Efe's '09/'10 season

Efe · Minors Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 278 Location: Turkiye

So I've been thinking of opening this topic for a while now and I guess now its time.

I just recently joined a team (here in Turkiye) which was recommended by an old friend who plays women's hockey. The coach used to play at their club and she said he would be the best bet as he's actually a decent fellow.

So anyway, as I didn't bring my stuff over from Switzerland, I ended up ordering pretty much everything over again. A complete Smith 6000 set (the older members might remember the design) plus a Promasque custom mask is pretty much the highlight of the order but once I get them I'll put some pics up in the relevant section of the forum.

The season is still going on here so I went with the team (without any intention of playing, of course) to an away weekend and one of the players got sick so I ended up playing the second game in defense (with his equipment). Everyone was commenting on how well I played even though I only went in for 3 minutes in the third period, and although we didn't let in any while I was there we did end up losing 15-2.

Once we returned, the defenseman was still sick so I asked if I could use his skates (my Graf G-50s should be here any day now) and he said I could use all of his equipment as he wasn't up to coming to practice. So the coach urged me to get dressed and at least take part in practice, which I have been doing for the last two practices. And everyone has been telling me how well I'm playing etc etc etc.

So yesterday I go over to the sick player's restaurant to see how he's doing (we've only met 2-3 weeks ago but we immediately clicked as he's closer to my age than a lot of the players) and we ended up talking hockey of course. That is when he told me that the coach and him had been talking and that they had decided to keep me in defense.

He said the reasoning was that the current goalie was a good player and the team really needed better players in defense as proven by the scores lately. They felt that based on the performance I've shown in the last two practices, with a little time I could cement my place on defense.

I said that my plans were to take the goalie spot, as the goalie was good but not great and he was very lazy with shaky fundamentals (and that this was not just me but other players and goalies that I spoke to in the stands during the first game of the weekend had been saying the same) and I felt that it was just a matter of time till I took his place in goal. He then told me that I'd never take his place in goal because he had more experience and that experience would always win out over ability 'unless I was this amazing person who could play like a pro'.

I told him that the only way the goalie could keep playing in goal is if he developed himself (I bought both ProHybrid Training DVDs and we will meet with him and the coach to decide what needs to be worked on during camp and what drills to do) and if that was the case, I'd be happy to sit on the bench because a better goalie would be playing. He told me that having two good goalies and wasting a player that could play defense on the bench (me) wasn't smart and when I reminded him that the league will be instating a two-goalie-per-game-squad rule next season he said if need be he'd sit on the bench as a goalie.

So I asked him what he suggested I do regarding all the stuff I had ordered and he said that we would sell it. Now I kinda know the market here and all but the top league goalies use 3-4 year old pads and I've even heard of goalies having to change to full right when they transfer to another team cause that is what equipment the new team has. So I told him there is no way anyone is going to pay $5k for my equipment, and he said then I'll buy it off you.

Anyway, I was upset so I just said there is still lots of time till the new season (camp is in the beginning of July, season starts in August) and that it was too early to make such decisions. However, there is no way I'm playing defense. That much I do know.

Also, there is no full size rink in Istanbul, just some smaller sized mall rinks and that is where we currently practice. All our games are in effect away games, but the rink here is supposedly going to be finished worst case scenario in time for the season so at least we'll get some quality practice time apart from the camp (which is held on a full size rink in another city).

Sorry about the rant, but had to get that off my chest and what better place to do it than a forum full of goalies.
_________________
Efe

Smith Hockey... great stuff!

Efe · Minors Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 278 Location: Turkiye

Oh, I also ordered a Nike Bauer Vapor XX Senior set in Boston colors on discount from Goalie Deals because my Smith pads will not make the camp and the team doesn't have any extra equipment. I got it at half off and I've already found a team who is looking for a new set and the colors are right up their alley, so I'm looking at selling it for market value here (almost 3x what I paid) once I get my Smiths.
_________________
Efe

Smith Hockey... great stuff!

puckstopper135 · Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:50 pm Post subject:

Goalie >>> defence.... I'd much rather sit on the bench and wait for my chance that give it up to play defence.

Efe · Minors Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 278 Location: Turkiye

Our team had a must-win game (in fact, we needed to outscore the opponents to raise our average) against a team that could be called our rivals. They were in fourth with the top four going up to the playoffs and we were a win behind in fifth but with quite a difference in average.

