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I wish pain was temporary. Unfortunately for me, it has been anything but over the past several months.

For the first time in about 20 years I have found myself seriously considering hanging up the skates, and leaving hockey behind. I have always enjoyed the sport (though not always the management that went along with the various teams I've been a part of), but lately it has lost its lustre. Maybe it has to do with the team losing more than I thought we would, but I've never wanted to quit just based on losing. More likely than that is probably the feeling that I can't play at the same level I could 4-5 years ago, during what I consider to be my prime playing years.

Continue reading "Playing like the middle of next week." »

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

My team, the Wolves, plays games out of Kettler Capitals Ice Plex, the new training/practice rink for the Washington Capitals in the Ballston neighborhood of Arlington, VA.

This rink is a state-of-the-art facility, and because of that, I decided it would be the best place to start playing hockey again. After being set up on a "free-agent" team in the summer, I decided to put together my team (the Wolves) and play the fall season at this rink. I have to say, despite the appearance of the rink (it's brand-spanking new), I've certainly been unimpressed with my dealings with it....

Continue reading "Rink Wars" »

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 07:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

So, as I said I was going to do, here's an update on the team's first game: we won 7-1. I actually think our team could destroy the team we played last night (Homerhawks), but it was good for a first game. We started off slowly, but luckily they didn't have a goalie for the first couple of minutes, and we got one in on the empty net. WE ended up scoring three each in the first and second and one in the third...

Continue reading "Wolves Open Season on High Note" »

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 06:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tonight is opening night for a hockey team in the DC area. Not the Capitals, the Washington Wolves Adult Men's B League team out at the Kettler Capitals Ice Plex.

I skated this past summer on all free-agent team that was put together by the K-Plex staff, and it was a lot of fun. So much so, that I decided to try to get a team started out there myself. I've been playing hockey a long time, and it seems like we've got a good group of guys together here. Luckily, I was able to pick up six former ACHA players, including 5 from Richmond and 1 from Johns Hopkins. On top of that, I added about seven guys from this summer's "Caps Blue" free agent team - essentially the core of the team that showed up every night. We plugged in a few more guys who were friends of guys on the team, and we're all set to go.

So, we have a 20 game season running tonight through February, plus playoffs, assuming we make them. Through the Wolves website (link at right), I'm going to keep a running count of our stats and record. I'll also try to throw a few blog entries in about how the team did.

So, hockey season is upon us. Sharpen those skates, and lets get on the ice.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 06:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's been a while since I've been in the 'ol blogosphere, so it's time for a few updates and thoughts:

1) I am once again a college student. This time I am taking classes at Georgetown University, pursuing the Masters of Science in Computer Science degree. I'm actually pretty excited about this. This is the first year GU has offered this program, so I'm in the inaugural class, which is neat in itself. I'm also pretty happy to be continuing the CS part of my education. The fact that it is free, thanks to Tuition Assistance from GU, it a huge bonus.

I'm taking two courses (as a half-time student), Databases and Software Engineering. I'm more nervous about SE than DB, but they should both be good experience. I have not decided what I want to focus in yet, though it will likely be SE.

2) I missed my 10-year High School Reunion. I'm not sure if I'm upset about this or not. I suppose it would have been nice to reconnect, but from a couple people who I talked to who went, nobody I hung out with back them was there. Meh.

3) I absolutely HATE phonebooks. With a passion. I feel like buring the next phone book I see. If you work with me, you know why.

4) Fall Hockey Starts Soon! I've got a pretty good team lined up - the Washington Wolves. With about 6 guys from Richmond, one from Hopkins, one from St. Joe's and a couple of guys who are good players, I think it will be fun. Plus we got the sweetest color jerseys. EVER. Hopefully I hear from the Hockey Director at Kettler Capitals Ice Plex soon about the start of season. I suspect it will be after the Capitals' training camp.

5) Visiting Tom. Went to Marietta College to visit my brother, who this summer started his Physician Assistant program. You can see an awesome picture of him here (scroll to the bottom), where he discusses the fact that he is very excited to begin his clinical rotations. Anyway, after visiting, I have to say that there is definitely something to be said for small-town living. The fact that we ate at a nice Mexican restaurant for under $8 a plate was great. That doesn't happen in DC. Maybe someday I'll end up in a small town.

That's about it as far as the updates go. I've got a couple other posts in my mind, and hopefully they make the screen in the next couple of days.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 02:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Day2
Originally uploaded by jersar79.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 09:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, the first round of the NHL playoffs has been completed, so it is time for a look back on my picks, as well as second round predictions. For everyone's information, I was 7-1 with my opening round predicions, the only one I missed was the Pittsburgh-Ottawa series. That's good stuff.

