The clinic from Kelly was a fantastic opportunity; thanks, Sharon! For those of you who missed it, we had a great time. The only disappointment: Kelly didn’t bring her medal for show-and-tell. I can’t see why not… I can’t imagine that going through life with a half pound of metal around her neck might weigh her down a little…. But seriously, I can’t wait to get on the ice and try some more of the things she suggested.

Speaking of ice, a couple of Fries infiltrated the Sting locker room when Sting was a little short against Black Ice last weekend. Those Fries heard some bragging about Sting being undefeated since returning from Wenatchee. It’s nothing personal, but I think it’s perhaps it’s time for Sting’s winning streak to end!

Recap: Practice with Kelly (Stephens) Tysland

In case you were unable to make practice last Wednesday night, here are some pointers that Kelly covered in the session. It was a great session and kudos to Sharon for setting it up for us.

Skating:
1. Know your edges: try loosening or taking the lace out of your skates top one or two eyelets for 5 min on ice to feel your blade versus your boots-
2. Keep your knees bent, chest up, and your head is the first thing that needs to turn to move your body
3. Turning keep that inside shoulder up, and lower your bottom hand to keep puck closer to your body
4. When turning on your forehand, don't crisscross your hands, instead just drop your top hand to your hip.

Passing:
1. Cushion the puck when receiving a pass
2. Keep your stick on the ice to give the passer a target
3. Bring the puck behind your body before you pass, so you use your body not just your arms
4. Roll your wrists over to follow through for every pass

Shooting:
1. Aim at SMALL targets
2. Shoot to score, not to just shoot
3. Lower your bottom hand and grip tightly for the shot
4. Rotate stick slightly to close the blade of your stick so it isn’t open when you shoot.
5. Bring the puck behind and across your body when you shoot, to use your body not just your arms
6. Try to glance at the net once before you shoot

Positions:
1. Communicate!!!! Let teammates know what your doing
2. Wingers don't get caught in the corners in the D-zone, and get on the hashmarks along the boards on breakouts
3. Centers you are the 3rd defense in the D-zone
4. Defense, always keep one D in front of the net
5. Offensively, you have forwards and defense, no wingers, centers etc.
Forward 1- Attack (go get that puck!!)
Forward 2- Support (a few feet from Forward 1 who's going after the puck)
Forward 3- High (at top of circles)

Submitted by:
Jocelyn #19

Wed., 2/11 - Guest coach Kelly Tysland

This is an opportunity that you cannot miss! Here's your chance to practice with an Olympic medalist. Kelly Tysland, a member of the 2006 U.S. Women's Ice Hockey team that won the bronze medal that year, will be our guest coach on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The session starts at 8:00 at Castle Ice - please be there on time to maximize your time with Kelly. I have no idea what to expect other than a lot of skating, a lot of puck-handling drills, maybe some water breaks, but definitely good times! Hope you can make it! Maybe at the end of the session, I can skate 1/10th as good as Sharon (an alum of previous Kelly Tysland sessions).

Thank you Seattle Women's Hockey Club for setting this up. For more info on Kelly, you can visit: http://www.experiencemomentum.org/whoweare-kelly.html

Submitted by,
Jocelyn #19

2009 Fundraiser

(Graphic: Bree Carey, #10, We Want Fries)

(From Sharon's note sent on 01/18/09):

Attached is our Flyer for the 2009 club fundraiser, special thanks to Bree Carey who created the flyer and Christine Hatcher who edited and proofed it for this year!! Please print and post the flyer on bulletin boards at your work, local coffee shop, laundromat, common area of your apartment or condominium building or anywhere else it can get exposure!!

If you played a game last night, then you've probably received your batch of 10 tickets. Please ask the person who buys the ticket from you to write their name on the back before they enter the rink!! Why do we want them to do this? We have lots of great door prizes and will be drawing from all the tickets we take at the door throughout the event; we need to be able to announce the winners name so they know to come claim their prize.

