Each September a new pack of Wolves are formed
throughout the Waterloo Minor Hockey Association. For us coaches this is an
exciting time when you get to look at a large sample size of players in hopes
to put together the next dream team. In reality, no matter how much Bob
McKenzie’esque research we do to find those “perfect players” we are seeking,
is it ever enough. We are addicts looking for our next fix of hockey and data
to analyze to find this ideal team.
In our case we are of course talking about a group of 10 and 11 year olds and not 18 and 19 year old junior hockey players entering the NHL Draft. What we are really looking for as Atom coaches is the perfect mix of talent, promise and attitudes to make a competitive and enthusiastic team. 3 months, 25 games, and 2 tournaments into our long season we have found out that this is exactly what we have.
The 03’ Atom Ice Wolves are littered with hard-working, competitive and knowledgeable hockey players. They come to practice and games each week ready to learn and have fun. There are surely a number of characters on this squad and we have had some bumps in the road but we would not have it any other way. Together they form the perfect mix of focus and goofiness to be perfect representatives of the Waterloo Wolves crest that they don on their jerseys.
Our season started with a four game losing streak and an early exit from our first tournament, which included both some blowouts and a tough luck loss to our fellow Waterloo Wolves foe. This tested the team’s ability to put goals behind them and to fight to the finish no matter what the deficit was. It also brought back memories of the past season for some after one of the teams had a tough season winning games, and caused our players to question if they were doomed for the same result yet again.
However, the boys quickly learned what it is we are all about as coaches. We are not the coaches to yell and put winning first. This is not to say we are not overly competitive. Rather we are the coaches who will encourage and teach our players what it takes to be successful and to deal with losing in a positive manner while continuing to have fun. Losing does not mean you learn nothing and that it is okay to talk down your teammates and slam your stick. What it does mean is it is a chance to use losing as a learning experience. One to build on positives and to continue to improve and become a true team of Wolves, instead of individuals. As one parent stated a couple weeks back, “a hockey season is a marathon and not a race.” Truer words could not be spoken and the success our team experienced this past weekend in the Motown Cup, and will continue to experience, proved it.
The boys embarked on a trip across the border to Detroit, Michigan to take on a group of teams from across the northern U.S. that many of the boys had never heard of before. The team played two hard fought and tight games early in the tournament against teams from Chicago and Ohio. In both games they were down at several points but battled for ties in each. This set up a final round robin matchup with the Northern Kentucky Norsemen. One in which the young Wolves would have to earn a win against in order to advance to the semi-finals and have a chance at the Championship trophy they so badly wanted. The team came out strong and began an assault on the Norsemen goaltender beating him six times by the time the games was complete.
The game led to several season firsts for the team and its players and set up a Sunday morning matchup with the Orchard Lake United squad in the semifinals. The first period was a back and forth battle but a late goal proved to be just the jolt the team needed to get the job done. Two more goals followed early in the second period and the team looked well on its way to reaching the championship game that afternoon. However, the Orchard Lake squad would not go away and scored 2 goals forcing a thrilling final minute but ultimately the team was victorious.
Winning two do or die games proved just how far our team had come. Not only was the team winning games but they were battling till the end and getting over goals quickly. They were yelling words of encouragement from the bench and high fiving and complimenting each while on it. There were no more heads hanging low. Instead there was a championship game on its way.
Before the game, two of the team’s members stood in middle of the dressing room and asked that each teammate remove their last name from their jersey and play for two things instead of themselves; 1) for the Wolf on their chest and most importantly 2) the Wolves around them. The coaching staff could not have been any more impressed with this decision that these players came up with after watching a AAA game the previous season. It proved that the weekend, full of its Red Wings game, hotel team meetings and mini-stick battles had strengthen a bond amongst the team’s members that would not be broken.
The team came into the championship game fired up and ready to go to bat for one another. Their worthy opponent was the Southside Chicago team that they had tied the first game of the tournament with and had received a bye to this championship game. They were more rested but the Wolves tested them and battled hard all game. When the dust settled, the Southside squad came out victorious but the Wolves certainly did not lose.
The team returned to Canada with fond memories of a great weekend of hockey and camaraderie. One where important life lessons were learned, and one that will surely help the team as they continue to battle towards their goal of a Provincial Championship.
It was also a weekend where coaches became proud teachers and learned many lessons from their pupils. We learned that we now know exactly what we saw in each one of our players when we drafted our team in September. We have a team full of talented leaders and future role models. However, what we learned the most was that this weekend we watched boys become Wolves, in a pack that will defend each other and fight for one another till the last puck drops on the 2014 campaign.