Victoria Royals vs Kelowna Rockets
I shot from the corner with a 300mm lens and a Canon 1D Mark 4 which made the ice between the blue lines my prime zone for action. I had the lens on a monopod which helped me keep it pressed right up against the glass reducing as much glare as possible. I was also shooting with a 16-35mm wide angle lens and a Canon 5d mark 2 for action close to the boards. This is a high risk high reward lens option as you must wait until the players skate right in front of you. I also zoomed to 35mm which gave a nice overall view of the action around the net like in the photo below.
A great save by Kelowna Rockets goalie Jordon Cooke just as the Royals were gaining a bit of momentum in the third.
I don’t often shoot hockey verticals but this one needed it as the players were so close together.
I got out of my seat and moved behind the net after I saw the potential for this shot from my seat in the corner. That many sticks laying around the net is rare and it makes for a nice between the moments shot.
Shooting up the boards can be tough because of the glare from the glass but can work if you get the angle right. It’s cool how the puck it stuck right along the boards.
Victoria Royal Keagan Kanzig is a huge player and is bending his stick quite a lot and he is not even shooting the puck. The bent stick adds some tension to the scene.
You don’t often see a well executed hip check. Usually the player slips by the d-man along the boards. But not this time Fransoo delivered a classic hip check Keith Ballard could be proud of.
I look after a goal for a contrast in emotion. This photo gets that point across pretty well. Not a game the Royals want to remember.