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Coach's Corner #16

with Springfield Falcon's Asst. Coach Phil Russell

The Dalai Lama's message for Jan 13th was "The main cause of suffering is egoistic desire for one's own comfort and happiness." The American Hockey League Springfield Falcons were having a good douse of humble pie at the hands of the Binghampton Senators. Comfort and happiness were not on the menu that Friday the 13th. The team went right into Syracuse and played a very spirited tilt the next night but came up short again. Lessons being learned everywhere and carried with them for their hockey careers.

#51 Gerard Dicaire, #48 Mike Egener, and #36 Adam Henrich are back in the nest where they belong and we have a good week of practice to get ready for our contests v. Norfolk (1/20), v. Lowell (1/21), and at Providence (1/22). Winning is not coming easy for the birds of prey and that is to be understood foremost.

This is a results orientated business where winning, losing, developing and striving to get to the National Hockey League is the name of that tune. "The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" is what ABC Sports creator Roone Arledge had to say. Coaches will tell you that there is a lot more to learn from a loss than a victory. Well if that rings true, we are learning at an accelerated rate.

Longtime AHL and NHL Coach Tommy McVie used to say to his team that "the man in the mirror is the one you can't fool". That statement is so very true. I've talked before about acceptance and gratitude being an axiom, is it winning and losing or the preparation to feel the hope of winning? Colts and Patriots fans have to wait, so do Da Bears but Broncos and Steelers and Panthers and Seahawks have hope. Great word Hope. The Falcons will prepare hard to win and learn how to along the way. Keeping it simple and sticking to the basics is the only way that has worked for me. Good old fashioned meat and potatoes work. How about that old fashioned line of commitment to excellence?

Jim Campbell was traded for Dan Cavanaugh last week. Thanks for your contributions Jim, and Soupy's Kitchen Cupboard will live on. Welcome home, Dan.