roadhockey.net

The early advantage

Shaking off the rust of a languid off-season is easier for some players than others.

Sunday, in the first exhibition game of the season, the goalies held the early advantage until the skilled speedsters were able to find their legs and their touch around the net.

Franz Beckenbauer picked up where he left off last season, Bam Bam showed no lingering effects of the injuries that kept him from last Spring's Stanley Stick finale, and retread roadster Giebelhaus had a deft touch around the crease to power their undermanned squad to a 15-11 win.

But it took some time for them to get on track.

Early on, it was the goalies who dictated the pace, shutting down the few offensive plays that actually clicked as players struggled to find their timing.

"The timing takes a little while to come back," said sophomore shotstopper Chico. "I think the goalies have a bit of an advantage as the rest of the players haven't quite go their legs yet."

Some of the players were also hobbled by their lack of game fitness.

"I think the major thing the players lose in the off season is the card," said Franz Beckenbauer. "The goalies don't need that as much, their reflexes come back a lot quicker so they definitely have the upper hand."

But it didn't last.

The scorers took over as Lak Attack found his wheels, Bam Bam, refreshed and rehabbed, battled the boards, Scooby swooped through the middle of the court with mid-season determination.

"Fitness is a big factor in terms of coming into the season in shape and ready to go," said Lak Attack. "You have to be ready to go so you can run with these guys, but more importantly, you've got to understand where to be positionally, how to set up your guys and make sure you play as a team."

"The players have a lot of skill, their hand-eye co-ordination hasn't left them," said Chico, last year's rookie of the year.

Pacing was the key, said Franz Beckenbauer, as players adjusted to the game's speed and the rapid transitions from defence to offence.

"You're really got to be strategic, look for the counter attack," said the second-year forward. "You don't want to blow a gasket so early in the season."

It's also important to keep expectations realistic this early on, said Chico.
"We're not going to play at the same pace we did at the Stanley Stick. It's going to take the teams a little while to gel, and it's going to take the goalies a while to adjust to the pace."

roadhockey.net has learned veteran utility player Gump may be lost for most of the season as he prepares to undergo surgery to his damaged knee. The yeoman forward and backup goaltender was hoping to rehab his sore knee into game shape through the summer, but a further medical assessment recommended more extensive repairs would be needed.

Posted by jaysuburb at October 9, 2011 05:04 PM