Where did we go?

It's been a LONG LONG time since I have been back here to my blog on Pucks and Penalties. In all of craziness that is travel hockey, I never seemed to get here to share pictures and fun stories from our season! Well that is about to change!

We are back!!!!!

Hockey is still our number one sport - we are thick into the Stanley Cup Playoffs right now! We leave for a travel tournament in a couple of weeks as wel. Along with this, I have taken up the challenge of a picture a day for a year! I am on Day 20, and so far, it's been really fun! I will be posting those pictures out here as well as other photographic activities that will be taking place in the coming months. I've got some pretty fun things lining up, so watch out! And, there will always be the hockey pictures...

In the spirit of catching up, here are some of my favorite pictures from my picture a day adventure so far...

I am excited to start sharing my adventures with you !

Have fun and always remember -

Stay out of the penalty box!



The 2011-2012 Hockey Season is here!

Hi everyone! It's been quite the busy summer and already school is back in session and the hockey emails have begun! Alex tried out for the Jr. Maverick's Travel team and he made it!   Hurray! This is so exciting for Alex and us because it means that he will be playing  with very strong players and building his skills even more. We are sad not to be playing with the St. Joe Griffon's this season, as they were such a great team and family, but very excited at the opportunity to play travel hockey.

This season, my blog will not only be photo's of Alex, but highlights of the games and photo's of all the different players. Please plan on coming back to visit often, as with all the games that Alex will be playing, and hopefully, all the other games and sports that I will get to take pictures of, there should be lots of fun pics to look at, and stories to share.

I will post my schedule and updates out here regularly, so until then, stay out of the Penalty Box!

Spring Hockey has begun!

Spring hockey is upon us! Alex is playing with the Kansas City Saints for Spring because the St. Joe Griffons don't have a spring team this year. It's been fun coming back to our old stomping ground and seeing old friends. Alex was very excited to get back on the ice sporting the Saints on his jersey! Unfortunately, his jersey's no longer fit! So, we were able to borrow some jersey's for the spring league. This of course means he doesn't get to be "59" like usual, but he is number 5, so it will all work out in the end...

We played our first game this weekend and the team did a GREAT job! We won - 5-0! Alex scored 2 goals in this game! How awesome is that? (Yes, I am the proud mom...)

This is Alex after he scored his first goal!

As the game was played, it was clear that we have some some talent on our team!

Alex scored the last goal of the game, which is pretty cool!

This is what you look like when your friend congratulates you after a goal!



This is what you look like when you score a 2nd goal!

All in all, a great way to start off the spring season!
There will be more games and more posts, so come back to see what's happening with Spring Hockey!

Until then, stay out of the Penalty Box!

House Tournament - Game 1

St. Joseph Griffons vs. KC Outlaws

St. Joe 3 - KC Outlaws 2

It's tournament time at the Bowman house. We have our house tournament for the Griffons going on this weekend and our Select Tournament going on next weekend. Lot's of hockey for everyone!

This weekend is single elimination, so if we lose, we are out. Just our luck, we played the Outlaws, whom we had yet to beat this season. Along with this, this is the team we have partnered with for Select, so half of the players on the Outlaws are our teammates on the Select KC Scouts team! All of the boys were freaked out when they got to the rink this morning because they didn't want to play their teammates!

When the game started, both teams took too the ice with determination to win. From the very beginning we could tell that this was going to be a nail biter, and it definitely was!

Who is going to take the puck?

What made this game fun was that both teams were very well matched, so they both controlled the puck throughout the game. It really kept the players on their toes. You never knew what was going happen next.

Alex played defense this game - he looked great!

The best part about today's game was that both teams played great and we never knew who was going to win. In the end, we won by 1 and advanced to the semi-finals! We play again Sunday - it's going to be a tough game, but we can do it!

With a little thought...



And a whole lotta of Alex, we can do it!

Until the next game, stay warm, and stay out of the penalty box!

KC Scouts Select Tournament - Des Moines, Iowa

WOW! Was this ever a crazy weekend! The KC Scouts headed north to Des Moines, IA for the first tournament of the select season! We left Friday, 28-Feb-2011 in the morning because Alex had a 5:45 PM game against the Omaha Jr. Lancers. (This was the team that skated the pants off of us last weekend in St. Joe...)
Denny, Alex and I headed to Des Moines after dropping Maggie & Oliver off for their weekend spa get away. (You know - lounging around with never ending play time, sleep time, eat time... wait a minute - who got the better end of this deal?) Once we hit the road, we had to stop and eat, so we were only 13 miles outside of Smithville when we stopped in Kearney, MO for lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant. This only ensured that I would sleep the entire trip - which I did... (I didn't realize it was such a short trip to Des Moines from my house...) LOL!

