Jan 12, 2014 | jrawn | 772 views
Long time in coming - Overcoming Adversity
"SHOW ME SOMEONE WHO HAS DONE SOMETHING WORTHWHILE, AND I'LL SHOW YOU SOMEONE WHO HAS OVERCOME ADVERSITY."
Lou Holtz
As 2014 rolled in I wondered if the long layoff between games and practices would affect the development of the team. Despite the losses we as a coaching staff believed the building blocks were being laid, and better days were ahead.
Well if the first 3 games are any indication then the layoff served our team well. Despite a 1-2 record it was clear we outplayed each and every team. Our commitment to team defence was clearly evident.
Yes, we are snake bitten when it comes to goal scoring, but the very fact that we out-chanced our opposition is a sign that given opposition of an equal level, our team competes well.
The first game we lost to Stouville 1-0 should have been our game. Sometime you outplay teams and the result doesn't end up in your favour.
The second game against Halton Hills was again a game that just seemed to provide the opposition with all the lucky bounces at the opportune times. The boys carried the game to Halton Hills and yet ended up on the wrong side of the ledger yet again.
Finally by the third game, the boys raised their game to another level. They decided amongst themselves, that each and every one of them was going to do one thing better and make a difference in the game. In game 3 the Cambridge minor bantam selects decided that it was them and them alone that would determine the outcome of this game. Not bounces, not penalties, not lucky breaks for the other team.
Hard work, and hard work only was their recipe.
This year we've played some exceptionally good hockey teams. Teams that are far above our calibre of play. Teams that had a head start in training and team chemistry.
But as the quote above states, adversity often is the necessary ingredient or opposite side of the coin for success.
This win does not guarantee us anything.
It doesn't guarantee a win in our next game.
It doesn't guarantee that we won't play some poor games in the future.
But it should tell each and every boy, that if they work together, keep the game simple and continue to work hard that their adversity won't be in vain.
They will be better players, better teammates and better young men... and all of those qualities will make for a better team.
Lets keep working hard boys.
Coach Jim