Home Recent Posts End of 2023-24 Season March 11, 2024 March 11, 2024 Unfortunately, day two of the Puck of the Irish tournament was a bit of a struggle. Our first game of the day was against the first place team TAYHA, who made a statement on the first day by putting up 15 goals in two games. We managed to hold them to five goals. Even though it’s been a few days now, I still find it strange to say how proud I am of a defensive effort in a 5-0 loss, but honestly, it could have been 10-0 or more if our team wasn’t so determined to make things difficult for TAYHA. Team party was great – the team parents all expressed how much they appreciated the gifts. Head coach had some pucks laser engraved for each player, and I put together a 10×13 team collage and 5×7 action photo for everyone. The other assistant coach and I each received a glass stein from the head coach, and one of the kids and parents were nice enough to give each of us coaches a $10 gift card. Going into our final game, it would have taken a lot of things to go well for us to end up playing on Sunday. We were playing another team that was in a decent position to get fourth place and an extra game on Sunday. This last game turned out to be a very strange one for sure. A lot of silly and careless penalties by both teams made things difficult, and probably should have led to some power play goals in the long run. Unfortunately, we couldn’t seem to get the puck in the net despite maybe four or five very good chances, including a few on a full 90 second 5 vs 3 power play at the end of the second period. Sometimes that happens, but it did feel like the Metro Jets had a little more motivation than us and they ended up with a 3-0 win. Not the ending of a season we had hoped for. It is unfortunate that we didn’t have another month or so to keep playing. This last month in particular showed how far each player had come over the last six months, and it would have been great to get in some more games with them. My only regret has been not getting to know the team very well off the ice – that was the difficult thing about being the coach from out of town. Puck of the Irish Day 1 March 8, 2024 March 11, 2024 Day 1 is complete, and the team is still in contention for the top 4 and a game on Sunday. Had a rough start against Lansing, one of the best teams at the tournament, and took a 7-0 loss. The guys recovered for the second game though and we picked up a 5-2 win. So we will start Saturday afternoon in good position to get into fourth place. Very proud of the response from everyone for that second game. We looked a lot more like the team that won the house championship this past week. If we make some improvements, especially with penalty discipline, hopefully Saturday will be even better. Pass from center to winger at blue line: Pass from winger back to center: Split the defense and score: Scoring after a penalty expires: They Did It! March 6, 2024 March 6, 2024 That was an incredible Game 3, Mavericks! We knew the other Saginaw Bantam team was going to be coming for us after we won Game 2 1-0 in the last thirty seconds of the game. Fortunately, this game would be a much less stressful 5-0 win that was handled from an attacking sense by the end of the first period. It felt like we never left the ice after Sunday’s game, and the kids just picked up right where they left off. Right from the opening faceoff, we got the puck into the attacking zone, took a shot on goal to force a good save, and got to the net to put the rebound in. An appropriate way to start, considering that Team 1 did the same thing to us in a game a few months ago. The great start was followed up by an outstanding team effort to get the puck out of our defensive zone, to close down and limit Team 1’s attacking threats, and to play smart hockey and manage the puck. I’m proud of the team’s effort and ecstatic for what they were able to achieve through hard work and determination. We have one more practice left, and then a tournament in Bay City to finish our season this weekend. House Playoff Game #2 – Saginaw, MI March 3, 2024 March 13, 2024 Wow. What a game. It's not in my nature to leave it at that, however. This morning's second playoff game against the other Saginaw Bantam house team may have been the best youth hockey game I've seen. It was a classic goaltender's duel. Both teams did not create very many clean opportunities for a goal because of how hard both teams were playing defense. What did get through was managed very well by both goalies. By the end of the second period I could sense that the game was going to end up coming down to one play that would win it for one of the two teams. If the other team won, they would get the house championship. If we won, we would force Game 3 this coming week. With about thirty seconds left in the game, a puck deflected off a player and ended up around the outside hash marks on the right faceoff circle. The left defender came over and sent a backhand shot all the way down to the other end, forcing the other team's goalie to make a save. The puck seemed to come off his pads a bit further than he liked, but one of our centers beat both opposing defenders to the puck, and shot it first time. The puck somehow got through the goalie and into the top shelf of the net with 22.3 seconds left in the game. Very proud of the team for the hard earned win. Although, I think I'm prouder that they played a full game at an intense level more than anything else right now. Go play another 36 minutes like this in the championship game - that's all I can ask for. This is Why We Play Hockey Game at Midland March 2, 2024 March 13, 2024 An early morning game in Midland today was a reminder of just how patient you have to be as a coach, and how you sometimes have to say nothing to let a point sink in with a team. End of first period: Midland 4, Saginaw 0. End of second period: Midland 6, Saginaw 1. End of third period: Midland 7, Saginaw 3 Head coach put the kids on the bench after the first period ended, called me out to join him. We stood there about 15 feet away from the bench on the blue line just letting the team sit there and reflect on the situation for a minute. Neither of us are the type of coach to jump on a team about being down four goals, but you sometimes have to make a point. To their credit the team seemed to get it after the game. I’m one of the first to admit that I’m not a morning person at all. So, part of me gets the teenage response to an early morning game. But, when you step onto that ice for warmups, you have to be ready to work hard. Hopefully tomorrow’s playoff game #2 will be better. Pagination 1 2
