Hockey Grand Finals 2011

[tielan]

Hockey Grand Finals today - my team in Division C and the team I started with in Division B.

Down 1-0 at half time, we had another goal scored against us before we started to come back. (First goal of our side by Yours Truly.) At full time it was 2-2, so we went into extra time.

Extra time fields 9 players for 5 minutes, then 7 players for 5 minutes - "golden goal" - ie. "team to score first, wins". No goal.

It went to a penalty shoot-out. Again. (Last year's Grand Finals went to a penalty shoot-out and we lost.)

Penalty shoot-outs are when five players from each team take a single flick at the goals with the opposing goalie in the way. Best of five wins.

At the end of five penalty flicks...we were still drawn.

So we went to "sudden death" penalty shoot-outs. A single player takes a flick at the goals with the opposing goalie in the way. Team A, then Team B, then Team A, then Team B...and so forth, until one team misses and the other team gets it in.

We got it in!

So now our team is the Major Champions of our Division (won the grand final), while the team we played today is the Minor Champions of our Division (got the most points during the rounds).

It feels good. Even though I have a headache from drinking too much this afternoon. Lots of water. Lots and lots of water.

Then the Division B team (the one I was initially playing for) won their Grand Final with a score of 2-1. But that was anticlimactic after the tension of our game, and then the extra time, and then the penalty shoot-out.

So my hockey club had a Very Good Day Indeed.

Comments

[copracat]

Congratulations! What an emotionally agonising way to finish a game.

[tielan]

Hee - our supporters reckon it was worse for them - after all, we were the ones playing, while they were stuck just watching and cheering.

But, yeah, it's been a very draining day. :)

[infinimato]

YAY! Congratulations! Though that does sound very wearing.

[tielan]

It was an exhausting day. And then on top of it all, I had today.

*exhales*

[infinimato]

It could be worse.

You could also have... TOMORROW!