Wow ... last Saturday's game against Oakridge may have been our best game this season! 

The forwards were hustling offensively and defensively, the defence was standing tall & working as a team and our goalie had his best game of the year (way to go Justin!!!).

Keep playing like that & continuing to work hard and there isn't a team in the league we can't beat.

the Coaches

Well, where did that SSE Red Atom B team come from ... I mean who were those guys?!

 You guys played a solid game ... passing ... backchecking ... solid D ... good goaltending.  Way to go guys we are starting to play as a team.

 Let's start a win streak!

the Coaches

Close and exciting game!  We played well, but, will need to continue to get better and continue to fight for the puck (i.e. win the races whether back checking or fore checking).  We continue to be in almost every game ... we just need to find a way to win these close games!

the Coaches

Well our first tournament showed we are improving.  We beat Erindale and tied SSE Red C (in a shoulda coulda game).  We had a good first tournament and I hope everyone enjoyed the first two games!

We have some more work to do if we want to keep climbing and I believe we have the ability and we have the determination ... just need to get everyone to play their position and to communicate out on the ice.

the Coaches

Parents

Did anyone take pictures at the tournament that they would be willing to share?

Given we all were given coupon sheets to sell (or in my case use) ... anyone interested in having the kids use some of these coupons to arrange a parents vs kids WAR?

Anyone interested in having the kids get out for a few extra 'fun' skates through the season ... I was thinking the Covent Garden Market.  Thought these extra skates or even road hockey will allow the kids to get to know each other a little more than the 1/2 hour they spend in the dressing room together ... thoughts?

Doug 

Guys

We played a great game versus a very good team.  That was our game, we won the game in many ways, but, they still managed to ties us. 

We have things to continue to work on in practice.  See you on Monday.

the Coaches

What a great game ... you guys played very well!  Hopefully we can gain some momentum from that game.

We had shots, we had passing, we had some hustle, the D played well and our goalie played well.  Way to go ... let's turn this into a win streak!

the Coaches

Guys you played well in some areas and well we can improve in other ways.  Let's just move on to the next game.

 the Coaches

First off ... Welcome to the team Michael!   

Better game today from the team ... we were beating the other team to the puck, playing with more intensity and getting more shots.

That was a "3-0" team we tied and should've beat.  Let's keep up the improvement by continuing to apply pressure and playing with more intensity.

Good work team!

the Coaches

Yes we are 0 and 3.  We continue to play as a group of individuals and not as a team.  There was some great individual effort on the ice last Saturday, but, we need to figure out how to play as a team to start winning games.

Some key observations (regarding hockey fundamentals): 

We need more to pass the puck more through neutral ice and take more shots on net. 

We need to clear our zone more effectively by continuing to pass up the boards and by having the wingers ready to receive the pass along the boards.  Break out consists of two passes ... the defence passing up the boards to the winger who then passes up to centre.

We need to improve our positioning.  Centres should not be receiving passes from the defence ... wingers should be receiving those passes.  Forwards need to follow up breakaways and shots to turn rebounds into goals.  Defence should be backing up their defence partner ... if you defence partner is trying to keep the puck in at the blue line you should be in the middle of the ice  (out by centre ice) keeping a watch for any opposing players sneaking out for the breakaway.

We have and will continue to work on these points in the practices.

Overall, we have the talent to win ... we just need to play as a team and to play our positions.

 the Coaches

 P.S.  Anybody that can tell me one of things we need to work on (above) on Saturday will get an extra halloween treat!

Parents

 Please ensure you have provided Karen Bodkin (parent rep) with $50 (cash or cheque) at this weekend's game to reimburse Kevin for the tournament fees.

the Coaches

Ok, so, we had another tough game.  Both Kevin and I are not too concerned ... we had a tough start last year, but, that tough start really paid off in the end when we went from worst to losing a very tight championship game to a very strong LMHA team.

As you can see we continue to focus on skating in the practices because one thing we see early is that we are just not attacking the puck and winning the battles to the puck.  We will be fine once we start skating and passing as a team. 

 the Coaches

SSE A started too strong and we didn't get our game going until the 3rd period.

This game gave us all many things to work on and to consider. 

Worth mentioning that number 10 of SSE A had 2 goals and 3 assists ... in some ways we lost to one dominate player.

the Coaches

"A Father's Wish" was published in 1979 by Reader's Digest.  An unpublished response was also written in 1979 by Ross Mounsteven, who was then a coach.  Although written years ago for a son it still applies to daughters and very little seems to have changed since that time.

Dear Coach :
Tomorrow morning my son starts hockey.  He's going to step out on the ice, and his great adventure that will probably include joys and disappointments begins.

So I wish you would take him by his young hand and teach him the things he will have to know.  Teach him to respect the referee and that his judgement is final.  Teach him not to hate his competitors, but to admire their skill.  Teach him it is just as important to be a playmaker and get an assist as it is to score a goal.  Teach him to play as a team and never be selfish.  Teach him never to blame his goaltender when a goal is scored against him, because five mistakes were made before the puck got to the goalie.  Teach him that winning is not everything, but trying to win is. Teach him it is far more honourable to lose than it is to cheat.  Teach him to be a competitor.  Teach him to close his ears to the howling mob and to stand up for himself if he is right.  Teach him gently but don't coddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

This is a big order, Coach, and I place my son in your hands.  See what you can do for him.  He is such a nice little fellow.

His Dad.

A COACH'S RESPONSE
Dear Dad:
As in so many situations.  It was interesting to read your note in Reader's Digest.  It seems so often that after the newspaper, league executives, and all your friends and neighbours, the coach finds out, second hand, how you feel.

It's a delight to see you emphasize the teaching aspect of my role as coach.  I agree wholeheartedly, but have you ever tried to teach someone who wants to shoot two more pucks before he joins the team when I've blown my whistle, or, having joined the team, is more interested in knocking the skates out from under his teammates, or wants to talk to his neighbour while I'm trying to teach a point?

How do I teach respect for authority to a boy who listens to parents scream at a referee, curse a policeman, or complain about bosses and politicians? How do I teach admiration or skills to a boy who watches professionals grab, trip and fight, and then hears parents yelling "Hit", "Grab Him", or "Kill" from the stands?

How do I teach play-making to a boy who is paid by parents or relatives for each goal he scores, or is told he is the best, and not to waste his passes on others?

How do I teach a boy tolerance of the mistakes of others, including goaltenders, when all of our society stresses perfection, and he is constantly reminded of his success and his "Good plays", his "super passes", his "Great checks", and nobody points out his own fallibility?

How do I teach honour and fairness to a boy who watches his loved ones ease over the speed limit, drink booze in the stands, or keep the extra dollar that a store clerk gives by mistake?