bhurst99

bhurst99

Game Five: Rockford at Milwaukee

bhurst99

Oct. 19, 2008

That got ugly fast.

I'm not a dirty player. I can't stand players who don't respect their opponents and take cheap shots. Some guys have been known to deliberately try to go after players existing injuries. If they know a player is recovering from a broken wrist, they won't hesitate to slash the player across the wrist. If they know someone has a bad shoulder, they'll look to slam into that shoulder.

That's why in the NHL teams are very reluctant to reveal the extend of players injuries, except to indicate that a player has a lower body injury or an upper body injury.

I don't want you to think I deliberately tried to injure Matt Ellison. I'm sure you have seen by now that the Milwaukee Admirals skater had to be helped off the ice after I bodychecked him.

A few of the Admirals were swearing at me every chance they got after that hit. A few of them said they were going to make me pay. I would tell you exactly what they said but I don't want to litter this with swearing.

Do you think I should have got a penalty for boarding? I don't. But I can understand why they were were upset -- you always have to stand up for a fallen teammate.

After I scored on the wraparound goal, they became irate. You could see the rage in their eyes. Somebody on Milwaukee's bench said I better arrange for a closed coffin at my funeral now because after they were done with me no one would want to look at my face.

When Triston Grant said "Let's go" that was enough for me. It was time for my second fight of the season. This time you probably noticed I was smart enough to make sure we didn't have the puck in the offensive zone before dropping the gloves.

I can't believe I've already been in two fights in five games. I barely fought at all in junior hockey.

Our bench was going absolutely bonkers after the bout like I had just found Omar bin Laden and brought him to justice.

"One punch, Hurst!" said Kris Versteeg. "You knocked him flat with one punch."

The joy was shortlived as I was absolutely destroyed on a bodycheck at the blueline when I got out of the penalty box. As you saw I hit my head pretty hard on the ice. I was pretty useless after that. I don't think I even got a shot off in the shootout. To tell you the truth I barely remember the shootout.

Fortunately, we won in the shootout. Coach Peters said he wants to see me tomorrow. I wonder what he wants.

bhurst99

bhurst99

Game Six: Norfolk at Rockford

bhurst99

Oct. 24, 2008

I'll be honest. Coach Bill Peters scares me.

I know I'm suppose to be a big, tough, intimidating hockey player fearing no one but this man holds my future in his hands.

After his crazed outburst during our second game, we're all on pins and needles waiting for him to go nuclear again. We figure it's just a matter of time.

I didn't get much sleep last night after he told me yesterday that he wanted to see me first thing this morning before our game against Norfolk. I expected the worse -- more criticism about my inability to win key faceoffs. It seems like he tells me that after every game.

I went into his office this morning and he started complaining about our offense. All September and October the coaching staff has been emphasizing defense and now they complain about the lack of offense. You wish they would make up their minds.

"We can't score," Peters told me. "It's ridiculous how many games we've had go to a shootout already because we're scraping for goals. I've never seen such a collection of talent score so few goals. It keeps me up at night."

"Hurst, do you know what it's like to stay up all night worrying about hockey?"

"No," I lied.

"It's frustrating watching players shoot the puck into the goalie's body time after time. We get these great opportunites and we can't bury them," Peters said banging the desk with his fist. He was getting more and more angry.

"We should be undefeated with all the chances we've had. It's infuriating."

Why did I have to be alone with Peters when he started punching the nuclear codes into the computer? Here come the missles.

"It's bloody madness watching us hit posts, go offsides on odd-man rushes. It makes my blood boil," Peters said. You could see the rage ignite in his eyes.

Somewhere I imagined nuclear sirens going off like in one of those 1950s nuclear safety videos that showed school children trying to hide under their desks.

"So that's why effective immediately I'm promoting you to the second line."

"Huh," I replied.

"That's right. You're one of our top scorers so you're going to play with Fraser on your left wing and Versteek on your right wing," Peters said.

"Keep up your good play."

This was most unexpected this early in the season.

I got up from my chair, anxious to get out of that office before he changed his mind.

"Now for the love of God, Hurst, win a faceoff in the third period!"