Once we arrived, we hung out in our room while Alex high tailed it around with the boys and then off we went to the hockey rink.
Our first game was a bit intimidating because playing the team that walked all over you the weekend before is not always a fun way to start out.

The boys got out there and played their hearts out. We still lost, but only by 1 point! This is a HUGE improvement! After the game, we headed back to the hotel where the kids played in a great pool area that had an indoor and outdoor pool. I am sure you can guess where the boys spent most of their time -yes, outside in 32 degree weather in the pool. They thought it was the COOLEST THING EVER!

Saturday morning started early with breakfast and a game at 8:45 AM. Fortunately for us, we were only 5 minutes away from the rink! Unfortunately for us, the team rule is that you have to be at the rink 1 hour before the game. (Did I mention our game was at 8:45?) So, we were there at 7:45, coffee in hand. The boys did some dry land workouts while the parents sat in the stands desperately trying to figure out where the heaters were blowing the most heat...
Once the game got started, it was all energy and yelling all the time!

Going after the puck

Alex along with the rest of the team brought it all the way this morning! We played Lincoln, NE (my old home) and they won! Alex got an assist on a goal and almost got another goal! It was a great game and great fun!
We had our 2nd game later on Saturday, so we headed back to the hotel for some down time. The boys hung out, Denny stayed at the rink to watch the game, and I went back to my hotel room to watch TV and zone out for a while, as I tried to warm up...

The 2nd game was against Sioux City, IA. Let me just say that I went to college not far from Sioux City, IA. It wasn't my most favorite place to go, and the parents and coaches from this team quickly reminded me why! They were a feisty (politically correct way of saying nasty, obnoxious, tactless... you get my drift...) The 2 teams were actually pretty well matched. This was our first strike against us. They came out itching for a fight, and that is about what they got. Their boys made some pretty nasty hits that got them into the penalty box for unnecessary roughness, high sticking, tripping, etc. At their worst, their coach began screaming at our boys and the ref's because he didn't think it was fair that his team was being called out on their unsportsman like conduct. Then he got out on the ice. I learned this weekend that the only time a coach can get on the ice is if :
a) a player is hurt
b) the referee invites them onto the ice

Let me just say that no invitations were extended to the coach, and the only hurt player was one of ours!

This is what we do when one of our team mates is injured on the ice

After about 10 minutes of yelling, screaming, and concern that their coach might actually have a stroke, they let the game continue...

Alex is on the bottom of this pile. Notice the coach looking down...WOW.

Alex got nailed after all of the excitement with the coach from Sioux City.



Alex really took one for the team



You can see Alex's green laces on his skates - he doesn't particularly like being on the bottom of the dog pile...

In the end, we tied this game - which was really worth it because the coaches and parents from Sioux City were not happy - it made the tie score even more fun... (I'm a really good parent, aren't I?)

After our 2nd game, we hung out at the hotel pool while the boys swam (outside) again. At one point, someone was throwing ice down on them from a balcony. The boys decided to throw ice back. One of the mom's went out to tell them to stop, and they all looked at her and as soon as she came in, they resumed throwing ice. So, I got up and went out there (I can still see the look of HOLY CRAP! on Alex's face...) and in my best former teacher voice, I told them that if they continued to throw ice, they would be "outta here!" They all stopped and put the ice down and said they would - as their eyes got really big. One of the boys spoke up and said, "Mrs. Bowman, do you mean out of the pool, or out of the hotel?" I almost burst out laughing - I simply responded with -I guess you don't want to find out now do you..." Not another piece of ice was thrown. The mom came over to me and said - you must have been a REALLY GOOD TEACHER... HA HA HA! I told her no, I just have a really good teacher voice. :-)

Saturday night, our entire team went to the Des Moines Buccaneers hockey game. (Because 5 games in a weekend just isn't enough...) This team plays in the elite high school league where kids from all over the world will live with host families while receiving hockey training. Most of these boys go on to get full ride hockey scholarships and/or invitations to play in the NHL. It was really cool!

We got back to the hotel around 9:30 which was a good think because we played the first game of the day today at 7:45 AM. Remember our rule about being at the rink 1 hour before the game? It even applies for 7:45 AM games. (Don't be jealous that  you didn't get to be here with me...)

This morning was pretty tough when the alarm went off. Alex didn't even get up until the very last minute! Usually he is up watching TV as soon as I get up and get in the shower. (I have to get up extra early because it takes alot to look this average...) LOL!

