Thursday night we have a showdown. Because the league hasn't posted the scores from last week's game, we don't know if we're tied for first with the team we're playing this week, or one game back from them (we lost, don't know about them).
The team is a new team to the league; a bunch of new guys, not just an old team with a recylced name. We've played them twice; not really enough time to know them very well. But one guy isn't new: "the guy with the half shield."
He's played on three teams now in our division, and he's been a goon for each of them. He's known alternatively as "the guy with the half shield," "Flyers" (for the sweater he often wears . . . that one's often a bad sign), "25," and a few others, some of which don't belong on this forum. He's a good player, a natural goal scorer, and off the ice perfectly decent. I've enjoyed playing with him several times during pick-up games. But when he's trying to win, it's a different story.
Last time we played (our 6-2 win), he got a game misconduct for fighting. I don't think we've ever made it through a game against him when he hasn't been whistled for roughing, and in our league you normally don't get that call unless it's (a) blatant; or (b) a pattern. In his case, it's usually both.
To add fuel to the fire, last year we finished the regular season in 3rd and were set to play the 8th place team. They only had 6 guys and "the guy with the half shield" had just finished his season with his team losing their playoff game immediately before ours. "Hey, these guys are really shorthanded. You mind if I play for them?"
He's good, but no ringer, so we figured what's the harm? And promptly go out and lose to them in overtime. And believe it, he was in on each of their goals. So he's not our favorite guy (not to say we didn't let him skate with us one night we were shorthanded . . . ).
So in addition to battling for first in our division, we've got "the guy with the half shield" to look forward to . . . and his artificially-colored red goatee.
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