That was great news. Fraser and Versteek were talented players and I would get more scoring opportunities playing alongside them than I would on the third line. Sure enough I went out and set up Versteek for one of our goals against Norfolk

But strangely I felt more relieved Peters hadn't exploded than joy about the line change. Professional hockey is one roller coaster of a ride.

Mrkickbutts

Nice thread im starting mine in NHL 10 ... how do you make those images of the stats and everything ?

bhurst99

I use Adobe Photoshop.

bhurst99

bhurst99

Game Seven: Norfolk at Rockford

YouTube Video

bhurst99

Oct. 25, 2008

That was a disaster.

We responded to coach Bill Peters line shuffle that attempted to produce more offense by scoring one goal against Norfolk.

I won a faceoff in the third period, got the puck back to the point and earned an assist when Kris Versteek scored to tie it 1-1. That even made Peters smile when I got back to the bench.

“It was about time you won a faceoff in the third period,” Peters said.

But that was it for our scoring.

Norfolk won when our defensemen failed to even touch Norfolk’s Justin Keller, who came from behind the net to score the game-winner. Talk about a communication breakdown.

Peters didn’t say anything after that goal. All he could do was shake his head and whisper something to himself. It’s never a good sign when your coach is talking to himself.

I hadn’t really noticed it until Peters called me into his office and complained about our lack of offense, but he is right. We do shoot a lot right into the goalie’s body. Our lack of scoring is really beginning to frustrate everyone. Sure you need to play good defense to make it to the NHL, but we’d like to win some games and be entertaining.

Our number one goalie, Wade Flaherty, had the night off, and he was shaking his head on the bench like Peters.

“What’s with you, Wade?” I asked when I saw him shake his head.

“I’m just here thinking that I could have had a longer NHL career, if NHLers shot the puck like we shoot. You guys know that you’re suppose to aim for the net not the goalie’s pads or his gut?”

“Shut up, Wade,” I said. I knew that was impossible.

“The net is bigger than the goalie. You see in hockey you have to put the puck behind the goalie.” Flaherty emphasized the word behind like I was mentally challenged. “Wait, I’m sorry. I forgot to remind you that I speak of ice hockey and not field hockey, Hurst. I know you wish this was a non-contact sport and could prance around in a skirt like a field hockey player.”

Now Flaherty spoke slowly like he was telling a kindergarten class a story.

“One other thing: when you put the puck behind the goalie, make sure the net is behind the goalie. That way the puck – the black thing that looks like a circle -- can go in the net. I saw your shot in the final minute. You got it behind the goalie but it also missed the net by 10 feet and went all the way out of the zone. Remember: Puck in net. Say it like Cat in a Hat. Puck in a Net. Repeat it after me: Puck in a Net.”

I started to laugh. You can’t be mad at Flaherty.

I covered my mouth when I saw Peters staring at me as I started to laugh. He’s going to think I’m not taking this seriously enough.

We better start scoring some goals soon. What seems like amusing comments now will anger people if this continues.

bhurst99

bhurst99

Game Eight: Rockford at Chicago

bhurst99

Oct. 26, 2008

It wasn’t a good idea to have a few beers last night. It was really bad to have a dozen.

You’re probably bored by now about all this talk about hockey. You’re probably dying to know what it’s like to be a pro athlete. Want to know all the inside stories about the money, babes and good times?

Let me set you straight.

This is pro hockey but no one is going to get rich playing in the American Hockey League. I share a two-bedroom apartment with Brian Bickell, a left winger, who is in his third year of pro hockey. It’s not exactly glamorous but it’s big enough for the two of us. You might remember my agent Pete Satt got me a two-way contract that pays me about $45,000 as a rookie in the minors.

Almost all the furniture is Bickell’s including the 50-inch television where we spend most of our free time. It’s pretty much the only luxury item in the apartment.

When we’re not at the rink or talking hockey – which is almost all the time – we’re sitting here in front of the television. I have played more Xbox 360 in the past two months than I care to think about since I don’t know many people in the city. Bickell is a big online Texas Hold’em poker fanatic. He can play like 90 minutes online, turn it off, and recite every hand in the game. There might be nothing more boring than hearing someone tell you about what happened with the river card. But I try to pretend like I’m interested because he is so passionate about it.

