On Thursday at training we had 14 for the weekend game, by Friday we had 11, by Saturday luckily back up to 12. The joys of captaining!. 2 late call ups to help out the 3s, 1 injury and one family emergency, and several player drafted in to double up with the 5s (Darren, Tom S, Justin, Shaun, Dani, Douglas). With all the team playing pretty much at the same team, meant it was a bad week for one of keepers to get injured (playing basketball!), particularly as they were already playing as cover, so digging out the pads off I went to play in goal in Towcester with the 3s, leaving the 4s in the capable hands of Shaun.
So what do the team do when the captain away……….easy go and win and score 6 goals in the process. Shaun obviously relishing his captaincy role back again bagged 3 goals and a couple of assists, Douglas, a late draftee and doubling up, bagged himself a brace (then went one better with a hatrick for the 5s) and Bruno again showed his easy transition into adult hockey by scoring for the second week in a row.

So didn’t need the captain after all, and after that performance it’s just as well I’m the Captain so at least I can ensure I’m picked!

Next week the league, lets hope we can take this form (2 wins, 10 goals) from a very successful friendlies programme into the rest of the competitive season
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Captain’s thoughts – This club is great and it’s the players that make it. Whether it changing team at the last moment, even when it means travelling to an away game, stepping up to the next level to assist low availability and doubling up in order that both teams gets a decent game, your flexibility and support really helps the captains and the club out.
Player of the Match – Shaun Curtis – The stand in captain clearly led from the front, a hatrick of goals and a couple of assists. Outstanding forward line play.