Chapter 5

It was now 10:30am the following day straight after the morning practice session and already the three youngsters had aching muscles. Their parents left them to do their practice and went off on their own around the city, and while practice was over for the day for Ashley in particular her two line mates had decided much to her annoyance this as the best time do their get to know their new friend.
The three of them went to a small cafe not far from the Joe, and ordered a round of drinks the guys got their coffee and Ashley opted for an iced lemon tea and they also put in an order for some sandwiches.
‘Ok then Ash,’ Brent said she gave him a curious look.
‘I think it is time for you to tell us a little something about yourself,’ he said.
‘Why? There is nothing of interest.’ She answered.
‘Come on surely there is, like what drew you to playing hockey in the first place, how you got into the grades, you know, that sort of a thing,’ Doug added she rolled her eyes. They sounded like a bunch of gossip queens.
‘Really there is nothing to tell,’ she said.
‘So you just decided to play hockey?’ Brent asked she cocked her head.
‘No but I liked it, it appealed to me so I gave it a go.’ She said.
‘Well start there then explain it more,’ Doug remarked she laughed they just wouldn’t give up.
‘Ok well if you insist then.’
‘It is a long story thou,’ she added.
‘Yeah go ahead we’re listening.’ Brent said he took a sip of his coffee.
‘All right, so I was born in Auckland, New Zealand but both my parents were originally from Singapore, a small Asian country, I’ve got an older brother and sister, they were born there, my parents got divorced when I was 9, and I started playing sport when I was 7, played netball, basketball and a bit of soccer with my brother. I remember after a game with my brother at the park we passed by some kids his age playing hockey next door so we went to take a look and I just liked what I saw from them. My brother then asked them everything about it and I just took it up after that and as soon as I turned 8 I went from playing it outdoors to indoors on the ice.’ She remarked.
‘Just like that with no previous training?’ Brent asked she shook her head.
‘My old coach at the Rattlesnakes which I played for before the Steamrollers told my parents I had a knack for the game he didn’t know how and neither did my parents. He spent a lot of time working with my though so I was able to get into the Steamrollers side when I was 11, and that is early. Most of the players in that side are 15 or 16 at least.’ She said.
‘I can see why you made the grade so early.’ Doug remarked she gave him a quizzical look.
‘You don’t know? He asked she shook her head.
‘Not really, I just play the game and what I see that is all. Don’t think there is anything particularly special about the way I do it,’ she replied the two guys exchanged smiles she frowned.
‘What?’
‘Every player is judged on their skills as individuals as well as the way they perform in a game. It is not always about the big plays that are made but also the small things that usually go un-noticed. The difference between the great players and the average ones and who makes the top grade is defined by their ability. Perhaps it was something in those areas that caught your coach’s eye. If you showed the capability to play with kids older than you, then I can only presume you were doing what the coach wanted to see at the next level.’ Brent answered.
‘Yeah I guess so,’ she said.
‘Follow the NHL much?’ Doug asked.
‘Yeah I watch it all the time when our country covers it don’t follow any team just watch whatever game is on.’ She answered.
‘No favourite players?’
‘No,’
‘So you said your parents are from Singapore and they divorced,’ Brent remarked.
‘Um...yeah I don’t talk about it,’ she said.
‘Oh, ok sor

If you've watched alot of ice hockey games like me, lol there is quite an interesting little thing that occurs. All the players with the acception of a few, shoot the puck with a left stick. Now automatically you might think they are all left handed players, but if you think about it most of us are born with being right-handed so there is generally only a small amount of people born left handed anyway.

So the question begs, why are an almost large majority of hockey players shooting with their left and work with left-handed stick? (but are infact right handed at everything else)

Here's a hint, they say according to a bit of seaching, that your more dominant hand (the right if you are right handed) needs to be positioned at the top of the stick so you can better control with the puck, and your left hand stays lower on the shaft where the base of the power to the shot comes from. So techincally if that's how you hold the stick then you'd be left-handed. But here's another thing, if you are right handed still but your right hand stays on the lower end of the shaft but your left hand sits at the top then you are right handed and will shoot right. If left handed and your left stays at the top of the stick, you shoot right.

But interesting enough regardless if you are lef tor right handed you can still favor that side you are comfortable with even if your dominant hands stays on the lower end of the shaft.

Confused yet? LOL.

I'm also wondering if this actually applies with holding a cricket bat as well..so interesting thought eh..you work it out see if you make sense of it. haha

This weekend, sees the Grand Final of the NRL, with the Melbourne Storm and Paramatta Eels facing off to find out which team is the most superior in the league. In all fairness and respect to the Eels they are lacking in experience for finals footy. The last time they played in the NRL finals was back in 2006 against the Storm in the preliminary final, and before that game the Eels were last seen in a grand final only back in 2001 when they lost to the Newcastle Knights.

That all pales in great comparison, of course against the Storm, since they are now going to feature in their 4th straight grand final, but they have played in the NRL playoffs for the last four years quite an impressive record.

Still none of these factors really matter much come the big game in a few hours time. Why? Well in a grand final everything starts again, the scores are reset, statistics changed and it is a whole new ball game. Forget what has happened for these clubs during the regular season and so far in the finals, this is what it all boils down to. No longer does it matter how good the Storm and Eels are, who has the better super stars players..etc all that matters now is whom wins. And if there is anything we learn from a grand final in the NRL, the un-expected can happen and not in the way anyone predicts.

Storm fans feel they deserve to win, Eels fans feel it's their time, but their opinions matter very little because which ever of the team's wins tomorrow, will be the one that deserved it the most regardless of their history. To win a championship you must stand up when it counts and only the team with the drive and will, can accomplish this feat.

We only need to do look back to the 2008-2009 Stanley Cup Final this year between the Red Wings and the Penguins. In all areas the Wings had it over the Pens despite the Pens young talent, the Wings had the most experience being winners before and all of that, but look what happened. They cracked under pressure when it counted the most and the Pens came out victors in the end.

So sit back, league fans and enjoy the 2009 Grand Final because like it's predecessor this is going to be a great match, between Melbourne's Storm and Paramatta's beloved Eels.

Congratulations to both teams for getting this far and being the last two standing, you've done your fans proud, and you've done the league proud too. Now let's find out which one of you can call yourself a true champion for 2009.


Meanwhile the world of cricket is witness to the '09 ICC Champions trophy as it winds down to the final stages of the tournament. Australia last night confirmed their place in the final after beating England, and right now the game that decides who Australia's opponents will be is underway between Pakistan and New Zealand. There is only 4-5 overs to go in the first innings with Paki batting and it's not looking too good for them, as they are currently 199/9!

But, don't start celebrating just yet NZ fans because, knowing the history of this team, their batting has always let them down, usually in small run chases. Their previous game against England they won but by the smallest of margins. One of the imminent strengths of the Black Caps in the 50 ODI arena and sometimes Twenty20, is that they are a very good chasing team. I never like them batting first but I don't mind when they have to chase a total on the board. However that alone is also no guarantee but it is still nonetheless a fairly decent bet.

If NZ indeed win and beat Paki they will have to take on their old friends/rival Australia. And if nothing else this is a good thing, while NZ's record against the Aussies is not flash it is a certainly that when these two teams come together the game they play is full of excitment where anything and everythhing you imagine can happen in a cricket match. For the most part I've always felt the Black Caps usually play their absolute best cricket against the Aussies. Just go back to this year's Chapell-H