NU hockey team wastes no time getting ready for season

By Jason Leonard
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Hockey season doesn't start for a few months,but that hasn't stopped the Norwich hockey team from getting ready.

The fall season isn't a time where football and soccer are the only two sports being played; the Norwich hockey team's practice schedule is already in full swing.

"Right now our preseason consists of dry land training. Even though it's preseason practice, that doesn't mean that the practices are easy," said Phil Aucoin, junior, communications major. "Dry land is just as tough as our season practices."

"This is what we call phase one and two of our program, and phase three is when we hit the ice with our head coach in November," said Toza Crnilovic, senior captain, computer science major, from Toronto, Ontario.

In previous years the hockey team hasn't been able to get ice time until November. This season, the team made sure they wouldn't have to go through that again.

"We as a team have rented ice out in Barre, so we actually get to skate once a week," said Kurtis Mclean, physical education major, from Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada.

The team has four dry land practices a week, and once a week the team all travels together to Barre, where they get a chance to stretch their legs out on the ice.

"Four times a week we work out in the gym. We do lots of ply metrics and running," Aucoin said.

"We've gotten a step ahead this season by renting out the ice in Barre. It's allowed us to get familiar with the ice a lot sooner," said Mclean.

During the actual season the team concentrates mainly on executing what they have to do on the ice.

"Dry land is made specifically so that we can train on land and build speed and quickness for when we step onto the ice, which will make us a better team," said Garett Winder, freshman, 20, from Ajax, Ontario, Canada.

There is always new blood coming into the team every year. "This year's freshman class is a small one, but we're expecting a lot out of them. They will definitely be fighting for ice time early in the season.

"It looks like we have strong fast kids who really know the game well," Crnilovic said.

McLean had similar thoughts, saying, "We expect the freshmen to come in and fill the shoes that have been emptied from last season."

The freshmen know that in order to be successful, they will have to try and take in as much experience as possible from the upperclassmen.

"My role as a freshman, I think, is to learn as mush as I can from the older guys," Winder said. "They have seen it all and know what to expect.

"All I can do is do my best and hope that I can be an asset to the team both offensively and defensively," Winder said.

Norwich is returning this year having lost only three players. One thing Norwich will have this season is experience, Aucoin said.

"This year the team's got a lot of upperclassmen. There's a lot of experience behind the senior class; we've been through a national championship already, and they know what it takes to get there," said Brad Powell, a junior and physical education major. "The team this season is very experienced, with the loss of only three players. I don't think I've ever been on a team with so many upperclassmen. "

"Last season's freshmen had a great year, and I know the experience and depth we have will make us successful," Mclean said.

Powell followed up by saying, "I think definitely one of the strong aspects of our team is our depth. We have about a dozen juniors who have all been in a lot of big games," Powell said.

Norwich hockey players found that when they came here, the hockey team was like a family taking them in.

"The guys on the team all get along really well," Crnilovic said. "The team is just so close, and everyone feels like a family around here."

More than 13 players on the team all live in the same apartment complex.

"I think that living together helps to account for how close we all are," Aucoin said.

The closeness which they've built will carry over when it comes time to play, Aucoin said.
Mclean added that "our hockey team is unique; we're just so close. Almost like brothers, you know, best friends."

Furthermore, the team knows that success will not come without having a good attitude, Aucoin said.

"Our team attitude this year is fabulous. Every single guy gets along great with each other. A lot of us lift together, and we always seem to have a good time," Crnilovic said. "Almost all of the team was here last year when we lost in the national championship game, so it's made everyone a lot hungrier this season."

"I think that's an attitude we have to build on as the season progresses," Mclean said. "The boys are hungry and striving to win a championship, which is going to take hard work and dedication and the ability to never give up."

"I think once guys are positive and have that mindset, especially knowing that we can win every game, the only place to go is up from there," Powell said.

Only a freshman, Winder recognizes how rare the team is. "The attitude on this team collectively has the best attitude I've ever seen in a team.

"All the guys have great personalities and want to achieve the same goal, to win a national championship," Winder said. "That goal is definitely first on everybody's mind and I think it's a rare thing to see that in everyone."

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