Saturday's Practice Cancelled

I have been informed that, due to anticipated inclement weather conditions, that Saturday morning practice has been cancelled. Enjoy the ability to sleep past 6:15.

Update!

No Practice Friday Night!

All else remains the same for the weekend.

Practice Satururday at 8:00 am.

Game Sunday at 10:30 am.

See you Saturday.

And, anyone interested in playing with the majors at simsbury, please let me know asap.

Weeknight Practices....

Practice on Wed at 7:45 pm.
Practice on Thurs at 7:45 pm.
Practice on Friday at 7:45 pm.

Weekend Wrap Us: Bruins Bantams C

The danger in playing a team that on average is 2 plus years older than us and 6 inches taller and 35 pounds heavier is that you do tend to get intimidated. For the first 2 periods it looked as if we had woken up in Land of the Giants. (http://www.tv.com/land-of-the-giants/show/573/summary.html). But, after much ranting and raving on the bench, after excoriations and exaltations, after realizing that getting hit is not the same as getting hurt, we started playing our game. We started moving the puck; we started out-skating the opponent; we started backchecking hard, and we started using pressure to create turnovers. Forget the final score of the game, what matters is that in the 3rd Period -- when we started playing our game -- we outscored the Bruins 4 to 2.

What's the lesson? When you let the other team take you away from your game, they win. When you play your game, despite being outsized, you win. A simple lesson but one that is hard to learn.

I'll take the loss in exchange for an important lesson well learned.

Sunday: Game On

On Sunday morning at 8:00 am we will face the Bruins Bantan C Team. Since we last played the Bruins, they have added a few new players, including former Rattler Bantam Cody Funke.

The word is that the Bruins are quite sanguine about their prospects against our diminutive team. That means they think they are will beat us and take advantage of our size. I have a 3 word response: Not Gonna Happen!

Let's all come to play and play hard. Our game is simple. When we have the puck, we move the puck. When we don't have the puck, we pressure the puck. We clear the defensive zone. And, we never ever back down.

Now, for the good news: Sam returns. Bobby returns. Kyle returns. Jake D returns.

Opporutnities to Play with Majors

The Majors are looking for players at the following games:

* On February 23 (Saturday) at 5:30 pm at Saratoga Springs;
* On March 1 (Saturday) at 1:55 pm at Simsbury, Ct;
* On Weekend of March 14, 15 & 16 at the North Adams Tournament.

Let me know if you are interested.

Update: Sunday's Game

Sunday's game against the Berkshire Bruins Bantam C Squad is now confirmed for 8:00 am.

The Coming Weekend

(1) We have a practice on Saturday Feb 23 at 9:15 am.

(2) On Sunday (Feb 24) our game against the Bruins is likely to be at 8 am – not 11:00 am as currently listed. More on this when the time is confirmed.

(3) The Majors have a game in Saratoga Springs on Saturday Feb 23 at 5:30 pm. They need a few players. Please let me know (asap) if you are interested in playing.

(4) The Majors have a game in Simsbury, Ct., on Saturday March 1 at 1:55 pm. They need a few players. Please let me know if you are interested.

(Sam Receiving Medical Attention of Sorts)

No Love From the Puck

The good news is that we out shot the Bethlehem Eagles 45 to 15.

The good news is that we stayed out of the box (for the most part and, by the way, was that Grace in the box?) and they didn't.

The bad news is that today the puck did not love us.

Sometimes, that is just the way it is.

There were all sorts of good chances where we just missed, and goals that were scored but then waved off by the officials, and bounces that didn't go our way. Yet we hung in there and in the final minutes fought back from a 5 to 3 deficit to salvage the game with a tie (5 to 5). No doubt, it was a great comeback.

From the perspective of the bench, what did we do right? We did not quit on ourselves and we found ways to stay in the game. All told, a less than ideal outting but satisfying nonetheless.

Great efforts by Aaron, the defensive core, and the newly dubbed Firing Line (10 goals in 2 games). Good two way efforts by Driscoll and Aldam. Jennings had her best defensive outting to date. Cody hung tough. Taylor was a big help. Hoover played tough throughout. Cookie was by his own admission bored but fully engaged. And Boomer was Boomer.

*****

Sam suffered a hematoma of the left ankle, and is day-to-day.

Smitty is still convalescing with a respiratory infection and is day-to-day.

Jake D is suffering from South Florida Syndrome, but is expected to be back with us on Saturday. Until his tan fades, he will be riding the plank.

Up To North Adams (A Modern Anabasis)

Today, we found ourselves in the hostile town of North Adams facing a strange team about which we knew very little.

We were shorthanded. Kyle Smith was sidelined; Jake D was away; and, Cody was helping another squad. We were also stunned to learn that Jackson was suffering from a potentially debilitating lower body injury.

But like a group of ice skate clad Xenophons, we fought our way through the hordes in North Adams, prevailed and triumphantly made it back to the safety of our homes. Despite his ailments, Jackson performed heroically along with the rest of the defensive core. The offense gave us what we needed and then a bit more. We were lucky to have had the services of Taylor N as well.

All-in-all it was a harrowing experience, but we got the job done.

Rattlers 5 / Heathens 2.

