Fred Harbinson feels the 2017 has not provided entertaining hockey.
Through nine games, not including the final round robin game played Thursday afternoon, officials had handed teams 99 power plays combined. Eight were given in the Vees 3-1 loss to the Cobras de Terrebonne on May 18. The Vees went one-for-five on their power play.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 pretty disappointed the way that the games are being called. It makes for horrible hockey,害羞草研究所� said Harbinson, prior to their game against the Cobras. 害羞草研究所淚 think our leagues need to really look at if this is the way it is going to be, if we should really partake in it. All these teams could have left half their team at home and just brought their power play and penalty kill guys. I害羞草研究所檓 not very happy about that.害羞草研究所�
The Vees killed 15 of 18 penalties assessed to them, while striking twice on 24. Forward Duncan Campbell was suspended for Thursday害羞草研究所檚 game because of a high sticking major. Harbinson said that was a good call and that Ryley Risling replaced him in the lineup.
In the loss to the Cobras, the Vees surrendered a goal on a two-man advantage with Sam Rossini and Gabe Bast in the box in the final two minutes of the opening period. The Cobras took the lead on Pierre-Anthony Martineau害羞草研究所檚 goal. Gabriel Paguin scored 14 seconds after Bast害羞草研究所檚 penalty expired to go up 2-0. The Vees nearly doubled the Cobras in shots, 14-8, but J茅r茅my B茅lisle stopped all the shots he faced. The Vees weren害羞草研究所檛 able to beat him until the 6:48 mark of the third when Owen Sillinger, scored with assists to James Miller and Mitch Meek. At the front of the net, Sillinger was able to swat in a rebound from Miller害羞草研究所檚 point shot. Vees goalie Mathew Robson made 31 saves in the loss.
Despite the problem with officiating, playing a strong defensive game as a team has pushed the Vees into the RBC Cup semifinal round Saturday. Who they play Saturday will be determined after the result of the Cobourg Cougars-Brooks Bandits game. The Vees have always been about playing a strong defensive game. In the round robin of the RBC, the Vees gave up two goals during five-on-five play.
害羞草研究所淲e try to play from our goal line out. We think about our defensive zone first and then try to build our offence after that,害羞草研究所� said Vees shutdown defenceman Griffin Mendel.
At the start of the season, Harbinson said that his defence group was the strongest part of the team. When it comes to playing a tough defensive game, Mendel said it goes beyond that group. The forwards and goal tending are just as key.
Related:
害羞草研究所淭heir (forwards) back pressure really helps our defence stand up at the blueline, creating turnovers, which leads into offence,害羞草研究所� said Mendel.
Harbinson said if they are not going to be a big power house as far as scoring goals, they need to limit opposition opportunities.
害羞草研究所淲hen we do give up a chance, our goalie is there for us,害羞草研究所� said Harbinson. 害羞草研究所淩obson has been great. It害羞草研究所檚 the way our forwards play back.害羞草研究所�
Over the course of the season, taking away empty net goals, the Vees played 42 one-goal games. Playing in games that close is something the team has talked about all season. The Vees害羞草研究所� opening two games in the RBC Cup were decided by a goal. Being in that situation is something that Harbinson said doesn害羞草研究所檛 really faze them.
害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 get too rattled from it. It was nice to score four goals (in 4-0 win over the Trenton Golden Hawks Wednesday),害羞草研究所� said Harbinson.
The Vees will now face the Cougars, who defeated the Bandits 5-2, while the Bandits will play the Cobras in the other semifinal. Puck drop on the Vees game is 11:30 a.m. PST.
