..FROM THE DESK OF MIKE HAYAKAWA..
OCTOBER 15, 2001
If a 4-2 loss to the visiting Stouffville Spirit on Friday and 10-2 drubbing
absorbed at the hands of the host St. Michaelšs Buzzers on Sunday represents
the low point of the Provincial Junior A Hockey League campaign for the
Markham Waxers, head coach Russ Herrington would gladly accept it at this
stage in the season.
After all, the regular season is in its infant stages and there's still
plenty of hockey to be played before the playoffs start in February.
But if the Waxers hope to dig their way out of their current rut, Herrington
feels his club's on-ice work ethic must improve. With that, he predicts his
charges will gain confidence and the victories will follow.
In Friday's loss to the Spirit, the on-ice effort was non existant. And
while Sunday's 10-2 drubbing against the South Conference leading and
undefeated Buzzers suggested the same pattern existed, Herrington felt
otherwise.
"We've struggled through the last couple of weeks," Herrington acknowledged.
"We had a terrible practice last Wednesday and it carried over into Friday's
game (against Stouffville). We weren't properly prepared to play and we
didn't work at all."
"But based on (Sunday), the guys worked hard for all 60 minutes. If we had
given that effort on Friday we would have won that game. I hope it's an
indication that we've turned the corner."
"If you give the effort, the execution will follow. Right now though, we're
struggling with our confidence."
Despite the club's recent woes, Herrington said he's not about to hit the
panic button.
In Sunday's loss to the Buzzers, Ryan Steane, on a power play, and Jesse
Boucher each scored once for the Waxers, who trailed 3-0 after one period
and 7-0 through two.
Against the Spirit, Boucher and Derek Doucette scored first-period goals to
stake the Waxers to a 2-1 first-period lead.
But the Spirit rallied in the third period with three unanswered goals,
including an empty net marker to earn the two points.
Occupying third place in the South Conference with a 6-6-1-1 mark, the
Waxers played the Vaughan Vipers yesterday on the road and will return to
Centennial Arena on Friday to face the North York Rangers at 8 p.m.

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