Cape Breton's Magazine

(How do you practice that?) Just mentally. Just know where you're at at all times on the ice. (Would you go out alone and just practise in front of a goal and just drop one way, drop another?) Oh yeah, go in the corner or go in the net, and slide back and forth.... Just imagining in my head that somebody's shooting, where he's shooting for. Just imagining different shots.... Before a game, or between peri? ods- -just imagine in your mind what's go? ing to happen. (Is it as dangerous as it looks, to be the goalie?) No. No. Well, you can get hurt. You can get hurt in any sport. But I had no intentions of being rubbed up against the boards, or getting smashed into the glass or the wire, or a high stick. You know, you can get caught--you can get hurt bad. But 9 out of 10 times you won't. (That doesn't happen to a goalie, though.) No, not very often, no. If he straggles out too far, they'll hit him. But in the crease there you're pretty safe. You know, you get hit with a high stick, or a shot or a puck. (What about the skates them? selves?) I've been playing for 30 years, I guess, and I've never been cut with a skate. It's much different now with the masks, of course. When we played, there rhe NpRMAWAY IM' LODGE CABINS The first choice for fine food and lodging on the Cabot Trail The Normaway is proud to be able to share a part of Cape Breton's culture. Enjoy traditional music by the fire side, nightly films on the area, a choice selection of Cape Breton books and records, arst and crafts workshop, traditional and contem? porary Cape Breton music or theatre most spring and fall weekends, as well as Elder k Hostel travel learning programs. For more information write or phone: THE NORMAWAY INN 902-248-2987 was no mask. There was no mask at all. But we didn't have the slap shot either, we had the wrist shot. It's not as fast, but it's more accurate. They can pick a corner on you a lot better. It's just using your wrist to shoot the puck, instead of taking a big wind-up and hitting it. A slap shot --you see it today, you don't know where it's going. And it's 9 out of 10 times it's going to hit a leg or a stick or a skate and it's going to go in the net-- deflections. (Was it not allowed in your time?) No, there was--never heard of it. The slap shot wasn't allowed. They had a kick shot years ago; I have never seen it. There's some way the forwards could put their stick on the ice and hit it with their skate. It'd be a hard shot.... But I know some fellows with wrist shots that were just as fast or harder than the slap shot. I know one--Vineie Ryan had a shot that would hurt you. If he hit you with it, he hurt you. Regardless of how much padding you had on. (I see. But of course, your danger wasn't just from the other people that you were playing. I understand the crowds could sometimes be a problem for you.) Yes, that's for sure. Oh, sometimes they'd get kind of riley, but.... (Tell me what they did.) Well, oh, it's not so much now, but years ago, once in awhile they'd throw a bottle on the ice or something like this, and you always had to be careful of it. And paper and stuff like this--all you had to do was hit it the wrong way and you could break your leg or whatever. Or a dime got on the ice and you couldn't see it. And you'd hit it and you'd lose your ' Oceon Jtentalsltd. Contractors Lawn & Garden Equipment Equipment Compressors Tillers Welders Sod Cutters Drills, Saws Air Eators General Engine Hoists Jacks Tow Bars & Much More... Call: GLACE BAY 849-1616 South (Campbells Corner) - P. O. Box 265 CO-OP ' CO-OP SERVICE STATION Kerosene Available Exhaust Repairs Complete Brake Service Motor Vehicle Inspection Minor Repairs Lube • Oil ~ Greases Top Quality ...at Low, Gasoline... 562-2315 Low Prices 503 PRINCE ST. • SYDNEY, N. S.