9.1

SPORTS

Hockey team gears up for another run at the playoffs

By Lawrence Shaw
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

After going 26-3 last season and making it to the playoffs, the Norwich University Hockey team has been preparing for this upcoming season with an intensive preseason workout program, according to a member of the hockey team.

“We train Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We lift for about an hour to an hour and a half, and run 30 minutes to an hour, both long distance and sprints,” said Raphael Robitaille, 19, a freshman biology major from Quebec City, Quebec.

“The first two weeks we were running long distances to get in shape from the summer; now we are getting into more sprints and getting our heart in condition. In hockey, you are on the ice for 45 seconds to a minute, so we are getting ready for that,” said Chase Decker, 21, a sophomore communications major from Wenatchee, Wash.

Preseason training starts a week after school starts. The preseason training is conducted by Justin Goulet and Jody Cooley. Goulet does the weight lifting, while Cooley, who is a Marine, does the running. Goulet and Cooley train with the team from the start of preseason training until Mike McShane, head coach for Norwich University hockey, takes over on November 1, 2004.

“The difference between hockey and other sports is skating. Skating is different than running. We have to train their muscles for skating,” McShane said.

On top of the dry land training, the team also skates at the rink in Montpelier every Tuesday night.

Starting October 18, 2004, the hockey team will start holding captains' practices. These practices are run strictly by the captains, and the coaches aren’t invited.

As the preseason training comes to an end, the team is preparing to hit the ice. “This year’s team is going to be very young. We had 13 players graduate. One of our best players, Mario Chinelli, is hurt and won’t be back until the beginning of the second half. He has a herniated disk in his back, and it is causing some pain,” McShane said.

The hockey team also has some strengths. The hockey team has Kurtis McLean coming back, one of the best hockey players in the country, and Brian Mullally, one of the best defensemen. Another strength is the goaltending. There are three goaltenders returning who are also very good. McShane said, “The underclassmen are going to have to step up to the plate, get in there, and play right away.”

For the new players joining the team, it will be important for them to be athletic and ready to go. The preseason training is the beginning of this process.

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