For the Huntsville Jr. C Otters it’s strike three after their first three games of the 2017-18 hockey season, and while it’s not a strikeout, it is not the way the team had envisioned starting the schedule.
This weekend the Otters lost to the Stayner Siskins on Friday night 5-3 and then less than 24 hours later were beaten by the Kincardine Bulldogs, 6-2. For Kincardine it was their first win of the season after four straight losses.
A week earlier in the season opener in Alliston, Huntsville was defeated by last year’s division champions Hornets 9-5.
Friday night, the Otters played their best hockey taking a 3-1 lead in the second period against Stayner, but then let the third period get out of hand losing 5-3. On Saturday, the Otters were playing catch up for nearly the whole game against Kincardine and were not able to recover.
Part of the problem in the early going has been relying too much on too few players to get the job done. Going into Saturday’s game only two players had goals recorded on the game sheet. Nathan Delarosbil and Jack Armstrong scored the eight goals while the defense had allowed 14.
Saturday, the Otters were out-skated and out-played for most of the game. Again it appeared the game outcome depended on too few players who felt the physical demands especially playing two games in less than 24 hours. Huntsville goals were scored by Quinn Thompson and Josh Quinn.
Coach Marc Gagnon, who works with the team’s defense, was frustrated with the results after losing to Kincardine. “Stayner is a good hockey club and we were right there with them until the last five minutes or so,” said Gagnon, “and as soon as we stopped playing that’s where they capitalized. It’s something the players learned; you have to play for 60 minutes.”
“It’s a question of skill, getting to know each other and focus,” Gagnon continued. “It’s going to take some time and hard work to get things back on track. We have to do some team bonding stuff and work more on our specialty stuff and our structure.”
Saturday, the Otters were the victim of three power play goals. “That’s something you have to work on all the time,” admitted Gagnon.
Coach Brent Tomlinson was equally frustrated with the results of the first three games but said it’s only three games and there is a lot of season to play. “We have a lot of work to do in our next seven games if we want to achieve our 50 goal in the first ten games,” he said. “To be honest I think we were happy up until today (Saturday). I think we out played Alliston early then fell apart in the third period similar to last night against Stayner. Unfortunately, today I don’t think we won any period and that was the difference.”
“It’s still early,” Tomlinson continued, “and people are feeling out where the chemistry is at and when we are shuffling lines like we are it gets difficult. Sometimes there’s a benefit to that because you find a combination that works better than you thought it would have, but again it’s just part of the process. We told the guys we dwell on it for five minutes, then walk out the door, and enjoy a couple of days off and come back to work as though this game didn’t happen and we reset and refocus.”
Part of the problem Saturday was players who live at least an hour out of town, which is close to half the team, had to go home after Friday night’s game and get back for the afternoon game.
Before the start of Saturday’s game, Otters team president Monty Clouthier and long-time hockey and Otter supporters Randy and Tracy Robinson dropped the ceremonial puck for the opening faceoff. The Robinsons have recently retired from their Independent Grocer store duties and were recognized for their many contributions to Huntsville’s minor hockey program over the years.
The Otters next game is Friday, September 29 in Penetang and next home game is Schomberg the following Friday.
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