The stretch run to the Michigan U-16 State Playoffs begins in January.
But first, our sixteen 92's will venture back to Toronto for the third time this season to play a major showcase tournament.
The first two trips to Toronto have yielded terrific results in the two biggest tournaments in Ontario with appearances in the Joe Maire Semi-Final Game and the International Silver Sticks Championship Game.
With 7 days off from all skating (no practices or games) and over two weeks away from game competition our players should be very well rested, albeit a bit rusty.
We are looking for another long tournament run in Toronto in the Marlboros Tournament to be our catalyst for a strong stretch drive towards the Michigan State Playoffs.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
OHL Cup Rankings Week 6 Announced
Minor Midget Rankings for the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament - Week 6
(last week's ranking in brackets)
1. Elgin-Middlesex - MHAO (1)
2. Toronto Marlies - GTHL (2)
3. Toronto Jr Canadiens - GTHL (3)
4. Compuware U16 - MWEHL-USA (5)
5. Detroit Belle Tire U16 - MWEHL-USA (4)
6. York-Simcoe Express - OMHA (6)
7. Toronto Red Wings - GTHL (7)
8. Detroit Honeybaked U16 - MWEHL- USA (NR)
9. Ottawa Senators - ODMHA (10)
10. Halton Hurricanes - OMHA (NR)
Honourable Mention
Barrie Colts - OMHA
Toronto Young Nats - GTHL (8)
Peterborough Petes - OMHA (9)
(last week's ranking in brackets)
1. Elgin-Middlesex - MHAO (1)
2. Toronto Marlies - GTHL (2)
3. Toronto Jr Canadiens - GTHL (3)
4. Compuware U16 - MWEHL-USA (5)
5. Detroit Belle Tire U16 - MWEHL-USA (4)
6. York-Simcoe Express - OMHA (6)
7. Toronto Red Wings - GTHL (7)
8. Detroit Honeybaked U16 - MWEHL- USA (NR)
9. Ottawa Senators - ODMHA (10)
10. Halton Hurricanes - OMHA (NR)
Honourable Mention
Barrie Colts - OMHA
Toronto Young Nats - GTHL (8)
Peterborough Petes - OMHA (9)
Monday, December 10, 2007
First Half Of Season Ends; Accomplishments Noted
Sunday's 3-0 loss to Compuware was a disappointing end to the first half of a very good season. Team accomplishments to date include:
* Semi-finals appearances in both the Joe Maire Tournament and Border City Cup.
* Finals appearance at the International Silver Sticks Tournament in Whitby.
* Undefeated record (4-0) at the Nike Bauer Tournament.
* Undefeated record (5-0) against GTHL opponents
* 4-2 victory over the Toronto Junior Canadiens in the International Silver Sticks Tournament Semi-finals.
* Wins over highly regarded teams across North America - Texas Attack, Chicago Mission, Toronto Young Nats, Rochester Alliance, Toronto Red Wings, Halton Hurricanes, and York Simcoe Express.
* Ranking as high as #4 for the OHL Cup Showcase (currently #5).
* Semi-finals appearances in both the Joe Maire Tournament and Border City Cup.
* Finals appearance at the International Silver Sticks Tournament in Whitby.
* Undefeated record (4-0) at the Nike Bauer Tournament.
* Undefeated record (5-0) against GTHL opponents
* 4-2 victory over the Toronto Junior Canadiens in the International Silver Sticks Tournament Semi-finals.
* Wins over highly regarded teams across North America - Texas Attack, Chicago Mission, Toronto Young Nats, Rochester Alliance, Toronto Red Wings, Halton Hurricanes, and York Simcoe Express.
* Ranking as high as #4 for the OHL Cup Showcase (currently #5).
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Spiral Sliced
Honeybaked's three game losing spiral was sliced Thursday Night with a 6-2 win over our Belle Tire team.
Honeybaked took advantage of their speed and execution in transition, and our numerous defensive breakdowns, to generate a slew of odd-man rushes.
Fatigue, both mental and physical in nature, appears to have set into our team. But we need to be tough enough to overcome it and finish the first half of our season with a strong performance against Compuware on Sunday.
Following the Compuware game a one-week break from practices and games appears just what the doctor ordered to recharge our batteries.
