Hockey Night In Windsor: Windsor Spitfires Vs Owen Sound Attack

Last night Bill and I went to see the Windsor Spitfires take on the Owen Sound Attack! Good game, but if i'm going to be totally honest, the Spits didn't play cohesively very well as a a team. So many missed pass opportunities. They played extremely aggressive as per usual and got a few good shots in, but when it came down to it, Owen Sound took the win 3-2. They were working together as a well oiled-machine on the rink, so I think that's where the Spits need to improve in future games.

This was my opinion anyhow. It was still a fun game to watch and I would like to thank Dan and April Savoie from 519 Windsor for the tickets!

Here are a few photos that I took at the game:

Goalie: Keep Your Stick On The Ice

Everyone has their own view of what an athlete is worth, but the coach ultimately determines who goes onto the ice and who sits on the bench.

The life of professional hockey goalie, Terry Sawchuk, shows the extreme highs and lows of being a sports superstar.  After a while, that shot of whisky doesn’t even come close to touching the pain and all the cheers once heard from the crowds become silent.

In this Canadian biography, Goalie; Mark O’Brien plays the legendary goalie for The Red Wings (while also being traded for other teams throughout his career), Terry Sawchuk. No matter what sport you play, there is always a level of uncertainty that this may be your last game. Terry never stopped playing even through over 400 stitches and countless injuries. As blood dripped down from his face in the locker room, he still laced up his skates and went out there to perform. Some may say his dedication was an unhealthy obsession brewing from a very dysfunctional childhood, while others see him as their hero out doing what he was paid to do, like any career.

Not having any protective gear, like a face mask for a goalie seemed absolutely absurd because of the aggressive nature of hockey, but it was the norm. Terry started wearing his mask in the early 60’s, and it was only in 1966 that full protective face masks were standard equipment hockey.

The film is deeply saddening, but shows the impact that Terry left on many people who knew him from team-mates to family. There is one moment on the subject of friendship that is literally heart-breaking.  The acting was great though, as Mark O’Brien delivers a wonderful performance as well as Kevin Pollak, who played his ill-tempered coach, Jack Adams.

All the accolades, like four Stanley Cup wins and 103 shut-out victories are impressive, but this tragic story is one that begs the question, does the goalie always have to go first?

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You can also find my review at 519 Windsor:  https://519magazine.com/movie-review-goalie-keep-your-stick-on-the-ice/