Practice Report | Friday, October 18
After a busy week of practice at the RINK Training Centre, the Winnipeg ICE get back to game action tomorrow night when they host the Saskatoon Blades in a 7:30 p.m. faceoff at the ICE Cave (Wayne Fleming Arena on the campus of the University of Manitoba).
And when the ICE head out against a Blades team that’s only lost once in regulation time in their last eight starts, the home team will have a little confidence of its own.
Confidence earned from a job well-done on the road.
Last Saturday’s 6-5 shootout win in Swift Current was no ordinary two point night at the office. The victory was built on a never-say-die attitude and a commitment to playing the right way no matter the bumps in the journey along the way.
Isaac Johnson played a prominent role in the triumph scoring the game’s opening goal and then cashing in on a third period power play to tie the game 5-5, a contest the ICE trailed by four goals at one point.
Johnson thinks going through experiences like finding ways to win in hostile environments is how good teams take shape.
“When you go together (on the road) and you play together and have good chemistry it helps for sure.”
The 20 year-old, who picked up more than a point-per-game with the Tri-City Americans last season, is doing what he can to build that chemistry putting team goals ahead of his own – look now further than his approach to the season.
“I think just winning games, and playing together, and getting two points every night.”
Despite that group mindset Johnson knows as a Western Hockey League veteran with a track record of offensive production he’s looked to in the key moments. It’s a role he embraces with an outlook that offers some good insight for younger players looking to be difference makers.
“I always want to be on the ice with a couple minutes left in the game, but on the other hand I’ve just got to pretend like there’s ten minutes left and just play my game – just not have too much pressure.”
Through the twists-and-turns of the first nine games the ICE have emerged 4-4-1-0, a solid record but one they intend to improve with better results at home.
Yes, all four ICE wins have come on their travels and they’d like nothing more than to establish the ICE Cave as a tough place for visiting teams to find success.
“I think we just got to start off a little bit better in the beginning of our games and get the fans into it right off the bat,” said Isaac after Friday’s session at the RINK before making it clear what the feeling is in the dressing room. “Yeah we’ve been struggling (at home) but we’ve got to turn that around tomorrow.”
Johnson knows success doesn’t come easy in the WHL, he’s been around too long to think that way, and he’s not taking anything for granted against a very good Saskatoon side.
“They work hard. They’ve got some good defencemen. We’ve got to put pucks behind the D and just go to work and play in their zone.”
The ICE topped the Blades 7-6 in the teams’ only previous meeting this season.
This weekend the teams meet Saturday, October 19th and Sunday, October 20th at 7:30 p.m. at the ICE Cave (Wayne Fleming Arena).
Saturday night’s game is First Responder Appreciation night, while Sunday’s game is Family Fun Day.
Visit winnipegICE.ca for tickets or purchase them at the Wayne Fleming Arena box office on game night.
