Coach's Corner #14

with Springfield Falcon's Asst. Coach Phil Russell

Entering 2006 we find our hockey season one third of the way through. We've been battling from second place to fourth place from the beginning of the year and it has been quite a ride.We've lost back to back games to the Providence Bruins and are on a five game losing streak, but we're not letting that dampen our spirit.We know that we will work our way out of this "slump" and play hockey like we know we are capable of. Our system allows the players much more room to execute then I believe they realize. The one thing it demands is that everyone is on the same page. When the Falcons offense is sputtering I hear fans say that we don't have the talent level that the Lightning has. Bingo, brilliant one but do you want to raise that talent level by trapping or letting the horses run and grow? There is a revolution going on in hockey and you had better be mobile, practice intensely and have good body position. The days of holding, hooking, and generally cross checking your brains out is over, lock and load. Leads are gained and lost in the same period, welcome to hockey 2006. There are a lot of aspects about the old game that I will miss, but I also embrace the new game and find myself wishing to be twenty again. The real joy is in the journey, the ups and downs shared by the people on the team and in the organization. There is a rich hockey history in Springfield and there will continue to be players who grow and develop into future National Hockey Leaguers.

It's so easy to be critical and negative but I like to look to the big picture. On a day to day basis the Springfield Falcons are becoming a better American Hockey League team. Darren Reid is back in the nest and Adam Henrich is on his way to Johnstown where he can get the minutes per game that he needs to reach his potential. Chris Dingman has been placed on waivers up above in Tampa and will have a decision to make if he is left unclaimed. The wonderful wacky world of hockey is always on the move, teams getting better and teams getting worse. It's not a destination as much as a journey, please enjoy the ride.

Coach's Corner #14

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