Wednesday and Thursday games done

So Wednesday was the start of the Quarter finals, and Danielle and I were skating the Nova Scotia vs Quebec game. I got to the rink early to watch the 11:30 game, between Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It was very back and forth and Manitoba went up 2 - 1 at the half. The 2nd half the Saskatchewan goalie stood on her head, and two goals for Saskatchewan ended up winning 3 - 2. Although some would consider this an upset, most of the teams are so close, anyone can end up winning on any given day. My game was up next. It was a great environment with well over 500 people there for the game. Quebec came out flying and went out to a 6 - 0 lead and although Nova Scotia scored to make it 6 - 1 before the end of the first it was seeming like a one sided game. The crowd was still into it, which made for a very good environment. After the flood at the end of the 1st we went back out, and Nova Scotia wasn't ready to pack it in, they scored twice in the first 10 minutes to make it 6 - 3. The Quebec came back to score twice more to end the game at 8 - 3. Overall it was a good game. I realized the importance of keeping focus for the entire game, as I lost focus for a couple of seconds and had a procedural error, which didn't really effect the game, but can't let it happen. Wasn't happy with myself for doing it, but had to make sure that I use it as a learning experience and don't let it get to me for the rest of the week. It seems like a simple little thing to most people (blowing the play in immediately for a goalie ring rather than declaring a longer stoppage due to the net being off and going with a defensive free pass) but when reffing at this level it is something that shouldn't happen. But as I said it is a learning experience and can't dwell on it, as I can't let it affect the rest of the week.

After the long day at the rink, we ordered some pizza and then had our meeting at 10:00 pm. Thursday there are 4 games, the first two being the relegation semis, where the teams that lost the quarter finals play. The last two were the Semi-Final for the winners of the Quarterfinals. I was assigned to the 2:00 game, which was one of the semi-finals, and it was going to be Quebec vs. Alberta.

After a late breakfast (as I wasn't going to want to eat lunch just before the game) we headed out to the rink. Brent decided it would be funny when the supervisors game into the room just before the game to have he and I in a heated argument over a rule interpretation. This is a concern for the supervisors as we as officials need to be a team, and working well together, to have us arguing just before the game, would be a real concern. So we pulled it off and got the appropriate reaction from the supervisors, and it helped to keep the mood light before the game.

We went out for the game, and it was just flying. Alberta was up 3 - 0 at the half, but the first period just flew by. Unlike the game earlier in the week, in which we were doing lightning drills, although this was faster, we were able to anticipate the play, and therefore, skate with it, without expending as much energy. Something I much prefer. We were again worried at the end of the first that it was going to be a one sided game, if Quebec didn't make some changes. Fairly early in the 2nd period I was skating backwards up the ice, and got smoked by a player after she came out of the penalty box and I was skating backwards. Apparently it must have looked worse than I thought it felt, as there were several people after the game who were asking if I was okay. I felt I jumped right back up, but it still looked pretty bad. We continued on with the game, and Quebec certainly did come out to play in the 2nd half. The scored the next 3 goals to tie the game up. Then with about 3 minutes left in the game, Alberta scored to go up 4 - 3, and were able to hold off the pressure by Quebec at the end for the win.

I once again was feeling pretty good out there (despite the fall) and hope to continue to perform well for the last day. We will have our meeting around 7:30 tonight and then out for dinner, and may catch the free concert tonight downtown (they have been running them all week). Tomorrow there are another 4 games, the 7th vs 8th game, followed by 5th vs 6th, and then the bronze medal game and then the gold. My goal coming into the week was to enjoy myself and perform well, and hopefully get the bronze medal game. In an ideal world I would love the gold game, but not sure whether that was in my reach or not.

However even as I type this, given the quality of all the officials here, I need to be okay with whatever game I end up with, and know that I did what I could (with one minor gaff) and had an overall good week, and will go home quite happy with the overall experience.

I will try to post again one more time tomorrow, after the games.