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Wednesday, December 5, 2012

December 4 vs Williston State

Well another game and another boatload of goals for the other team. We actually played pretty good today for the first half of the game and started of real well with the first goal. Then we started the turnovers and stopped moving our feet. We need to realize that we need to bring it every shift and every minute of the game.  I think we do get what we need to do and we try do what we need to do but our bad habits take over. It shows out on the rink. Those little things add to goals for the other team. Do not get me wrong Williston is a good team............they are even a better team when you give them a lot of chances to score from turnovers.  Those little things we need to do better (and habits we need to change):
  • Turnovers around our Blue line or not getting puck deep at there blueline.
  • Stops and Starts (instead of going for the big turn)
  • Trying to skate through 2-3 guys with the puck in our end when we have limited puck skills.
  • Not getting the puck out when we can.
  • Not supporting the puck carrier.
  • Not finishing checks.
  • Not communicating well. (Not talking to our teammates).
  • Carrying the puck and going to our backhand.
  • Taking poor and selfish penalties.
  • Too long of shifts and staying out there too long.
There are others but we will stick with those ten.
I believe in this team and believe we can shock the world this year. We have to start now. Start being accountable on and off the ice.  We need to play well consistantly.  Overall we just need to be better. Our goalies need to be better, our defensman need to be better, our forwards need to be better, our practices and preperation need to be better and our coaches need to be better. WE WILL BE BETTER.  I just hope it is sooner than later. Thanks goes out to the great students tonight and there support.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Kenora November 17/18

We got beat both games this weekend pretty handily by a very good hockey team. 10-2 and 10-3. Things are frustrated around here with the losses piling up and especially the way we are getting beat. I do believe that this team is better than what we appear to be. I do believe we are going to win games.  I do believe we are going to be a much better team in the future than what we are doing now.  We really need to shore up our defensive coverage as guys are running a lot. Until we do that we are going to continue to give up a lot of goals. We need some Lumberjack Pride in some of us. I hope this Thanksgiving Break will help.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

November 14 @ WSC

Tonight was one of those games as a coach you know it may be a tough night. Right now we have the cards stacked against us but we are playing hard. You would look at the score and you cannot be a little dishearted but you need to look past that and see that these young men are giving it all they have and when we get everyone back and everyone healthy these losses right now are going to make us a better team. We are getting minutes from guys right now that are unheard of for freshman but they are doing what ever they can for the team. Guys are playing a little banged up because the team needs them. It is very humbling as a coach to see this sacriface and effort and know that better things are  ahead for this team and this program. We are trying to do the right things here and we have turned a corner, now we just have to see the light. It is very satisfying seeing many players push their limits and play better than they have played before. Sure there is frustration and we do not like to lose but we are not worrying about wins and losses in November, we are worrying about buying into the team concept and getting our selves better down the road and into the future. Only time will tell if that is happening or not. LONG LIVE THOSE LUMBERJACKS!

Monday, November 12, 2012

November 9-10 Weekend

The guys travelled to Green Bay this past weekend to play St. Norbert's JV team. The varsity team has won the last 2 National Championships at the D 3 level so we knew they would have some good players. Friday night we were down 4-0 before we knew what hit us. After some regrouping we played better but came out short to a 6-1 score. Saturday we started much better as we were tied 1-1 going into the third but we then gave up 4 goals in the third. I liked the way we played and the way we battled all weekend. Right now we picked up a few more injuries so that really limits us in roles and the way we want to play. This will only help us later down the road. We need to keep working hard and stay together during some low points here. Once we get everyone back we will be a totally differant team and a much better team. We have to stay the course and keep getting better. We cannot take the easy way out like a few guys did last week and went home. It is disapointing as a coach and to teammates that they decided not to be here. I hope we can get through this tough stretch and start getting some wins. LONG LIVE THOSE LUMBERJACKS!

Monday, November 5, 2012

November 2-3 Weekend

It was a crazy weekend for Lumberjacks Hockey. Friday night we lost 11-2. Everything that went wrong did go wrong but the bottom line is the guys did not come ready to play and we did not play very well. After some soul searching and a better effort we played much better on Saturday and won 8-5. We did give up 2 PP goals in the last minute but scored one too.  We still have a ways to go but Saturday was a good start to getting better as a TEAM. We now hit the road and go to DePere, WI on Friday to play St. Norbert JV. The Knnights have won the last two NCAA Division III National Championships so it will be a good match up. LONG LIVE THOSE LUMBERJACKS.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Jacks weekend Opener

The Lumberjacks faced off against the Killarney Shamrocks. The Shamrocks are a amateur team from Manitoba that features many former Lumberjacks. In all 9 ex Jacks suited up against the current Lumberjacks. On Friday night DCB gave up 4 Power Play goals and lost 6-3. We had some undisciplined penalties and selfishness that cost us the win. We need to learn from this and carryover the positives from the weekend.  On Saturday the Jacks dropped the game to the familar 6-3 score. We did not give up any Power Play  goals but also did not play 60 minutes.  We need to learn from these losses and continue to improve. Jacks host NDSU this weekend.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Almost Time

The boys are a few days from practicing regularly on the ice here in Bottineau. It has been a good off ice training season as we have accomplished our goals now we have to tranfer it over to the ice. There is nothing better than that smell in the air during the first skates at the Lumberdome. Long Live Those Lumberjacks.