Yeah, it’s not too exciting. I don’t think the paparazzi will follow us around anytime soon.

One day the toilet wasn’t flushing properly and I tried to fix it rather than spend money on a plumber. That was a catastrophe. There was about an inch of water on the bathroom floor. Bickell heard me swearing and entered the bathroom while I was reaching behind the toilet.

“There’s nothing like a pro athlete’s life, is there Hurst?” Bickell said, laughing. “You better make it in the NHL because you will starve as a plumber.”

Since I’m not old enough to drink in a bar I can’t go out with the other guys. Sometimes five or six of us will have beers here at the apartment and watch the NHL. It’s a real bonding experience to watch NHL games and pick out players who have no business being in the league. Of course, we say it should be us in the NHL not the player of our derision. Yes, they’re real bitch sessions.

Last night before today’s game against Chicago, our captain Jack Skille took us to a bar in the Windy City where he knew I could get in. They didn’t look at my identification too closely. Almost the entire team went and had a great time. I had about a dozen beers. Usually, I could drink that much with no problems but I guess since I haven’t been drinking much since I came to Rockford my tolerance wasn’t that great.

I woke up the next day and I felt so dehydrated. My head hurt and my legs felt like I was wearing a suit of armor.

It showed when I played and I felt like I was a step behind the action all game. You saw that I got hammered on a couple of plays. I crumpled on the ice after one hit and slid all the way to the boards. I probably would have felt more pain but I was probably numb from the alcohol in my body.

Fortunately, we won 2-0 in another low scoring game. I couldn’t wait for the game to end. That’s how bad I felt.

I wasn’t too proud of myself after the game. I’m going to have pick my spots better when I drink in the future.

bhurst99

bhurst99

Game Nine: Manitoba at Rockford

YouTube Video

bhurst99

Oct. 31, 2008

Everyone seems to agree I am bad. But what bad means depends on who is talking.

Coach Bill Peters thinks I am horrible defensively. That’s what he means when he says I am bad. He isn’t shy about letting me know.

You probably saw how out of position I was on Manitoba’s first goal that made it 1-1. Twice I thought our defenseman had the puck and I headed toward the boards to look for the outlet pass. Unfortunately, their forechecker got the puck when our defenseman turned it over, took it and slipped it by our goalie.

I simply couldn’t recover.

Peters let me have it when I got back to the bench.

“What the hell were you doing,” Peters yelled. Actually he used some other words but I like to keep this clean. I could see the veins in his neck bulge.

“You have to help out your defense. You were running around the defensive zone like they were playing dodge ball. The goal here isn’t to avoid the man or the puck.”

It must be so entertaining to have seats behind our player’s bench. Not only do you get to watch the game but you also get to learn new profanity from Peters.

A few minutes later I showed that I can be bad as in he’s one bad mother with the puck.

I passed the puck to a streaking Colin Fraser at the blueline who took a couple of strides and fired a wrist shot that went in to make it 2-1.

A little later Manitoba was screaming that I was a bad ass after I plastered a Manitoba player into the boards. I didn’t think I hit him that hard but he went head over heels onto the ice, drawing to draw a penalty. He landed on his head. He’s lucky he didn’t break his neck.

We got a break in overtime when a Moose got called for a penalty. We capitalized on the power play to win 3-2.

Enough about the hockey game. I got some huge news. I think I might have a girlfriend! We’ve only gone on a couple dates but I’m convinced it’s the real deal. At least I hope she feels the same way about our relationship.

But there’s a big problem.

As players we’re not allowed to date anyone connected with the IceHogs organization. You guessed it: she works part-time for the IceHogs. So I’m not going to say too much about her at this point. I will tell you she works as an usher at the arena.

When I met her I thought since she worked at the Metrocentre arena which is owned by the City of Rockford, she would get paid by the City. Nope, it turns out the IceHogs hire the ushers.

I really don’t want any sort of drama with the team. Geez, they barely drafted me and now things are going good. I don’t want to give them any reason to punish me.

bhurst99

bhurst99

Game 10: Syracuse at Rockford

YouTube Video

bhurst99

Nov. 1, 2008

I knew it was going to be bad when I went to the bench after the hit and not a single teammate could look at me.

