Breakfast Club: Week Eight with Kirk

Wow, I haven't skated or had any other workout in 10 days - crazy work
schedule, but mostly a case of the flu. Talking about zapping your energy.
Had to get back on the ice, the worst is behind me but I'm only 80%. That's
okay, I'll fly under the radar and take it easy out there. It did feel
awkward at first, 10 days of not skating is a lot for me. Lyle's a good guy,
he'll let me coast today. Besides it's time other guys step up and became
the class example of how not to do things correctly. What? Well, I didn't
get out of warm-ups without the Coach "informing" me I'm dogging it and to
kick it up a notch, thanks for noticing. Okay move onto plan B, which is
I'm busted, I have to go all out. Am I going to make it? I have no choice.

Outstanding drill plan today: passing, shooting and skating. How ‘bout the
one timers with Scottie today? Pass that puck right between the guy’s stance
and boom. Is there a better feeling than connecting on a one timer and the
goalie doesn't even have time to react? Yeah it feels good, but my great
shot percentage needs improvement. Shooter slide your hand down, good
stance and knee bend, weight transfer and let it fly. Practice that shot on
the move, you don't get many standing still shots in a game. If you can do
it on the move you can do it standing still for sure.

I think the highlight of the day was the backward skating. Lyle hit it hard
today. I like that a lot. Not only does it obviously improve your backwards
skating but it does improve your forward skating also. You develop an
overall better sense of balance and greater ability to work your edges.
Major wipeouts today, everyone had that snow on the uniform look. Can you
imagine if Scottie was skating today? You get that big moose whipping
around backwards no telling where that scud missile will land. Here again,
even the better skaters on the ice in our class need improvement on this
skill. You just don't practice it enough outside of class. Skating comes
first. The best skaters on teams are most often the best players also.

Oh, I felt pretty good after class. Something about sweating off the flu.
In fact it felt great to get the skate in. You know, I just don't have bad
days on the ice which is a big reason most of us come out to begin with.
Lyle kept it going again in high speed, wouldn't like it any other way.
Thanks to my blogging buddy Laura for covering for me last week. Notice I
spared the weekly Laura dig today, I owe her. See ya around the rink, Kirk
out.