Squirrels Reminded What It’s Like to Lose

After giving up the first goal in a game in God knows how long (man, I wish I had that one back!), the Squirrels stormed back in the 1st period and answered with 2 quick goals less than a minute and a half apart. Squirrels new comers David Burke and Dave Fronapfel assisted on fellow new comer Jeff Bobeck’s first of the season. The goal was very “Knuble-esque” coming from the edge of the crease after Brewins goalie McNeil made the initial save. On the next shift, the Squirrels continued to swarm the offensive zone, and “Mr. T” (what? I’m no Chris Berman, ok!), Tony Richelsen potted his first of the young season with Rob Myers getting credit for the assist.

The second period was a bit…well…I believe adjectives that were tossed around in the locker room post game to describe the period included “crap”, “brutal”, “terrible”, “ugly”, and several others that are not appropriate for a family oriented site such as we’re running here. The Squirrels were often caught running around in the defensive and neutral zones and generated very little offensive pressure of their own. A blown coverage in the defensive zone and a neutral zone turnover led to the Brewins 2nd and 3rd goal respectively and the Squirrels were unable to sustain any offensive pressure to get the game tied back up.

The Brewins put the proverbial nail in the coffin in the 3rd period with a point shot that hit a forest of legs and hockey pants and Eric was unable to locate until it settled peacefully to his left, where a Brewin player calmly tapped the loose biscuit into a yawning, wide open net. A flurry of chances by the Squirrels late, after pulling Eric from the net, were thwarted and the Squirrels were forced to taste defeat for the first time since late February.

Rookie Squirrel Doug Winters said during the post game news conference (AKA, beer-consuming-post-game-chill-out) “We need to learn how to play together.” As the season wears on, the team will no doubt become more adept at anticipating each other’s tendencies and expectations of their linemates. This humble author has a few pointers for my teamates:

1) you better have fun

2) wingers gotta crash the net/get yourself to an open spot. If you’re rushing the offensive zone with your linemates, 3 abreast, one of you that doesn’t have the puck needs to get your ass to the front of that net as quickly as you can and keep your stick on the ice while you’re getting there. Just put your head down and go to an area just outside the crease where you can create havoc with the goalie’s vision and concentration, possibly deflect a shot, and/or slam dunk a rebound opportunity. Hockey stop when you get there, don’t just hussle your butt off to get there only to cruise lazily right on by. The other person without the puck needs to make himself available to the puck carrier for a pass. This will likely entail getting no farther than 2 or 3 stick lengths from said puck carrier so as to create the opportunity for a short, high percentage pass. Wing to wing passes that span the width of the ice do not connect successfully as often as short, 5-7 foot passes and they allow defensive players to clog up passing lanes and break up passes, effectively turning the puck over and allowing a counter attack. If, in the offensive zone, you don’t have the puck, you need to be trying to get yourself into an open space with no one between you and the puck carrier.

3) defensively, everyone’s head should always be on a swivel. Don’t watch the puck exclusively. Watch your assigned man and/or area of the ice and deny time and space to that person or anyone who comes into your assigned area. Close gaps between yourself and the opposing offensive puck carrier by denying them time and space before they even get the puck. Help your feeble goalie clear those rebounds as he’ll give up a ton of them and is not skilled enough to always keep them out of harms way. Always try to be mindful of where you are in relation to your net behind you so that you’re not inadvertently creating a screen. It’s up to me to let you know when you are and I have to do a better job of that.

4) you better have fun

Next game is Wednesday, May 12th @ 10:10 PM vs. The Highlanders. Please set your attendance in Pointstreak as soon as you can. Who’s on beer duty?