First and foremost, we have to get back to playing more physical. We were getting comfortable winning a lot and unfortunately, we were getting away from doing the little things that are important in a hockey game. It’s going back to basics for us and we worked on that in practice this week.
- Nathan DesRoches
Arsenault’s Fish Mart Western Red Wings head coach Nathan DesRoches is looking for his leadership group to take control.
The regular-season-champion Red Wings have stumbled into the Island Junior Hockey League playoffs, which open against the Hynes Paving Maniacs at the Evangeline Recreation Centre on Sunday at 7 p.m.
“We’ve had a few losses that we haven’t been accustomed to throughout the year,” said DesRoches. “We’ve had some injuries the past couple of weeks, we have a (six-game) suspension to (defenceman) Jack DesRoches right now and there are a lot of moving parts at this time.
“I said before the season started our leadership was crucial for us along with experience.”
The Red Wings, who have won three straight provincial titles and claimed the franchise’s first-ever Don Johnson Memorial Cup Atlantic Canadian championship in 2019, cruised through the regular season at 27-4-3 (won-lost-overtime losses). They opened with a 10-game winning streak and won 12 straight games to start 2020, before losing three of their last four meaningless regular-season games.
“A lot of guys have been looking forward to the playoffs and have kind of taken their foot off the gas,” said the head coach. “We have a couple of more levels to go within our group and, as a coaching staff, we are on board trying to get the best out of our guys.
“We have a lot of guys with championship experience, leadership roles and I expect big things. I expect that to start Sunday.”
DesRoches is looking forward to the Red Wings getting back to playing their game.
“First and foremost, we have to get back to playing more physical,” he said. “We were getting comfortable winning a lot and, unfortunately, we were getting away from doing the little things that are important in a hockey game.
“It’s going back to basics for us.”
Rebuilding season
The rebuilding Maniacs (7-25-2), who play out of Montague, understand the challenge that awaits against Western, which led the league with 171 goals scored and 70 against in 34 games.
“We are the underdog going into the series,” said Maniacs general manager and head coach Steve Jamieson. “It’s going to be difficult to shut down their explosive offence. We are going to have to come ready to play hard every shift.
“Our goaltenders are going to have to be spectacular.”
Jamieson said the Maniacs have to produce more offence and he’s looking for his team to generate more shots on goal.
“We are going to try and play with a little bit more speed than what we have been and try to increase our commitment level on some puck battles,” said Jamieson. “It’s going to be an uphill grind, but I think we have the proper attitude in the dressing room to make this a very good series.”
Jamieson said the organization is very pleased with the progress the youthful Maniacs have made this season. He noted the team has only two 1999-born players and the rest were born in 2000 and 2001.
“We are the youngest team in the league,” he said. “We have had a good commitment from the players and sometimes we haven’t had the results we would have liked. But, overall, I can say they have competed hard in every game and didn’t give up, which we are proud of.
“They have come a long way and the commitment of our players is a really good sign for the future of our team.”
Schedule for IJHL playoff series between Red Wings, Maniacs:
Game 1
Sunday, March 15
Maniacs at Red Wings, 7 p.m.
Game 2
Friday, March 20
Red Wings at Maniacs, 8 p.m.
Game 3
Sunday, March 22
Maniacs at Red Wings, 7 p.m.
Game 4
Friday, March 27
Red Wings at Maniacs, 7:30 p.m.
Game 5, if necessary
Sunday, March 29
Maniacs at Red Wings, 7 p.m.
Games 6 and 7, if necessary.
To be announced.
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