Coffs Harbour Ice Hockey Club

Another week down, another team introduction to look forwards to! Today we’ll be looking at the No Regretzkys, captained by none other than Gav, Mr ‘McHockey’ himself.

Casey, Gav, Hugh, Jemma, Pete, Ric and Ruby, with Scotty in Goals.

This team held the number 1 draft position, and it shows, with a lot of depth right the way through the roster. A team built on the stout defence of Jemma, Pete, and Ric. They all know how to play positionally, and won’t flinch in the face of tough offence.

Jemma has terrific hockey sense, borne of experience. And what she lacks in speed she makes up ten-fold in her ability to control the flow of the game. It’s just a pity she will miss the back half of the season. Pete, the senior statesman of the team, isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, and knows the job well. He is strong on his skates, has a keen read of the play, and will be very effective keeping the offence out of zone. He will also be good for some opportunistic bombs from the blue line. Meanwhile, Ric can also hold the backline, but is just as clear-eyed and effective playing up front. He shows good judgement knowing when to hold position and when to move in for the kill. It is criminal that he was going to sit the season out, and he will be a massive asset to the team. As a defensive trio, these three will make it difficult for the offence to do much more than pepper Scotty in net from a distance.

Speaking of Scotty (the father of the Great One). He covers some real estate, is sharp with the glove and is good at covering his angles. Scotty is generally easy going, but for the uninitiated, he takes competition seriously and can really turn on when the time calls for it. Hopefully he is by now deep into his stretch routine in prep for the season.

Moving up the ice are Ruby and Hugh. Ruby, while still technically a developing player (aren’t we all), plays phenomenal positional hockey, embodying the Gretzky maxim ‘Skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been’. She is tenacious and plays with her mind, and will leave more than a few broken egos wondering how the hell they were stripped of the puck by this unassuming newbie. Expect a few big goals from her. It’s going to be great.

Hugh – he will Hugh. It’s a trademark at this point – a penetrating drive to the net, with a high velocity wrister buried deep on the top shelf. While he has proven himself in tourneys, both at home and abroad, as a player who can score big goals when needed, this season will be more about him developing further as a team player. Slowing down and looking for the many opportunities. What’s that saying? ‘God grant me the courage to shoot, the awareness to pass and the wisdom to know which to choose’.

At the pointy end of the No Regretzkys are Casey and Gav. Casey is relatively new to Coffs Hockey, but plays like he was born on skates. Preternaturally calm, one gets the feeling most players have erratic death metal playing in their heads while Casey has Mozart. Perhaps that is what deep focus looks like; The ‘Zone’. I wouldn’t know. Regardless, he is tactical, precise, efficient, and depending on his chemistry with the other key forwards, will be utterly deadly. Gav meanwhile, can skate all night, however he can at times have a low conversion ratio for how much puck time he gets. If he can slow down and look around, keep the low % plays to a minimum, and jive in well with Casey, the team has the potential to go far.

Arguably a strong team, though how the paper translates to reality remains to be seen. At this stage, the No Regretskys have got to be odds on for the cup, barring a significant level of injuries.

SuperLeague Round 3, Game 2:

The HPA’s have had some bad luck with their roster. Prior to the start of season they lost 2 players, and, in the days before this week’s game, they lost Tara (likely for the rest of the season). They managed to pick up a match-worn Hugh, fresh off a leg burning loss in Game 1, however the Flaming Bananas went into the match at near full strength, sporting a team with potentially the most stacked roster in this years draft. The disparity was clear from the moment the puck dropped.

The beauty of a team with depth is the ability for all players to contribute – positionally and possessionally. All players can be relied upon to not only be in the right position, but the execute and make opportunities across all sectors of the ice. The FB’s did a great job moving the puck around, and every player contributed in a meaningful and impactful way. A quick look at the stats shows the sheer spread of goals across their roster, rather than a concentration in one or two key players, and to see it in action, was quite beautiful.

As usual, Drew left nothing on the plate, licking every crumb and drop of gravy, polishing it till it gleamed. That he was hungry, famished – even starving – was clear to see, yet, despite his enormous outpouring of energy, he struggled to pe*****te the defences of the Flaming Bananas. All told, Drew managed one goal on the FB’s tendy (his fiancé Alana), which, compared to his average of five goals a game, speaks to just how tight the defences were, not to mention how well Alana played.

