Practice Report | Tuesday, October 29th
Friday’s loss in Saskatoon behind them, the Winnipeg ICE are looking forward to four straight at the ICE Cave at Wayne Fleming Arena.
In fact it’s five of the next six on home ice for the local Western Hockey League club and they’re looking to build on recent back-to-back victories in their new home with the red-hot Lethbridge Hurricanes in town Wednesday and Friday to start things off.
The arrival of the ‘Canes coincides with the departure of standout rookie defenceman Carson Lambos who’s in Alberta preparing to represent Canada in the upcoming World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
DEFENSIVE DEPTH A PLUS
Lambos is tied for second on the ICE with ten points in a dozen games, so what does his absence mean for the club?
“It’s an opportunity for someone else,” said head coach James Patrick after today’s practice at The RINK Training Centre. “Carson’s been a huge part of us, but we have a lot of other good players. I think we have more depth on defence that can fill the void. Now I’m focusing on who’s here.”
Make no mistake Patrick knows the value of international experience, after all he played in a couple of World Junior Championships, a handful of World Championships, an Olympic Games and a Canada Cup so it’s no surprise he’s supportive of Lambos’ situation.
“I want Carson to go and have the best experience possible and come back ready to play after his two weeks away,” said the third-year ICE bench boss.
But, the reality is Lambos isn’t with the team for a stretch so it’s about looking to a group with plenty of quality to step up.
“Just focusing on the guys here, we have two twenty-year-olds on defence who have to play well for us. Even on the back end, I’ve liked the way Ben Zloty’s played and I think he can even be a better player because he skates well. He’s got good vision. He can move the puck… We’ve got Anson McMaster whose been waiting to get in and it’s an opportunity for him as well.”
SCOUTING THE HURRICANES
After consecutive victories against Saskatoon at the ICE Cave, Winnipeg is determined to keep it going but fully aware they’ll have to be on their game to find success against Lethbridge.
“They are a big team. They have big defence who make it really tough to get inside, (they) play physical when they have a chance to but – long sticks – really protect the middle of the ice” said Patrick before highlighting some of the Hurricanes’ stars. “(Calen) Addison is a highly-skilled defenceman who can move the puck, and quarterback the power play, and (Dylan) Cozens is an elite player. I felt he was, if not the best, certainly top three two-way forwards in our league last year.”
The ICE take on the Hurricanes tomorrow night and Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in the ICE Cave in Wayne Fleming Arena.
Tomorrow night is Halloween Night at the rink and Friday is a “Flex Friday” with a ticket to that night’s game added to any purchase of an eight-ticket Flex Pack, visit winnipegICE.ca for more information.