It ended up being called by the refs with 2:30 left in the final period after the opposing team got four more players ejected (they had already had their only goalie and a main player sent off before) for fighting, swearing, attacking the referee, etc. The score was 10-5 in our favor at the time, and became 15-5 once the decisions were made about the penalties and assessed that the other team didn't have enough players to keep playing (one of the last 4 was their backup 'goalie' who skated from his goal to ours to attack one of our players. So we made the playoffs as the fourth seed and this weekend will be playing the first seed team, who had beaten us 8-5 a few weeks ago in a game where I felt they took mercy on us and didn't run up the score.

Well yesterday I went into practice the first time as a goalie for this new team. I played much better than I (and apparently others) expected with a few Fleury like saves due to rebounds and the occasional bad positioning/slow reaction to a pass. I did the back post glove flop (or whatever its called) to stop one rebound tap in and a few back post toe extensions when I got caught out of position. Also had a couple of good looking mid air glove saves off rebounds.

Now to the bad points. I definitely have to work on my conditioning as I really got tired out halfway through practice. Of course it didn't help that at one point I was on the ice for an hour and a half without a decent break or a drink of water. The one time I tried between line changes in the scrimmage, they apparently started within 10 seconds and I was left to scramble for my mask and gloves before letting in a weak goal. I got on to my defenders a bit when they left two guys totally free in front of goal (first on tried blocker side and passed the rebound to the second who went top right corner) and another when one got panicky and cleared the puck from the back right of the goal into the slot.

It seems like our goalie will not make the playoff games this weekend and I will be starting!
_________________
Efe

Smith Hockey... great stuff!

Arthriticbutterflystyle · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:10 pm Post subject:

Good luck Efe.

puckstopper135 · Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 4:35 pm Post subject:

FLEURY! FLEURY! FLEURY!

Oh wait... I meant, EFE! EFE! EFE!

Very Happy

good luck!

Efe · Minors Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 278 Location: Turkiye

Well its been quite a while without an update so here goes. I ended up starting at goal for two playoff games after only 2 practices with the new team and new (albeit temporary) Vapor XXs because the starting goalie couldn't make the games due to some responsibilities relating to his school.

The first of the games was against the number one seed (we were number 4) and its sufficient to say they pretty much lit me up. Great experience apart from that and it was amazing how much I picked up during the game as well. Of course it didn't help that our defense was (as usual) pretty much non-existent during the course of the game. So we lost by a margin of 7-8 goals and had to play the losing team from the 2nd seed - 3rd seed game, who just so happened to be the third seed.

In this second game, I definitely played better and had more support from the team as well. We went ahead but then we were hit with a barrage of penalties and bad plays and the team drew level. Then a scuffle broke out after a player almost broke his stick on my helmet after I had covered a puck. There was lots of pushing and showing but no punches thrown when the guy who hit me started pushing his way towards me saying how he didn't do anything.

So I dropped my catcher and blocker, held him by his jersey and pushed him backwards a couple of yards. Nothing extreme or physical, as we were surrounded by other players. Then one of his teammates screamed 'goalie what are you doing?' and grabbed my mask and rotated it to the back and down. Think of a facemask penalty in football and you'll have a good idea. When he was doing this, I came eye to eye with the official that was trying to separate us and then finally I dropped on my a$$ to make sure he didn't break my neck dragging me down. Once the smoke cleared the officials had given me a 10 min for fighting and nothing against the other team, so suddenly we were left with a 5-on-3 situation with 2 mins to go in the game. They ended up scoring with 20 seconds left to go up 7-6 and beating us to guarantee third place.

After the game, I asked the referees why they had given me a 10 min as I hadn't done anything and they said it was necessary when I dropped my gloves. Then I asked the referee if they hadn't happened to see the guy dragging me down from behind by my mask and he said they hadn't. Then just as I was turning to skate away the linesman said "Number 5" and the referee motioned for him to shut up. After I gathered up my stuff and left the ice, the linesman was at the exit gate and I asked him once again if it was number 5 that did it and he confirmed it.

Anyway, we ended up getting 4th place and I think as a result we earned the right to go up to the pro 'super' league next season, which is the highest league here.
_________________
Efe

Smith Hockey... great stuff!

