Fred Harbinson feels the 2017 has not provided entertaining hockey.
Through nine games, not including the final round robin game played Thursday afternoon, officials had handed teams 99 power plays combined. Eight were given in the Vees 3-1 loss to the Cobras de Terrebonne on May 18. The Vees went one-for-five on their power play.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 pretty disappointed the way that the games are being called. It makes for horrible hockey,91裸聊视频� said Harbinson, prior to their game against the Cobras. 91裸聊视频淚 think our leagues need to really look at if this is the way it is going to be, if we should really partake in it. All these teams could have left half their team at home and just brought their power play and penalty kill guys. I91裸聊视频檓 not very happy about that.91裸聊视频�
The Vees killed 15 of 18 penalties assessed to them, while striking twice on 24. Forward Duncan Campbell was suspended for Thursday91裸聊视频檚 game because of a high sticking major. Harbinson said that was a good call and that Ryley Risling replaced him in the lineup.
In the loss to the Cobras, the Vees surrendered a goal on a two-man advantage with Sam Rossini and Gabe Bast in the box in the final two minutes of the opening period. The Cobras took the lead on Pierre-Anthony Martineau91裸聊视频檚 goal. Gabriel Paguin scored 14 seconds after Bast91裸聊视频檚 penalty expired to go up 2-0. The Vees nearly doubled the Cobras in shots, 14-8, but J茅r茅my B茅lisle stopped all the shots he faced. The Vees weren91裸聊视频檛 able to beat him until the 6:48 mark of the third when Owen Sillinger, scored with assists to James Miller and Mitch Meek. At the front of the net, Sillinger was able to swat in a rebound from Miller91裸聊视频檚 point shot. Vees goalie Mathew Robson made 31 saves in the loss.
Despite the problem with officiating, playing a strong defensive game as a team has pushed the Vees into the RBC Cup semifinal round Saturday. Who they play Saturday will be determined after the result of the Cobourg Cougars-Brooks Bandits game. The Vees have always been about playing a strong defensive game. In the round robin of the RBC, the Vees gave up two goals during five-on-five play.
91裸聊视频淲e try to play from our goal line out. We think about our defensive zone first and then try to build our offence after that,91裸聊视频� said Vees shutdown defenceman Griffin Mendel.
At the start of the season, Harbinson said that his defence group was the strongest part of the team. When it comes to playing a tough defensive game, Mendel said it goes beyond that group. The forwards and goal tending are just as key.
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91裸聊视频淭heir (forwards) back pressure really helps our defence stand up at the blueline, creating turnovers, which leads into offence,91裸聊视频� said Mendel.
Harbinson said if they are not going to be a big power house as far as scoring goals, they need to limit opposition opportunities.
91裸聊视频淲hen we do give up a chance, our goalie is there for us,91裸聊视频� said Harbinson. 91裸聊视频淩obson has been great. It91裸聊视频檚 the way our forwards play back.91裸聊视频�
Over the course of the season, taking away empty net goals, the Vees played 42 one-goal games. Playing in games that close is something the team has talked about all season. The Vees91裸聊视频� opening two games in the RBC Cup were decided by a goal. Being in that situation is something that Harbinson said doesn91裸聊视频檛 really faze them.
91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 get too rattled from it. It was nice to score four goals (in 4-0 win over the Trenton Golden Hawks Wednesday),91裸聊视频� said Harbinson.
The Vees will now face the Cougars, who defeated the Bandits 5-2, while the Bandits will play the Cobras in the other semifinal. Puck drop on the Vees game is 11:30 a.m. PST.