Honeybaked took advantage of their speed and execution in transition, and our numerous defensive breakdowns, to generate a slew of odd-man rushes.
Fatigue, both mental and physical in nature, appears to have set into our team. But we need to be tough enough to overcome it and finish the first half of our season with a strong performance against Compuware on Sunday.
Following the Compuware game a one-week break from practices and games appears just what the doctor ordered to recharge our batteries.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Two Big Games In Four Days
Make no mistake about it....the two big games with Honeybaked and Compuware over the next four days are not of the make or break variety.
Nothing is really at stake except for pride; and nothing will actually be decided until the state playoffs.
Still, these games have significant importance to our team as a measuring stick to see how we stack up against two of the country's best teams.
These two games will reveal whether at this point in the season our team is a true contender....or merely a pretender.
Compuware ranks as the nations best team on every mathematical based national ranking site and Honeybaked is right behind them in either the number two or three slot.
Our season record against these two teams thus far is 0-2-1 with a 1-1 tie against Honeybaked in a late August exhibition game and a 3-1 loss in MWEHL league play; along with a 3-0 loss to Compuware in the Joe Maire tournament in early September.
Nothing is really at stake except for pride; and nothing will actually be decided until the state playoffs.
Still, these games have significant importance to our team as a measuring stick to see how we stack up against two of the country's best teams.
These two games will reveal whether at this point in the season our team is a true contender....or merely a pretender.
Compuware ranks as the nations best team on every mathematical based national ranking site and Honeybaked is right behind them in either the number two or three slot.
Our season record against these two teams thus far is 0-2-1 with a 1-1 tie against Honeybaked in a late August exhibition game and a 3-1 loss in MWEHL league play; along with a 3-0 loss to Compuware in the Joe Maire tournament in early September.
Little Caesars Games Moved To February
Both MWEHL league games against Little Caesars that were to be played this month have been moved to February due to scheduling conflicts.
Updated schedule of all games appears along the right side of this weblog.
Updated schedule of all games appears along the right side of this weblog.
OHL Cup Rankings Week 5; Team Keeps 4th Spot Despite Loss
Despite losing to Victory Honda on Sunday, Belle Tire retained the #4 ranking in the latest OHL Cup Showcase Tournament Rankings.
Needless to say, we need to perform at a level in our upcoming games against Honeybaked (tomorrow) and Compuware (Sunday) that will substantiate how high we are ranked.
Minor Midget Rankings for the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament - Week 5 (last week's ranking in brackets)
1. Elgin-Middlesex - MHAO (1)
2. Toronto Marlies - GTHL (2)
3. Toronto Jr Canadiens - GTHL (3)
4. Detroit Belle Tire U16 - MWEHL-USA (4)
5. Compuware U16 - MWEHL-USA (5)
6. York-Simcoe Express - OMHA (6)
7. Toronto Red Wings - GTHL (7)
8. Toronto Young Nats - GTHL (8)
9. Peterborough Petes - OMHA (9)
10. Ottawa Senators - ODMHA (10)
Honourable Mention
Detroit Honeybaked U16 - MWEHL- USA
Halton Hurricanes - OMHA
Rochester Alliance - USA
Needless to say, we need to perform at a level in our upcoming games against Honeybaked (tomorrow) and Compuware (Sunday) that will substantiate how high we are ranked.
Minor Midget Rankings for the OHL Cup Showcase Tournament - Week 5 (last week's ranking in brackets)
1. Elgin-Middlesex - MHAO (1)
2. Toronto Marlies - GTHL (2)
3. Toronto Jr Canadiens - GTHL (3)
4. Detroit Belle Tire U16 - MWEHL-USA (4)
5. Compuware U16 - MWEHL-USA (5)
6. York-Simcoe Express - OMHA (6)
7. Toronto Red Wings - GTHL (7)
8. Toronto Young Nats - GTHL (8)
9. Peterborough Petes - OMHA (9)
10. Ottawa Senators - ODMHA (10)
Honourable Mention
Detroit Honeybaked U16 - MWEHL- USA
Halton Hurricanes - OMHA
Rochester Alliance - USA
Monday, December 3, 2007
Dallas Stars Forward From Westland Shines
A Dallas Stars forward from Westland scored a highlight reel goal tonight to tie the game against the Columbus Bluejackets and send the game to overtime.
