Ireland previews home opener
With just one day before the Owen Sound Attack open the 2014-2015 OHL Regular Season, head coach Greg Ireland knows that the team is faced with some challenges.
The challenge of being ready for the season, the challenge of opening up against an aggressive Kitchener Rangers squad, and the challenge of reintroducing players into the line up that have been absent for some time.
But he thinks his squad is ready.
The Attack, who finished 7th in the Western Conference open up against divisional rival and last year’s 9th place Kitchener Rangers.
While teams rarely produce opponent specific game plans in the early months of the year, Ireland said that he and his staff have an idea of what to expect from their opponents and will be taking that into consideration when preparing his players for Wednesday’s contest.
“They have some very high end skill on their team which can be seen in the fact that they had 11 guys at NHL camps,” Ireland said of the Rangers, expressing surprise that they missed the playoffs last year.
“I expect a very hard working, skilled team that is going to come at us early and try to put us on our heels,” he added.
The head coach said that to have success the Attack will need to come out with a high level of awareness and a disciplined style of play.
Another key to success will be the play of veteran players who are just returning to the line up after stints at NHL training camps.
With forwards Zach Nastasiuk, Kyle Platzer, and Holden Cook returning to the squad after time away, Ireland said it will be challenging at the outset.
“My experience being in the American Hockey League, anytime we had a guy sent down from the NHL it took a little bit of time (to adjust),” he said.
“They had their NHL head on so to speak. It’s a different level and it’s one we all aspire to be at it.”
Ireland said that it would take the veteran Attack players time to adjust to the slower pace of play at the OHL level after being surrounded by NHL stars at their training camps.
“I think it will take a little bit to get them back and adjusted to junior hockey and game form and I always expect that but I also know the quicker we can bring them around the better we’ll be,” he said.
Tickets for the Bruce Telecom Home Opener on Wednesday against the Rangers are still available at the DJ’s Furniture Attack Box Office, online at www.attackhockey.com or by calling (519) 371-7452.
Game time is 7:00pm and will be preceded by the Bayshore Broadcasting Tailgate Party, which begins at 5:30pm and will feature a United Way barbecue, giveaways, and an appearance by former Owen Sound Plater, Kevin Weekes.
