Sports
April 17, 2008 11:33 PM
By: John Cudmore
Never underestimate the value of getting beat up, cut up and generally physically spent when it comes to counting tools in a successful playoff run.
Those are characteristics of a team on an extended playoff run.
It is an important commodity the host Newmarket Hurricanes will be lacking from their arsenal starting Tuesday when the Dudley Hewitt Cup faces off at the Ray Twinney Complex.
The Hurricanes, who will face off in the evening half of the opening day doubleheader against the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League champion Sudbury Jr. Wolves, have been playoff idle since falling to the Aurora Tigers way back on Feb. 28 in an Ontario Provincial Jr. A Hockey League North Division semifinal series.
By comparison, the Oakville Blades have won four playoff series, including a six-gamer over the Aurora Tigers in the OPJHL semifinal. That 21-game total alone gives the battle-hardened Blades the edge in playoff experience this spring against the rest of the DHC field.
Sudbury contested three playoff series and 16 games in total. The Dryden Ice Dogs, the fourth member of the DHC Foursome, played two series and 12 games.
The Hurricanes, as we know, played a total of five playoff games. And, yes, it does seem ironic a team having no previous playoff success could, in fact, be off to the Royal Bank Cup to compete for a national title next month.
“In playoffs, character comes together and the players get to know each other,” said Hurricanes head Brian Perrin, whose task it will be to shake the rust off his team and salvage a season that went quickly off the rails when the important games started.
“You’re learning as you go along under pressure and learn how to deal with pressure.”
Game-tested, battle-hardened — call it what you will — is a huge advantage other participants will hold during the five-game tournament. Perrin in no way prescribes to the theory a well-rested Hurricanes team will hold any advantage.
In fact, without reference points acquired from a playoff run, Perrin and his coaching staff know less about their team than they would prefer.
“The teams coming in to the Dudley have had lots of games and their coaches know how players react and who their character players are,” he explained. “We saw quickly in our series against Aurora (that) character can’t be taught.
“I don’t see any advantage at all to not playing and going through the process. The longer you play, things become easier. Your penalty killing, power play are better. Roles become more defined.”
After a month on the sidelines, the Hurricanes reconvened March 31 for a three-week camp to prepare for the tournament. The focus has been on team-building, including a competition among groups of the team to raise money for local charities.
“As far as I see, we’re the underdog no matter what,” said Perrin. “The only way to make people forget about the Aurora series is to win the Dudley. It’ll be an uphill battle, but how many times do you get a second chance to redeem yourself?
“Aurora did nothing to shock us. It came down to character and execution. Character is a huge concern for us.
“Hopefully, as in any life situation, we learn from our mistakes.“
Save for a bump or two, the Hurricanes season was adversity-free. It was almost too easy as the club posted 41 wins and finished second in the North Division to the Huntsville Otters on a tiebreaker.
“I think in a tournament format it comes down to a hot goalie, just like in the playoffs,” said Perrin. “In a short-term tournament a lot of luck is involved. Hopefully some of it falls our way.”