As to Alana, she has played out of her skin so far this season. Her saves percentage is around 89%, and she is largely neck and neck with Benny. Helped out by the FB’s defence, it is easy to see why their team has managed to stifle the opposition forwards.

Lachie was another standout for the HPA’s. He hustled and brought a lot of intensity to the game, notably wielding his trademark kinetic slapper from the blue line. He buried a couple of top shelf laser beams, one of which was waived off due to an off-side player. Hannah has also played a crucial role conveying the puck through the neutral and forward zones, and even buried one. She is tied as the highest assist scorer in the league, and her contribution to the team cannot be understated. Interestingly, this title was also held by Tara prior to her injury, and one can’t help but think that the HPA’s are going to feel her loss drastically.

At the other end of the Ice, the play looked completely different. With Drew and Lachie pushing up the ice, the HPA’s lacked the depth in defence, which the Flaming Bananas exploited readily. The puck moved laterally, back and forth, up and down, yet Al and Big Dan struggled to contain it. The shots piled up, and as the HPA’s wore down, the zone opened up even further. In the third period alone, the Flaming Bananas managed to sink 5 to the HPA’s 1.

Time and again throughout the game, the FB’s descended upon the net in formation, with many 2 on 1’s and 3 on 2’s. The Yas we all know came out, utterly disarming the defence with her hands before a few crucial back and forth passes between her, Luke, and Reece, pulled goalie Joel out of position. Yas finished with 1 goal and 3 very significant assists. On top of this, Luke made several powerful individual efforts to bury a total of 4.

All told, this game was a resounding success for Coach Kev, with a terrific team victory. As for the HPA’s, their roster woes showed heavily, and other teams might just take away the lesson that prioritising defence against the HPA’s could be the key to their own offence.

Game 2 – Here to Puck Around (4) V Flaming Bananas (10)

Superleague Round 3, Game 1: Cold Shoulders vs No Regretzkys

There was a particular leaden feel on the ice, the benches, and in the change rooms this week. Perhaps it is the winter doldrums, the fact that everyone is mired in a mixture of post, pre or peri viral mucus, or maybe it is simply that, like a new car, the novelty has worn off, and now all that is left is the business of hockey. Regardless which, there was a resigned solemness this week, as if players were battling as much with themselves as with the other teams.

When the powers that be put the Superleague together, it was decided that in order to keep the competition balanced, Benny would not be allowed to enter the draft as a player, but instead would be permitted to play in net. Benny was understandably unhappy about this, as it is akin to telling a thorough-bred race horse it can’t run (and on its home track nonetheless). Yet, it was never written in stone that he could not play out, under the proviso the opposing captain gave it the all-clear.

To the astonishment of all, the No Regretzkys voted to let Benny play out, a decision they regretted about 2 minutes into the game as Benny sank the first of 5 unassisted goals.

The No Regretzkys rallied hard, yet struggled to find purchase in the forward zone, owing to the strong defence of Jake, Jeff, Craig, and Benny. Replacing Benny in net was young Jack, who was peppered largely from the blueline. He managed to stop 33 of 41 shots on, gloving many whizzing pucks. Not a bad set of stats for a guy playing only his second competitive game.

At the other end of the ice a desperate battle was unfolding as the No Regretzky’s defensive line of Ric, Jemma, and Pete, worked to shut down the high-velocity drives made by the Cold Shoulders. They played tight and hard and did a very good job against a motivated and penetrating forward line. Jemma stood out as a controlling force, time and again holding the central corridor and dictating the play as she brought the puck out.

Perhaps the real star of the game for the No Regretzkys was Scotty in net, who, fuelled by the need to limit Benny’s gloating during the car ride home, or maybe simply because deep down he is a highly competitive fellow, made huge save after huge save. The raucous shouting and board banging from his bench told the story of just how effective he was at limiting the damage to 11 goals (from 52 shots on).

Beyond the heavy-calibre incursions made by both Jake and Benny, Roland and new-recruit Mike were working the zone, moving the puck around and playing solid positional hockey. Roland seemed somewhat flatter than usual, yet managed to sink 3 and an assist, while Mike made some terrific plays, setting up two and sinking one from the post for himself. He needs to be snapped up by one of the short-handed teams ASAP.