Hockey this Weekend (Feb. 16-17)

On Saturday, we have practice at Berkshire School at 12:45 pm. We will again spend a good amount of time working on play in the offensive zone.

On Saturday, we also have a game up in North Adams at 4:00 pm.

On Sunday, we have a game at Berkshire School at 9:15 against the Bethlehem B team. Given the past few games against that squad, the word is that they are coming to play and play hard.

Marlborough, Mass Tournament Accomodations (from Lisa)

If anyone would like an alternative to The Red Roof Inn, I reserved ten rooms at THE EMBASSY SUITES in Marlboro, Mass. You can stay at ANY hotel you want. But the Embassy Suites offers more space for larger families and a swimming pool.

http://www.bostonmarlborough.embassysuites.com/.

You can also call the reservation line at 508-485-5900, and mention that you are with the Berkshire Rattlers. You will be given availability within the block, and will receive the discounted rate. If you want a room with two double beds -- please request when you phone it in. But, the rate for that is higher.

King Bed is about $144.00
Double Beds is about $164.00

I only reserved ten rooms (I MIGHT be able to get more), so if you are interested, you should call as soon as possible. Please let me know if you are going to reserve. If it looks like there is a high demand, I will try to get some more rooms. Also, if we don't book ten rooms, the price will revert to a slightly higher non-discount rate.

Thanks, Lisa

Weekend Wrap-Up

Our loss against Pawling was not unexpected. Chalk it up to a post-tournament let down. We played uninspired hockey and no one stepped up to spark the team. As we discussed in the post-game meeting, you are only as good as you want to be. Playing well and playing consistently well are not the same thing. To play consistently well requires a force of will and a tenacity that is not easy to muster. As Fred Shero says, you need set yourself on fire.

We did have an excellent practice this morning.

As for practice Wednesday night, we are going to be short on coaches. So, the consensus is that we will cancel.

Finally, there is a Board Meeting tomorrow (Monday) night at 7:00 pm at Four Brother's Pizza in Hillsdale. I know it's hard to make time, but attendance and support is always appreciated.

This Weekend's Schedule

We have a game on Saturday at 12:15 at Berkshire School vs Pawling. You might recall we tied Pawling 5 to 5 -- allowing them to comeback in the 3rd Period from a 5 to zero deficit. It would be nice to do it the right way this time. Let's see if we can score the five but give up none.

Also on Saturday is the party for Ethan, as I mentioned in yesterday’s email. (More skating at the rink. Any adult interested in playing let me know, I can use the help). Please let me know if you can attend.

Sunday we have a practice at 8:00 am at Berkshire School.

See you at the rink.

The Mary Hoover Photo Collection

Shutterfly Slideshow (click here)

Jimmy Welch Peewee Champs (2008)

Here's what we accomplished:

4 for 4.

Solid team play.

We never backed down.

We never gave up more than 2 goals in a game.

And everyone played and played hard.

Great work.

There were a lot of folks who doubted that this team could get the job done. Some said we were too small. And other said we were too young. But, we silenced our critics and played 4 beautiful games of hockey.

I encourage you all to remember why we worked so hard and why we pushed ourselves. It's not about being the champions or about the trophy or even about having bragging rights around the rink. We worked hard because team work and discipline and composure and dignity matter. Learning to get up when you're knocked down matters. And learning to be part of something bigger than yourself and learning to contribute matters. That's why the coaches pushed so hard and that's why the players worked so hard.

And, having come through four tough games and a long weekend of hockey, everyone is entitled to feel a sense of pride in what we managed to accomplish.

Savor this victory because victories fade fast. But remember that this was possible because we came together as a team, because we worked hard as a team, and because we won as a team.

3 Down . . . .

Great effort today from everyone.

We battled hard and won as a team.

I assure you that tomorrow Schenectady is coming for us. But, I have no doubt that we are ready.

A good night sleep for all, and a decent breakfast. Let's make this a perfect 4 and 0.

Jimmy Welch: Day 1 Results

Games

Minors 6 - Schenectady 1
Majors 2 - Bethlehem 1
Schenectady 6 - Bethlehem 1

Point totals

Minors - 2
Schenectady - 2
Majors - 2
Bethlehem - 0

Line up tomorrow is that we play 2 (Majors, Bethlehem), Majors play 2 (Schenectady, Minors), Schenectady plays 1 (Majors) and Bethlehem plays 1 (Minors).

What does this all mean for us? It means focus on the game against the Majors and don't worry about the rest.

Good night!

One Down . . . .

Great work today.

Tomorrow it's the Majors and then Bethlehem; Majors just beat Bethlehem 2-1.

One game at a time. Right now, we focus on the Majors. Until the game is over, they are strangers, just another team, we don't know them . . .. We play our game.

I also want to make one final point: we talk a lot about playing with composure and dignity. In the last 5 minutes of today's game, Schenectady (who had played us closely down to the wire) began to unravel. They became concerned with hitting for the sake of hitting and not as part of the game. They became frustrated and starting running all over the ice. What happened? We scored 2 quick goals. Learn a lesson from what we watched. We need to maintain composure and play with dignity for the entire game.

Never lose control; never lose focus; never let the other team dictate how you play the game. If you are not in control, then you've lost the game -- no matter the score.