armpits

it was my first time at a hockey game. i was given free frontenac tickets thru work for my stint on the united way committee, so i invited rowan to go with me. he is a hockey whiz and i enjoyed his company. he was really good – just watched the game and occasionally answered my questions. i seriously thought he was completely adorable.

the hockey culture is something i've never experienced before and found it all quite fascinating. within the first few minutes a fight broke out right in front of us. punches thrown, helmets flying off. immediately i felt an urge to somehow protect rowan from the violence – to shield him or take him away from it. however it hit me that he watches hockey all the time and he's highly accustomed to it – it's just me who found it shocking, so then i felt better. it's insane! if we'd been walking down the street and a fight broke out in front of us i'd react the same way, and yet fighting in hockey in normal and encouraged. i was surprised that the crowd burst into cheers and the older gray-haired ladies would ring their cowbells. they're just a bunch of adrenaline-charge teenaged boys hopped up on testosterone with anger management issues. i'm still kind of stunned by it, but eventually got a little used to it.

the game progressed and it was quite interesting. i learned while watching the game that a whole lot can happen in 10 seconds. which was neat. in the last minute the visiting team pulled their goalie and it made for a very exciting end to the game. the final score was 4-3 for the fronts.

i'd have to say that goalies are my favourite players, they're very trippy.

on the whole hockey is fascinating, it's on ICE, they use SKATES, and HOCKEY STICKS!?!?!? that's really complex! amazing!

i concluded that i really enjoyed myself but that hockey isn't unlike the casino (for me). something i don't mind doing occasionally or fully understand the draw to, but find the experience incredibly fascinating. in a way i'm more interested in how the hockey players feel while playing their sport, what the game means to them, etc.

my face was my mask.