Back down the other end, and the No Regretzky’s game plan to long-bomb Jack was paying dividends, with Casey’s sharp eye picking out angles and corners, and with Hugh sinking a classic Hugh-top-shelf-zinger from the blue. Ruby played a solid positional up forward, applying good pressure and supporting her team. As a result of this, she is holding equal the most assists in the Superleague (shared with Hannah and Kev), which is a real testament to her role beyond the blue line. Late in the 3rd period, Pete launched a staunch slapper off the point, finding the net.

Moments later he tried this again, and the rebound was swiftly picked up and buried by Jemma. The score line closed, yet there was little danger of over taking the Cold Shoulder’s lead. The pressure of the Cold Shoulders (and particularly Benny’s ability to control the puck both forward and back at will) was far too much for the No Regretzkys to overcome, and without Benny’s presence, the scoreline would likely have looked much different. In the coming weeks the Cold Shoulders will be down players, with Roland a notable absence. Undoubtedly there will be overtures to other teams to let Benny play out. They would do well to deny this request.

No Regretzkys (8) V Cold Shoulders (11)

Superleague Round 2, Game 1: Here to Puck Around vs Cold Shoulders

The first match kicked off with a gentleman’s accord between captains to keep the muck out of the game. This was reinforced by words from seasoned refs, Kev and Chad, who were eager to avoid the rough-housing of round 1. Intentions were set to play hard but fair, and, for the most part, both sides lived up to them. In the words of HPA’s captain Drew, “there was a certain intensity, without the looming physicality of round one”

The game was off to a grinding start that spoke to the balance of the teams, with the initiative being wrested from one end to the other without success. It wasn’t until the 9th
minute that Jake, captain of the Cold Shoulders, was fed the puck by Brenda and managed to light up the board. It would be another 8 minutes of grueling futility before HPA’s Lachie, receiving a pass from Tara, was able to answer back, firing the puck far up on the high shelf where even Benny, as tall as he is, could not reach it. Both teams held on tight for the remainder of the period, keeping the game tied one-a-piece.

The second period kicked off with a Roland goal from Chad giving the Colds a short-lived lead. 20 seconds later – and some nifty handiwork by Drew – saw goalie Benny deked out of position and the score 2-2. The Cold Shoulders answered back, with dangerman Chad burying a ripper after a feed from Jake, and another goal from the Swiss Hammer, Roland, assisted by Brenda. The period ended with a powerplay to the HPA’s after an old-man-Barlow penalty, which the HPA’s failed to capitalize on, thanks to the watertight defence of the Cold Shoulders, leaving the score 4-2

At this interlude I’d like to make comment on a few things. Firstly, the sheer wherewithal of Chad, who, only last week left the ice with ribs that clearly had been (re)broken. I don’t know if it is grit, toughness, stupidity, or some oddly-balanced mixture of the 3, but to be rocking up and making a real difference despite the discomfort of jagged and splintery bone ends digging into one’s plural tissues is noteworthy.

Secondly, the defence of both the HPA’s and the Cold Shoulders deserves commendation. For the HPA’s both Big Dan and Al were absolute standouts, freezing the forward zone for the Cold Shoulders, keeping the shots down on goalie Joel, and cleaning out the rebounds. Combined with some lights-out saves by Joel, and it is no wonder the scoreline remained so thin. As for the Cold Shoulders, these guys are a team of defenders. Jake, Jeff and Chad are all big power D’s who know how to go into lockdown, yet who make streaking incursions deep into the forward zone. Each of these players scored a goal in this game, and each of them played a crucial role in defense.

The third period saw a massive push from the HPA’s with them dominating the play. Helped along by another old-man-Barlow penalty, it looked as though they might run away with the game. Yet, Goalie Benny made huge saves, managing to keep the scores locked at 4-2 until the 10-minute mark when Lachie’s efforts yielded a Drew goal to bring the score to 4-3.

With 6 minutes on the clock, Jeff scored an absolute bell ringer of a goal for the Cold shoulders, off a delightful Roland pass, to much fanfare. For a fella covered in filth and shame in the last game, Jeff sure came out of this one looking shiny as a new coin. Good on you, Jeff.