Eastern Conference #1 Buffalo over #8 New York Islanders in Six - The Sabres offense will be just too much for the Isles #2 New Jersey over #7 Tampa Bay in Five - I like the Lightning's scoring, but the Devils suffocate you with defense #6 NY Rangers over #3 Atlanta in Seven - Jagr will explode in this series, and i think the Rangers' experience helps #5 Pittsburgh over #4 Ottawa in Five - I just feel like the Pens have things going right

Western Conference
#1 Detroit over #8 Flames in Six - I'm going to regret this pick. The Wings aren't good with the Flames...
#2 Anaheim over #7 Minnesota in Four - this is probably the only sweep I'll predict. I just don't feel it from the Wild.
#3 Vancouver over #6 Dallas in Seven - Dallas will make this close, despite bad goaltending from Turco
#5 San Jose over #4 Nashville - the beginning of the end for the team in Nashville.

So, the second round has the following matchups (followed by my predictions):

Western Conference
#1 Detroit vs. #5 San Jose - This is a tough one. San Jose is a better team than Calgary, and the Wings are going to have trouble stopping them. I think this one will go seven, with the Wings coming out on top. Wings in seven.
#2 Anaheim vs. #3 Vancouver - One of two Canadian teams left, the Canucks have no scoring. Matching up against one of the best defenses in the NHL in Anaheim (and the 'big three'), will not be kind. Anaheim in five.

Eastern Conference
#1 Buffalo vs. #6 New York Rangers - The Rangers destroyed Atlanta in four, and they've got some mojo. The Sabres looked less than stellar against the Islanders (probably because they are overrated). However, I have to go with Buffalo's depth here. Sabres in six.
#2 New Jersey vs. #4 Ottawa - This is a tough one for me. As much as I want to see the Canadian teams eliminated, I think Ottawa has a good chance here. I'll take Ottawa in seven.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 07:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Today was the last day of the regular season in the NHL, so that brings the NHL playoffs to the forefront of the american sports scene. Ok, the CANADIEN sports scene, but still... I'm excited to see things get started. Last year I wasn't that excited about the playoffs, this year I'm really pumped for the matchups.

The most noteworthy thing that happened today was that my pre-season suprise playoff pick, the New York Islanders, have made the playoffs. Despite their crazy owner, I thought that their parts would actually make them a decent team. The pickup at the trade deadline of the Oilers' former captain, Ryan Smythe, was a great deal, and I think it will help them in their first-round playoff matchup against the overrated Buffalo Sabres. (Heh, that should get a few good comments).

The best part of the Islanders making the playoffs? That, coupled with Toronto's win over Montreal yesterday, means both Toronto and Montreal are eliminated from the playoffs. Because of the intense media scrutiny, and quite honestly how horribly the media treats both these teams, I'm actually happy to see them miss the playoffs - especially Toronto. Maybe now the Toronto media will start calling for a rebuilding process (which is actually what the Leafs need to do), instead of calling for temporary solutions. I'd like to see a good team wearing the Maple Leaf uniform, but they haven't been decent in a while.

So, yeah, NHL playoffs. I'm just hoping I can watch one or two Red Wings vs. Calgary games - hopefully they will either be on Versus or NBC. They won't be on TV here in Washington, DC, no doubt. Nor will Martha let me watch many of them on our only TV....

So, now that the brackets are set, here are my picks:

Eastern Conference
#1 Buffalo over #8 New York Islanders in Six - The Sabres offense will be just too much for the Isles
#2 New Jersey over #7 Tampa Bay in Five - I like the Lightning's scoring, but the Devils suffocate you with defense
#6 NY Rangers over #3 Atlanta in Seven - Jagr will explode in this series, and i think the Rangers' experience helps
#5 Pittsburgh over #4 Ottawa in Five - I just feel like the Pens have things going right

Western Conference
#1 Detroit over #8 Flames in Six - I'm going to regret this pick. The Wings aren't good with the Flames...
#2 Anaheim over #7 Minnesota in Four - this is probably the only sweep I'll predict. I just don't feel it from the Wild.
#3 Vancouver over #6 Dallas in Seven - Dallas will make this close, despite bad goaltending from Turco
#5 San Jose over #4 Nashville - the beginning of the end for the team in Nashville.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 08:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I was reading a blog post from a blog that a friend passed along today, and I was thinking just how hard it has always been for me to get shutouts when playing goal.