We got to the rink and it was clear that after 3 games, a night of Buccaneer hockey, and hours in the outdoor pool, our boys were tired... They tied their first game against Ames, IA. It was a great game! The boys played well, just not with the same energy they typically play with.

THERE'S NO SLEEPING IN HOCKEY!

Alex looks like he is asleep on the ice - how funny!

Our second and final game of the tournament was this morning as well - and it was against the undefeated Des Moines Chops...

The score was 6-0. They cleaned up with us. In our defense, we were tired and we were playing the number 1 team. This isn't a great combination. But, they still played a great game and had a ball doing it!

Now that we are at home, we have 1 very tired, likely getting sick 11 year old. Right now, he is on the couch upstairs coughing, and acting like tomorrow could be a sick day... I am keeping my fingers crossed that this isn't the case - but if it is, I can't really get all that mad. I mean, I'm the one that let him swim outside in 30 degree weather, right?

Well, back to the grind tomorrow - hockey practices, work, a gazillion pictures to go through. I hope you have a great week! We have a game next weekend - only 1 - HURRAY! Until then, stay out of the penalty box!



KC Scouts Select Friendly Tournament - Day 2

Game 1: KC Scouts 3 - Stars 3

Game 2: KC Scouts 0 - Omaha Jr. Lancers 8 (WHAT???)

So, the weatherman said that while we would be getting snow, it wouldn't be a big deal. It would be over by Sunday morning, and there really wasn't anything to worry about. Well, let me just tell you...

We left for St. Joe this morning with about 4 inches of additional snow on the ground, and the snow plows hadn't been through our neighborhood yet. This wasn't a big deal, except that it was clear that the weatherman got it wrong..

On our way up to the game, the roads started out okay. The farther north we went, the worse the roads got. In fact, at one point, it looked like we were coming up on a jack knifed semi tractor trailer. I quickly figured out when Denny didn't stop that it was a double snow plow. (I couldn't figure out why they were dragging a semi down the highway taking up 2 lanes...) Once we got past this, the roads were even worse. We saw multiple cars off the road and people were down to 25-30 mph. At this rate, we were never going to make it to the game. So, I decide to email one of the parents to let them know we were on our way. It is at this point that we see a white truck facing the wrong way on the side of the road with a couple standing outside. He was looking for something in the cab of the truck, and she was pacing up and down the side of the road - and she didn't look happy. (It kind of reminded me of Denny and I...) HA HA HA! So, being the nice person Denny is, he stops and backs up on the interstate and we offer them a ride to St. Joe. It's too bad that sainthood can't be handed out, because I truly think she would have given it to us - I think she was on the verge of tears. (Likely because of the cold, but I like to think partly because there are still some nice people in the world...) This was the 2nd time they had spun out this morning and their truck was going no where... We got them to St. Joe to a gas station, and still managed to make it to the game with a few minutes to spare. So, already it's been a good day!

Once Alex was dressed and laced up, they got out on the ice and the fun began.

The first game was great! It was a great match up against the team we played yesterday. There were a few more penalties  than yesterday, but all in all, the boys played hard. Alex did a great job of getting in there and pushing for the puck. He made a couple of shots on goal (of course I don't have pictures of THAT...) and managed to avoid getting any penalties. The coaches seemed very happy with him and the entire team after the first game. (NOTE THAT I SAID AFTER THE FIRST GAME...)

We had about 90 minutes between games. During this time, I thawed out from standing in the ice box where the photographers and coaches stand, Denny was the score keeper for the 2nd game of the tournament and Alex was busy eating...

When Game 2 started, I walked over to where I stand in MY area to take pictures, and there was a parent with a very nice camera who apparently thought he could stand there too. For a moment, I was actually thinking - who does he think he is? This is MY SPOT! Then I realize that this is an opportunity for me to be nice, just like Denny was earlier this morning. So we shuffled the table around to give us some more room and both started taking pictures. Quickly, we began talking and soon discovered we both went to the same college (at the same time), and actually know some of the same people! So we spent more of our time talking then taking pictures! Oh yeah, and he is a photography instructor -so now I feel like a complete fool because he asks me about my settings as I am trying to figure out why all of sudden all of my pictures are blue... (turns out playing with the settings in between games is a bad thing when you don't remember to put them back to what you had them at before...) So, as I am trying to get my camera set back up so I can actually take some decent pictures, I am also trying not to look like a total poser to the obvious professional. I am pretty sure it was an abysmal failure, but, he was nice and assured me that I will see him while we are at next week's actual tournament in Des Moines. (Note to self - I have 1 week to get the settings on my camera figured out...)

