Broomball Photos

Click the Photo for an album of The Tools in Action!

Better Tools

The Tools took to the ice this evening in the Riverscape Broomball League taking on the Fighting Airdales.  I'll end the suspense early, the Tools lost 3-1, but you can see from the score alone, we were much improved.

Putting Ben in goal allowed Dave, an experienced player, to move about on the ice.  He's a good director of traffic.  Also, better prepared for shift changes, fewer players got winded on the ice (though we were playing with a team of just eight, so sometimes the rest breaks were pretty short).

The defense was much improved as we directly challenged the Airdales in one one one challenges for the ball. And there was a good effort to get the ball away from our goal end.  Passing and positioning would be good next steps for us.  Towards the end of the game we even put together a decent couple of runs on the offensive end.

Our one goal came very near the end of the game, after a deep clear by our defense.  Dave Eldridge and Matt Lindsay both ran past the Airdales' last defender - with Dave running up the left side and Matt up the middle.  Their goalie came out of the net to control the ball and try to clear, but he hit it straight at Dave. Dave went into a slide, the ball hit off his knee and went straight into the empty net.

The Airdales' claim that it was a "kicked" goal (and shouldn't count) did not earn the referee's concurrence.  It stands as our one goal of the season.  So far.

The Airdales exhibited excellent control (on VERY slick ice) and very good communication and passing.  One of their early goals was scored on a shot at what seemed an impossible angle.  Ben overall had a good night in goal, stopping probably twice as many shots as passed him into the net.

Good fun; good work out.  No one got hurt.  Call it a good night.

The Tools have a bye next week, and take to the ice on Monday, January 24th at 7:00 PM.

The Tools: Game 1

Here is a pretty picture of people playing "Broomball":

This is not a picture of the Tools playing broomball.  That would not be a pretty picture.

The Tools faced off tonight in a match against a team called "Monkey Ruckus United."  The Uniteds had matching shirts, socks, shoes and sticks.  They practice.  They had a set substitution rotation.

A couple of minutes into the game it was 4-0.  At that point Stats made what is known as "a coaching decision."  Instead of having 3 offense, 2 defense and 1 goalie, the Tools switched to having 5 defense and 1 goalie.  This stratagem slowed the Monkey Ruckus, a little.  It took them 16 minutes to score another 4 goals to reach the 8-0 mercy rule final score.

Dave (R-OH) agreed to play goalie, and took the brunt of the Monkeys' Ruckus.  Next time you see Dave - Shake His Hand.

Some positives from the game:

1. No one got hurt.
2. Everyone said they had fun.
3. We all broke a sweat.
4. We don't play the Ruckus again.

The Tools hit the ice again next Monday, January 10 at Riverscape at 6:30 PM.