Malden Catholic: "Sometimes A Good Shoe Shining Is Good For You"

Saturday afternoon was our last tune up game before our quest for three begins. Saturday afternoon Malden Catholic made the trip down to the Lou Astorino Rink. Saturday afternoon, Malden Catholic skated around us as if we were a team of bright orange pylons.

There was a lot of hype built around this game, as MC is arguably the best team in New England. Last year, we faced them and netted five unanswered goals in the first period. This probably wasn't a good idea. They stormed back to beat us last year, overcoming a five goal deficit, and this year, it seemed like they wanted more. Three players on their first line are committed to Hockey East. Not enough? The fourth hasn't committed yet because he simply hasn't made up his mind, Boston College or Harvard? To put things into perspective, many players on our team are deciding if they want to continue playing the sport we all love next year. He's just choosing between two Division 1 hockey powerhouses. Oh yea, they are alright schools as well. Do not get me wrong, I am not degrading our team, I am just saying that these kids are ridiculously talented, and classy, they didn't even taunt us once after any of their 10 goals. Not to mention, we were shutout.

Now after all of this, you might say we wasted our time. But Coach thought otherwise, and I am going to have to take his side on this one. The fast paced, always moving, always thinking about the next move kind of hockey that these boys played can really help a team out. I think we even progressed period by period. Hey, in the first period we let in 5, then 3, and then only 2 goals in the third. Don't argue with the stats. But in all seriousness, playing a team of their caliber can expose flaws that would normally go unnoticed on a regular schedule. Coach Hall made that point clear. As for Coach Verneris, he was a man of few words tonight. He started out by telling us that "they tie their skates just like each and every one of you". True, yet that is about all they do the same as us. Every pass they made was stick to stick, and always an attempt to gain more ice. They skated fluently, and every player out there had a purpose, not a hole in their lineup. As for us, we really did fight hard, and I do believe we learned a lot on how to prepare for the rest of our in-state opponents. This season, starting Wednesday, will sure be interesting.

But, like Coach always says, "Sometimes a good shoe-shining is good for you", and Malden shined our shoes like they've never been shined before.