We Want Fries - RECAP of Planet Ice Tournament

Let's go crazy! That was our mantra for the last SWHC/We Want Fries tournament of the 2008/2009 season. This year, we wrapped up our season north of the border at the Planet Ice Women's International Ice Hockey Tournament at the rink in Delta, BC. All three SWHC teams headed up and when the trip was booked with the tournament officials, we wanted to make sure the Seattle teams weren't all placed in the same division and have to drive all the way up just to play each other. We Want Fries got placed in a higher division based on some some random algorithm which took into account factors like age, hockey experience, and, I don't know, horoscope sign. Oh well, that's one way to wrap up a season with a bang!

Friday, Game 1: I don't know what it is about road trips and I don't know if every one of the Fries stopped at every fast food outlet between Seattle and the border, but we were slugs in our first game. Coach Steve (filling in for Murray) saw this immediately and tried his best to build intensity and energize us before our game. Our first two shifts were good, but then it was gone - just like that **poof**. That game we did our best impersonation of pylons that I've ever seen :-) Final score against the Buzz was 0-6. Sigh. Then, we went upstairs to cheer on the other Seattle teams and, unfortunately, things just kept going downhill. Especially for Black Ice: they lost 2 players in the first game to injuries.

Later that night, Erin and I headed to the hotel to check in and, well, our night was just about to reach a pinnacle. Yeah, we got stuck in the elevator. It wasn't our fault but rather an employee who had to lock access to the lower level. Well, little miss "oh-my-gawd-I'm-stuck-in-the-elevator-HELP" (said repeatedly on her iPhone to her fellow employees at the highest octave level) managed to get the elevator stuck between the lower level and the lobby. It was silly at first but after the 10th "oh-my-gawd-I'm-stuck...." panicked babble, I was ready to get out. The rescue was just like in the movies.....big, strong hands prying open the doors and a deep, male voice telling us hang on and they'll get us out in no time. I waited with abated breath envisioning Clive Owens showing up to rescue me and ready to offer to buy me as many martinis as I needed to calm my nerves. I quickly turned to the elevator mirror and did a quick fix of the hair in anticipation of my rescue. *Poof* Reality check: my rescuer looked like the "OMG" girl's fellow classmate who is also working the late shift so they can buy the latest accessory for their iPhone. Down came a ladder and up went our gear, luggage, then Erin, then myself. I forgot that I couldn't stand up since I only had a 4-foot clearance. And, my legs were stiffening up after the game so I had to kind of pause half-way through the elevator. The next thing I knew, employee #2 (not-Clive) pushed me from behind through the elevator doors and I landed *splat* on the lobby floor. Welcome to Surrey! Ha! Yeah, bad joojoo night.

Saturday, Game 2: The game was against SO Black Widows. When I first peeked into their locker room to find out what color jersey they were wearing, I was optimistic to see that they were more in our age range so I thought we had a chance. Then, we got out on the ice and they schooled us. All I can say is WOW. Steve made up lines on the fly to make up for huge disparity in speed and and that we would all have enough legs to last the game. We hung in there and kept them to below double-digits (yeah!) and final score was 0-8. Oh my. Nevertheless, the Fries were more intense and EVERYONE skated 110%. We gave it our all and though we got schooled, we were happy with how we played because we knew right from the get go that the other team was WAY better than us but we still gave it our best shot. Jumping in on the fly also added to the intensity on the bench. What we sacrified in chemistry, we made up in intensity and energy.

Saturday, Game 3: Final game was against the Whistler Sound Gardens 2. We scouted their game earlier and I thought we had a good chance because they were a lot slower than the SO Black Widows. Before the game, some of the Fries headed over to Tim Hortons for a sugar and caffeine fix and then warmed up with the Nerf football to stay loose and get the energy level back up. It worked. Our game was close for a while (i.e., it was scoreless). Pam did an amazing job in the net all weekend and had a lot of plays that I thought qualified for Sportscenter Top 10 plays. But, we just couldn't generate any offense. Once again, Steve modified the lines and positions a few minutes into the game. However, tournament legs set in a bit into the third period and the final score ended up 0-7. Yes, you saw that right....the Fries were shut out in the tournament. So disappointing. I can't speak for the others, but I know I enjoyed skating at the higher and faster level and am proud that everyone gave it their all in the tourney until we all, literally, ran out of gas (despite the magic energy beans/smurf berries Lee and I brought to the bench - it only worked significantly for Daniella and Lee). Thank you, Coach Steve, for stepping in and bringing all your great energy and awesome coaching to the bench.

