Lets start with the morning where we had 0-0 playoff games into overtime.  We have had comebacks with :10 seconds left in more than one instance and most recently when Florida came back in the 97A division with : 13 seconds remaining in regulation and then scored :47 seconds into overtime.  With that being said, there is playoff action everywhere around the rink right now.  Being a New Jerseyian I have to mention another interesting item.  Now, I know you will think that this is a biased opinion, but, in my opinion.....its just something you don't see all the time.  

I am the coach of the New Jersey 1996 A team and the team finished 1-3 this round robin.  What is interesting is the conversation that was had amongst the players in the locker room after starting off 0-3.  The mood was rather quiet and uncomfortable amongst all the players, so, the discussion went to how we can get better and win some games and make a run at the gold medal.  Without hesitation players and coaches start to discuss what needed to be done and then I thought of something a coach once tried in the past.  I told my team in the locker room, I was going to purchase the CD from their third game and since we had a break in between games of about six hours, we were going to go relax at the hotel and check out out the CD of our game.  Well, not only did all the players jump on the idea, but they asked their parents to have a quick shower, quick lunch because they wanted to go watch their game and improve on their mistakes. Now, while being away on a hockey trip, how many coaches and players can say they have done something to this effect..... A feel good moment to say the least.

So as we go into the 1996 Awards Presentation this evening and into the playoffs later tonight and onward tomorrow, I remind you to take a minute and remind yourself....you are here to have a good time.  Take your wins with pride, take your losses and build from them and take a look at what you can accomplish going forward.  Beacuse, as in life, its not what you did in the past, its what you can do to get better for the future.

-Denis Jelcic