This next chapter in Blades Of Glory discusses the youth hockey programs that the vast majority of children play in before the sport begins school-sponsored play in high school. It talks about the players now playing on varsity in the novel playing, mites, squirts, pewees and bantams together.
It talks about how much store is set on which team the kid makes each year and all the politics that go into some selections.
Parents get so involved in their child's sports, almost to an insane point. They spend inordinate amounts of money on equipment and traveling.
But all of the parents say the same thing that after seeing how much their children enjoy playing the sport they would spend twice that much money.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Blades Of Glory
The next chapter in Blades Of Glory highlights Jefferson's goalie Timm Lorenz. Timm moved from Denver, Colorado to Bloomington with his mother after his father passed away. He made the team as a junior and alternated with another goalie. But the other netminder has since than graduated and left the team in Timm's hands.
Timm is athletic and has a lot of natural talent at his position, but often succumbs to his nerves if scored upon. He'll become rattled and subject to playing much worse than he normally does when confident.
This is an ongoing theme throughout the chapter as Timm's inconsistent playing performance is brought into questioning light with Coach Tom Saterdalen. However with a very strong showing against Elk River, at the other teams arena nonetheless, Timm secures the starting goaltender position for the rest of the season.
Timm is athletic and has a lot of natural talent at his position, but often succumbs to his nerves if scored upon. He'll become rattled and subject to playing much worse than he normally does when confident.
This is an ongoing theme throughout the chapter as Timm's inconsistent playing performance is brought into questioning light with Coach Tom Saterdalen. However with a very strong showing against Elk River, at the other teams arena nonetheless, Timm secures the starting goaltender position for the rest of the season.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Blades Of Glory
In this next chapter of Blades Of Glory older Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars recount their days of playing for the the hockey team. They speak of the pageantry and tradition the program has carved out for itself in the elite high school hockey competition in Minnesota.
Even players that went on to play hockey at elite division one colleges, recall there days as Jaguars with even more fondness than their collegiate days. They talk about the large crowds of thousand of people that would pile into tiny frozen barns to watch adolescent boys younger than many of the spectators play a game.
This helps make one wonder if perhaps we don't set to much store in high school athletics. Really what is the great significance of competing in a high school sport?
Even players that went on to play hockey at elite division one colleges, recall there days as Jaguars with even more fondness than their collegiate days. They talk about the large crowds of thousand of people that would pile into tiny frozen barns to watch adolescent boys younger than many of the spectators play a game.
This helps make one wonder if perhaps we don't set to much store in high school athletics. Really what is the great significance of competing in a high school sport?
Monday, December 8, 2008
Annotated Bibliography
Cones, Bryan. “Monkey Business: Why Intelligent Design Is Weird Science”.
U.S. Catholic Aug 2008: 12-16.
The article starts off by giving facts on both intelligent design and the theory of evolution, discussing how both came to be and some supporters of each theory. They answer frequently asked questions about each belief. The author then explains how he thinks intelligent design cuts too many corners to fit in line with what the bible says. He also explains how evolution has evolved (har har) into more of fact than a theory
Hacker, Holly K. “Dallas School Plans Master’s In Science Education, Fueling Debate Over Teaching Evolution”. Dallas Morning News December 15: 12-15
The article explains how an online curriculum offered in Texas allows people to get a collegiate degree to teach creationism in public and private schools in the state. The author interviews various people with differing opinions on the matter. She however is unbiased in her reports and gives us only facts and other peoples opinions.
U.S. Catholic Aug 2008: 12-16.
The article starts off by giving facts on both intelligent design and the theory of evolution, discussing how both came to be and some supporters of each theory. They answer frequently asked questions about each belief. The author then explains how he thinks intelligent design cuts too many corners to fit in line with what the bible says. He also explains how evolution has evolved (har har) into more of fact than a theory
Hacker, Holly K. “Dallas School Plans Master’s In Science Education, Fueling Debate Over Teaching Evolution”. Dallas Morning News December 15: 12-15
The article explains how an online curriculum offered in Texas allows people to get a collegiate degree to teach creationism in public and private schools in the state. The author interviews various people with differing opinions on the matter. She however is unbiased in her reports and gives us only facts and other peoples opinions.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Blades Of Glory
In the chapter I am reading in Blades Of Glory right now they are discussing the issue of cutting seniors in favor of a younger player of equal or less ability. Many parents are displeased when one of Duncs best friends, Ryan Briese a senior, is cut from the team despite an opinion of him being much better than any of the younger players taking instead of him.
