Game 9. vs Madison Meteorites (H) (N)

The Shell (Madison, Wisconsin)

In the tradition of all the great player/coaches, our own Thunder Road ditched her beloved NY Giants hat for a hockey helmet and skated with the Lightning as they took on the top division Madison Meteorites.  It was a rousing sight, but there was a real part of me that felt for the other team.  In my playing days (not over yet, knock on wood) we'd always mark the player with the mis-matched jersey.  "Watch out for number 11," they'd say, pointing out the player with the practice jersey with a number 11 made out with masking tape lazily taking slapshots from the blue line. 

Since this was a non-league game the results did not matter in the WCHL standings.  But you would not have known that if you were witnessing the game.  It's a sports maxim that you rise to the level of your competition.  And so it was.  Never had I seen the Lightning skate so fast and so determined as this morning. 

Yet late in the first, they found themselves in a 2-0 hole, victimized by the garbagiest of garbage goals, the result of the Bourbon Wall having gave up some juicy rebounds and the doggedness of the red division Meteorites.  Check out how ATM (#11 for the Meteorites) unlocks herself from MJ's usually top-notch defense.



A1 showed off her natural instincts, actually making two saves and nearly making a third with a stick poke.  As many Lightning insiders know, A1 used to be in the Union.  (And you know what they say: "Once in the Union, always in the Union.  That is, until your significant other convinces you to sell your damned stinky pads that are takin' up all the closet space and don't even think about it puttin' it in the space above the garage cuz I'm convertin' it into a yoga studio.")



But then the Bourbon Wall clamped down.  Clamped down hard.  Here's a few saves, including one from the opposing netminder, Warren Peas (!):


In the waning seconds of the first period, Hlin scored off a feed from Thunder Road.  Then the Lightning tied it up in the opening moments of the second.  Here's Thunder Road unassisted:



Later, Hlin scored the go ahead, and then Gloster* (nee Deren, nee Mama Jet) gave them a 2-goal lead, taking a backhand feed from Coach Road and scoring on her signature one-timer from the slot, five-holing poor Warren Peas.  Just like she does in practice.




All smiles for the team photo afterwards:

lying down: A1; kneeling: Amanita, Gloster, The Bearcat, Nicole's Friend
standing: Bourbon Wall, Snutch, Vapo Rub, MJ, Coach Thunder Road, Vito, Hlin, Purify, Warren Peas
missing: Black Locust, Timbers

Notes:  The game marked the first win in the young coaching career of Thunder Road's little sister, Hungry Heart.  The Green Bay Packers also won.  The game puck goes to Thunder Road who had 2 assists, 1 goal, a few sparks.  And all hats go off to Purify, who had her contract bought out by the Belfast Hockey Maidens in the N. Ireland league.  She'll be bringing some of that Madison Lightning spirit to the Irish Sea. 

Purify's last shift

* Gloster neatly combines experimental (the word behind Deren (see Maya Deren)) and jet.