Efe · Minors Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 278 Location: Turkiye

So here is another quick follow-up to this topic with even more news. A month ago the federation here organized a roller (inline) tournament for the first time in many years. Our coach told me that he was going to play for another team and asked if I would like to play as well, as it would give me a good opportunity to play for the national team as well. So I said yes.

Anyway, we drove the 3.5 hours just in time to buy player skates for me before the store closed since I didn't have time to order goalie skates from the US or Canada. The next day, I was worried about how I would be able to play with the tendon guard and high skates when I heard one of the players complaining about playing with aggressive skates. When I looked over, I noticed how similar they were to goalie skates (small wheels, hard plastic covering, lower position, etc.) so I offered to exchange them for the tournament. So I had solved the skates issue.

The rink was about a third of the normal size and cement, since that was all the space they had and no one was willing to thaw out the ice rink and cover the costs of getting the plastic sheeting. The boards were pretty fragile and by the end of the tournament there were various holes behind the goals from shots in the corners of the panels.

We ended up winning all the games only to lose in the final and I got substantial playing time compared to the other goalie, who (although we had just met) kept on telling me about how he was much better than me on the ice but in roller I made up for it because he wasn't used to skating on wheels. The final was played under spotlights so it was basically hard to see the black puck until it was too late and I had many reflex saves but a couple that got by as well.

So I thought that that was it in regards to the national team chances when a few weeks later they announced the national team candidate list for the selections and I was one of the 4 goalies listed. So I did the impossible and got the 9 business days off both jobs and once again made the trip over to the capital. The selected team would travel to Bulgaria immediately after the conclusion of the camp to take part in the 2010 World Championships qualification games against Bulgaria, Croatia and Israel.

After about 5 days of two-a-days, they cut 1 goalie and 5 players and announced that the final cut would be 1 goalie and 2 players to leave 14 players and 2 goalies. After a couple of days, they announced that they had decided not to cut anyone else because the players had gotten used to each other and that they were having difficulty selecting which goalie to cut. So I made the national team!

Then we went to Bulgaria by bus, which took about 16-17 grueling hours and looking at the money we paid for gas (not to mention the money for the two drivers along with their hotel and food fees) we could've easily flown over with the same expenses.

We ended up losing all three games by a margin of at least 9 goals, due mostly to the fact that we had only practiced on the big rink with the plastic surface once before our first game. I sat in the stands the first game, and then sat on the bench the next two as our substitute hurt his neck after subbing in during the first game. The coach chose not to play me even when we were losing by 13 goals late in the second game or by 6 late in the third and final game. Later on he told me he forgot and that he could've stuck me in towards the end in both games to give me some playing time.

Now they are talking about another tournament, this one a 9 hour drive away in a coastal touristic town to attract more press. Last tournament they had us playing at noon under scorching sunlight because the game schedule was very lopsided (for our team: one game the first day and then four including the final the second day) and you guys know how that is or would be with all the goalie gear. So I'm kinda undecided.

But overall it was a good experience and I walked away with two sticks, two jerseys, a couple of caps and t-shirts and lots of memories. And I just might've found a use for my Vapor XXs once my Smiths come in (apparently they're ready to ship but just waiting for Pete to get back).
_________________
Efe

Smith Hockey... great stuff!

puckstopper135 · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 5:01 pm Post subject:

I'd kill for a chance to be on the national team, but it would've been a better experience had the coach put you in.

I'm jealous Crying or Very sad

Efe · Minors Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 278 Location: Turkiye

Lots happening lately so I believe an update is in order. As you know we finished 4th last season and then finished fourth after the playoffs and since our licenses expired we couldn't play the relegation/delegation games with the lower teams in the pro league to decide where we will play this season. So the federation here decided to put us up in the pro league and of course the club was delighted.

Now the players are a different story, as we all know that the reason we even came in fourth last season was because of players added to the roster (read ringers) just to win games. The main core of the team players are not anywhere near pro league level and almost everyone that knows anything about local hockey is saying we're going to get our asses handed to us and that we'll be lucky to walk away from each game without anything broken.

