Spartans aim to reach potential

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This article was published 13/01/2017 (3379 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Even though they currently reside in sixth place in the seven-team Price Division, members of the Sisler Spartans varsity boys hockey team believe they are much better than that.
With six WHSHL Price Division all-stars leading the way, they believe they have the talent to back that assertion.

The Spartans were slated to be represented in the Jan. 15 game by Cassius Meeches, Ivan Jaque, Liam Noga, Kevin Budd, Miguel Valente and Mike McNulty. Head coach George Pearce and assistants Chris Ridgedale, Sam Batt, and Gord Tumlinson will be behind the bench.

Valente was named an assistant captain of the Spartans by head coach George Pearce before the season. Currently third in team scoring with 12 points, Valente said the Spartans struggled early in the season as they welcomed a new influx of talent.

“The team’s not doing as well as I expected or wanted to but we have started to pick it up as the guys are getting used to each other. Any of these teams are beatable and I knew we can beat them.”

Both Valente and veteran forward Liam Noga said new leaders had to rise up after several key veterans graduated after last season. Through a half season, they are growing more comfortable in their roles.

Jaque explained the Spartans’ style.

“The team likes to score and play offence first,” he said.

The Spartans score most of their goals not with speed but with hard work and grinding in the corners, Valente explained. The same effort needs to be made in their own half of the ice.

“We like to focus on offence and scoring all the time. We need to work on protecting our net and our own end,” he said.

“Hockey isn’t about getting seven goals and winning 7-6, it’s about playing defence and getting one or two goals and keeping things tight.”

When his team plays defence it’s at its best, Pearce said, adding that a stronger defence makes things easier for the Spartan goalies.

Because his is a younger team made up mostly of players coming from club hockey, Pearce is beginning with building a solid foundation in the basics.

“I’m coaching the structure and the theory — staying between the man and the net and not overpursuing or trying to make a big hit when all you have do is bump the guy off the puck or keep it to the outside.

“High school hockey is unique because you have guys from Grade 9 up to Grade 12. A lot of guys came in in Grade 10 and were playing against much bigger players in Grade 12.”

How the players handle that shift goes a long way in determining their success on the ice, Pearce said, adding that the 2017-18 Spartans will be a veteran club and better for their 2016-17 experience.

The frustrating thing for the coach is that all of the components for a successful season are there, they just need to be accessed.

“We have the skills on paper,” Pearce said. “We look comparable to other teams but they just outwork us. Our effort levels are inconsistent.”

Proper game preparation starts as soon as you wake up on game day, Pearce explained. Make sure you adhere to the dress code, get to the rink early to prepare and tune out the distractions.

“Those distractions leave them unready to compete at a high tempo from start to finish,” Pearce said.

“Some days we compete against the top team in the league and others we lose against teams we should beat.”

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