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I completely understand the lack of training together and being told a gameplan 5 minutes prior. That’s what I’ve been saying. You were beat for those reasons and others. Fitness is certainly a part but not the sole part in my completely individual opinion. It’s a public forum and I’m simply expressing what I saw. Equal amounts of fitness would have made the game closer but I think they would have won anyways for the reasons already stated. I’m not bad mouthing the team, just saying what I saw. I don’t think its some giant revelation that a team who didn’t get to train to a system got beat by a team that did. Other comments support it as well. I just rationalised my statements more than others.
"battered_and_bruised":2l5917hw wrote:Wow, you really know how to make a first impression with your possible new team mates don’t you? I really like the way you come down and criticise us right away even after the fact we were put together at the last minute and did get a systems run down 6 minutes before the game. Think you could maybe point out any positives from the game for us? Or was it just the Ice Blacks all the time? That is a rhetorical question by the way. I know that the entire team that played that night were very happy with our performance and the Ice Blacks players and coaches were also impressed with our team.
[/quote:2l5917hw]If you re-read my comments, I did mention the fact that the team was thrown together. I’ve played enough hockey to know that its impossible to compete 60 minutes with a team that plays a system well. Doesn’t matter who the individuals are. Many of those IB’s are Stampede players. Ask Stefan and Ziggy what happened when we didn’t play as a team against the Red Devils. We were beaten soundly. With the lack of preparation, its impossible to compete against a well prepared team. Jeff prepares his team well. I call a spade a spade. As I said, there are encouraging signs however there’s lots of work to be done. Lots of work meaning lots of preparation. Anyone who thinks there isn’t work to be done shouldn’t consider playing at a high level. Everyone knows Dunedin will be the underdogs. That’s not a bad thing. However criticism and working on those things is the key to improving. That’s my opinion. I’m neither a liar nor a sugar coater and I hope to get the same in return. If you don’t like my comments Ryan, that’s fine. I don’t think you are taking them in the correct context though. I don’t make them though because I’m worried about making friends or hurting feelings. From the first training to the last, I will try improving myself and my team in any way I can. Sometimes its a pat on the back and sometimes a kick in the ass. Again I said I thought there was some good individial efforts however team play wasn’t there in an organized fashion. For whatever reason, and I’m sure there are many legitimate ones, for those 60 minutes, it wasn’t there. That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it.
I tried tempering my opinions so I wasn’t standing too high up on my soap box. Again, I think the first did flatter Dunedin though. I think their (IB) problems were more a function of them trying too hard to play a system and less a function of a passionate attempt by Dunedin to disrupt their system. In some case, individual efforts were able to disrupt so kudos to those people but I think the IB’s were just rusty having played with a number of them in the past. Training rogether is different than match fitness. The IB’s finally got rolling though and a superior system took over. Obviously the trick is to be able to play against those systems with your own and to adjust when required since nzihl teams will play in a similar manner.
I’ll save most of my goaltending tips for when I can actually show you what ways you can improve. Massive disclaimer though…and I mean massive; just because I know what you should be doing does not mean in any way shape or form that I know how to actually do it myself. If all my theory translated into me being able to perform that theory, I might not be a half bad goalie. That would be a good day! In any case, you did play deep in your net. You did seem a bit shell shocked in the 2nd and 3rd. You had some good first shot saves however the key against a good team is recovery after the initial save. Bearing in mind new pads that don’t let you move the way you want and knee problems, being able to recover quickly is probably the hardest thing to be able to do. You and I both need some work on it. In training shall we say 5 butterflies for every bone-headed thing we do? That should act as a deterent or at the very least, we will be fit enough to recover well in the future.
…its all about building up anticipation. Now that I planted the seed, my unpopular opinion can show itself and grow with potential backlash.
” title=”Wink” />My opinion was that the first period flattered Dunedin. The IB’s were disorganized. They looked like they were trying to hard. Not taking shots when they could and not making use of the time that they had. They were still able to break out with ease but weren’t finishing. Rushing shots and missing shots. I think it was more a function of them not playing well as opposed to Dunedin playing well. That being said, Dunedin has not yet had the opportunity to play together as a “team”. There hasn’t been training camps. There hasn’t been systems put in place where players roles on the ice have been drilled into them. Ziggy told me the team was thrown together last minute and it kind of showed. Dunedin really didn’t threaten the goal at all. At least from a goalies perspective, it didn’t look like either Stephen or Zak would have been pressured on any shot. There weren’t any second shot opportunities. Again that I think is a function having a limited game plan. My assumption anyways. Once the IB’s started rolling, it was difficult to stop them. They weren’t under much pressure on the forecheck and they started getting through the neutral zone more easily and setting up in the offensive zone.
That’s not to say that there weren’t good things done. It just needs to be done with a system in place so one can reap the benefits of a nice first pass or beating a guy on the outside. Being someone who wants to play for the Thunder, I did see some encouraging things but I also saw a lot of work ahead too. I look forward to see what the coach can do. The game as it was, was a mismatch. Being the national team, they are a more skilled team, however good team play can balance that out to some extent and you won’t see those score lines. A few lucky bounces and it can go the other way. Just needs lots of practice.
I have a day off so I have plenty of time to write!!!
” title=”Smiley” /> Do you want my professional feedback on your goaltending performance? haha"Azzy77":3eisxdke wrote:Invitational squad has pretty much been set although not sure how they will balance imports (this refers to out of Dunediners as opposed to foreigners) versus guys who are here already…. not sure whose organising it… maybe Jackie or Steve or James who would know in this crazy club we call Dunedin…Bearing in mind this is a Dunedin Invitational squad NOT and I will repeat for good effect NOT a Dunedin Thunder team…so it pretty much is Dunedin registered players plus a few guys invited from various parts ofthe country…As far as goaltending goes… the rumour is Ice Blacks goalie is playing for Invitational squad to make sure they have appropriate number of shots….They haven’t decided what they will do at their end yet either their other goalie will play or I will play to stop their goalie dying of boredom.. seeing as they will need him in Australia…we also have a Junior B goalie from Canada here who will be present in case I get killed
I really don’t know what I am on about I should be sleeping… Maybe someone can confirm or deny any rumors I just started….
[/quote:3eisxdke]spectator it is then. worth a shot.
"Ryan":3kbdlw80 wrote:http://dunedinicehockey.hellyer.kiwi/dunedin-vs-new-zealand/What the heck is shlacking?
[/quote:3kbdlw80]
Apologies, should read shellac instead of shlack. Have they already determined the invitational team? I’m trying to scam my way onto the team somehow!
” title=”Smiley” />where are you flying from? I have a hockey stick that’s being warrantied in Canada and needs to come back to NZ. Cheers
If a team needs a goalie, let me know. I’m moving down shortly. Hoping to play Thunder however Easton is still fun. Probably can’t play with those dirty Cantabrians this year
” title=”Wink” />all I want is to play in regular games that are quasi-serious. Whatever league that’s in, I’m not sure. I can offer a bit of time to help organize if required.
I was under the impression that there was a league that ran for the bulk of the year? In the vicinity of feb-until october.
"Kyle":1s8mozmq wrote:The planning weekend set in place a 7 game premiere series which was timetabled to start towards the end of March. That hasn’t been finalised yet, but that would probably be a good place to start.Someone else would know more about what’s happening with Thunder – practises, trials etc.
[/quote:1s8mozmq]I’ll take those phone calls if you want? I have a range of different accents and styles of voice. My Russian is excellent and I can pull off Canadian real well to in case they want to talk the the assistant. I just need an untraceable mobile first.