There was one moment where the puck was in play and one of our players was standing with his stick over his shoulders just hanging out...

What makes this so funny is that the puck was in play, and this player who is really good just stood back and placed his stick on top of his shoulders. Even the parent from the Omaha team who was taking pictures snapped a shot because he thought it was so funny! (I heard later that the coach didn't think it was nearly as funny as we did! OOPS!)

Well, as I was busy talking photography with the parent from Omaha that I went to school with, the Omaha Lancers proceeded to skate all over the ice with us. It was extremely disappointing - we aren't sure who was out on the ice, but it wasn't the KC Scout team that we normally see.
They went into the locker room after the game and got an earful from the coaches. Practice on Tuesday should be interesting...

We are off to Des Moines on Friday for a Tournament. I will have pictures and stories of our adventures to share - and I promise to have more pictures - and none that are blue!
Until then stay warm and stay out of the penalty box!

KC Scouts Select Friendly Tournament- Day 1

KC Scouts Select vs Pepsi Stars Select

Game 1 - Scouts 3  Stars 1

Game 2 - Scouts 2  Start 4

It's a Tournament Weekend at the Bowman house. What does this mean? It means that there will be no sleeping in, no lounging around pretending that I have no responsibilities, and no having a weekend focused entirely on me. (Something seems very wrong with this picture...) What this does mean is that we will be up early, driving to St. Joe and spending our day doing what we love - PLAYING HOCKEY! (or in my case, tying skates, taking pictures, drinking hot chocolate to stay warm, and blogging until all hours of the night, because tomorrow I will be doing this all over again!)

About 2 weeks ago, I was adding new music to my iPod and synced it to my computer at home, which isn't the computer I normally sync it to. In the process, I lost all of my playlists and almost lost all of my music. (Note to everyone, if I offer to help you with your iPods, walk away...) So, when we got  in the car this morning, Alex had set up the iPod with a new playlist for Hockey - so we had all the awesome rock songs to listen to while we drove up to St. Joe for the games. Anyone on I-29 north bound probably saw me jamming to Def Leppard and AC/DC - it was AWESOME! I'm starting to think this is more for me than him, but it does get the blood flowing and the adrenaline pumping!

We had 2 games today - our first game we wore our grey jerseys, and our 2nd game we wore our green jerseys.

That puck isn't coming past this line...

The KC Scouts played a GREAT game! They were very evenly matched with the Stars, but they definitely showed them who was boss on the ice. Select Hockey is much more physical than House Hockey - as a result, you tend to see more and harder checking, and sometimes more penalties. Today was no different! In fact, the Stars had 1 player that was in the penalty box for 10 minutes rather than the standard 2! WOW!
Our guys spent their share of time in the penalty box, but thankfully, Alex wasn't one of them.

Alex has become very aware of the negative impact the penalty box has on his total points, so he does a great job of staying as far away from there as possible. (I still think he wants to end up in there, he just doesn't want to get yelled at...)

T

2 Scouts against 1 Star

Listening to the coach

At the end of the first game, the boys were feeling very confident because the Stars only scored 1 goal on them! What a great game! Even the referee's were saying that this was one of the better games they had refed in a while!
Little did they know that only a 30 minute break would come back to bite them...

Game 2
When the boys got back on the ice, I think they thought it was going to be a gimme that they would win. Unfortunately, the Stars didn't exactly feel the same way...

Alex is ready for the puck drop

From the time the game got started, the  Stars were doing a great job of controlling the puck. Our boys got tired very quickly and it showed. They played a great game, but they quickly realized that there might be a chance that this wasn't going to be a guaranteed win...
There were more penalties in this game than in the last - not sure what that was all about, but it was almost funny. As the photographer, I stand right in the middle of the 2 teams, so when the coaches start yelling at the boys on the ice, I can hear most of what is being said. (even in my semi-deaf state - which tells you how loud these coaches yell). As the game went on, our coaches were yelling louder and louder - and the Stars coaches weren't yelling nearly as much... Hmmmm....

Alex made good use of his time on the ice. He made sure he was where he was supposed to be, he went after the puck when he needed to, and he stayed out of the biggest kid's way as much as he could. (This was the part that made me happy...) This kid was HUGE! I've seen him take kids out before. I was hoping to avoid this situation today...LOL!

In the end, our boys did a great job, but they wore themselves out. Tomorrow, we play them again. After a good nights sleep and another chance to get up early on a weekend, we will all be ready to take the ice and show them who is boss...

Or in Alex's case, who looks really cool with green laces...

That's all for now. Stay warm - there will be more updates after tomorrow's games, so until then, stay out of the Penalty Box!