We played two pre-season games against Richmond’s Generals A team. This was a great test to see how we do facing a real game situation, and how we are able to learn lessons and adapt in our second attempt. Even though we lost both games, this was an excellent opportunity for us to get a taste of game speed prior to going to Hershey with two non-conference games. We rolled all lines.
Game 1
Result: Lost 1 to 7. Shots were 18 to 43 respectively.
Overall, we weren’t very aggressive. Positionally fair. There was a lot of reaching for pucks instead of using bodies to protect the puck. Entering the offensive zone, we often try to skate through the middle. Defensively, we left our opponents on the opposite side of the slotline open. Wings were not in great support positions. On attack, we rarely had people in high slot.
Generally, we saw lots of common U16A level errors: skaters were often straight legged, and not moving to support positions aggressively. Long shifts. When we were behind, some players tried to be a hero and skate it in by themselves through 3 or 4 opponents. Defense not playing the body. Breakouts driving up the strong side instead of opening up the ice and moving to the weak side. Panic passing. Making stutter moves at the blue line to cause line mates to go offsides. Watching. Shots missing the net entirely.
Game 2
Our areas of focus were to forecheck hard, take time to make good passes, shorter shifts, and enter the opponents zone on the outside. Primarily forecheck hard.
Result: Lost 0 to 3. Shots were 26? to 9? respectively.
Much improved effort across-the-board. There were plenty of excellent opportunities for shots – their goalie played very very well.
Lines
Analysis
Thanks much to Jon Keener for his insight; I added a few notes as well:
1. Surprisingly, we dominated face offs though it didn’t feel like it. Something to build on especially if we can control the puck and make a solid outlet pass into the Offensive zone.
2. Despite the bad turnovers, we had almost no offsides penalties and really no boneheaded ones. Generally, we played pretty smart hockey, just weren’t connecting on offense because we don’t have the line chemistry yet.
3. Blocks were great in the first game and huge in the last period. Despite being short staffed and under-experienced on D this week, I thought it was huge the guys continued to look for the blocks and make sacrifices for their goalie even when they were so down. That is something for the D and Theo to build a relationship on.
4. We need physicality badly, but we didn’t take really dumb physical penalties outside of Jacoby’s 2&10 which was not horrible just bad location. If we can add good hitting to the smart play, we are going to start getting great breaks.
5. The team didn’t run out of gas until the goals late in the second period of game 2. Even after they were out of gas, they played smart and didn’t just dump icings left and right. They need to work on breakouts as usual when tired, but they didn’t play desperate and stupid. That was good to see this early.
Rough stuff:
1. Need to focus lines on getting passing chemistry and having a guy post up in the high slot. If the forwards know there is going to be at least one guy there to pass to and looks for it, watch out. We got totally lost every time we went into the offensive zone except at the start of the second game.
2. Defensive zone positioning: D needs more time together and trust in where the Forwards are going. Though they did a good job bringing up the puck when they could, that aggressive play helped reduce Turnovers in the neutral zone dramatically in game 2 as opposed to the mess the neutral zone was in game 1.
3. We must continue to ramp up our physicality, giving our opponents no time and space to make plays. When we came out strong in the first period of the 2nd game (and parts of the 3rd period), we had Richmond on their heels and were able to control the puck and make plays. We must have the discipline to deliver this pressure for three full periods every game.
4. Almost every player needs to skate lower, with more power, more explosiveness, and better puck protection.
5. We will live or die with our ability to pass crisply and effectively. Everyone must improve this skill, both in sending and receiving passes.