Saturday, October 1, 2011  — Miners Varsity vs SLC Independent Sabers

If you don't shoot you can't score. We outshot the Sabers 57-11 Wednesday night. The Sabers were 8-7 last season and 4th overall in the Southern Division 2010. Our team was prepared for a tough battle that never seemed to present itself.

I don't think that we are in a position as a team to take anyone lightly. We have a lot to prove as a team and an organization. It is our philosophy to establish pressure and never let up. We want to set the tempo we want to control the game.

I was happy with how our guys performed and we rolled lines throughout the night. We were firing on all cylinders. Our goaltending was solid and we were bailed out late in the game when O'Connell out dueled a Sabre attacker on a breakaway. We capitalized on opportunities and limited opposing chances by playing solid defense.

JV vs SLC Independent

We took on the Sabers JV last night at the Acord. This was our first road game of the season. The boys responded well in an unfamiliar environment. We've spent the last two months skating on our home ice. Dealing with new boards, ice widths, ice temperatures and the like can be hindering to players.

Much of the play happened in the North end of the ice. This was accomplished through simple plays; Getting the puck deep in the zone, chipping the puck up the wall, getting the puck out of our zone. Tagg Hurtubise scored a goal as a result of these plays.

We had numerous chances but only managed to tally 4 goals. The more we crash the net and shoot the more prosperous we are going to be. I feel like we left a few opportunities at the door step that we need to put away against a better team.

I am very pleased with how the JV boys are responding, playing simple, playing position and communicating well.

I once heard a quote from a former NHLer, when asked if it was tough to play in the NHL he responded, “It’s not tougher, it’s easier. Everyone is in the right place at the right time, you don’t have to think.” The more we take care of our individual jobs on the ice the better we are going to perform as a team.

 Saturday, September 24, 2011  — I think we were all nervous Saturday morning prior to getting on the ice. It's never easy to settle down the mind before your first match up. The locker room, normally full of chatter and fun, was completely silent. There is a saying that we've used in hockey over the years, "Bad warm-ups, good game. Great warm-ups, bad game." We don't want to encourage a bad warm-up, what we mean is, the nerves are showing, it's time to get at it! If warm-ups are without flaw that usually means we're way to comfortable.

The nerves did show a bit and Skyline pounced early in the 1st netting a rebound goal on the back door. A goal like this is expected from a proven organization.

It's normal for a player to take a shift or two to settle into the game. Hockey wise, as a player, it's important to land a clean hit, handle the puck, or get a shot off to fall into the correct mindset.

Moral wise, what was insuring as a coach, our team never faltered, never showed the slightest bit of "quit." We were back to work and soon after our effort paid off. With sustained offensive pressure we netted a well deserved goal.

Another goal was scored soon after in the 1st and we didn't seem to look back.

We did, as a team, make a few mental mistakes that allowed Skyline some energy in the game and cost us goals. Twice during the game we squandered two goal leads. These mistakes are bound to happen but need to be minimized in closer games.

I'm very happy with the way the players played and am excited to continue improving.