12/12/17
One Month Update from Coach Riegle

Headed into tryouts, we were 29 strong. A couple injuries and academic ineligibilities early-on, we are starting to get back to a full squad. We are 1 month in and as you saw came together as a team early on through some team building events and had really started to gel holding ourselves and other individuals accountable. We struggled out of the gate headed up to Summit in our first game, but after some focused video review and some players really putting effort, intensity and energy into their game play, we rebounded nicely with 2 wins to jump to the top of the standings at 2-1 Varsity conference record and our team play was looking solid. 3 full periods of team play still eluded us though.

After that, we have struggled. Our emphasis has been on moving and supporting with a purpose away from the puck and utilizing teammates vs selfish play. We have had a focus on Gratitude, Optimism, Truthfulness and most recently Humility to continue to bond and build a strong team, culture and character of each and every player. For those showing to practices, we seem to get somewhere, but in the last couple games, we have struggled to play as we practice and thus let a couple winnable games slip away.

We will continue to grow as a team. Changing a culture that has had an emphasis on losing and lack of accountability is difficult to change, let alone trying to do it in only a couple weeks’ time. We believe each player has grown in some aspects of their character and what it really takes to be a teammate from the beginning of the season. Some more than others, and we are a long way from every player buying into this in all aspects of this Great Chatfield team, and the bigger picture of life itself. We still bring excuses as “to why” and stand around “hoping the puck comes to me” rather than putting team first and creating the game in front of us while on the ice.

This isn’t a “light switch”, it is a process and coaches are really proud of where these players have come from in just a short few weeks. Yes we would like instant success on the scoreboard and in everything we do, I don’t think anyone would deny that, players, parents and coaches alike. What we are really striving for is character, community and the essences of what accountability and teammate really stand for. That is what success really is, am I better than yesterday and can I be better tomorrow? That is when the scoreboard will shift in our favor on a regular basis.

A couple big practices, continued team building of character and culture and some tough games lie ahead in these next 10 days. We will continue to grow and fail together as we strive for greatness.

As we look past next weekend and school break, the one thing I ask is to not lose momentum as we head into a holiday break. This is a make and break time for teams as those days off can improve the success of a team, but many times, bad habits, lack of team commitment and distractions sometimes take priority. Use this time as an opportunity to get better. Find some like-minded individuals, teammates and train hard over these weeks to become better at your craft. It is the best game on earth!

Happy Holidays

Yours in Hockey,

The Chatfield Chargers Ice Hockey Club Coaches and Staff