Diary of a Season 2011-12

[Tom Molloy]

I don't remember ever coaching in a 0-0 game before. I probably have but the memory is gone like my skating speed.

Friday night was a good game. The shots were 8-8 after one period and we were really tight. We ended up with a 31-21 advantage in shots and had strong second and third periods but couldn't score. My goalie who hasn't played since getting a concussion last month was really good as was theirs.

Sunday we got lots of chances and gave few away but lost 2-1. A bad give away resulted in a breakaway and the winning goal against. They only got 17 shots and half of them were on two long 5-3 pplays.

If anyone has the magic formula to start scoring again I am all ears. 2 goals on our last 92 shots. Lost 2-1 shots 30-22, Tied 0-0 shots 31-21 , lost 2-1 shots 31-17. Shots 92-60 and the shot total reflects the zone play. We are playing very well. So we have scored 2 goals in the last 92 shots which must reflect lack of confidence because we had a stretch of ten games averaging between 3-6 goals a game. Giving up an average of 20 shots a game and 4 GA in 3 games shows we are playing very good team defense.

Playoff start on Thursday vs another Calgary team.

We practice Monday, Tuesday, team get together Wed. play Thurs, practice Fri. game Sat and if needed Sunday.

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

[Tom Molloy]

I started with this skating exercise as the warm up to about sixty percent of our practices this year. At first only a few players could do one leg without a puck. Now they can all do the exercises with a puck and finish with a shot. I missed the first few so I got some players to demonstrate the beginning ones like snowplow, scull and slalom.

I am proud that they worked at doing these exercises because they are not easy.

https://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/downloads/file/a200-agility-edges-balance-with-a-puck-and-shot/

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

[Tom Molloy]

Funny how playoffs can change the intensity level. We won our first playoff game 7-1 and had fewer shots than the last three games where we scored a total of 2 goals on 95 shots. We also gave up 28 shots which is about 9 more than usual. A player who got 1 goal all year got 2 tonight.

It is only one game but a good start.

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

[Tom Molloy]

Game two was really hard fought and they were desperate not to get eliminated. 0-0 after one and 1-1 after two. They popped a pass thru the middle in the third and got a breakaway and scored on a nice deke-shelf. We got 2 breakaways and missed the net.

Series 1-1.

Game three. We led 1-0 after an even first period. They socred two in the second, both of the faceoff. We got one in the last minute of the second so 2-2 after two. We had a pplay going into the third and our player who go the first two goals tipped a shot from the point and we scored in the first minute. Our D went coast to coast and scored, then we got another on a rebound. They pulled the goalie and we got another. 6-2 final. We killed 2 long two short situations and our goalie stopped a penalty shot by the leagues top scorer.

Next week we start a best of five series with the top team. We were 1-3 with them in the season.

The story I told at hockey this morning wasn't about winning the series but what happened at the start of the third period.

The best of three series was tied 1-1 and the game 2-2. Losing teams season was over. There team was late coming onto the bench and my team was there with about a minute on the clock. A song the girl's all knew blasted over the sound system and every player spontaneously started singing along and dancing to the music. I looked at my assistant coaches and said 'only in Girl's Hockey', smiled and waited for the opposition to get there. They came onto the bench white faced and tense. 30" into our power play we scored and a few minutes later our captain who had scored one goal all season walked through their entire team, deked the goalie and scored.

Only in Girl's Hockey.

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

[Tom Molloy]

We start a best of five series vs Red Deer, a city 90 minutes north of Calgary on Saturday. Away and home and possible 3 games next weekend. They won our division and them and Edmonton have the most talent. This team has been together for years and has 5 players in the top 30 scorers. We have one but the team we just beat had 4.

We were 1-3 with them during the season. Last time lost 3-4 and had a goal disallowed that everyone in the arena but the ref saw go in the net. The linesman even tried to convince him it was in.

We only have 9 forwards and 6 D and one forward is out for sure with a concussion and another couldn't hold her stick at Tuesdays practice because of a hyper extended wrist. I don't know if she can play or not.

Since switching from the Tsunami to the Pounce we have cut our goals down from 2.5 to 1.5 GA. Per game. The Tsunami is Total Hockey and great for players to learn to read and react during the season. Now that winning is the only way to continue on we switched to the Pounce. It is the system I used in colllege and the players roles are defined.

It looks the same with 2 forecheckers, lock on the strong side wall, pinch on the weak side but the C RW are offensive forwards, LW defensive forward, RD offensive defense and LD defensive defenseman. The players are in positions that suit their skill set.

Practiced the 5-3 and 3-5 for 30 minutes our last practice. Last game we had two 1:45 ones against us and killed both. Today's practice we will review our systems for 30 minutes and the other 45 minutes will be fast paced.

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

[hockeygod]

Tom,

What precipitated the shift from the Tsunami to the Pounce?