It’s the second time in five games I have hit an opponent so bad they had to be escorted off the ice and into the dressing room. This time I hit Syracuse Crunch defenseman Aaron Rome from behind into the boards and he went awkwardly head over his heels. He hit his head pretty bad on the ice as you saw in the highlights.

Hitting from behind is a no-no in hockey because the risk of injury is so great. The player who is hit doesn’t have the ability to prepare for the hit and is vulernable because there is no give to the boards. I've seen replays of old games from the 1970s and 1980s and the boards back then were very flexible. When a player was knocked into the boards, the boards would sway and absord the collision. Not anymore. Now it’s like being rammed into concrete.

As soon as Rome hit the ice, players from both teams were furious. That’s right, both teams.

Incredibly, I didn’t get a penalty but the damage was done. I didn’t know it at the time but Syracuse announced after the game that Rome is out for the next eight weeks.

During the second intermission, Pascal Pelletier, motioned for me to come to his stall and talk to him. Pelletier is one of our veterans.

“Listen, Hurst, everyone loves the intensity you bring to the rink,” Pelletier said. “Your physical play is one of the reasons why we’re off to a good start. But you have to learn to pick your spots. The hit on Rome wasn’t a clean hit. He was vulnerable and you have to take him out of the play but not cream him.”

“We’ll always have your back but this isn’t the first time you’ve hit someone from behind,” Pelletier continued. “The guys aren’t afraid to mix it up to protect you from all the cheap shots you’re going to get if you don’t cut this out. But they’re going to start to get furious if your actions result in them being the victims of hits from behind or cheap shots.”

When Pelletier gave me his speech, I was pretty upset but I bit my tongue. That's what you do when you're a rookie. Things happen so quickly on the ice you don’t always have time to process all the information and made snap physical judgments. A guy can be facing you as he goes back to collect the puck and turn at the last second after you’re already committed to hitting him. What do you do then?

But the more I thought about it the more I see where Pelletier is coming from. Our players will start to be on the end of a lot of slashes, hacks, and boarding if I stir things up too much.

I was a little bit surprised coach Bill Peters didn’t have more to say to me after our 2-1 loss about my actions and my play considering it was one of my worst games.

Instead, he was furious with the whole team about the loss and promised big changes. I wonder what he has in mind.

bhurst99

bhurst99

Game 11: Rockford at Peoria

YouTube Video

bhurst99

Nov. 2, 2008

The resentment will only grow after I played my worst game of the season today.

Coach Bill Peters called me into his office before today’s game to give me some news. When he told me I had to go into his office, he said it with all the enthusiasm of a doctor about to tell a patient he has terminal cancer.

He waves me into his office like a police office directing traffic, not even looking at me, like he has been motioning drivers all day long. I follow him into the office. He sits down at his desk, looks at the phone and starts talking while he is looking at the ceiling.

“This is the part of the job I hate,” Peters said.

This can’t be good. Peters is suddenly looking very old. I see lines on his brow I have never noticed before.

“As you know Chicago is having a very disappointing season,” Peters continues finally looking at me. Chicago, the parent club of the Rockford Ice Dogs, is near the bottom of the NHL’s Western Conference.

“Management fear all their young scorers are too soft. They think they lack toughness and grit,” Peters said.

Peters stops talking, looking at me for some sort of response. I don’t know what I’m suppose to say. What does this have to do with me?

“What’s going on coach. Has someone been fired?” I ask. It’s clear he had an unpleasant phone call with someone in Chicago.

“No, no one has been fired. But I have been given specific instructions about you. Instructions I don’t agree with,” Peters said. “It’s clear they are desperate.”

Again Peters stops talking, waiting for me to say something. I am completely confused. Instructions about me he doesn’t agree with it?

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“The Blackhawks have told me they want you on the first line today and for the forseeable future. They’ve heard you’re rough and that you have some scoring ability. They are actually impressed you’ve injured two players in 10 games,” said Peters. He said the word impressed, sarcastically, drawing it out.