If having your friends, co-workers and family come out and see and support women's hockey isn't incentive enough to sell all your tickets..... The team that sells the most tickets gets to play the 1st game and gets to choose to play the second game as well or pass on the second game so they can socialize and consume adult beverages - winners choice!! The team that sells the second most tickets gets to play the early game and the team that sells the third most tickets plays the late game. Please let a board member know if you need more tickets, your team will love you if you sell a gazillion of them!!

Football+Chili+Hockey = Fries Roadtrip

The Fries hit the road this weekend up north for a game against the Bellingham women's hockey team. And, what did we learn from this trip? Let's see: take more shots; better to shoot across the net as opposed to wide of the net (which at least forces the goalie to move to the other side of the net); Amanda is a damn good player (but we all knew that already, hmph); April and Joemarie are goons :-); jalapenos go really well in April's homemade chili; her homemade croutons go even better with her mushroom soup; Mike makes an awesome almond butter cookie; tossing a football is a great way to warm up, and; Mi-La has one heckuva arm! It was pretty clear who hung out with their brothers in the backyard tossing around a football.

The final score was 6-1. Lee scored an awesome goal by picking up the puck after a faceoff in mid-ice and skating it all the way in and backhanding it into the net when the goalie went down. Nice move, Wicked Wrister! And, that was pretty much our highlight for the night. The rest of the night, we were mesmerized by Amanda's skating and puck handling and unable to keep up with the tic-tac passes of the Bellingham women.

Now, that was one game where we were dominated by another team. Our previous game which was played against Black Ice, was a *very close game*. Evidentally, the holiday break had an impact on their conditioning, as well, because the lack of oxygen led to grand, delusional claims that they dominated the game. Ha! Yes, Black Ice may won the game, but the shots on goal was close to being even. Guess we'll have to see who is right in a couple of weeks....watch out, Black Ice, because you won't be able to take the heat from the Fries!

Posted by Jocelyn #19 (um, my game is apparently missing. If found, please be so kind and return it.)

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

The Lisas' Office

A brief explanation for those of you who were not in the first locker room at Castle prior to practice on Wed 12/3: When I was pointing down the bench towards the shower/bathroom at Lisa B and trying to tell April that Lisa and I are office mates, April misunderstood and thought I was telling her that my office was the bathroom, or as April referred to it, "the $h!tter". So here is a lovely picture, courtesy of Lee, of my (and presumably Lisa's too) petite yet multi-functional office. You know, we do frequently think that a lot of stuff that goes on at work is crap.... good to know we work in a fitting repository. For those of you with a curious streak, I believe the reason the outhouse appears to be lurching down the street is because Lee is walking inside it as a float in a parade in her youth. Who would have predicted that the power propelling this tilted toilet would one day be president of SWHC?

Posted by Lisa #39

Black Ice does Wenatchee

Black Ice took home the trophy from the "Novice 1" division at Hot Autumn Ice! We had a great weekend playing hockey as well as watching the other club games. And we tried to have a little fun in between.

Game highlights

• Game 1 Friday 11/21 9:45 pm vs. Everett Ravens: 7-0 (W)
  Player of the game (selected by Coach Skip): Jenny Luke
  

• Game 2 Saturday 11/22 4:00 pm vs. Spokane 1: 3-0 (W)
  Player of the game (selected by Coach Skip): Karen Binkhorst
  

• Game 3 Sunday 11/23 6:30 am vs. Wenatchee Banshees 1: 5-0 (W)
  Player of the game (selected by Coach Skip): Alison Gibson
  

• Championship game Sunday 11/23 10:45 am vs. Everett Ravens: 5-1 (W)
  Players of the game (selected by Coach Skip): Alison Gibson and Jen Mandel
  

Tournament Player of the game (selected by Coach Skip): Jenny Luke


Weekend highlights

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Black Ice had a total of 103 shots on goal in four games.

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Karen: Jenny, where's your baby?
Jenny: Asleep in the hotel room.

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One of our rookies Alison Gibson had 5 points (3 goals, 2 assists) in the tournament!

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Waitress at the Buzz Inn: What can I get you to drink?
Christine: Do you have Coke?
Waitress: No, but we have Pepsi.
Christine: Then I'll have whiskey.

