Reply To: Diary of a Season 2012-13

[Tom Molloy]

Road trip to Sherwood Park and Spruce Grove near Edmonton. We were missing our top scorer and a top defense.

Sherwood Park we didn''t have a great first period and the shots were 11-15 but we scored to lead 1-0. We gave up too many chances in the slot. In the second we outshot them 11-10 and they didn't get any scoring chances but we didn't bury ours, so it was still 1-0. In the third they got no chances from the slot of their 5 shots and we got 3 scoring chances on our 5 shots. No goals and we won 1-0. Shots 27-30. It was an 8:45 evening games and a quick turn around with a game at 11 on Sunday morning.

Our third top point getter got in a collision and her eyes didn't look good and she didn't feel right so I sat her out as a precaution so we had 13 skaters. Again we were flat in the first but scored a goal but the ref was behind the play and by didn't see their goalie pull it out. They scored one. Shots 7-7 score 0-1. We played much better in the second outshooting them 13-9 and getting one goal. Score 1-1 after two. The third was a much faster pace and each team got 9 shots. No one scored and it ended 1-1. Shots 29-25.

So we got 3 of 4 points on the road trip. A few of the younger players are starting to really step up. We had to really adjust the lines and D pairs and one player who was a D last year went back in the third and was dominant. We only have 4 returning skaters and 9 of our 16 skaters are first year in the league so it is a constant building process. 19 players who could have played on the two Calgary teams have gone to sports schools etc., so we couldn't just pick a team but have to develop players to be AAA. Edmonton has only one team and zero sports schools; so we start the season a very different level. The idea is to get to their level in 6 months.

This week on ice practice T-Th-Sat, Spin class Wed. and a home game vs. Edmonton Sunday.

We are 13-8-6 now and second in our division. We have 5 league games left. Last game in Feb. 9. Because we have 5 in our division and 6 in the northern division we will get a bye the first round and teams 4 and 5 will play a 2 of 3 to play the first place team. We play the team now in third no matter what even if we lost all our games because 4 and 5 are too far behind to catch us. The second round is a 3 of 5 over two weekends. The task now is to get the bottom third of the team to a level where they can compete even if the opposition matches lines and puts their top players out. Everyone played in all situations this weekend and did a good job. Also the F who moved back is considering finishing the year as a D and that would make us a better team as she is a very good forward but dominating player on D. It isn't like coaching college where the coach decides because you are giving out scholarships.

It is huge if you have a D who can beat the first forechecker almost every time. Especially in a league where most teams send the first two forecheckers in on the puck.

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I got an email from the mother of the player I sat out. She saw the doctor and has a concussion and will miss at least two weeks. Her mother thanked us for not playing her. It is a judgement call as she didn't have a headache in the morning but her eyes didn't look the same and she said she felt funny. Kind of disoriented.

So now we will be without our top and third scorers. Our leading scorer hasn't been able to hear out of one ear since she was 9 and last Monday they did reconstruction surgery and she will miss a few more weeks at least. So we are hoping they both get better and can play at least a weekend before the playoffs.

'The Game is the Greatest Coach'
'Enjoy the Game'