The Innisfail Eagles are looking to turn around their hockey season in 2016 from basement dwellers to contenders.
The coaching staff believes there has been plenty of positives in the first half to be optimistic the rest of the season.
Assistant coach Ryan Dodd said despite the results on the scoresheet in the first half of the season, the team has put forth a great effort.
“The season's been strong so far. Every game that we've played we've been right there,” said Dodd, one of four assistant coaches with the team. “We're looking at possibly adding a couple of guys to try and fill a couple of holes, but the season's been good.”
The Eagles wrapped up the first half in December with a 2-8-0-0 record (including one shootout win) for a total of four points. They currently sit in last place in the four-team league.
Dodd noted the close outcomes of several first half games.
“We've come out on the wrong end of a few games -- games where we probably should have been able to come out on top,” he said. “But we're moving forward and we've got some great talent coming out.”
One of the newest additions to the team is forward Dan Nicholls. A native of Whitby, Ont., Nicholls now resides in Calgary.
“It'll be great having him in the lineup,” said Dodd. “Dan played with us last year as an affiliate player and he's a really tough, really good grinder. He's not afraid of the physical game and he goes to the hard places,” Dodd added. “He's got that ability to throw a hard hit and really change a game around or score a goal when you really need one.”
The 27-year-old right-winger is happy to be a part of the Eagles' roster this year and hopes to contribute a physical presence on the ice.
“I've always been a role type player with lots of crashing and banging and bringing lots of life to the team,” said Nicholls. “Hopefully I can kill quite a few penalties and get the job done that way.
“I'm excited to get things going and get in my first few games of the year,” he added.
Dodd said having just four teams in the league this season has provided some stiff competition for the Eagles.
“The league this year is probably the tightest I've ever seen it,” he said. “Everybody has really top end, top quality players.”
After struggling in the first half of the season, Dodd said there are areas that he, the coaching staff and head coach Brian Sutter would like to focus on and improve in 2016.
One of those areas is scoring.
“We've had 2-1 games and 3-2 games. It's been really close,” said Dodd. “So it'd be nice to see a couple more pucks in the net.”
The Eagles might have their work cut out for them in the second half but Dodd said they are ready.
“You always stay positive. The guys that we have here are really good, quality players that buy into a system and play a really good system,” said Dodd. “As long as we stick to that and play the way that we want to, we feel we can come out on top.”
Ryan Dodd
"You always stay positive. The guys that we have here are really good, quality players that buy into a system and play a really good system. As long as we stick to that and play the way that we want to, we feel we can come out on top."
