Practice Seventy-one
This was an individual and team offensive practice. We warmed up while Mel worked with the goalies then we played games that had a lot of passing and scoring.
Practice Seventy-two
We warmed up with a lot of puck handling and they the D went with Randy and Wally and Wally went over backward skating technique and controlled skating. The forwards worked with Jim on shooting to pass off the pads and cutting in. We then went over the power play and penalty kill with the breakout and forecheck. We finished with a 2: full ice game.
This weekend we begin the play-offs with a two game total point series vs. Lethbridge. The winner advances to play vs. Calgary Red next weekend and the winner of that goes to the Provincials.
First play-off game: we outshot them 66-11 but only won 3-2. We were pinching on the strong side in the first period and gave up four 2-1's and they scored on one of them and we were behind 0-1 after the first even though shots were 18-7. We outshot them 27-1 in the second and got two goals and 21-3 in the third but only got one and gave up one. their goalie is obviously very good so we have to have a really good game today and play our forecheck properly and keep attacking the net.
Game two, same goalie. We took 30 shots first period and scored two. 54-16 for the game and won 3-1 so move one to the next series.vs. the other Calgary team.
Practice Seventy-Three
We worked on individual skills of skating, passing, point shots and screens, played full ice 3-3 and 2" game as well as a full ice backchecking transition game and finished off with rebound. Mel had to put on the pads as Jenna was sick and we had only one goalie.
Practice Seventy-Four
We warmed up with a small area game at each end where they had to do many kinds of skating then played two pass with good habits, i.e. three hard strides. I introduced a 3-0 with the D joining the middle drive. I then went over the team play on the board and we worked on 5-5, 5-6 with the defenders sticks upside down.
We finished off with a 10 puck change on the go shootout and rebound.
We really had 76 practices because a private group ran two practices just before Christmas when Jim and I were in Jasper doing a camp for their minor hockey association. Most of our practices were 90' long, so that is between 110-114 hours of practice. You can see the practice plans in the seasons postings. Lots of skating, individual skills, hockey sense in every practice.
Our league record was:
26 Games Played
17 W - 6 L - 3 T
95 GF - 53 GA. = 69.2%
3.65 GF per game
2.04 GA per game
Overall record including tournaments, exhibition games, play-offs.
49 Games Played
33 W - 12 L - 4 T = 70%
189 GF - 107 GA
3.86 GF per game
2.18 GA per game
Our league gives 3 points for a regulation win, 2 for overtime win and 1 for OT loss.
We have a two game total goal series vs. Fire Red this weekend and the winner goes to the Provincials and loser is done.
Tied first game 1-1 and fell behind in second 3-2. We got a power play with 1:37 left and a face-off in their end. I pulled the goalie but they won a loose puck battle, got it in our end and scored. So we are done for the season.
Good group of kid's and parents. I thought we would in it all. Under pressure we stopped passing and kept doing 1 on 5 rushes, which don't work unless you are too good for the league you are in. Too bad but it was a fun group to coach. I think the players improved a lot and enjoyed playing together.
'Enjoy the Game'