No, the Dallas Stars forward from Westland was not Mike Modano, it was the other forward from Westland, Chris Conner .....
Chris Who?
Chris Conner is a 24 year old, 5 foot 7, 175 pound forward from Westland, Michigan who is an undrafted free agent and played 4 seasons at Michigan Tech University.
Conner has played 23 career NHL games over the last two seasons and has totaled 3 goals and 3 assists.
He is an NHL swingman spliting time between the Dallas Stars and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in Iowa. Still Conner has made it to the NHL. Presumably overcoming all his odds, all his naysayers, and most importantly all of his competition.
Conner is an inspiration to every young player - especially our local Michigan boys - that you can make it to the NHL regardless of your size.
Don't ever let anybody tell you that you can't make it to the NHL ....especially when they tell you that you can't make it because of your size.
"Its not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog."
No, the Dallas Stars forward from Westland was not Mike Modano, it was the other forward from Westland, Chris Conner .....
Chris Who?
Chris Conner is a 24 year old, 5 foot 7, 175 pound forward from Westland, Michigan who is an undrafted free agent and played 4 seasons at Michigan Tech University.
Conner has played 23 career NHL games over the last two seasons and has totaled 3 goals and 3 assists.
He is an NHL swingman spliting time between the Dallas Stars and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate in Iowa. Still Conner has made it to the NHL. Presumably overcoming all his odds, all his naysayers, and most importantly all of his competition.
Conner is an inspiration to every young player - especially our local Michigan boys - that you can make it to the NHL regardless of your size.
Don't ever let anybody tell you that you can't make it to the NHL ....especially when they tell you that you can't make it because of your size.
"Its not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog."
Honeybaked Game Rescheduled For Thursday
Our game versus Honeybaked originally scheduled for Sunday, December 16th has been moved to this Thursday, December 6th at Hazel Park. Game Time is 7:30 PM.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Victory Honda Rolls Over Flat Tires
Hard to find anything positive about our MWEHL loss on Sunday to Victory Honda by the score of 5-3.
Hopefully our team will realize that all 16 league games against our Michigan MWEHL opponents are going to be battles and we have to be prepared to compete hard in every one of them.
Now 4 league games have been played against Michigan MWEHL opponents with 12 league games to go and our record is a mediocre 2-2.
Can we expect a more spirited effort in the 12 league games that remain?
Hopefully our team will realize that all 16 league games against our Michigan MWEHL opponents are going to be battles and we have to be prepared to compete hard in every one of them.
Now 4 league games have been played against Michigan MWEHL opponents with 12 league games to go and our record is a mediocre 2-2.
Can we expect a more spirited effort in the 12 league games that remain?
Saturday, December 1, 2007
2-1 Victory Improves Team Record To 5-0 Versus GTHL This Season
Alex Frere scored the game winner, his 12th on the season, in the second period as we took a 2-0 lead and held on for 2-1 victory over the Mississauga Reps in Exhibition game action.
For the season our team is now a perfect 5-0 versus GTHL teams.
We resume MWEHL action against Victory Honda on Sunday at 1:00 PM at Taylor Sportsplex.
Note: Rusty Hafner tallied the first goal of the game for Belle Tire, his 3rd on the season which leads the team amongst defensemen.
For the season our team is now a perfect 5-0 versus GTHL teams.
We resume MWEHL action against Victory Honda on Sunday at 1:00 PM at Taylor Sportsplex.
Note: Rusty Hafner tallied the first goal of the game for Belle Tire, his 3rd on the season which leads the team amongst defensemen.
Old Ball Coach Influences Hockey Team
Until such time as he might read this post, Frank Orlando ("Coach O") will have no idea that his spirit breathes in the character of our hockey team.
I was fortunate to play varsity baseball for Coach O at my alma mater Detroit Country Day School.
In the Michigan High School ranks Coach O is legendary. As an inductee to both the Michigan Baseball and Michigan Girls Basketball Coaching Hall of Fames, he's won state championships in both sports, and his girls basketball team (once again favored to win the state championship this season) is amongst the greatest dynasties in the history of michigan high school athletics.