To the Fries: it was a pleasure to have skated with all of you this season and what an honor it was for me to be captain of the best SWHC team this season :-) You are all amazing - so much positive energy and great attitudes. Bree, I'm so grateful for all the team management work you did for the team and for organizing a lot of the details that no one else likes to do. Beavis (Erin), thank you so much for stepping in when I was lured away to the islands. And, to "Little Freak" and "Old Growth," to show my gratitude for all your support, feedback, and constant chuckling all season, I promise to burn my pom-poms, remove all my 'GO BANANAS' cheers from memory, and forever refrain from doing cartwheels in the locker room. Now, go eat a big ole plateful of fries because you all deserve it. GREAT SEASON, FRIES!! Hope to see you on the ice sometime soon!

Black Ice reduced to Puddles :-) (Fries 4 - Black Ice 0)

(Image source: www.healthassist.net)

Well, here we are, back to the friendly games between our club teams. This past weekend, We Want Fries! played against the Black Ice - who, by the way, had a very light roster that night. Nicole, being one of the best ambassadors for the Seattle Women's Hockey Club, volunteered to play for Black Ice that night and with that, I delightedly boo'ed her from the other bench whenever I saw her touching the puck :-) and when I wasn't sucking wind after a shift at center position.

It was a very slow start for the Fries - maybe too many of us have been sneaking a fry or two behind Coach's back? It's more likely that the team of Black Ice has amazing speed and passing and they are *much* different from the Everett team we played earlier in the week. After our first few shifts, Coach Murray was looking at us and asking if we were the same team that dominated our previous game....haha! Once we settled down and started to play our positions as opposed to chasing the puck, then we had more opportunities to break into our offensive zone and take some shots. In the end, despite being outshot 40-17 (I think that was the final tally), Fries won a hard-fought game 4-0 with goals going to Daniella, Lisa (way to go, Bullseye!), Jocelyn, and Bree-WOOT!! Keri (The Wall) was absolutely amazing in net that night and it was great to see the team dig in the final 5 minutes to give Keri the shutout. Great game, Fries!! Way to hang in there and keep at it despite the scorekeeper's attempt to unravel us by recording all those SOG's for Black Ice :-))

Submitted by Jocelyn #19

We Want Fries - SuperSized

This past Wednesday, the Fries had a game against the Everett Ravens and it was a shooting gallery (in a hockey kind of way, of course) at the Everett Events Center. It was great to skate with some of the ladies that couldn't make it out to Wenatchee including Daniella and Mi-La, April, and Joemarie. Oh, and Natalie - though she was in Wenatchee but skating for another team. Anyway, what a reunion it was! The Fries outshot the Ravens 37-11 and won the game 3-1. The first goal of the game actually went to the Ravens and they were up early into the second period. But, the Fries finally caught on to the meaning of the game (what? oh, you mean we're supposed to actually put the puck IN the net and not just shoot AT the goalie?) The first Fries goal was scored by Jocelyn (Buttercup, BUM, Clucker...the list of nicknames is growing as the season goes on...I'm starting to get a complex) from the most awesome backhand pass from Lee! Yeah, it took us 20+ shots on goal to finally get one in the net but after that, we never looked back. The second goal went to Lee. Lee, I think you should have someone "steal" your sticks before each of our game - maybe that's the mojo you need the rest of the season!

The final goal was a shortie scored by Marie with the assist going to KT! Nice work, ladies, and way to dig in deep to make up for the thug move that got Erin 2 minutes in the sin-bin. Sigh....Coach, you're supposed to teach us how to finesse our game and not influence us with your on-ice goon behavior. Actually, for those who know Erin, she is the last person you would think of as a thug and it was an extremely weak call (interference). Besides, we were only playing 3 on defense so maybe it was her way of getting a breather in the game :-)

Speaking of defense, our Dee Ladies absolutely rocked that night! Lisa, Joemarie, and Erin solidly held the blue line and had great shots on goals. Everyone had an amazing game: great passing, sweet breakouts, smart movement around the net in our offensive zone, skated hard to the puck. Oh, and great communication on the ice! We certainly fulfilled our Quinti-P's in that game: Power, persistence, puck possession, patience, and perserverence. Watch out Black Ice....cause the Fries are Supersized and you'll be puddle this weekend :-) Bring it on!

Wait, how can I forget about our very special guest that night? Thanks, Scott, for stepping in for Coach Slacker, I mean Murray, and being our voice of reason on the bench. You spoke and we listened. I noticed you didn't have to pull out the flask at all during the game ;-) You can be our substitute coach anytime!! See you in a couple of weeks!

Finally, more pictures from Wenatchee...enjoy!
Posted by Jocelyn #19