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Augusta RiverHawks Training Camp Report - Day Two

October 17, 2012 - SPHL (SPHL)
Augusta RiverHawks News Release


Augusta, GA--Ask any veteran professional hockey player about training camp, and you'll probably get a roll of the eyes and some grumbling. While there was plenty of pep and vigor in Day One of the RiverHawks' Training Camp, Day Two brought home to the players just how much a grind it can be. The morning session was a grueling series of end-to-end rush drills featuring every combination of odd-man rushes you can imagine. With currently only six defensemen in camp, the blue liners in particular felt the grind with their legs clearly getting heavier and heavier as the session went on. Fans can imagine the joy that Curtis Megginson must have felt seeing Matt Auffrey getting the tree-trunk legs chugging and the big shoulder lowering as he attempts to bowl his way to the front of the crease in the 53rd minute of the skate. Of course, the sweet relief of the end of the first session gave the players an opportunity to get some food into them, grab a quick nap, only to have to turn back around and get back to the James Brown Arena for the second scrimmage of camp.

Funny thing about hockey players is that they're not all that different from you or me. When we get tired, often we'll often get a bit grumpy. Well, as the players took the ice for their second session, with their legs heavy, their dogs barkin', and the bumps and bruises starting to mount, they displayed a predictable level of nastiness. As a result, there was plenty of hacks, slashes, and general banging around. It was certainly a testy affair.

For the second straight day the scrimmage went to extra-time, but this time it was extended all the way to a shootout. At one stage the Blue team had a 4-1 lead and appeared have complete control. But, as the old saying goes, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going." The Captain did just that, singling out blue jersey after blue jersey for a pounding, and giving his squad the boost they needed to generate a comeback and ultimately win the game.

Returning Player That Impressed: Forward Jesse Echternach was the unfortunate victim of a numbers game at the end of the 2011-12 season, not making the playoff roster after spending the entire campaign with the RiverHawks. Many fans were disappointed, and many are very pleased to see him back on Phoenix Refrigeration Ice. Echternach looks pretty pleased to be back as well, as he was extremely dynamic all afternoon long, playing a key role in giving the Blue team the big lead. He finished with a goal and an assist along and demonstrated solid play at both ends of the ice.

Newcomer That Impressed: His acquisition this summer was met with cautious, maybe even nervous optimism amongst the core RiverHawks fan base. Dennis Sicard is that player that the home fans love, and the opposition's fans...well, lets just say they don't typically hold him in high regard. I have a strong feeling that RiverHawks fans will make that transition to the "love" side of the spectrum very quickly when they see Sicard in action night-in-night-out. The reasons for this shift were on full display today, from his tireless effort in every single drill, to his heady positional play in every aspect of the game. He set up shop in front of the Red team's net and made life miserable for both Red's goaltenders. He finished with a pair of goals and an assist, and gave plenty of reason to suggest that he'll become a fan favorite very quickly.

What's Up Tomorrow: The team will be on the ice at 10am (follow @VezRiverHawks for updates on the fly), and again at 4pm, but this time no scrimmage. The team will be preparing for the pair of pre-season game we'll be participating in this weekend.



SPHL Stories from October 17, 2012


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