So on Sunday, Dec. 16, I headed out on my first hockey assignment in three years, this time with camera in hand.
Hockey is a great sport to watch live. It's known as 'the fastest sport in the world.' I'd call it the fastest real sport in the world (I don't like racing). Watching it on TV isn't too bad either. My grandfather Keith used to watch it religiously at his house in Feeley (he was raised on Minnesota/Calgary border). At the Harp Pub, we used to watch Colorado Avalanche games on Fox Sports. I can't remember if it was before or after the strike.
After my recent purchase of EA Sports' NHL 08, I couldn't wait to watch some high school hockey.
Here a player for the Butte Blues tries to round up the puck on the offensive end. Notice how Jackson Hole has its defenders lined up. The middle of the ice is a vulnerable spot for defenses.
Much of hockey games is kind of like watching a track meet. Especially if the teams are struggling to control the puck. Every time the puck gets knocked towards their goalie, the team will have multiple players retrieve it, and occasionaly an opposing player will try to disrupt the other team's offense. It's kind of like a full-court press in basketball.
The white player here was riding the boards and paid the price. Checking opposing players into the boards isn't about trying to get a big hit to look bad ass. It's a defensive strategy to try to get the puck away from the offensive player. For this Butte player, you can see it worked as the puck is sliding to the middle of the ice.
This happens all the time, but I haven't had a chance to talk about it. Referees always get in sports shots. It's always bound to happen. The only sport where you can halfway predict is baseball. If I had a good photo for every time a referee stuck his big butt in my lens...
The face-off. This is one of the more individualistic features of the sport. Two centers line up across from each other after a penalty or after the goalie holds the puck and swipe at the puck to try to get control. Similar to the concept of a jump ball in basketball.
This was Sunday's winning photo. Another good example of how defensive players line up, particularly when the puck is behind the net. A Butte player is fighting in the middle for a possible one-timer.
This is a good example of why the sport is called the fastest in the world. It's surely the fastest on ice. Subjects tend to blur with my camera lens. Sometimes it looks interesting, other times it ruins shots. It's all about the exposure and the light. Notice the reflection of the Butte players in the glass. Obviously, this wasn't a really intense defensive moment for them.
This was my runner-up pic from Sunday. This Butte player took a shot and the goalie knocked it wide of the net. You can see the puck floating near the back of the net. The player with the shiny hockey stick and the blurry helmet on the middle defender ruined this shot. The defender with the shiny body stick is doing a body check, a common tactic used by defensemen.When all was said and done, the Blues lost in overtime 5-4. I was really hoping for a shootout, even though I couldn't have had a very good angle.
I'd like to encourage anyone semi-interested to check out some hockey at the Butte Community Ice Center. Living in a place where it's cold in the winter, you should show some interest in this sport. It's not that difficult to understand and you get a lot of bang for your buck.
I'll be posting a more in-depth report on the Butte Daredevils the next time I get to shoot them. So, stay tuned. It's the closest you can get without actually being in the Civic Center.
