Well, I waited two days before posting this one, a 6-5 loss to the Rampage. It was needed to keep the language clean. The first period was great. So was most of the second. But that third period. This week there are no excuses. We can't blame the refs, we can't say the Rampage were a dirty team, at least not compared to previous weeks. The truth, is that the Joes just let the game slip away. There is 0 excuse for that. If an NHL team blew a 4-0 lead like that, you can beat people would be traded or fired, and they would make some of TSN's top 10 lists. Not the good lists either. I know you're thinking"But we're not the NHL". So what, we are still a hockey team. The rest of the league is gonna know about this. I really hope this is only a one week thing, because it is an embarrassment to have that happen to you. I really thought about it and tried to figure out how this happened. Don't take offense, but I think we just stopped skating. When we were up 4, we continuously went from an all-out offense, giving them an absurd amount of odd man chances, to trying some all out defensive strategy. But as soon as they took that 6-5 lead late, our skating came back, and we had some great chances. Like I said, I hope this is just a one week thing.The Bad- Well, we sort of had the game in hand, and blew it.
The Good- The first period and a half we were dominant. We need to continue to play the way we were there. If we can do that for three periods, we could beat anyone in the league. Also, our subs who played with us were great, and it was great to have them.
The Great- Headed into the game, our three leading scorers were #8 Dan, #12 Peter and #55 Glenn. Glenn and Peter weren't even there, while Dan held it down in the defensive zone (though he had some GREAT chances). But we found scoring from other people. #40 Scott scored his first goal, #49 Taso had two, including a buzzer beater in the first. #93 Cat had one or two, and #91, yours truly had one 30 seconds into the game. Dave in goal once again played great, stopping 26 of 32 shots against.
You are right....no excuses. I hated seeing your quick first shift goal, Taso's buzzer shot and Scott's first puck in the net go to waste...Sigh.
ReplyDeleteMoving on...skating hard..
Sharon
#83
Not exactly what I expected. On the bright side we are.becoming a very strong team and it showed in the beginning. On the bad side once we had a huge lead we relaxed and watched most of the rest. I think it was also unsettling to see their guy flying at Davids head for a Bobby Orr shot then see kids throwing extra pucks on the ice till I lost my cool and kicked them out of the rink. I think there were several other factors at play also-- such as even though I drove straight from Austin to the game and my back was killing me-- Dan had just finished a 12 hour shift drilling out concrete and didn't need any excuses as he dominated the ice on both sides with impressive skill. I think we still need to focus on leaving one defense back to cover cherry pickers-- the 3 fastest skaters on every team always wait in the neutral zone or our blue line to attack David. We also need to always have one of our guys immediately in front of their net the entire time we are in their zone. I think we are doing a great job on breakouts, puck battles in the corner, good use of the boards for passing or travelling through opposition, getting shots on net,and starting to gel as a team. We could probably use quicker line changes at times for fresh legs and lungs, someone in front of their crease screening and grabbing rebounds at all times, and everyone getting on the.back check quicker to support. I think the diamond formation crashing in with one defense hanging back to cover if they breakout is a big strength for us and works well. I'm definitely impressed that we've formed as a team much faster than I expected. Keep in mind most of us literally met at the first or second game compared to teams that have played together several years we are playing against. Add to that the number of folks we have playing their first season ever and a few just recently learning to skate these past few months. Add to that we have only used a coach for one practice and one game. I think we are already at the point I figured we would reach our second season. We already had 2 guys score their first goal their first season which is impressive and rare and a good example of how our team plays for each other not themselves. I really enjoy this team and the folks that fill the roster. It's unbelievable the top quality of personalities and upstanding character we have considering the team had to be completely rebuilt in one week for the season. I'm more pissed than anyone on the ice about what happened to Albert-- he's been my friend and linemate since he helped me learn the game my rookie season. I'm still shocked the refs wouldn't listen to me so it wouldn't have happened. I will be stepping in to seperate sides or whatever is necessary. We have been called the cleanest and most respectful team by numerous folks on and off the ice-- I want to maintain that style and composure. If things get out of hand we probably need to use a time out to discuss it between the refs and coordinators. I would like to find the cleanest way of handling such situations without resorting to unleashing my temper and capabilities in order to protect my teammates. I would imagine in that scenario it would not turn out well...
ReplyDeleteAlso thanks to our numerous subs for jumping in this season. Also thanks to all our roster for handling difficult situations so well. Also continue to keep Albert in your thoughts and prayers as he heals.
I honestly think now that we have our team identity we can dominate the next season without resort to some of the cheap tactics we've encountered from other teams.
Mike #76
As we become more of a team we will hopefully continue to learn more about not just hockey, but about competing as a team, not sitting back on a lead and how to win. It seemed to me like we played a combination of trying to sit back and wait for the third period to expire and some ill timed aggressiveness that led to short handed chances the other way. Obviously that didn't work out so well.
ReplyDeleteOn the plus side - this game was our season high goals scored - if we can continue to put 5 goals in, we'll win a lot of games!
One more thing - I for one am really happy that we get another chance at the Rampage at the end of the season! We've shown that we can compete with them and if we have a few of our regulars in with us that game we can take 'em down.
ReplyDeleteFrom The Desk Of Greg Davis....Regarding the Severe Icing game.....
ReplyDeleteOk, so I started with a small joke at the start. I understand that this is I-League and we are in this to have some fun and some decent exercise. This is a contact sport and from time to time your gonna get bumped. However the past few games these aren't bumps, these are legit hits. A player skating at full speed and then realizes that they can't stop in time I get. A player skating at full speed and then lowers a shoulder or raises a stick at head level is another. I can take a guy trying to lift my stick to make me miss the puck, that's hockey. A guy taking his stick across mine is also another matter. This was my first game to play as a center/forward. I have a new appreciation for what you guys go thru just to get the puck on net. I didn't mind the majority of the bumps I received from "The Icing" but a few bumps were questionable in my opinion. Several times I got bumped and then received a slash across the stick. In my opinion that is over the line. I know that our team probably isn't 100% clean all the time but I also don't believe that we are a dirty team either.
I feel a bit responsible for the events at the end of the game since I took a slash from a player across my stick once again, thought to myself, "I've had enough of this", and slashed him back across his stick. As he spun around to retaliate I crossed checked him under the chin before he had the opportunity to hit me. Hale, to his credit, jumped in between us and we separated. I skated away and headed for the bench not realizing that 3 of our players had gotten into a fight.
I mentioned during the game to several of their players to stop the slashing, and their response was, "I wasn't slashing." Most players in I-League can't control their feet all the time. But they can definitely control their sticks.
Niemi (spell check)is totally worthless in my opinion. We've had him for at least 2 games now and maybe a 3rd and he hasn't done a thing to stop the escalating tempers on the ice. I don't know if he isn't getting paid enough and just doesn't care or if he simply doesn't want to do his job. Hale on the other hand works his butt off. He may not get every call right and may not see everything but at least he gives full effort.
If any of you want to send me an email you can at piper28@sbcglobal.net.
Kent, hopefully you can start a Nytex Concerns post on here and move my comments to that post.