I get really nervous before each game. I always want to win, but feel I'm never good enough to stop anything. I'm really intense(too intense sometimes) in the game, the opposition is the enemy, teammates are my brothers(especially my D).
When my team scores, I feel a sigh of relief. "There's one more goal I can give up I guess" I always says to myself. When I give up a goal, I always blame myself... Breakway, one-timer, cuff-ups, its that damn five hole again, or that split second hesitation to not covering up that rebound, that lazyness of sliding around and not using my stick as first contact at low shots. I admit I have broken(or tried to) my stick being mad at a stupid goal. When we win, I'm proud of my teammates and myself of what we've accomplished. When we loss, I blame myself for making stupid mistakes on each of those goals.
I'm kinda of superstitious, if you can call it that. For example, I've always dress from my right to left, it be skates, pads, gloves, chest pads. And I enjoy skating away from the crease and hit the goal line on the boards. That's about it.
From what I've read, zman. Do you still enjoy playing? Because I felt like that several years ago when I decided to stop playing hockey for awhile. You know, no emotion going into the game at all.
Anyway, this is my first post. I am so glad I am able to post!!! I've been lurking this forum for quite awhile.