Loss to Walkerton a Learning Experience
Solid Effort Despite Injuries, Fatigue
The Sailors are feeling the effects of injuries to key players as they dropped a 7-1 decision to Walkerton at MRC Saturday.
Jamie Miller set up Brett McGuinness for the Sailors' lone goal which ruined Walkerton netminder Daniel Trombley's shutout bid with less than a minute left in the game.
Head-Coach Todd Goetz says the absence of six players was only part of the story behind the loss.
Goetz says while the club played well in the first and third periods, they let old habits creep back into their play in the middle frame.
Walkerton scored five goals within 13 minutes during the second period to blow open what had been a closely-played game.
Goetz says the Sailors' play in the second period was uncharacteristic of the brand of hockey they've started to establish and was the only time in the Sailors' last nine games in which they let their concentration wander and the players learned from it.
Goetz says the Sailors' couldn't capitalize on several solid scoring opportunities.
Goetz praises the way the team rallied in the third period and says the play that resulted in McGuinness's goal is among the positives they can take from the experience.
Goetz says he had to pull starting goaltender Shawn Gethke after Walkerton made it 6-0 with 4:16 left in the second period.
Goetz says the team in front of Gethke wasn't forechecking or backchecking effectively in the middle period and allowed Walkerton too much time with the puck.
He says he had to pull Gethke for his own sake, and replaced him with backup Sheldon Reid.
The victory gives first-place Walkerton 35 points while the Sailors remain one point up on idle Mount Forest with 9.
The Sailors end their five-game home-stand with a game against Mitchell at MRC next Friday at 8:30pm.
