The Elmvale Bantam Rep team, sponsored
by Hapamp, plays their first home game on Friday, October 24, at 9:20
pm. After five straight road games, three tournament games in
Huntsville, and no practices in nearly three weeks, the team is ready
to be home.
Every year, the ice is removed from the local arena for two weeks to make way for the Elmvale Fall Fair. As a result, most hockey teams grind to a halt. This year, however, the Bantam Rep team kept busy. Starting the season on the road kept the players active and reduced the number of winter road-trips required during the upcoming season. The downside was that being on the road, with no practice time available, made it difficult to regroup and work on team weaknesses between games. The road-trip ended with two wins and three losses.
On Monday, October 6, the Coyotes lost 7-0 to the Collingwood Blackhawks. A loss to the Blackhawks is not unexpected as they are and have been the dominant team in the area for some time. What was a shock to the Elmvale team was the physical and mental toll they would pay. Collingwood skates fast and always finishes their checks. The Coyotes kept it close in the first, 0-1, but by the third period, they were unable to keep up, and appeared to be thinking twice before going after the puck in the corners. A team practice to regroup and shake off the effects of the lost battle would have been helpful, but was not to be.
The Coyotes visited Georgian Shores for the Lightning's season opener on Friday, October 10. Matthew Clarke scored the Coyote's only goal early in the second period. The Lightning took advantage of their power-play opportunities and went on to win 3-1. The following night, Elmvale played in Wasaga Beach. The Coyotes led for two periods, but took some unnecessary penalties in the third, allowing a Wasaga Stars comeback. Continued penalty trouble kept the Coyotes from mounting a successful late game assault, and they lost 3-2.
At the Huntsville tournament on October 17 and 18, the Coyotes confidently beat the Niagara Falls Flyers 5-0, were soundly beaten by the Huntsville Otters 4-0, and dominated but couldn't score on the Ennismore Eagles in a 2-1 loss. The Coyotes took the most penalties of nine teams at the event.
Getting back to practice will be good for the boys. I'm sure the coaching staff will want to work on proper checking, as many of the team's penalties came from poorly executed checks. They will also want to re-establish emotional discipline and team play. Individuals players need to know that taking penalties for selfish reasons like revenge and bad habits, really just hurts their teammates. It's hard to stick to a plan and win games when the team is shorthanded.
Many local teams have had players return this year, after a year or two at the AAA hockey level. The Bantam Coyotes do not have any of these superstars to lean on, and need to work as a team if they wish to succeed. Here's hoping that regular practice, a focus on team, and the hometown crowd can put some points in the Bantam Coyotes' win column.
Photo Caption: Elmvale Bantam Rep Captain, Matthew Clarke, lining up a shot leading to the Coyotes' only goal in a 1-3 loss to Georgian Shores.