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And now for a post with a title, here are pictures from the Sting's tournament experience

The Sting had a great weekend even if our record didn't exactly show it. Our first game was against the Stick Shifters way too early on Saturday. Within the first five minutes, Marjory Earle scored her first goal. It was awesome, she was in perfect position and bounced a rebound in! Unfortunately, our raucous celebration lit a fire under the Stick Shifters behinds, and we ended up losing.

We had a great lunch (also took the team picture) and had a very helpful team meeting. At the meeting, we concentrated on a need to communicate on the ice better, game strategy, back-checking, and positioning in the transition. Then we hit the ice that afternoon against our own club mates We Want Fries. This game ended in a 1-1 tie. On the Sting side, Jess had a beautiful goal, and Pam played excellently in goal. I was sidelined due to injury and had a ton of fun watching from the stands. The game was well played all around. Assistant Captain Lindsay says, "We may have just tied the Fries, but for the Sting it was a real victory."

That night we came back to the arena to cheer on the (What the) Fries as they trounced Portland . It was a great team event - a lot of joking, laughing, cheering, and beer sloshing. We collectively give props to Joan for hopping over a gate in skates and crawling on her knees on the cement (mind you as we all sit there and watch) to get a roll of tape for Keri. That night we had a hair dying party in my room and both Claire and Lindsay went blue. Kirsten did a souvineer blue strand for herself and Mel's hair, we discovered, is totally bleach resistant.

Sunday morning we played Portland and had a tight 0-0 game until late when they got 2 goals. It was a tough, messy game in which two of our players ended up sidelined due to injury (Kirsten and Erin). Keri had an awesome game in goal, and got a lot more action then we would have liked. All in all, I believe it is fair to say that we are not a morning team and Portland definitely is.

I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to Pam and Keri for playing awesomely in net, and for Jess for putting up with us all weekend. Also, to Jenn for being one of the best, and most entertaining spectators I've met.

Coach's Tips for Staying in Shape this Week

Since we don’t have practices this week, I think it’s a good idea that you all make a conscious effort to stay in shape even though most of us will not be eating very healthy and will not be exercising like we might on any other week. So, here are some tips to help you stay in the top-notch hockey shape that you all are currently in:

- Offer to be the “Thanksgiving Waitress” for your family (see, this way, you will be continuously running laps to the living room, around the dining room table, maybe even service to the bathroom depending on how close you and your family are - all those laps will add up and all the sudden you’ll notice you aren’t so tired in the 2nd period anymore!)
- Be an over-enthusiastic Seahawks fan (stand-up, sit-down, rah, rah, rah! Uniform and pom poms optional – again, make the judgment based on the closeness of your family, and how long they might hold it against you).
- Offer to run all the last-minute errands for cans of cranberries and what-not, then plan your trip just right so you miss the bus by mere seconds, and chase it the whole way to the store (wear your helmet if you find this to be embarrassing – and actually, Mary, you should just wear your helmet everywhere you go). On the way home, use the cranberries as dumbbells (you’ll thank me next week when your wrist shot is 1-3% stronger).
- Encourage your older relatives to teach you a dance they used to do when they were young – this is bound to be entertaining and hopefully a good workout depending on how they get-down, or got-down. Once you’ve mastered the dance, I encourage you to teach the rest of the team next Monday so that we may all be entertained.
- Every time someone annoys you at the dinner table, let them know by jumping to your feet (this is great for your quads), and pumping your fist, then storm out of the room (this is mostly just for your benefit of getting a break from everyone). Try to grab the bottle of champagne and hold it in the fist that’s pumping - again, the wrist shot thing.

Excellent work at the tournament ladies – it was fun to get to know each of you a little more off the ice.
Have a great Thanksgiving! See you next week!
Coach Amy

We Want Fries 0 - Stick Shifters 2 (Rec/Div 2 Final Round

WWF made it to the final round in the Rec/Division 2 for a second match against the Stick Shifters from Burnaby, B.C. on Sunday afternoon. We heard they were talking smack about the team and having to play that "Fries" team again but we wanted to show them that we were a completely different team from the one that showed up last Friday.