I've been playing goal since I was 11, and honestly was never a shutout goalie. I don't know why that is, but it is an interesting thing... I won several awards both in high school and later in college, but those were never really tied to shutouts. I mean, I played three years as a full-time starter for Lakeland High School's hockey team, and it wasn't until the last two weeks of the season of my senior year that I got my first one. Playing at Oakland University, I don't think I ever had one, though they don't have our results from the first couple of years up on their website, so I can't check. (By the way, I'm still a little disappointed that I'm not mentioned in the history section of the team's website, with all that I did for them. Bad feelings still linger, I guess.) At Richmond, despite a 1.80 goals against average, the BRHC's GAA record and Save Percentage record, I think I had only two shutouts my two years playing for them - both 11-0 wins against Appalachian State.

I don't know what to attribute this to, seeing as how I've always had very low goals against. Maybe there is just a mental hump that I was never able to successfully get over. Shutouts are incredibly hard to get, and invariably some little thing would always happen to ensure I didn't get one. Maybe someone on the bench all these times uttered the dreaded "s" word before the game was actually over... That's a pretty big one - never say shutout before the buzzer sounds, or else you aren't going to get one. Maybe those times that I missed out by a couple of minutes was because I was thinking about getting one too much.

The frustrating thing is that it even carries over to adult hockey. Despite how good I'm playing, or how bad the other team is, I always end up letting one in. So much so that I've started telling teams I'm not a "Shutout Goalie." If you score 2, we'll be fine. But count on them getting one by me. It's sad, but the truth.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 05:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This weekend I was invited to play in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Hockey Benefit game here in Richmond. The premise is that this event gets together the best hockey players in the Richmond area for a USA vs. Canada match-up. I was asked to play a week or so before the game, after playing in an A league game in the adult league.

I suited up for Team Canada, despite the fact that I'm not Canadian. I told them I spent my summers in Lions Head, Ontario at my grandparent's farm, so they allowed me to adopt that as my Canadian hometown. They needed a goalie, anyway, so I stepped in and played.

Each team had two goalies who were to split the game. Unfortunately, the other team Canada goalie had a rough first period, and we found ourselves down 5-1. So, I was up to start the second period. Our team definitely picked up the pace to get back in the game, and I shut down the USA's shooters during the second, including a break-away by one of Team USA's best players, as we rallied to within one goal (5-4). The third period saw Team Canada knot up the score at 5-5, after which Team USA would get their sixth (and only regulation goal against me). Canada would tie it up 6-6. After much deliberation, both teams decided against a five minute overtime, and in favor of a five man shoot-out.

Of course, I was a little nervous, as this was a pretty serious game. The opposition's goaltender just happened to be former NCAA D1 goaltender Joe Blackburn, of Michigan State University. Unfortunately, in the shoot-out, the first one would get by me, and Team USA would lead 1-0. From there, I stopped the remaining four shooters. Our last shooter of the five would score one on Blackburn, for a 1-1 tie in the shoot-out, and one round of sudden-death. Unfortunately, the first sudden death shot by Team USA got by me, and our last shooter didn't score. The result, a 7-6 Team USA win in the shoot-out.

All in all, it was a very good game. There was some great action, and it was pretty intense. I actually ended up winning player of the game for the Canadian team.

It would be nice to be able to play at that level every game. It was fast, good hockey. I play a lot better the faster the play gets, and find it hard to adjust to some of the adult leagues. Now that I'm going back to DC, I hope I can find a league where the play is as good as it was in this game. I also hope that I get invited back to play in this game someday...

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 09:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This weekend you (the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays) took to the ice in the MDCHA playoffs. I have coached the team for the past two years. Unfortunately, when I took the job in Richmond, I had to no longer be involved as much as I had been. I couldn't travel to practices, obviously, but since the games were on the weekends, I was able to finish up coaching the games. This weekend our season came to a close, as we lost in the semi-finals, and the end of the game was pretty emotional for me, though I tried not to show it.

Despite the trials and tribulations involved in being your coach, I will really miss coaching you guys. While the team had every different type of player and personality under the sun, it was enjoyable to try to bring you all together to form a cohesive unit. Sure, I made mistakes. I feel that, in all honesty, those mistakes taught me more about being a leader than any job I have ever had. If I had the ability to stay on as your coach, I surely would. Some people don't understand why I would love coaching you guys so much. While I really enjoyed my playing days at Richmond, I believe that I'll probably remember the two years as your coach much more fondly. That's not to say I won't remember UR, but helping to build a program, like I was involved in at JHU, is rewarding work. It makes you feel like you are actually making a difference. Maybe you guys won't look back and remember me being the best coach, but I hope you learned something from me. I certainly learned a lot from you.

