NAHL Springfield Jr. Blues

Topeka Playoff Game 3

Published on April 10, 2010 under North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Springfield Jr. Blues News Release


Have you heard of "creative bookkeeping"? That's how they keep track of Shots on Goal at the Expo Center in Topeka, Kansas. I say this from the view of an interested observer watching the number board at the rink. Statistically, the official shot count in the first two playoff games in Topeka was 103 to 33. In my experience at Roadrunner home games anything within ten feet of the net is counted as a shot on goal for them, however, roughly one out of three shots by opponents handled by the Topeka goalie is all that is counted on the board. Creative. Using that way of counting shots, we should have had approximately double the number of shots during those two games. I know this sounds like so many "sour apples", but it really isn't. It just seems to be the way they count ‘em in the land of oz...

In the course of playoffs, congratulations to Nicholas Gatt, Erik Higby, and Tony Thomas of the Roadrunners, along with Nick "the Wizard" Currie of the Jr. Blues. These guys have earned scholarships to Alabama-Huntsville, Northern Michigan, the Air Force Academy and University of Massachusetts-Lowell respectively. That, friends, is what Junior Hockey is all about. Way to go to all NAHL players headed to college next year.

What makes the playoffs fun is that all the regular season records go right out the window. The playoffs are a brand new season. The Topeka - Jr.Blues series is "David vs. Goliath" as Topeka won just about everything during the regular season, and the Springfield Jr. Blues played most of the season without a full and healthy contingent of players. Crazy and unusual injuries, flu, etc. were the norm this year rather than the exception. Even after all players returned to the roster healthy it took awhile to get in-sync with everyone on the same page in Springfield. Then, just as the team prepared for the playoffs, coach Andy Maher's Dad was diagnosed with a very serious illness, and coach Maher went home to Alexandria, Minnesota to be with him. To the good though, the Jr. Blues called upon former head coach Chris Wyler, who is now coaching at Robert Morris University in Springfield. With all the adversity heaped upon the team this year they are responding well and surprised the mighty Roadrunners in the first game in Topeka. And, as the old axiom says, "anything can happen in a short series".

The Jr. Blues have even had more than their share of injuries in the Playoffs. Cody "Bam Bam" Hotchkins and Jared "Rocket" Rickord are both suffering high ankle sprains. Rocket wasn't able to practice this week. Trent Frey is dealing with a knee injury so as we've come to see this year...things are pretty much normal! And the good guys are ready to surprise those Roadrunners, and their bucket bangers with two wins in Springfield. At least the Shots on Goal will be a lot more accurate, I'm thinking.

As we've seen all year long, Topeka controlled the first period and seemed to be a step faster than the Jr. Blues. The Roadrunner rotation on offense often saw an open player directly in front of the good guys net. Two goals in fairly rapid succession put the Roadrunners on the board with the lead, and they maintained control throughout the period. Let's see what the second period brings. If it's more of the same the Jr. Blues are in trouble!

A stronger defensive effort during period two held the Roadrunners to just one goal on a 5 on 3 Topeka Power Play. At the end of two periods it's 3 - 0 Roadrunners. It's not impossible for the Jr. Blues to come back, but they have certainly dug themselves a hole for one period of play left to go. The Goliath is just plain taking it to David tonight. So let's hope for good things and a Great Big comeback during the final twenty minutes of play.

I've talked all season about this edition of the Springfield Jr. Blues being "the Good" or the "Bad and Ugly". Tonight the "Bad and Ugly" showed up, but I'm not sure they came to play. In a previous edition I said the definition of insane is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different outcome. With very few exceptions this team just plain was not ready to play "Playoff Hockey". They came out flat, played good in widely scattered moments, but mostly played like they had there bags already packed to go home and were just going through the motions. Take nothing away from Topeka. They are an excellent, well coached team that plays with a great deal of talent and discipline, but, and I'm sorry to say this, the Jr. Blues made them look ever so much better than they really are. Expect nothing less than an end of season whuppin' tomorrow night. The Jr. Blues won the first game of this series, and have continued the same pattern they've played all season, "where did they go?"

It has been a tough and extremely difficult season, but if nothing changes, it will all be mercifully over tomorrow night. Please don't take me wrong, I love this team and this bunch of guys, but they have underachieved all year long and it's time to "turn out the lights, the party's over." Yep, the Bad and Ugly reign supreme...and don't play Playoff Hockey.

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North American Hockey League Stories from April 10, 2010


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