This is our teams first season in HNA, and our captain told them right off the bat that we were not a division one team. Someone that was at the Vegas tournament however said that wasn't true, because we looked really good. We weren't at the Vegas tournament, it was a different team with the same name. As a result we got thrown in the top division.
There was exhibition games to determine seeding, so no biggie. We play the team of the guy who runs the league, and lose 4-0. Our goalie stood on his head, and we only managed 5 shots in three 15 minute periods. They spent the entire time in our zone. Supposedly these guys were one of the lower top division teams last year too. It was pretty obvious we didn't belong in the top division.
So then what happens? They put us in the top division because "the schedule is already made". I don't care if your #####ing schedule is already made, fix it! He says, no problem, only 5 games are scheduled, and after that they'll realign the divisions. Part way through that, a 6th game is added. All but one of these are in Chestermere.
I have to say that after paying $550, spending the first 6 games getting destroyed isn't the most fun. We've now lost 9-1, 8-4, 14-0 and 16-2. Our goalie used to play for SAIT, so that isn't the problem. Its not that fun.
On top of this, after buying a new helmet 4 months ago for $110, I need another new one, because mine is white, and our team needs matching helmets. What a joke. Also, you need your real last name on your jersey. Even for spares. So you need a jersey made up for every spare that ever plays for your team.
We had two guys get kicked out of a game for not having shoulder pads. That was our 14-0 loss. We only had 7 guys after they got booted. It was brutal.
On top of that, the rinks are in brutal places (Chestermere? Indus?) and we get some brutal ice times (11:15 at Chestermere on a weeknight).
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