Would you ever consider maintaining the Tsunami throughout the year instead of switching it up?

How many games does your team have under it's belt using each?

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

[Tom Molloy]

Dean as I said in my posting.

"Since switching from the Tsunami to the Pounce we have cut our goals down from 2.5 to 1.5 GA. Per game. The Tsunami is Total Hockey and great for players to learn to read and react during the season. Now that winning is the only way to continue on we switched to the Pounce. It is the system I used in colllege and the players roles are defined.

It looks the same with 2 forecheckers, lock on the strong side wall, pinch on the weak side but the C RW are offensive forwards, LW defensive forward, RD offensive defense and LD defensive defenseman. The players are in positions that suit their skill set."

Basically our goals against was too high to be successful in the playoffs and that is why I decided to switch.

We played the Pounce the last 4 games of the season so the players were familiar with the system. Defensively we were good but didn't score much but it gave the players two weeks to get used to the Pounce. We got 14 GF and 5 GA in the first three games of the playoffs vs a high scoring team. We need a GA of 2 or less and a GF of 3 or more to continue on. I used the Pounce my five years of coaching college because there the job is to win and we won over 70% of our games and were in the finals 4 of the 5 years. So it an effective way to play if the main goal is to win and that is the entire point of the playoffs.

We don't have enough talent to play 'Total Hockey' and be successful in the playoffs. The Tsunami is Total Hockey. The Pounce has my best scorers getting most of the scoring chances and my best defensive defenseman playing the 1-1's on the strong side and assigns who is F3. The Tsunami is great for developing players but it takes ten years to become a complete player. Everyone has improved a lot and they all are good enough to play in the league now, which wasn't the case early in the season but if we don't win the season is over.

We are going into a series vs a team they have kept together for three years to take a run at a National Championship; so we need structure and to maximize our players strengths. Maybe it is the right move, maybe it is wrong but it is the kind of decision you have to make and then believe in.

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

[hockeygod]

Tom,

Excellent rationale and thanks for clarifying your decision. I wondered if your depth of hockey sense / skill level was a limiting factor in deciding between continuing with the Total Hockey approach vs more of an assigned system.

Have you ever started with the Pounce and switched to the Tsunami?

Would you ever consider keeping the Tsunami for the year – or does it depend entirely upon the depth of hockey sense of the team?

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

[Tom Molloy]

Dean if all the players have the hockey sense and skill level to handle all of the offensive and defensive tasks successfully then Total Hockey is a superior way to play because it is based on 1-2-3-4-5 in relation to the puck or to your net. It takes more than 7 months for everyone to be able to handle a defensive 1-1 or 2-1 and that is the kind of situation every player will be in if you play Total Hockey.

I was surprised when I spent the year in Salzburg to find that Pierre Page was using the exact same system as I had used for the last five years coaching college. His goal was to move towards more Total Hockey and he probably would have come up with the Tsunami.

The two practices this week had every player in all of the offensive and defensive situations and every player working on every offensive and defensive skill. So the development in practice continues but in the game our best defensive players will be defending almost all of the attacks and our most skilled offensive players will be in deep forchecking and leading the rushes. This gives us a better chance to achieve the 2 or less GA and the 3 or more GF in the playoffs and will give us a shot at pulling an upset.

So we play things like this 2-2 transtion game where all the player end up in all 4 Game Playing Roles. When I coached my son's teams 2 years of bantam and 2 of midget I had them long enough that we played total hockey with a 2-1-2 and a pinch on a wide rim. I had them long enough to develop the skills and we won about 80% of our games. So my preference is Total Hockey BUT my reality is to put the players in situations where they have the best chance to succeed.

I think most coaches are in the same situation.

https://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/videos/watch/dt400-2-on-2-with-passive-support/

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

[hockeygod]

Tom,

Once again, excellent points in your response. It depends on where your players 'are' as to how long it would take to completely embrace Total Hockey; unfortunately we as coaches often only work with close to the same people for a season (7 months – the hockey season) – sometimes two seasons – before sweeping changes to the core personnel… and then it's back to (almost?) square one, depending on turnover!

Total Hockey is not something that can be successfully implemented, understood and executed in a short time frame. It is a philosophy that first the coach and his / her staff need to come to terms with; then they try to infect the players. It could take as long as 4 years or more… and which coach has that luxury?

Nice to hear that all players get a chance to play all roles / all four O and D principles in practice even though you are 'specializing' your team system for playoffs. It's not like they will 'forget' Total Hockey by moving away from the Tsunami; but this is giving your players the best platform for success. That is good coaching!

My preference would also be to play Total Hockey but as you say, most (99.9%?) of the coaches out there are in this situation!

Continued good luck against Red Deer.