In the locker room, we talked about maintaining the level of intensity we built up from Saturday and came up with the "Quinti-P's": Power, persistence, patience, puck possession, and perserverance. I think that's the list but if any other Fry would like to add something, please feel free. Anyway, it was time to leave it all on the ice because there was nothing left but a 2.5 hour drive back home.

The game started out just as intense as the last games and EVERYONE on WWF skated hard and went to the puck (That Puck Is Mine...Give Me My Puck) and the player. We actually looked forward to the physical game that we knew the Stick Shifters were going to bring and we gave it right back to them. After the first period, it was 0-0 and I had a feeling that it was going to come down to who would have fuel left in the tank by the third period. Unfortunately, that was the Stick Shifters. But, we definitely made them earn that trophy. We had a some great opportunities but just couldn't finish and put the puck in the net. Nevertheless, outstanding effort Fries! You all skated so well and gave everything you had out on the ice. Thank you, Keri, for your awesome netminding (and thank you Pam for being our goalie for the other games!!). Keri was also the game MVP. 3 Stars for this game went to: Bree, Marie, and Keri. Special thanks to Coach Murray for inspiring us and for coming up with new lines that brought the spark back to our team. Thanks to Bridget and Joan who sub'ed and filled in the spots on the roster. And, THANK YOU FANS for showing up to watch our last game!! We Want Fries - you all had a great tournament and I'm so proud to be skating with you. I can't wait to meet up with the Stick Shifters again in the Spring in Vancouver. Revenge will be sweet. Happy Thanksgiving everyone and see you all on the ice in a couple of weeks. Submitted by Jocelyn (Buttercup #19)

We Want Fries - 1 tie, 1 win!!

Quick update after our last post-game celebration at the Buzz Inn. What kind of town shuts down at 1:00 am? Oh, yeah...Wenatchee. OK...so quick recap for We Want Fries:

Game 2: We Want Fries vs. Sting
We came all the way out Wenatchee to play one of the teams from the SWHC....Sting. But, that's OK, it's payback time for WWF after a couple of consecutive losses to Sting back in Seattle. We were ready - the team pumped full of carbs from our grande breakfast/brunch, and some new ideas from Coach. Let me just say that the Fries Mojo was back! The ENTIRE team skated to the puck, forechecked aggressively, and had a lot of shots on goal. The final score, however, was a tie (1-1) with the lone goal coming from Lisa (#39). However, it was a moral victory because we finally found a line combination that created some spark for the entire team. Suddenly, we were finding each other on the ice and making great passes and also being aggressive by going after the puck before Sting could get any momentum going into our zone. MVP award went to Lisa (#39) and the 3 stars for the game were Yvonne, Bree, and KT.

Game 3: Went Want Fries vs. Portland Phoenix
We had a couple of hours to kill between games and went out for a quick dinner before our 10:00 pm game. We were all worried that we would lose our momentum over the 3 hours between games, and also be bogged down by dinner. But, we ate light and kept moving around to keep from stiffening up. Many of us have played Portland before so we knew we were going to be evenly matched. In the first period, Portland came at us hard and fast, but we didn't back down and continued to play aggressively - our goal...keep forechecking and take a lot of shots on goal. We wanted to win and that hunger showed by the end of the 1st period: WWF 2 - Portland 0 thanks to goals from Lisa (#39) and Jocelyn (#19). The 2nd period, Lisa took over and completed her hat trick in the 2nd period and the final score was 4-0. Woot! We'll find out tomorrow morning if we're in the finals. Marie is now telling me to turn off the lights and my computer. So, let's go Fries!! Great game everyone! Total 180 degree turn for WWF the last 2 games and I think we all agree that they have been our best games to date. MVP went to Lisa - 3 stars: Bridget, Joan, and Erin. Submitted by Jocelyn (#19)

Down Time for SWHC

Down time for the Seattle Women's Hockey Club: