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My Brother In Law (Michael Bryant) was on this league when it first formed. I was mainly a wannabe Ex-Goaltender that didn't have his equipment anymore. Three weeks prior to me playing, I started going to see Mike play. After seeing this, needless to say I was bit by the Hockey Bug again. The only bad part was the last time I suited up to play it was on Ice, in New York State...

...In 1979.

Keep reading, it get's better...

The first week I went to see Mike I started scoping the message boards for used equipment. And wouldn't you know it, there was someone selling old equipment for not too much money. We connected and the next week at Mikes game and I bought it. All I needed now was a chest protector, arm pads, pants, and a Jersey and I would be a 100% self sufficient Goalie.

After having around 4 hours sleep the night before, at work that night I got a call from my Wife, Allison. She told me that Mike called and they need a Goalie for their game because theirs stopped showing up. After playing mental ping pong with the idea for about 2 minutes, I told her yes. The game was at 11:15 tonight.

I left work at 10pm (was there since 9am that morning), came home and threw my incomplete Goalie equipment over my shoulder, loaded up the family and headed off to Rollin' Ice. When we arrived, it was around 10:45. There wasn't time to waste. I had to dress. Only problem was I had no pants, armpads, chest protector, or jersey. I still had to shuffle through the rental equipment to find something that would fit me. And at 300 pounds, I'm not an easy fit!

I managed to find everything I needed, now it was time to put it all on. This led to my next dilemma: I had to try and remember the order I used to get dressed.

I managed this with little difficulty, it was all coming back to me slowly. There was the game ending buzzer for the earlier game. 5 Minutes to go. I was a chest protector, arm pads, and a jersey away from being dressed. Mike kept coming in to make sure I was moving along ok and always asked me if I needed any help, oh and to tell me that time was running out! :> When I was all dressed, I reached into my hockey bag (you know, the one you can fit a small town into?) and I couldn't find my helmet! I skated to the rink (the far one) and asked Mike if he had my helmet. He told me he didn't. What a situation: 2 minutes to go and I need a helmet. I skated back to the Rental Room and found a helmet (lucky for me my head's not fat, so finding one was easy :) and I skated back to the rink. Only to be told that warmups were over, and the game was about to start. All I had time to do was skate out to the net, and say to myself "God, please make it quick and painless".

So just to recap:

• I had only 4 hours sleep the previous night
• I worked 13 hours that day
• I Stepped into a position stone cold with no warmups
• I hadn't played for twenty years

And to add insult to injury:

• My skates came undone half way through the first period, and were loose the entire game.

We still tied them 6-6.

If you ask me; not too shabby. :>

Maybe you can come back after 20 years... :>

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