Hockey / NPHL Coaches Report

NPHL Coaches Report

Date:  Source: NPHL Tri-City Outlaws

NPHL COACHES' REPORT

NPHL coaches were asked to comment on your team's performance in practices/games from the past week and this question: How do you feel about your team's performance during practice/games this past week? If you had the opportunity to suggest a single change to USA Hockey's rules for the junior level of play, what would it be?

Justin Adams, West Sound Warriors - Our preparation during last week's practices showed this weekend in our games. We were short roster again this weekend playing against Bellingham. We were able to squeak a shootout win Friday night and lose a close one goal game Saturday. With the short roster we now expect more from our boys and they expect more from themselves as we will be back to a full roster this weekend against Wenatchee. We still have a few little things to work on during the week to simplify our game to prepare for the Wolves. 

If there was one rule I would change it would be to require all junior hockey players to wear half shields. It will teach them you to control their sticks and limit the hands to the heads. A lot of the times you see kids with cages trying to start fights or taking extra shots against kids who have visors on, it will limit those extra shots. 

Ryan McKelvie, Wenatchee Wolves -  After coming out flat in our first game of the weekend, the players responded well in our second game with a well-rounded 60-minute performance. The guys competed hard, went to the tough areas, and did a good job of jumping to holes and moving the puck. As our young team matures, our day-to-day consistency is improving. We will keep focusing on being at our best every time we are on the ice, practice or game.

Anthony Oucharek, Tri-City Outlaws On Saturday night our boys played well.  Our contact game was on but we ended up losing the battle of the penalty kills vs power plays.  Wenatchee scored 3 power play goals, one each period, while we scored one power play goal in the third.  Again, our lack of discipline showed as we garnered triple the penalty minutes of our opponents, so the score really was the evidence of reality.  Sunday was more of the same lack of discipline on our side, coupled with a lackluster performance.  We bounced back to an even third, but it was too little, too late.  Practice looks good this week and we are setting up for Cheney with renewed high expectations.

As for rule changes, I, too, would like to see halfers all the way around.  I believe that players with cages are little freer with their sticks.  The partial half shields, partial full cages create a disparity of behavior between the younger and older players.  

Mark Collins, Bellingham Blazers - Our lack of preparation and focus last week at practice was evident in our two games as we played quite poorly. We have changed some things up during practices this week and we will see how that transitions in to the games this weekend.

Jason Smith, Eugene Generals  - We took a step in the right direction last week after winning twice. Our players continue to improve each game and during practice, but there are still areas we have to improve on. We're playing against a tough opponent in Bellingham this weekend. Our penalty kill has been good but our power play hasn't. I always want to take advantage of the power play and score every time. We have just one power play goal in the last five games which came on a five-minute major by the other team. Our power play needs to be more consistent if we want to win games, especially with our next six on the road.

Tysen Azevedo, Cheney Icehawks - Last weekend we had our first road trip to Eugene to play the Generals.  We had a strong week of practice preparing for Eugene however were unable to come away with a win.  If I was able to change a rule at the junior level I would have to say that we be allowed more import players.  With multiple teams in our league unable to fill a 25 man roster, the ability to recruit more than just two non US citizens may help fill the empty voids.  

 

COMMISSIONER'S REPORT

Garry Swain -This past weekend was proof positive of the parity in our league. Two one-goal games, again, between Bellingham and West Sound, with the teams splitting the weekend series, tight contests between Wenatchee and Tri-City and Cheney and Eugene, illustrate the point. 

 Looking ahead, West Sound visits Wenatchee Saturday and Sunday this weekend and it will be interesting to see how the young Wenatchee team stands up to the more seasoned Warrior group. Wenatchee has them in their home rink so it should be interesting.....stay tuned.