A great formative weekend playing some challenging teams, learning some hard lessons, and fighting our way to win a championship.
Game 1 – Michigan Elite
Loss 2-6 – Arctic Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Boys started well – message was to set the tone and attack every puck. Michigan had only a few players, but they were very good. We scored, and they answered. It stayed a battle for much of the first period, but late in the second, we started to unravel. They outmaneuvered us with much better skating. We needed to watch their hips to make better contact. In the first, our team game helped contain them because they didn’t have much structure. However, when we devolved, we found ourselves chasing, and losing 1v1 battles.
Keener’s Analysis: Overall we generally held our own on face offs, actually out shot them, and kept our self inflicted TOs almost non-existant. a morale salve, though not a victory.
Game 2 – West Shore Wolves
Loss 4-8 – Optimist Ice Arena, Jackson, Michigan
Similar start to game 1, and after talking about how we stopped believing and trusting in the first game, we thought we had turned the tide. Goals were being scored and then answered – we matched them well. But a few penalties happen, and they get up a goal or two, and we devolve again. Their 5th goal was a quick shot off of a face off that we weren’t ready for, and our emotional energy was shot.
Keener’s Analysis: In the second game we lost, we got worn down by a faster larger clean team, but still decent faceoffs and minimal self inflicted errors. However, we had our consistently poor breakout passes and O zone centering passes along with sloppy blind dumps to the opposition in the neutral zone as are main offenses and reason for the loss. Panic passes and unorganized offensive play was the banner of our bad play this weekend.
Game 3 – Team Columbus
Win 8-2 – Arctic ice Arena, Ann Arbor Michigan
After two frustrating losses, the boys were highly motivated to play differently. They came back from the break in a positive, upbeat mood, which we were hoping would translate into high-energy, loose approach to this game.
As usual we talked about getting after it right away, and we managed to score on the first shift, and then 3 more goals in the next 5 shifts. We left the period 5-0. Second period was a struggle – we weren’t well organized, and suffered more penalties. But we rallied in the third to close it 8-2.
Keener’s Analysis: third game, clearly dominant shooting but note that for one of the only times this season we were SOUNDLY beaten in the faceoff circle. Thankfully they had our usual malady of being unable to control the puck after the win and we took advatage. Please also note, that in the 3rd period bone head hero play in the offensive zone skyrocketed self inflicted turnovers for the first time in awhile.
Game 4 – Columbus Chill
Champtionship game – Win 1-0 – Arctic Ice Arena
We didn’t know this was the championship – we thought we were playing for 3rd place. Boys were loose pre-game; probably too loose.
We started out controlling the puck as usual, but this team wasn’t going to fold. They had cherry pickers and were successful in getting the puck out to their guys carrying it through the neutral zone. We did a pretty good job of controlling the rushes and limiting shots, but Theo was extremely calm and did an excellent job of controlling shots.
The game went back and forth, and the frustration was mounting and spilled out on the bench where comments were flying about “bad choices” on the ice, and our guys were going at each other.
Fortunately, there was an ice cut between 2nd and 3rd, which gave us a chance to reset our expectations of talking on the bench. The third was much better – we were playing good hockey, supporting each other and staying positive. With two minutes to go, Travis was able to net the game winner in a scramble.
Keener’s Analysis: Last game, best of tourney clearly and best we played so far if we are looking for complete games. 1. Thank you Theo for weathering a nasty first period and holding the rest of the game, deserving MVP no doubt about it. 2. 3rd period in particular, breakout starts to work and once we finally get through the neutral zone slop we have good scoring chances with better passing in the offensive zone.
