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[hockeygod]

Ducks, er, Hawks trying to push pace in hockey playoffs

Kris Anderson, The Portland Tribune, Apr 25, 2012

Mike Johnston saw the similarities: speed, tempo, rhythm. But the Portland Winterhawks general manager/coach wanted a closer look. In September, he traveled to Eugene to visit Chip Kelly and his Oregon Ducks.

Kelly's squad played like Portland; they were both dynamic, pushed the pace and wore teams down. But how did Kelly prepare his team to play that way on Saturdays? That was why Johnston watched a September practice.

Now, the Hawks hold a 2-0 lead in the Western Hockey League conference finals over the Tri-City Americans. The series has reflected likeness of both teams. It's a reason each game has gone to overtime. But each time Portland has outlasted Tri-City. Maybe endurance is why the Hawks currently have the edge.

“I talk to buddies that I have on other teams,” Portland center Brendan Leipsic said, “and we do a lot more reps than some other teams. (Strength and conditioning coach Rich Campbell) and (Johnston) do a good job making sure we stay in shape.”

Since joining the Hawks in 2008, Johnston has pushed his team from the cellar to the upper echelon of WHL teams. They went 11-58-2-1 in the season prior to his arrival, to vying for a spot in the WHL finals just four seasons later.

Watching one Hawks practice will help explain the reason for Johnston's success. There is a determined emphasis on conditioning. He demands that drills are conducted with speed. The players prepare like they perform.

It's been a formula for success, and one partly shaped by Kelly.

“The reason I wanted to go down and see Chip and the Ducks practice is because they play a similar style to the way we play,” Johnston said. “They like up-tempo. They like to play at a high, high pace. So what we took from that practice was a lot of our habits that we do now in practice.”

The Hawks coach always created an intense atmosphere at practice, but after watching Kelly, he saw changes he could make.

“I wanted the pace to be high, but I saw a different level down there,” Johnston said. “I saw how short they ran their drills. Maybe we were running our drills a little too long. They did a lot of their practice to music. We've tried that sometimes with our guys, just to give a change.”

Portland prides itself on winning the third period. But it's had to win more than that to escape the first two games against Tri-City. The Hawks have drawn on their tempo in practice, and their endurance has helped determine the outcome.

"When you get into overtime, it's all about conditioning,” Portland defenseman Derrick Pouliot said. “We had a lot of good chances in overtime. So I definitely think our conditioning needs to be where it is.”

After a three-day break, the series resumes with Portland hosting games three and four at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the Rose Garden.

Despite the two-game advantage, Portland knows the series is far from over. Tri-City edged the Hawks for the Western Conference regular-season title, and in 10 regular-season meetings, the Americans won six times.

Little separates the two teams, and it's shown so far during their postseason meeting. If similar trends continue, the remaining games will be grueling. But that's where Portland believes it is better prepared.

Every practice is grueling. Every practice is a grind. And that's a style Kelly helped create.

“I did learn a lot from it, and how you practice is how you play,” Johnston said. “For the Ducks to be able to play with that type of tempo in their game, number one, they have to be in great shape. Number two, they have to be able to have those habits in practice. And our players are good like that. And I think we can play with a better pace than a lot of teams.”

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I coached with Mike during two of my Team Canada appointments. He is a very progressive coach. Game Intelligence Training is game-like as it offers competition exactly like a 'real' game. We play and quiz the kids during a break or afterwards. We won't give them answers (but may guide them.) Why more people don't 'practice' like it's a game – to prepare for a game… well, I'll never know.

We used loud music during our Grade 7 practices this week to force the players to be more 'heads up' and read body language / see the ice (time, space, friend, foe). The parents watching it told the teacher it was absolutely brilliant and they all noticed how much more heads up / focused their kids appeared. The rink guys asked us to turn the music down at the end as it was offending some people in the office space inside (must not have any taste in 70's / 80's music!!) so that's probably the only time we will get away with it… too bad as the kids (coaches and 70/80's parents) loved it too as we were all 'bopping to the beat'!

Dean
M.Ed (Coaching)
Ch.P.C. (Chartered Professional Coach)
Game Intelligence Training
"Great education depends on great teaching."