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

[Tom Molloy]

We travelled to the division winning Red Deer home rink and played game one. We didn't have much going and they were laying in wait for us for two weeks. Tied 0-0 after one, they got a 5 on 3 and scored on it in the second and got another in the third when their D walked in upobstructed and scored. I pulled the goalie with 1:30 left and we got a lot of chances and they cleared the puck from deep in their end and it went right in the middle of the net and they beat us 3-0.

Game two was in Calgary and was a tale of two games. We outshot them in the first 12-7 and got two goals. We came out back on our heels in the second and stood around collapsing on top of our goalie and they got 4 goals in 8 minutes. We got a late goal to make it 3-4. They dominated and outshot us 16-4.

The girl's again danced to the Katy Perry song as they came out in the third. We had a really solid period but were behind 3-4. I pulled the goalie with 1:20 left and we had a power play. We scored with 50 seconds left to tie it 4-4. We outshot them 14-8 in the third.

About 6 minutes into the overtime one of our left wingers let a rocket go up into the top corner and we won 5-4. We oushot them 6-0 in overtime.

When we play with the drive to create scoring chances we are very good and when we play tense with a fear of losing we are very bad.

We practice Tuesday and Thursday and then play in Red Deer Friday, Calgary Saturday and if needed back to Red Deer.
https://www.hockeycoachingabcs.com/downloads/ is a video of the third period and some of the OT until the battery when dead.

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

[Tom Molloy]

Tuesday we had a quick paced practice that focused on skills and regroups. We also did a 3-3 2/3 ice transition game while one goalie worked with Nat the goalie coach. A full ice continuous 1-1 and then 2-1 kept the pace up. As coaches we just wanted them to play with good angles and gaps on defense and close support and north south play on offense. The D worked on shooting from the point and the forwards on cutbacks and going to the net. We finished with a 2 shot shootout.

Tonight we will focus on Team Play review. I will find out if my top scorer is ready to go. She was cross checked in the head. They have two players out with suspensions for head shot major penalties tomorrow.

As coaches we are focusing on the players believing in themselves. At the beginning of the season we weren't as good as this veteran team but now we are. The best of five series is tied 1-1 with up to 3 games this weekend.

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

[Tom Molloy]

Playoff series two – second weekend.

Played a really hard away game and came out on top 3-2. First period 0-1, second 3-1, final 3-2. Shotclock said 43-28 shots for us. They had two players out who were suspended for head shots and they play today.

It really helped us having a full line up of 3 sets of 5 as the player who sat last weekend with a concussion scored one, blocked a big shot and back checked to save a goal. Our top scorer who we worried may have gotten a concussion from the head shots was ok and scored our first goal. We now lead the 3 of 5 series 2-1.

Got back late about 11:30 and the game today is 2:30 at our home rink which is Olympic size.

I have attached the phrase that will be on our dressing room wall.

We watched Miracle on Ice on the bus back. They were in the middle of the game vs the Soviets when we were about a minute away from the arena, so I had the bus driver stop at the top of the hill before going down to the parking lot and we didn't move until "Do you believe in miracles."

Attachments

• Belive in yourself.pdf (159 KB)

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

[Tom Molloy]

Won 2-1 today. First period 0-1 shots 6-14 they were all over us and our goalie kept us in the game. They could have been leading 4-0 because we just watched. Second period 2-1 we scored on a penalty shot and a power play, and third period 2-1, shots 28-27 at the end of the game.

I don't know if the ref got out of the arena safely. The opposition fans were not happy but we were.

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

[Tom Molloy]

Just went through the scoresheets for the first 2 rounds of the playoffs. Won 2 games to 1 in round one and 3 games to 1 in round two. The lines won't line up when I save so I will attach a pdf.

PP+ Pk- E+ E- EN
2 1 5 Game one – 7-1

1 2 Game two – 1-2

1 1 5 1 Game three – 6-2

1 1 1 Game Four – first game of best of five – 0-3

2 3 3 1 Game Five – 5-4 in OT

1 1 2 1 Game Six – 3-2

1+1PS 1 Game Seven – 2-1 – Series win 3-1
——————————-
+9 -7 +16 -6 -1EN

So we are +2 on specialty teams and +10 at even strength. This shows me that our Pounce forecheck is producing results and the dzone at even strength is giving up less than a goal a game. 24 goals for in 7 games is above our goal of 3 a game and 16 is 2 goals against higher than our goal of 2 or less GA per game.

Now we play a team that we were basically even with in our seasons series and tournament play this year. Starts this weekend. We will have two on ice and one off ice practice.
————————
I have my manager track the shots and show me at the end of each period. He includes the +/- as well. On each shot he puts the shooters number where they shot from and circles it if it is a goal. I am including the one from our last game. (we scored one of our two goals on a penalty shot)

Attachments

• Summary series one and two.pdf (93 KB)
• Flyers – Red Deer Gm 4.PDF (421 KB)

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

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