It’s been far too long since I’ve posted anything on my blog, since last season
In fact, and I’m sorry about that, too much going on in the off season, and personal
Life.
Alas..the new season is here..and it’s time to keep this updated again 🙂
When do you start to worry, when does it become ok to voice your
Opinion without everyone down your back about running scared too
Early?
Some have argued the pre-season doesn’t count, and others have argued
It’s only BEEN one game, and they’re both valid arguments.
Maybe the pre-season doesn’t count, but what happened to grinding out
A win out of sheer pride? no team wants to lose an entire series of
Games either.
The first game was the home opener..on home ice. Statistically
Over the last few years the place the Flames have played their best.
A place most teams found it very hard to win in, the Pengrowth
Saddledome.
I’m going to offer up one other argument, one that concerns me most
Due to the impact it has to have on each players mental state of mind.
Regardless of most of it happening so far in the pre-season, regardless
Of it only having been one game in the regular season, the flames
Have won ONE game, ONE game..in nine.
Now sure..during most of the pre-season, we weren’t dealing with the
Core players, the star players on the roster, but a win..or loss..
Effects every player on the team, every game.
My concern lies in the confidence that is either gained from a win..or
Lost from a loss.
And despite what the players have said in interviews on the radio..
Or tv, the confidence level had got to be suffering a huge blow at the
Moment.
Even on games where 2 of 3 periods we outworked..and out shot the
Opponents, we still managed to lose the game.
Now sure, there’s a million different things you can attribute the
Losses too, not scoring enough, turnovers, defensive hiccups..
Whatever, but in the grand scheme of things a team that has confidence
Will grind out a win despite the mistakes EVERY team makes during
A game. ALL teams make those same mistakes,some more than others..
During a game, but one has to remember, every win or loss is made
On those mistakes.A perfectly played game is almost an impossibility.
Truth is..it’s a matter of if you make a mistake that costs your team
A penalty..or a goal, going back out there and making up for it.
I love my team, and this many losses is a hard pill to swallow.
Every fan wants to see their team do well.
My ultimate concern lies in the confidence I’m certain the team
Has had to have lost in themselves regardless of the games being
pre..or regular season games, and how long this losing streak could
Last because of it all.
Not so much when their next win will be, but how long will it be before
They have enough confidence to grind out consecutive wins?
Maybe my concerns are unwarranted, after all..they do have a new coach,
They had a new head coach last season too, and with each new head coach
Comes the need to create a new identity for the team, something they
Never quite achieved last season, an identity.
New methods for practice, new methods of training, both coach and
Players needing to get used to each other, needing to find that
Connection that works.
As well..several new players that need to get used to each others
Playing style, and the time to find the connections that work the best
Between them.
Maybe it’ll end up being a season of discovery in that regards…
Though I can’t help but hope for more.
Maybe everyone’s..including my own expectation of an explosive start under Keenan was too
Much to expect..too soon. It has after all..been many years since
Keenan coached and even though he’s worked with several of the players
Before, they are at different stages of their career now, different stages
In their lives.
I guess the one thing I can rest on, is that every cloud has a silver
Lining. Every storm has to come to an end sometime. Every bad moment
Gives way to a good one eventually.
So here’s to time…being the road that changes everything.
