[Junior Taylor Ellingson.  Every once in a while you luck into a photo you think is kinda neat.  This one looks like Taylor is modeling for the statue on the top of a hockey trophy!]

[In the ongoing battles between the Cardinals, last night ours bested Willmar’s.]

It was nice to get back to the RCC again.  It seems it had been a while since we’d had a home game, in any sport – it makes the supervisor antsy, i.e., what can she find in the job jar to do?  It was a doubleheader night – the girls played the first game with the boys’ game following.  We like that.  It means a 5:15 (instead of 7:00) start . . . for we older folk it means we don’t fall asleep on the way home!  🙂  Well, unless it’s date night – like last night.  After the game we went to SAWA with fellow Super Fans, the Annens, for a little fine dining and music by Terry and Al.

We would loved to have stayed to watch they boys play as well.  They have been on quite a roll since their opener against Moorhead – and it continued with a 12 – 0 thumping of the other Cards.  Both the boys’ and girls’ JV teams won too, so it was a good night for our Cards on the hard water.  Oh, we did have to sacrifice the Christmas party at the Maritime Museum, where the high school carolers were performing, because it conflicted with the girls’ game.  Just one of the things you contend with in a Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area such as Alexandria – you have to pick and choose every night from multiple venues.  Wouldn’t it be neat if you could “DVD” the events you had miss and watch (participate in) them when you got home?  😉

[The team celebrates Shelby Iverson’s first period goal.]

[Yay, Shelby!  🙂 ]

[For reasons explained following, that concludes first period photographic coverage.]

I started a video of the opening period, as I usually do, but after a few seconds the camera battery went dead.  I put in a back-up and decided to wait for the start of the second period to get some moving pictures.  It turned out to be a fortuitous move, for less than one minute into that period Shelby Iverson scored her second of her three goals on the night:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9mXuOZ12qs

[Video complete, Shelby asks Bailey (goalie) what she’s doing for dinner after the game?]

[Madi (12) taking the face-off.  The senior Willmar goalie proved a tough nut to crack.]

[There goes Shelby – she came close to a 4 or 5 goal game!]

[Madi knows where the opportunities are when you’re in the zone.]

[Shelby checks to see if the pizza delivery man arrived?   Looks like the Willmar boys behind the glass.]

[Back to business – the guys will keep an eye out for the pizza guy.]

[“Let the festivities commence!”]

[Nicole (23), as Becca (37) pivots away at a high rate of speed.  It was good to have Becca back – she missed 3 or 4 (?) games after receiving a blow to the head in the Moorhead game.  Sources report she did not feel good (“good” is the correct word usage here, though you will often hear people use “well” because in many instances “good” is used when it should be “well,” or somethinig like that) the day of this game, but no doubt wasn’t going to miss any more games because of health reasons!]

[Nicole sweeps into the corner.]

[Becca and Nicole move in . . .]

[After following the sport for almost a decade now, I have come to the conclusion that it takes a real man to play girls’ hockey – thus disqualifying me in both instances.]

[Anna Carlsen controls the puck . . .]

[But appears to whiff on the pass – we granted her a mulligan.]

[Taylor hangs back on D while Lauren (21) completes here defense rush.  Lauren’s mom, Rene, checked in with us between periods – they lived in the Heights for 14 years in the house we knew as the Gorham’s!  🙂 ]

[Kaila (7) says, “Give me my stick back!”]

[Kaila, “What did you do with my stick?]

[Kaila, “Well, now that I have my stick back, gimme to &^*+#@ puck!”]

[The puck can’t keep up with Hanah!]

[Becca, “I see it!”]

[“Oy, that thing is so elusive!”]

[“I’m still trying to catch it!”]

[“And I’m not giving up!”]

[“Weren’t we just over here?”]

[A goalie’s life can be a lonely life.]

[And now here we are in rush hour traffic again.]

[Becca lets Bailey know she has her back.]

[The coaches are still trying new combinations – here Hanah (11) centers Maru (18) and Kaila (7).]

[Go get ’em, Hanah!]

[Melissa (6) and Anna thinking, “Now how’d it get over there?”]

[Ms. Iverson still digging.]

[And knocking on the door again . . .]

[And at the end of two, Shelby has her hat trick!  🙂 ]

[And it’s time for the Puck Shoot.]

[A player’s relative?]

[And “Weakie” makes his 2nd appearance.  A couple years ago, we both just missed the $100 (the middle slot).  I knew I was close because of talent and hand-eye coordination, but “Weakie” was just lucky.  I told him this time he wouldn’t even hit the board . . .]

[He took a golf chip shot swing, mishit it, it dribbled ever so slowly toward the goal, and just as it died, knicked a corner of the board!  Whatta guy!]

[How do you get these mouthpieces to sit right?]

[I think I hooked a tonsil?]

[Is that the pizza guy?]

[Don’t you dare shoot at my goalie!]

[Ouch!]

[Photographic magic.  Shanee’, who appears not to be moving, is blurry; Taylor is moving and is sharp; the ads on the boards aren’t moving but are sharp.  Maybe it had something to do with the adjustments Shanee’ made to her mouthpiece?  Beats me?]

[You go this way, I’ll go that way, and we’ll confuse ’em!]

[Aaaackkkkk, get it out of there!!!  (The supervisor)]

[Momma said there’d be days like this . . .]

[Mari (18) and McKenzie (29)]

[A player of indeterminate origin.]

[Kaila]

[McKenzie]

[Willmar called a time-out with less than a minute left to pull their goalie and attempt to tie the game with a 6-on-5 situation.  After a short scare, Anna broke free and got the clinching empty net goal.  🙂 ]

[I’m gonna Wang Dang Doodle all night long! 😉 ]