But above all the wins and championships, Coach O set the example and preached the type of virtues that influenced all who ever played for him in a positive manner.
Coach O's message, his creed if you will, is team "UNITY". The belief that no individual player is more important than the team, that an entire team needs to be unified to reach its potential, and everybody on the team plays an important role in the team's success.
This message of UNITY is proudly emblazen upon our team's dryland t-shirts and personified in our team's concept of "20 players all pulling on the same rope, all pulling in the same direction."
Coach O's other powerful message that influences our team culture is the message of young athletes as gentlemen and all those associated with a team handling themself with dignity and class.
Granted our players are no choir boys. Hockey is a gladitorial sport and the nature of the competitive spirit for those who excel in it dictates that certain events often transpire during the course of games that are emotionally charged. Even the calmest of souls gets roused to act out of character in the most heated of moments.
However, to the extent that our coaches, players, and parents handle themself on and off the ice, win or lose, in good times or bad, with dignity and class was the example set by Orlando which exemplifies the culture of our team.
What I was most proud of about our team's remarkable Silver Stick showing in Whitby was not that we made it within an eyelash (a dime) from winning the Championship, but rather the notable feedback we received from so many scouts in attendance, tournament organizers, hotel staff, parents on other team's, etc, etc, about the quality of character of the people associated with our team.
Players who believe they are good and believe they will win without acting arrogant, level-headed coaches who set an example for great sportsmanship, and parents who handle themselves with the type of class and perspective that puts our team in a positive light to all those who watch us play.
When Coach Jabar and I founded the Wizards Hockey Club in 2002, I made it a mission of mine to plant the seeds of Coach O's virtues into our program and have watched them grow steadily into the team we have today.
In this my fifth and final season, I'm confident that our team is the kind that would make Coach O proud, and I'm hopeful that our players may one day carry on these same virtues to all the teams they have the opportunity to influence in the future.
I was fortunate to play varsity baseball for Coach O at my alma mater Detroit Country Day School.
In the Michigan High School ranks Coach O is legendary. As an inductee to both the Michigan Baseball and Michigan Girls Basketball Coaching Hall of Fames, he's won state championships in both sports, and his girls basketball team (once again favored to win the state championship this season) is amongst the greatest dynasties in the history of michigan high school athletics.
But above all the wins and championships, Coach O set the example and preached the type of virtues that influenced all who ever played for him in a positive manner.
Coach O's message, his creed if you will, is team "UNITY". The belief that no individual player is more important than the team, that an entire team needs to be unified to reach its potential, and everybody on the team plays an important role in the team's success.
This message of UNITY is proudly emblazen upon our team's dryland t-shirts and personified in our team's concept of "20 players all pulling on the same rope, all pulling in the same direction."
Coach O's other powerful message that influences our team culture is the message of young athletes as gentlemen and all those associated with a team handling themself with dignity and class.
Granted our players are no choir boys. Hockey is a gladitorial sport and the nature of the competitive spirit for those who excel in it dictates that certain events often transpire during the course of games that are emotionally charged. Even the calmest of souls gets roused to act out of character in the most heated of moments.
However, to the extent that our coaches, players, and parents handle themself on and off the ice, win or lose, in good times or bad, with dignity and class was the example set by Orlando which exemplifies the culture of our team.
What I was most proud of about our team's remarkable Silver Stick showing in Whitby was not that we made it within an eyelash (a dime) from winning the Championship, but rather the notable feedback we received from so many scouts in attendance, tournament organizers, hotel staff, parents on other team's, etc, etc, about the quality of character of the people associated with our team.
Players who believe they are good and believe they will win without acting arrogant, level-headed coaches who set an example for great sportsmanship, and parents who handle themselves with the type of class and perspective that puts our team in a positive light to all those who watch us play.
When Coach Jabar and I founded the Wizards Hockey Club in 2002, I made it a mission of mine to plant the seeds of Coach O's virtues into our program and have watched them grow steadily into the team we have today.
In this my fifth and final season, I'm confident that our team is the kind that would make Coach O proud, and I'm hopeful that our players may one day carry on these same virtues to all the teams they have the opportunity to influence in the future.
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