“They believe that’s the kind of grit they need. I told them that you’re still learning, you’re a defensive liability and it’s going to cause all sorts of problems in the locker if you get promoted to the first line because you haven’t earned it. I said to wait about a dozen more games. They told me, ‘No, do it now.’”

Thanks for the support coach.

Peters was right about the locker room problems. When Peters told the team before the game I was playing on the first line, there were a few snickers and I heard someone say “Are you serious?” but I couldn’t tell who had said it in the crowd.

It’s not everyday a last round draft pick like myself starts on the third line, gets promoted to the second line and then the first line after just 10 games. I can understand why that might ruffle a few feathers, especially when I only have seven points. I’m not exactly setting the AHL on fire.

It’s not lost on me that when I get promoted other players demoted to the second or third lines which means less ice time for them. That’s only going to hurt their careers.

By now you have watched the highlights of my first game on the first line. It was a disaster. I don’t know if it was just nerves or new linemates but I couldn’t do anything.

We were down 3-0 early in our 4-1 loss and I picked up a couple of minor penalties that killed any chances of a comeback. It was a frustrating day.

I’d better get back on my game quick. I’ve got coaches and teammates to win over.

bhurst99

bhurst99

Game 12: Rockford at Norfolk

YouTube Video

bhurst99

Nov. 6, 2008

I went from thoughts of luxury to being a laughing stock in a matter of hours.

We had some good news before departing for Norfolk, Virginia, a 14-hour bus ride from Rockford, Illinois. The news: No bus for us; we’re taking an airplane. Little did I know that was bad news for me.

The owners sprung for the plane tickets well before the season started and the coaches only let the players know a couple of days before the departure as a surprise. We’re not flying first class, just a regular commuter flight with American Airlines.

Anything compared to a long bus ride is a treat. I had enough of those in the Ontario Hockey League. You haven't experienced horror until you're on a bus in a northern Ontario blizzard in the dead of night.

We were scheduled to take the plane to Norfolk out of Chicago’s O’Hare airport which is a zoo. We checked in, got through security and sat down outside our gate about an hour before the departure time.

That’s when things got a little weird.

It began with a few players smiling at me and a couple players pointing at me, snickering.

I didn’t know what was going on. Being a rookie, I feel like a complete outsider at times, sometimes I wonder if I’m just a little bit paranoid. But it's not paranoia if they're really out to get you.

Captain Jack Skille was sitting near me, reading a newspaper.

"Hey, Hurst, you should go to the washroom before we get on the plane," he said.

"I’m good," I said.

"No, you should really go before getting on the plane. There’s not a lot of space on those airplane toilets," he said.

"I’ve been on an airplane before. I think I can manage. Thanks, Jack," I responded.

Forward David Bolland must have overheard our conversation as he threw an empty potato chip wrapper into the garbage.

"Hurst, go to the washroom because if I have to sit next to you and you have to go, I’m not moving to let you in the aisle. Go right now. I’m not cleaning your diaper."

What is everyone's problem?

"Seriously, guys I'm fully house broken. I don't need guys telling me when I have to go to the washroom. But thanks for your interest," I said.

Coach Bill Peters looks at me and shouts in the packed waiting room.

"Hurst, if your teammates say you have to go to the washroom before getting on the plane, you go to the bloody washroom," Peters said.

Peters is psychotic. People stop in the terminal and look at us in like we have landed from another planet. I don't need this battle with Peters right now.

"Fine. I'm off to the washroom," I said. "Does anyone want to take any pictures to make sure I have gone? You guys seem to be really interested."

In retrospect, I should have known better.

I walk the 15 feet to the men's washroom. I open the door and walk in. It's strange but I don't hear it close. I head to the urinal but before I unzip my fly I hear the voice of Skille behind me.

"Welcome to the team, rookie," Skille quickly said.

"What the he--," I start.

Skille immediately knocks me into the urinal with a light but unexpected body slam and grabs my shirt. I see there are two other players with him. I see the flash of something pink in one of their hands.

"Don't fight us, Hurst. It's rookie initiation," Bolland said.

Oh no.

