November 12
In a land so inescapably and inhospitably cold, hockey is the chance of life and an affirmation that despite the deathly chill of winter, we are alive. ~ Stephen Leacock
And so it’s begun. The winter sports season. Alex girls hockey hosted the Trojans from Wayzata. If you’re unfamiliar with Wayzata, its a Twin Cities suburban high school whose campus dwarfs those of many major universities. Last year the Trojans were the host team and handled our Cards, 5 – 1. This year the game went down to the final 7.6 seconds when the Trojans took advantage of a Cardinal siege on their goal to get a breakaway goal for a 3 – 2 victory. Very entertaining game between two evenly-matched teams, with the Cards holding a 25 – 17 edge in shots-on-goal. We look forward to a fun season with a schedule loaded with teams that would give the Wild pause . . .
Hockey belongs to the Cartoon Network, where a person can be pancaked by an ACME anvil, then expanded – accordion-style – back to full stature, without any lasting side effect. ~ Steve Rushin
Getting to know your Cardinals . . .
[This is senior Lauren Maras (9). She’s a team captain who at the team captains/referees meeting at center ice before the start of the game stood a head shorter than the others. Nevertheless, she has been a player of substance since her freshman year (I remember the boys-on-the-rail talking about her when she was in middle school) and was a key contributor in our state tournament run two years ago. As this was a close, highly-contested game throughout, it seemed like she was on the ice for every other shift in the final period . . . ]
People don’t know how fantastic women’s ice hockey is. People don’t know how fantastic hockey is in general. ~ Hilary Knight
[Classmate fans . . . ]
[The goalie cheer since . . . forever!]
Long intros are cool because there’s a little bit of anticipation, you know? ~ Miranda Lambert
[The 2022-23 Alexandria Cardinals girls hockey team . . . ]
In any other context, ‘icing’ is a great and exciting word: The proverbial icing on the cake, for instance, is a bonus – a wonderful thing on top of another wonderful thing. But in hockey, icing merely results in the referee’s raising his right hand, as if swearing an oath to the deity of downtime. ~ Steve Rushin
[A jersey number was missing in this line up. Senior Ella Westland, Number 19, a key member of this team was hurt in the state tournement soccer game a couple of weeks ago. I have no idea what her prognosis is but hope she is able to play soon . . . ]
[The team discussion concerning post game dining . . . ]
[The student fans attempt to listen in . . . ]
Whenever we skated my dad would not let us on the ice without hockey sticks, because of this insane fear we would become figure skaters! ~ Norm MacDonald
[It’s decided then – Papa Murphy’s Pizza!]
Field hockey is my strongest sport, and if I lose a game, I take a long, hot bath and moan about it. ~ Emma Watson
[The opening face-off, involving the aforementioned Lauren Maras (9) at center . . . ]
[And away we go!]
[Less than two minutes in, the Cards lit the lamp . . . ]
[A goal by sophomore Julia Doherty (7), a legacy whose older sister Anna (also No. 7) was a past Cardinal star . . . ]
[Proof it took less than two minutes to score . . . ]
[Two more future stars, sophomores Morgan Aure (17), same number once worn by her older sister MaKenna (now playing for Wisconsin-River Falls as is last year’s Cardinal goalie Jordan O’Kane), and Emma Ramstorf (10), who also saw plenty of ice time last year as a freshman . . . ]
You watch a hockey game, and the hand-eye coordination and the speed is really miraculous; how those [girls] track the puck alone, just following it with their eyes. ~ Liev Schreiber
[Face-off in the Cardinals’ zone . . . ]
[After the 1st period, the Cardinal were looking good . . . ]
I am addicted to hockey now. I’ve seen it on TV, but to be there? I had no idea that white people were having so much fun without me. ~ J. B. Smoove
[Ms. Maras charges after the 2nd period face-off . . . ]
[Cardinals in the offensive zone with sophomore forward Tayler Treat (8) and sophomore Kennedy Ellingson (3) . . . ]
To me, a hockey player has to be every sport rolled into one: ice skater, baseball player, football player, etc. It’s just incredible to watch! ~ Vinnie Paul
[Offensive zone face-off with junior Sophia Korynta (22) and sophomore Cadence Ellingson (14) . . . ]
[Again with Morgan Aure (17). She seems pretty speedy. Coach Arola once described her sister MaKenna as having insane speed . . . ]
I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to play hockey, especially when there weren’t equal opportunities as there are now. But at times, it was challenging. ~ Hilary Knight
[Lauren Maras readies for an offensive zone face-off . . . ]
Hockey should have some appeal. It’s a good game in that is full of action, very quick, and it can be high-scoring. ~ Casey Eastham
To win the game is great. To play the game is greater. To love the game is greatest of all. ~ Bob O’Connor
Women are playing [hockey] because they love it, not because they’re trying to be a woman in a man’s game. ~ Cammi Granato
People would say, ‘Girls don’t play hockey. Girls don’t skate.’ I would say, ‘Watch this’. ~ Hayley Wickenheiser
[This was the period the Cards let the game get away from them with bad penalties. Once they killed off a power play only to take another penalty immediately after. Twice they had power plays but then took penalties to negate those player advantages . . . ]
So that’s why I played pro men’s hockey, that’s why I played softball and hockey at the same time, that’s why I’m not afraid to speak up – that’s just who I am. ~ Hayley Wickenheiser
[But to start the 3rd period, like the 1st period, the Cards scored early on to tie the game at 2 . . . ]
[The first varsity goal for Morgan Aure (17) . . . ]
This is your moment. You’re meant to be here. ~ Herb Brooks
[Just a bad break. Looking forward to the rest of the season. The Cards are a fun team to watch, still with a lot of youth. Two freshmen played regular shifts and showed well: Jersey Severson (21) and Lillian Dutton (26). Next up long-time rival Fergus Falls who have won their first two games by a combined score of 19 – 1 . . . ]
The most important thing you learn as a sports photographer is anticipation – not where the action is taking place, but where it’s going to take place. Not where the subject is now, but where they’re going to be. ~ Lawrence Schiller
An intense anticipation itself transforms possibility into reality; our desires being often but precursors of the things which we are capable of performing. ~ Samuel Smiles
Up Next: Likely girls hockey . . .
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