen an injured player not get up and skate off under his own power.

That was the last play of the game. Although there was just over a minute remaining on the game clock, their allotted ice time of one hour had expired. The result couldn't have been better in my opinion. for the game ended with the two town teams sharing a 2-2 draw.