His mother thinks back to Doug Stansberry. A young man who was put in the same situation as Ryan; cut when deserving of playing. Doug Stansberry is now dead and there is nothing Coach Saterdalen can do to keep his mother from thinking the young man did not kill himself because he was cut from the hockey team.
Ryan's mom now seems worried that he will end up like Doug Stansberry. However with strong support from his classmates, friends parents and even the school principal. Ryan does not even entertain a thought of suicide.
It's scary to think that something as unimportant as a game can convince someone to end their own life.
His mother thinks back to Doug Stansberry. A young man who was put in the same situation as Ryan; cut when deserving of playing. Doug Stansberry is now dead and there is nothing Coach Saterdalen can do to keep his mother from thinking the young man did not kill himself because he was cut from the hockey team.
Ryan's mom now seems worried that he will end up like Doug Stansberry. However with strong support from his classmates, friends parents and even the school principal. Ryan does not even entertain a thought of suicide.
It's scary to think that something as unimportant as a game can convince someone to end their own life.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Blades Of Glory
The Jefferson Hockey team starts off well in their game against the Eden Prarie Eagles. They jump out to a two goal. However several careless mistakes allow Eden Prarie to score three quick goals at the end of the first and beginning of the second periods. However the Jaguars third line tied the game with a few minutes left remaining in the third period.
The game looked like it was headed for overtime, but then a d-to-d pass was picked off by the Eagles' star player, a big, fast physical player who had signed with the University of Minnesota earlier in the weak. He skated the length of the ice and rifled the puck past Bloomington's goalie handing the Jaguar's their first loss of the season.
The loss was more devastating than most because it was a conference game. Every year the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars won their conference they went on to capture the state title two.
They would have to wait another six weeks till they played Eden Prarie again however.
The game looked like it was headed for overtime, but then a d-to-d pass was picked off by the Eagles' star player, a big, fast physical player who had signed with the University of Minnesota earlier in the weak. He skated the length of the ice and rifled the puck past Bloomington's goalie handing the Jaguar's their first loss of the season.
The loss was more devastating than most because it was a conference game. Every year the Bloomington Jefferson Jaguars won their conference they went on to capture the state title two.
They would have to wait another six weeks till they played Eden Prarie again however.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Blades Of Glory
The book blades of glory starts of with the Bloomington Jefferson varsity hockey team in their locker room. Their coach, Tom Saterdalan, one of the most revered coaches in Minnesota high school hockey history, is giving them an impassioned speech after a tough practice. He is preaching to them about how to prepare themselves for an upcoming game against Lake Conference rival Eden Prairie.
The team was victorious in their first two games against mid-level competition, but Eden Prairie was on a different level than those other teams. They were a state title contender, like Jefferson.
The novel then goes into detail about the teams three captains. Matt Duncan, Tommy Gilbert and Nick Coffman. Tommy and Duncs were considered two of the top five players in the state. They were both strong, fast, good with the puck and had very quick shots. Nick was a defensmen playing his first season of varsity hockey but with a legendary work ethic his teammates had voted him an alternate captain along with Duncs. Tommy was the one who would wear the "C" on his jersey.
The team was victorious in their first two games against mid-level competition, but Eden Prairie was on a different level than those other teams. They were a state title contender, like Jefferson.
The novel then goes into detail about the teams three captains. Matt Duncan, Tommy Gilbert and Nick Coffman. Tommy and Duncs were considered two of the top five players in the state. They were both strong, fast, good with the puck and had very quick shots. Nick was a defensmen playing his first season of varsity hockey but with a legendary work ethic his teammates had voted him an alternate captain along with Duncs. Tommy was the one who would wear the "C" on his jersey.
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