Fueled by the 5-3 handicap, Drew and his team ramped up even further to answer the call to greatness. A quick Drew goal (assisted by Tara) at the 5-minute mark, brought the score to within 1 point. A mad scrabble ensued as both teams grew desperate. The HPA’s pulled their goalie to buy an extra player. Benny was peppered, but made save after save, and with one-minute remaining, he used his initiative to leave the crease and trap the puck behind the net in a risky bid to kill time. 30 seconds slowly bled from the clock, with the HPA’s unable to retrieve the puck. Finally, it was coughed out, and Benny made it back to the crease in time to deny Drew once, and then again on the second effort, just as the siren sounded.

The Cold Shoulders escaped with a 5-4 victory, in a game that was as clean and as hard fought as promised.

I’ve made much grist of the strategy taken by these teams to select goalies first, and the 2nd and 3rd
order impacts it would have for them in this competition. Yet, matched as they were, it made for a beautifully tense game of hockey with a relatively low scoreline – the kind of game even the losing team walks away feeling good. As to the tendies, it was hard to pick a dominant goalie, with both Joel and Ben having insane moments where they alone made the difference. I think, this week it goes to Benny, purely for his avant garde style, if not for the last period and the W.

Lastly, the two Best on Ground players – Roland and Brenda. A quick survey of captains, refs, and dogged spectators revealed these two were front of mind. I’ve fawned pretty heavily over Roland’s hockey in my previous writings and even quoted poetry, and so instead of making the poor guy uncomfortable, I’ll simply ask you to reread over them. As for Brenda, comments such as ‘tenacious in front of net’, ‘always locking down her points’, and ‘robbing people at will’ were thrown around. This is backed up by 2 solid assists. For the third week in a row I will offer the same advice: Underestimate her at your peril.

Come back next time for a recap of the next games!

Superleague Round 2, Game 2: Flaming Bananas vs No Regretzkys!!

These two teams are clearly the stronger field teams on paper, and one must wonder if this is our first look at the grand final showdown. While this may be the case, the composition of the teams will look different come September. Notably, the NR’s were missing Pete and Gav, key players in defence and offence. As for the FB’s, they had their full contingent of players, however, both Chad and Catchpole carried significant facial injuries, injuries which undoubtedly played on their minds despite sporting cages.

The game kicked off with high intensity and physicality, and with seasoned referees Kev and Chad now on the other side of the whistle, it was clear the new refs would have their work cut out for them keeping the game in hand. Casey forged ruthlessly ahead for the No Regretzky’s, using superior speed and hands to single handedly sink a goal in the first 90 seconds. The next 10 minutes got physical, and Casey, with little support beyond the blue line, took it upon himself to assault the Flaming B’s defences. He played hard, and the Flaming B’s stepped in, as much to protect their vulnerable players, as to shut down Casey’s relentless attacks. Notwithstanding, Casey again scored unassisted , managing to deke Alana out of position to bring the score to 2-0.

The puck moved from end to end, with the Flaming Bananas utilizing their patented democratic formula – the puck moving around through key positions, looking polished and professional. The shots began to mount on Scotty – when they could get through the tight defense, led by NR’s Jemma, Hugh, and Ric. Those three managed to shut down the FB’s until Kev, assisted by Catchpole, finally put one on the board to close the period 2-1.

The second period again started with fireworks, as Casey, drawing the puck out of defense, managed an unassisted goal in the early stages of the period, padding out a 3-1 lead. The intensity ratcheted up with control shifting end to end, often with the No Regretzky’s icing the puck in the hope of finding Casey’s stick down the ice. Despite their efforts, Catchpole buried one after receiving a pass from Reece, however a few minutes later, Casey again scored. At this point the physicality was beginning to show, and the refs struggled to keep on top of the body contact. Finally, a hand went up from the Refs, and Casey was called for interference. With Casey cooling his heels in the penalty box, the Flaming Banana’s shared the puck around at will, and within 50 seconds of the penalty, Kev, assisted by Catchpole, buried the puck to bring the score to 4-3.

For the remainder of the period, the Flaming Bananas made push after push on the goal, yet time and again, Ric and Jemma managed to control play in the defensive zone, clearing out the rebounds, and holding the puck when necessary, trying to feed out to Casey, Hugh and Ruby. More than few players commented that Jemma was on fire – super calm under pressure and making smart decisions with the puck. The period finished without any more goals being scored, yet the No Regretzkys were gassing out, with too much pressure and too many individual efforts redlining their engines.