Anyway, two weeks ago I heard from the captain of the girls team that the mens team alternate and another player were leaving to go to a rival club. Now this is a young kid who does almost everything for the team, from getting jerseys made (and paying out of his pocket when the money doesn't come through from players) to arranging buses for game. Especially since the captain is a 40+ year old man that can barely make games much less practices, he bears the full burden of managing the team and the coach uses him as much as he can. Apparently the final straw was when the alternate asked the coach about next season's practices, suggesting having seperate practices for different club teams which was something I had talked to him about.

Currently we have combined practices citing lack of money for ice time, so you have me a 28 year old goalie of 6'1" playing on the same ice at the same time as 6-7 year olds. So when the alternate suggested giving the mens team and womens team seperate ice times, he was told by the coach to mind his own business. And that was the last drop and he decided to entertain an offer from a rival club, the owner of which used to be coach of our club before players got him thrown out.

So when the ladies captain called me to say those two would be leaving, and that she was considering leaving (and the whole girls team would follow) I told her that I wasn't interested in staying either if they were not going to be there. So I said "Why should we leave? We are in the majority and its our club. Let him leave." and that basically started the fire. We called all players and got them to voice their problems and the outcome was amazing.

The coach was getting no wages from the club, but they were giving him all the per-game money from the federation and not regulating the finances of the club at all. Occasionally he would give them some receipts but that was about it. We calculated how much money the club got from the federation for games last season, added player dues and subtracted the bus fees and various expenses. Even being moderate brought out an amazing sum, where the club (therefore this guy) was making upwards of $3-4K per month plus 25% commission for equipment players bought! Here in Turkiye that is an amazing amount of money to make from hockey that no one but club presidents see.

The issue wouldn't be as much how much money he was making as it was the manner in which he was doing it. He would take dues from some players, take twice as much from other and take none from some players. There were players who were kicked out because they really couldn't afford the dues while others were told they didn't have to pay any dues. One player's parents were convinced by the coach to pay for this season's jerseys and they were given a much higher quote than the company selling the jerseys gave the coach. The deal fell through when the parents asked for an invoice and the company refused to give one at the higher price the coach wanted. Also, players who needed equipment but couldn't afford any were basically left standing and the coach was always whining about how the club had no money and even told the president that he was paying for things out of his own pocket.

Anyway in the end the whole girls team and most of the active players on the mens and youth teams (pretty much all but the ringers and older players) contributed to a long list of incidents and problems and we took it up with the club president. He was shocked at the extent of the problems and money ordeals and how the captain who he said looked after all things hockey didn't realize or didn't warn him about these things. So he urged us to talk to the captain, who at this point was really pissed that we made him look bad and shook the president's confidence in him. So he listened to us, all the time suggesting we work things out and that he would talk with the president.

When the captain called for yet another meeting, this one with the coach, we called up the president to tell him we were not interested in meeting with the coach or the captain (one we had nothing to say to and the other knew what we had to say anyway) unless he was present and he informed us that they decided to continue with the coach. So we started meeting with other teams about transferring over.

The ladies team was relatively easy as there are many clubs without ladies teams in Istanbul and they would pretty much be accepted at any club. The mens were a different issue, as almost all clubs had mens teams. The prime candidate was the club of the ex-coach and he was really excited to have us over but not because we are amazing players rather because he would get to get one back on our coach who helped get him kicked out of the club two years ago. Unfortunately his mens team already had 4 lines and 2 goalies and we would be moving over with at least 2-3 lines and 2 more goalies. For a team in the 1st league as opposed to the pro league, having 3 goalies much less 4 is overkill and doesn't do wonders for the goalies in practice or when we are sitting in the bleachers at games.

When we realized the captain was stalling (league application and transfer deadlines are on the 1st and 11th of September respectively) we instructed everyone to call him and ask for their transfer papers, so he set up another meeting with us and offered to give us full control of the mens and ladies teams (youth team doesn't have enough players since the players have reached senior team age) while the old coach would get control over the midgets and peewees which he was successful with, getting a national title.

At least this way we have control over our team instead of playing for another club that might or might not give us any playing time. Disadvantage of how it turned out is that we now have to take care of everything as opposed to just coming to play as we would in someone else's club. Sorry about the reaaaaaally long post.
_________________
Efe

Smith Hockey... great stuff!

puckstopper135 · Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 11:26 pm Post subject:

Long post but I read all of it.

Shitty situation to have gotten into.