Game 1

Drew's hockey team played their first regular season game of the year at home against the Grosse Pointe Bulldogs. While the team lost the game, you could see a marked improvement from their play in the Blue Water Stars Tournament that they participated in this past September. Perhaps the competition level was just a better match for us too. Either way, despite giving up 10 goals, our goaltender played his heart out, making many more saves than goals allowed. It appears as though sometimes our kids are overly focused on playing their positions as opposed to going after loose pucks, which can lead to opportunities for the other team. I honestly think that all of this will improve as time goes on, and since this is the first year that this team has played together, I am not too worried. A little, but not too much.

Drew started the game today, playing right wing. Like the rest of his teammates, he had some good moments on the ice and some bad. Sometimes I'd like him to skate a little harder after the puck, but again, I think that will come as the kids get more comfortable playing on the full sheet of ice together.

Game 1 - vs. Grosse Pointe Bulldogs
	Drew on the ice warming up with his teammates before the game.
	Drew skating along the fresh ice.
	Drew, standing tall, and his teammates getting some pregame directions from the coaches.
	Drew playing right wing during the opening face-off.
	Drew skating down the ice with the puck.
	Drew watching the puck as he knocked it out of his defensive zone.
	Drew keeping an eye on two Grosse Pointe players.
	Drew fighting for the puck along the boards.
	Drew in position while waiting for a face-off.
	Drew and his teammates going after the puck after a face-off.
	Drew making his way down the ice with the puck.
	Drew keeping an eye on the puck during another face-off.
	Drew and his teammates on the bench.
	Drew skating on the ice.
	The final score on the scoreboard said 11-3 at the end of the game, but 12-3 when the kids were leaving the ice. I tallied 10 goals for the Bulldogs, so that is the score I am going with.
	Drew and his teammates in the postgame handshake line.

Game 1 - vs. Grosse Pointe Bulldogs

Drew on the ice warming up with his teammates before the game.

Drew skating along the fresh ice.

Drew, standing tall, and his teammates getting some pregame directions from the coaches.

Drew playing right wing during the opening face-off.

Drew skating down the ice with the puck.

Drew watching the puck as he knocked it out of his defensive zone.

Drew keeping an eye on two Grosse Pointe players.

Drew fighting for the puck along the boards.

Drew in position while waiting for a face-off.

Drew and his teammates going after the puck after a face-off.

Drew making his way down the ice with the puck.

Drew keeping an eye on the puck during another face-off.

Drew and his teammates on the bench.

Drew skating on the ice.

The final score on the scoreboard said 11-3 at the end of the game, but 12-3 when the kids were leaving the ice. I tallied 10 goals for the Bulldogs, so that is the score I am going with.

Drew and his teammates in the postgame handshake line.