Getting paid was a bonus (although with the travel, it was probably necessary). If I could get paid a full-time salary for coaching this team, I would do it in a heartbeat. This truly was the best job I've ever had, and I will miss it a ton next year. I never imagined that hockey would become as much a part of my life as it has in these two years, and I'll find it very hard to let go. Everyone wants a job where they feel like they contribute, make a difference, and where they want to do the best they can. I wanted everything for this team, not for my own pleasure, but because I truly thought they deserved it. Hopefully, now that I'm leaving, the team is in a better place than it once was.

So, Blue Jays, know that I will miss being your coach. I'll miss the friendships that have developed, and I'll certainly miss making you do suicides after bad games. I wish you nothing but the best in your future endeavors, and to all of you - thank you for your hard work and for putting up with me. Seniors, I hope you can look back on these two years with fondness. I will always keep track of how this team does.

Thank you very much for allowing me the opportunity to coach you. It truly has been a pleasure.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 07:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

This weekend was filled with hockey, as most of my weekends are from September through March.

On Friday night, my 0-8 Blue Jays travelled down to DC to take on the Catholic U. of America Cardinals in search of our first win. Despite CUA's boisterous crowd, we came out hard and played strong all game long, taking a 9-4 victory in a penalty-filled affair. It felt pretty damn good to get the first win, and the guys seemed to be in a good mood for the most part. On Saturday we travelled up to New Haven, CT to take on Yale. This game was special because it was 110 years (and change) since the first known hockey game in the United States - a contest between Hopkins and Yale on Feb. 1st, 1896. We've decided, with Yale, to make this game a yearly tradition. If you want to learn more about the game, go to the Hopkins Hockey website.

We came a bit flat - either bus legs, five hours sleep, or the fact that we were crammed in a storage closet and not a lockerroom, but we just did not have it. We won the third period 2-1, though.

Other than that, I found out the results of the shoulder MRI. I have rotator cuff tendonitis and degeneration of the labrum causing impingement. The good news is that there are no tears in either the rotator cuff or labrum, which is what the doctor and I were afraid of. So, my prognosis is good - I got a cortisone shot Friday and have to do physical therapy 3 times a week for 3 weeks. We'll see how that goes...

Lastly, I played in my own hockey game on Sunday night at the new Capitals Practice Facility in Ballston - Kettler Capitals Iceplex. It's a very nice facility, but there were a couple glaring problems that I hope the recognize and work out. First, the elevators (owned by the mall it is attached to) are always out of service. I stood there for 15 minutes with my equipment before trying to find the stairs, which were also incredibly hard to find. As of right now, you can't park on the 8th floor, where the rink is - or if you can, the entrance to the 8th floor is incredibly hard to find. Next, the lockerrooms did not have locks. Not a big problem except the elevators are right next to the lockerrooms, and with the mall downstairs, I'd be concerned at who has access to the arena. Also, with such a nice facility, I'm suprised that they only put ONE showerhead in each lockerroom's bathroom.... weird. Most importantly, I thought the ice sucked. It could have been a function of bad zamboni-ing, but I have played on better pond ice. It was almost as if the Zam put down water, but didn't scrape the ice. Very bumpy...

I play there again next Sunday, so we'll see how it is then.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 03:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Two weeks ago we started a fundraiser for the Johns Hopkins Ice Hockey team (which I coach). In the process of trying to get the team turned around, I have made myself a checklist of things that needed to be done. In my experience with both Oakland and Richmond, there are a few things that a team needs to be successful, and taken seriously in the ACHA.

The on thing that bothered my about last year is the fact that we have each player purchase his own jerseys. This does not lend itself well to new players, as they don't know if they are on the team until September. This is usually high demand time for jersey manufacturers, so this year our new players didn't get their uniforms until second semester. Which meant that there were several games we played without matching jerseys.

Luckily at the ACHA meeting I spoke with OT Sports, who supplies the JHU Lacrosse program, and they were very interested in making jerseys for us. They threw together a pretty nice design. I figure we have to raise about $2500 for one set of these, plus socks. We started the fundraiser two weeks ago, and we're already more than half way there. Pretty good stuff.

I'm excited about the season already. We've got some tough opponents, but I think my guys are ready to step up their level of play.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 08:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)