It is worth commenting upon the strategic difference between the teams. The Flaming Bananas play structed team hockey at both ends of the ice, slowing the game to better suit them, which heavily contrasts to the No Regretzky’s frenetic play. The plan tonight amounted to locking down the defensive zone, and loading Casey up with the puck, which was effective right up until he ran out of steam. Perhaps the inclusion of Gav to the lineup may have changed the arithmetic, helping to add more breadth up forward. Even still, the Flaming Bananas employ a time proven method of playing hockey, and the No Regretzkys will need to adapt to best them come finals day.

The Third period saw a rally from the No Regretzkys, with another early period goal from Casey, though this one assisted by Ruby, who had been trying hard yet had struggled to find her usual rhythm beyond the forward line. With the score 5-3 the No Regretzky’s way, they held a clear advantage, however the momentum would quickly swing the Flaming Banana’s direction as the Regretzky’s faltered.

Over the next 4 minutes, the FB’s took the fight to the enemy, riddling Scotty with shots, with Kev (assisted by Catchpole) and Chad (assisted by Luke) achieving success. The No Regretzky’s rallied, and Jemma, receiving a clean pass from Ruby, buried a beauty, bringing the score to 6-5 the No Regretzky’s way. With 9 minutes remaining on the clock, would this be enough to turn momentum the No Regretzkys way, or was this a dead cat bounce?

At 7 minutes, Catchpole broke through to even the score. 2 minutes later, Reece picked up a puck which providentially bounced before him in the neutral zone and he wasted no time burying it to give the Flaming Bananas their first lead of the night. The last 5 minutes became desperate. Ollie, who was filling in for the No Regretzkys, made 2 body blocks, earning admiration for his commitment. And with 2 minutes left on the clock, Luke, in what has been described as a ‘psuedo struggle’ before net, managed to bury the biscuit, giving the Flaming Bananas a 2 point lead and sealing the game.

All told, just like the previous game, it was tight and down to the wire hockey. The No Regretzkys may need to go back to the drawing board to consider their approach, while the Flaming Bananas approach has been vindicated.

Come back in a fortnight for our recap of the next games!

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Welcome to our Superleague Team Preview!

Today we look at the Cold Shoulders:

Brenda, Chad, Craig, Jake, Jeff, Nigel, and Roland, with Benny in net.

The Cold Shoulders are, like the HPA’s, another team who have chosen the ‘Goalie Forward’ strategy of using their first draft pick to select a goalie rather than a field player. As discussed in the HPA’s review, this strategy is risky as it places you on the back foot when picking field players. Yet there’s an interesting point to be made. What if your goalie really does turn out to be a franchise goalie – a season winning brick wall?

The goalie they selected was none other than Benny. Despite being forced to the sidelines for being far too good, he has (begrudgingly) stepped into the role of tendy. If you haven’t seen Benny tend net, well he is pretty sharp. Butterflys, lateral manoeuvres, and of course, the hand eye coordination you’d expect from a national level athlete. If he wasn’t as green as he is in net, you’d think the Cold Shoulder’s ‘Goalie Forward’ gamble to be a stroke of genius, because there is every chance Benny can do for them what Joel may not be able to do for the HPA’s. He can be a franchise goalie – if not for himself, then purely out of spite for the bastards who didn’t let him play out. Added to this, the chances of seeing a goalie goal from him are frighteningly high.

But what to make of the rest of this team? They have some serious veterans of the game. But even with Benny’s youth, they are by far the oldest team by a long shot. And not to be ageist, because there is some real talent and experience in the roster, but the questions must be asked – Can their legs hold out? And will they succumb to injury?

Let’s start with Chad and his dad Craig. Unapologetically themselves, these wildmen are part legend, part caricatures, and if I’m honest, I wonder who they are when they’re at home. The change room banter has been classic across the years, and to this day, I’m certain Benny will carry scars from the things he heard said as a wide-eyed and impressionable 11-year-old. Talk about an education.

