Coaches’ Corner with Head Coach Bruce Aberhart September 26, 2009 Last Saturday night in our home opener we skated to a 5-3 win over the Wheatley Sharks. Our players played really well in all areas of the rink. They particularly worked hard in our defensive zone. Anytime you have a home opener you always worry about the state of the players’ nerves and how they are going to stand-up to the challenge. But our guys were more than up for the task at hand. Every victory at home is crucial for us. On the scoreboard we got scoring from five different players - Greg Babcock, Brett Thompson, Jordan Pennesi, Spencer Lightfoot and Darby McKinnon. Jordan Pennesi and Alex Dawson each chipped in with two assists with other assists going to Travis Harper, Mike Burns, and Spencer Lightfoot. Our Reid Rankin made 31 saves to get the win, while Wheatley’s Laine Parent made 37 saves.

On Wednesday night we dropped a 11 – 6 decision against the Wallaceburg Lakers in Wallaceburg.  It was matter of the coach’s fault. I did not have the team ready and prepared to face the Lakers. We did not get the bounces we needed. We just did not have the systems in place.  So that’s what we need to work during our practices. But when things are all said and done, the loss falls fully on the shoulders of the coach.

This is a big weekend for us, with two important games. Tonight we host and face off against the Belle River Canadiens. Tomorrow night we are on the road to play the Blenheim Blades. We need to keep our game simple and not fancy. Our guys need to out play and out work the opposition. As we close out the month of September and coming out of the weekend with two wins will put us in good standings in the North Division with 3 wins and 2 losses.