End of 2023-24 Season March 11, 2024 March 11, 2024 Unfortunately, day two of the Puck of the Irish tournament was a bit of a struggle. Our first game of the day was against the first place team TAYHA, who made a statement on the first day by putting up 15 goals in two games. We managed to hold them to five goals. Even though it’s been a few days now, I still find it strange to say how proud I am of a defensive effort in a 5-0 loss, but honestly, it could have been 10-0 or more if our team wasn’t so determined to make things difficult for TAYHA. Team party was great – the team parents all expressed how much they appreciated the gifts. Head coach had some pucks laser engraved for each player, and I put together a 10×13 team collage and 5×7 action photo for everyone. The other assistant coach and I each received a glass stein from the head coach, and one of the kids and parents were nice enough to give each of us coaches a $10 gift card. Going into our final game, it would have taken a lot of things to go well for us to end up playing on Sunday. We were playing another team that was in a decent position to get fourth place and an extra game on Sunday. This last game turned out to be a very strange one for sure. A lot of silly and careless penalties by both teams made things difficult, and probably should have led to some power play goals in the long run. Unfortunately, we couldn’t seem to get the puck in the net despite maybe four or five very good chances, including a few on a full 90 second 5 vs 3 power play at the end of the second period. Sometimes that happens, but it did feel like the Metro Jets had a little more motivation than us and they ended up with a 3-0 win. Not the ending of a season we had hoped for. It is unfortunate that we didn’t have another month or so to keep playing. This last month in particular showed how far each player had come over the last six months, and it would have been great to get in some more games with them. My only regret has been not getting to know the team very well off the ice – that was the difficult thing about being the coach from out of town.
Puck of the Irish Day 1 March 8, 2024 March 11, 2024 Day 1 is complete, and the team is still in contention for the top 4 and a game on Sunday. Had a rough start against Lansing, one of the best teams at the tournament, and took a 7-0 loss. The guys recovered for the second game though and we picked up a 5-2 win. So we will start Saturday afternoon in good position to get into fourth place. Very proud of the response from everyone for that second game. We looked a lot more like the team that won the house championship this past week. If we make some improvements, especially with penalty discipline, hopefully Saturday will be even better. Pass from center to winger at blue line: Pass from winger back to center: Split the defense and score: Scoring after a penalty expires:
They Did It! March 6, 2024 March 6, 2024 That was an incredible Game 3, Mavericks! We knew the other Saginaw Bantam team was going to be coming for us after we won Game 2 1-0 in the last thirty seconds of the game. Fortunately, this game would be a much less stressful 5-0 win that was handled from an attacking sense by the end of the first period. It felt like we never left the ice after Sunday’s game, and the kids just picked up right where they left off. Right from the opening faceoff, we got the puck into the attacking zone, took a shot on goal to force a good save, and got to the net to put the rebound in. An appropriate way to start, considering that Team 1 did the same thing to us in a game a few months ago. The great start was followed up by an outstanding team effort to get the puck out of our defensive zone, to close down and limit Team 1’s attacking threats, and to play smart hockey and manage the puck. I’m proud of the team’s effort and ecstatic for what they were able to achieve through hard work and determination. We have one more practice left, and then a tournament in Bay City to finish our season this weekend.
House Playoff Game #2 – Saginaw, MI March 3, 2024 March 13, 2024 Wow. What a game. It's not in my nature to leave it at that, however. This morning's second playoff game against the other Saginaw Bantam house team may have been the best youth hockey game I've seen. It was a classic goaltender's duel. Both teams did not create very many clean opportunities for a goal because of how hard both teams were playing defense. What did get through was managed very well by both goalies. By the end of the second period I could sense that the game was going to end up coming down to one play that would win it for one of the two teams. If the other team won, they would get the house championship. If we won, we would force Game 3 this coming week. With about thirty seconds left in the game, a puck deflected off a player and ended up around the outside hash marks on the right faceoff circle. The left defender came over and sent a backhand shot all the way down to the other end, forcing the other team's goalie to make a save. The puck seemed to come off his pads a bit further than he liked, but one of our centers beat both opposing defenders to the puck, and shot it first time. The puck somehow got through the goalie and into the top shelf of the net with 22.3 seconds left in the game. Very proud of the team for the hard earned win. Although, I think I'm prouder that they played a full game at an intense level more than anything else right now. Go play another 36 minutes like this in the championship game - that's all I can ask for. This is Why We Play Hockey
Game at Midland March 2, 2024 March 13, 2024 An early morning game in Midland today was a reminder of just how patient you have to be as a coach, and how you sometimes have to say nothing to let a point sink in with a team. End of first period: Midland 4, Saginaw 0. End of second period: Midland 6, Saginaw 1. End of third period: Midland 7, Saginaw 3 Head coach put the kids on the bench after the first period ended, called me out to join him. We stood there about 15 feet away from the bench on the blue line just letting the team sit there and reflect on the situation for a minute. Neither of us are the type of coach to jump on a team about being down four goals, but you sometimes have to make a point. To their credit the team seemed to get it after the game. I’m one of the first to admit that I’m not a morning person at all. So, part of me gets the teenage response to an early morning game. But, when you step onto that ice for warmups, you have to be ready to work hard. Hopefully tomorrow’s playoff game #2 will be better.