Beyond the Scoresheet

My one day of hockey

December 22, 2007 on 10:18 pm | In analysis | 2 Comments

Well, I got to watch my one game of New Jersey hockey for the year this afternoon. To be honest, I prioritized friends and family today, with no regrets. After doing these interviews (Part I, Part II) on SportsNet America this morning, I decided to skip the drive to Skylands. Christmas shopping, y’know.

So I went over to Mennen this afternoon and caught up with a bunch of old friends, which was totally worth it. I got a serious handshake from Pingry coach John Magadini (who remembers when I came up to about his waist) and his staff after Pingry’s 9-2 win over Pequannock. I caught up with former Morristown baseball coach Harry Shatel, a friend and mentor to me, and several other friends from the Morris County scene. I also hung out with Dan Breeman of the Daily Record, a longtime friend and colleague.

And I watched some hockey. Arriving at Mennen near the end of the Pingry-Pequannock game, I had been in the rink for about five minutes when I got hit by a loose puck. What are the odds? Had I been in mid-season form, I might have made the catch, but I have to admit I turned away and let it hit me in the side.
I also officially met Roxbury coach Jon Benbow for the first time, and I watched his Gaels beat Park Regional 4-1. Roxbury really dominated the game, and only some sick saves from Anthony White kept Regional in it. You have to think Roxbury is the class of the Haas/Charette Division at the moment, although no big scorers really stand out.

Being back at Mennen for the first time in almost two years … I really, really missed the place. I missed the skate guards and announcements and banners and, most of all, the faces. It was just great to be back watching New Jersey hockey, and it reminded me how much I really do miss it sometimes.
There are a couple games worth seeing tomorrow, notably Indian Hills-Northern Highlands, Cranford-Watchung Hills, Rumson-Red Bank and Clifton-Ridgewood, but I will probably not be able to make any of them due to family commitments. I hope everybody in the hockey community gets to spend time with their respective families this holiday season.