Broken fingers, bumps, bruises

The last two weeks have seen a few wins and a few loses on the ice. We've seen concussions, knee injuries, broken fingers, bumps, bruises, and the flu run through the team. This league has been a challenge right from the beginning of the season right up to our last regular season game. We have won games, and lost games. The players have shot, smashed, slammed, twisted and skated their way through this year. Games have come down to one or two goals each way and come down to the final seconds. Our players have fought for every goal right down to the bitter end. I've seen us make mistakes, and I've seen flashes of genius on the ice. I stated in the beginning of the season the same thing I still stand by at the end. I don't care if we win as much as I care how we play. If we work hard and play smart we will do well. I think we have done well. In fact the team has earned every goal the old fashion way...by working for them. We have out shot almost every team we have faced. That has been an impressive if not frustrating trend that runs through every game. We lost today's game by one goal, yet after the game the ref apologized for a bad call on a goal he waved off – even the other team's coach agreed that it was a goal. The first puck we sunk in the net today also was not counted. There's nothing I can do to change the score, but I know we did much better than the scoreboard stated. We have two tournaments left this season, and we need to finish this season playing well. There's a lot of heart on this team, and a lot of players giving their all. That's a good team in my book, and coaching this team has been an honor. The third period today was an example of this team playing their hardest and their best. It was very good, and very impressive hockey. Going into the next two tournaments we need to have everyone step up. We will need to pressure the puck better, check better to get the puck cleanly(no more shying away from going after the puck – this definitely must end. Swinging the stick around at the puck is not effective), and work together better as a team. Position play, passing, speed, and accuracy shooting the puck still need work. Players still need to look around and make good passes. We also need to look up when we shoot, and not shoot the puck into a oncoming defender. We can't have anyone gliding around on the ice with one hand on their stick watching the other team go after the puck. We need to force the action and work to get the puck. We need to defend our end of the ice by keeping the puck out of our end. Position play and passing will still be critical right up to our last game. We need to continue using our points and looking for rebound opportunities around the net. There's still a lot of work to do before the final buzzer. Hockey is fun because it is a challenge. That's why I love this game. That's also why I have so much respect for each player on this team. You guys don't give up. That's impressive. That's hockey.