I'm rattled and I try to resist but now there's five players in the washroom. There's no point in fighting them. It's hopeless. They took off my shirt and my pants and dress me in a pink miniskirt with matching pink halter top. They throw a blond wig on me and boot me out of the washroom, back into the waiting area where there are about 500 people waiting on various planes.

The rest of the team goes nuts when they see me. Goalie Wade Flaherty is laughing so hard he almost falls out of his seat.

"Sometimes people ask me why I still play hockey at my age, Hurst," said Flaherty. He can barely get out the words between laughing fits. "It's moments like this that keep me coming back for me. You just don't get this at home."

I look ridiculous. There is body hair poking out from my underneath my clothing. Yes, they threw some red lipstick on me to complete the look.

I am the sensation of the airport. No other woman is getting as much looks as me. Security must have heard the commotion in the washroom and they come running to where we are sitting. Even the usual serious security guys start to smile.

"Must be a rookie," said one security guard, pointing to me. They turn around and leave.

I can't believe even Peters was in on it. It's my turn to have some fun.

"Hey, coach," I said. "I bet I am the best looking woman who has talked to you in the last year. Actually, I'm probably the only woman who has talked to you in the past year."

Even Peters chuckles.

That's the way I travelled on the airplane to Norfolk. The guys couldn't stop poking jokes at me and looking at me on the flight. Hopefully, this is one of those team bonding experiences. A couple of passengers take pictures of me. Great, I can't wait to see those on the internet.

Bolland is enjoying himself immensely on the flight to Norfolk, sitting beside me.

"You're a good sport, Hurst. I'll say that," Bolland said.

"Dave, you're not going to believe this," I said.

'What's that?" Bolland asked.

"I have to go to the washroom."

bhurst99

Game 13: Rockford at Norfolk

YouTube Video

bhurst99

Nov. 8, 2008

Would you believe we are the same team that started the year without a regulation loss in our first six games?

The positive energy created by my rookie initiation on the airplane trip to Norfolk has evaporated.

We blew a late one-goal lead in Norfolk with less than six minutes left and allowed them to score the winning goal with about 11 seconds remaing in regulation. If that wasn't bad enough consider this: I had an opportunity to tie the game in the final seconds when I got behind the defense and had a clear shot on net right in front of their goalie. I couldn't put it in.

Scoring is still an enormous problem for us despite the line shuffling by coach Bill Peters. No one seems to have any answers.

Peters keeps telling us to work harder during our recent slide.

"You guys have to fight for the puck. You have to give maximum effort and right now you're not doing it," Peters said.

That's so ridiculous but it's something you hear about in reference to hockey players all the time. You never hear athletes in football, basketball or baseball criticized for a lack of effort.

Everyone here in Rockford is busting their butt. Teams win or lose primarily because of skill not because one team is outworking another team. There are nights you're going to lose more than your share of 50-50 battles in the corner but it's not because of a lack of effort. There are nights you're going to be out of position because of the lightning speed of the game, not because of a lack of effort.

And there are nights where I am going to pass to teammates for eight-to-10 golden scoring opportunities and have them score on none of them.

It has been a very frustrating three games for me since I have been put on the first line. I have one goal and no assists since the promotion. Jack Skille, Bryan Bickell and I have the chemistry of a husband and wife going through a bitter divorce. I love those guys but this line just hasn't been working. Our spacing on the ice is horrible. This definitely isn't what people had in mind when I was promoted to the first line.

I don't want you to think I am blaming Skille and Bickel. They have also set me up for a ton of scoring opportunities that I have missed. It's just that our inability to score is incredibly frustrating.

You can tell the entire Chicago Blackhawks organization is under a lot of pressure with the parent club playing so poorly.

All the coaches are on edge even though they aren't responsible for what's happening in Chicago. There is persistent talk the Hawks are on the verge of some major changes. You hear whispers that players may be demoted to Rockford from Chicago; coaches being fired and players traded.

Uncertainty does not make a happy hockey club.

I think when I get back to Rockford, I am going to call my agent Pete Satt. He has a lot of NHL connections, maybe he can shed some light about what's going on.

bhurst99

bhurst99

Game 14: Milwaukee at Rockford