Chad is a tall, rangy fella who, in his younger days, was a solid defender. He was raised on hockey and knows both his role on a team and how to execute. Added to this, he can play physical hockey when called for. That being said, a handful of rugrats and life in general have kept him off the ice for a while, and the most recent time he played saw him escorted off with a torso of broken ribs. Knowing Chad, he did not spend the intervening time on a health kick, so it bears asking what his condition will be like when he returns for the Superleague?

Meanwhile, his father Craig (who has a resplendent smile I might add) has been a regular for decades, at least seasonally – allow me to explain. Come Easter, when the mercury starts to dip, you’ll find Craig waiting at the doors of the rink on a Thursday, ready to play. There will be no RSVP’s, checking of apps, or use of mobile phones of any sort. He will simply show up. This is the way of Craig. And once daylight savings kicks in, he’ll be gone like morning dew on a sunny day – Summer is for the beach, not hockey. It must be noted that Crag is getting on in laps around the sun. His lungs aren’t what they were, and as a result, he doesn’t have the legs, so it’ll be short shifts. But much like his son, he is tough as old leather and will keep playing to the last. Now, if it sounds like he will be a push over, you are sorely mistaken. In a decade of playing against him, I have never been able to puck handle through him – he is just too light on his feet. As a result, Craig will make a strong contribution, it just remains to be seen if he can persist through a whole game.

Speaking of wildmen, let’s talk about Jeff. Salt of the earth bloke who can deliver gut-splitting banter in the changerooms, and huge bombs on the ice. He has a mammoth heart, and the personality to match his imposing size, not to mention the strength of a grizzly. He has hockey sense and high-level experience playing hitting hockey in the city leagues. More than once Scotty has been overheard saying ‘It must have been terrifying playing against Jeff when he was younger’.
Hell, it can be terrifying now, though these days he is more inclined to hug you. Unfortunately for the Cold Shoulders, Jeff hasn’t the legs he once had, but he still has the skills to play team hockey, to make those smart passes, and he can unload an absolute sphincter-puckering howitzer on net at will. So long as he can last the season, expect a bucket of assists and some goals from the big guy.

Brenda is up next – the only other import other than goalie Ben. The thing about Brenda is that, if you are in defence, you can never underestimate her, because the moment you do, she will strip you of the puck, often right in front of the net, then bury it with a wicked backhand. Added to this, she knows her role well and pays attention to what is happening on the ice. She won’t follow the puck, she will play the position. That makes her a team player who can and will contribute to the cause. Go Brenda.

A newer addition to the club is Nigel. He was formerly an Inline hockey player who has transferred to our code. Like all transferees, it takes time to adjust to the game, as well as the mechanics of our sport, which is deceptively similar on the surface. Nigel comes to the Cold Shoulders as a developing player, and he will do well to listen and and absorb some vital knowledge from the more experienced players, particularly around positioning. His application to the sport is impressive and look forward to seeing him develop.

This brings us to the point end of the team – Roland and Jake.

There is a Rudyard Kipling poem called ‘If’ that says, “…and if you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat both those imposters just the same”. From the outside, this seems to be Roland’s approach to hockey. There is an equanimity, a calmness, an extension of his native Swiss neutrality perhaps, that shows through when he plays. Rarely rushed, yet always moving, with smooth hands he artfully moves through the defence, burying the puck more often than not. He plays thoughtful and aware hockey, the kind that lends itself exceptionally well to team play – if only he has a team who can support him. Regardless, Roland will keep trying, unflustered, effortlessly effective, and we would all do well to watch and learn.

Jake meanwhile, is the antithesis of Roland. A very expereienced, driving power forward who utilises high speed, superior size, and refined edgework, to pierce through the defence. This is not to say Jake is a blunt object, instead he reads the play clearly and can move the puck tremendously well, such that with one or two passes, Jake and his team will have traversed the length of the ice and be bearing down on the net. To add a bow on top, Jake has a powerful and precise shot that he will undoubtedly unload to great effect. He has stategic knowledge and will undoubtedly do his best to coral and codger the old coots on his team into a cohesion.

I look forward to seeing how Jake and Roland’s different styles will meld, as well as how their entire team will function. Given the depth of experience, there is potential for flashes of brilliance, however, there is also great risk of a third period collapse as their team runs out of puff. In that case it will be up to Benny in net to save the day.

Stay tuned for coverage of last nights games and our final two team previews!