Guelph, News, Minor Bantam AE, 2016-2017, Rep (Orangeville Minor Hockey)

This Team is part of the 2016-2017 season, which is not set as the current season.
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Nov 19, 2016 | Jamie Armstrong | 1601 views
Guelph
Solid Game - great work boys!

Dear Players and Parents,

As everyone was aware, Tuesdays game vs Guelph carried the importance of our divisional standings and a measurement vs a good team.  Well it was obvious by our play and the games result that our team is continuing to progress in the right direction.

Continuing to involve the boys, prior to the game we individually went around the room and asked each players  thoughts as to what we needed to do for another successful game.  We ended up with 17 positive elements and then drilled it down to 4 key/specific ones to include:

1. Fast and unselfish puck movement
2. Physicality
3. Spread out / play our positions and not get caught chasing
4. Play with perfect effort and leave nothing on the ice.  (If we did these things we would have done our best and that's the concept of perfect effort)

The boys responded with a great game implementing much of what was discussed in our pre-game talk.  It was also backed up with a strong goalie performance.  I was impressed with out teams puck movement as it kept our opponent on their heels and lead to multiple scoring opportunities.  Furthermore, our face off assignments were also very good as they lead to shots on net from our D and rebound goals. Last, our attention to shot blocking was also very impressive...that's a tough fearless job.

Once again boys get work!

With 3 games over the next 3 days we chose to do a little less skating during Thursdays practice and focus on the "little things," the small skills that win and lose games.  These skills were needed ASAP as certain things became evident against Guelph and on occasion we were exposed.  These areas included:

Wingers:
1. Getting beat board-side to goal-side allowing for a disrupted breakout
2. Losing battles against the boards and not getting the puck out.

Solution: We pointed out the purpose for maintaining goal-side and getting deeper in our end if needed.  Staying high is not an option.  We also worked on body positioning, protecting the puck and the player while getting the puck is chipped out high off the boards or glass.

Defense:
1. We were playing 1 dimensional in our breakouts, always going to the board-side winger even if covered.

Solution: We went over all the available options to include.
1. Quick hit to center
2. Quick up and strong pass to far-side winger
3. Quick up and carry puck out
4. Pass to board-side winger, return pass back to D and execute options 1, 2 or 3.
5. Reverse play and execute options 1, 2 or 3
6. Reverse play and swing to D partner for options 1, 2 or 3.
7. Ice the puck up the boards or close too for shift change, fresh legs.

As you can see lots of options to choose from, the key is to take what your opponent gives you and adjust becoming unpredictable.

Again great work boys, see you later today.

Coach Jamie



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