DS: After a shutout performance from Ryan Rewerts, do you believe he now has a stranglehold on the starting position? Or is the competition still alive and well? Will he be between the pipes Wednesday?
KH: Our goalies are well informed and communication is everything between our goalies and staff. All three are becoming more familiar with one another. Ryan has earned the start again against the Hounds, we are excited to see him compete.
DS: An offensive battle between two juggernauts in the SJHL in Melfort. The North Stars and the Mustangs exchanged blows all game long. What is the mentality of the team in an offensive shootout like this?
KH: The team responded well in this situation. Regardless of the highs or lows that were present in this game, we continued to battle right into overtime. Our staff felt we played very well, throwing a lot of shots at Richard Palmer. It was a night where the puck found its way into our net in situations where we typically keep it out.
DS: The North Stars were two seconds away from walking away from Northern Lights Palace with a W. What was the team's reaction when they knew they were headed to OT? As a coach, how did you get them going?
KH: Our leadership is critical in these games and having the right players on the ice at the right times is what we can do as a staff. Obviously the players weren't happy going to overtime in this game, however, the right things were being said on the bench to refocus our efforts and the players did everything they could to swing that game back in our favour. Unfortunately, it simply wasn't meant to be.
DS: Firing 47 shots, were you pleased with the way your team played in the offensive zone? What kinds of things did you see when you checked tape from the defensive side, especially late in the third?
KH: Our offensive game was great, we were hard on pucks, willing to shoot, and forced Palmer to make some big saves. Defensively the game got away from us, and that became the centre of focus for our team heading into the next game against Nipawin.
DS: Whatever message you sent to the team after the loss in Melfort seemed to have worked, as they came out firing in a 6-0 dominant win over Nipawin. We talked about the mark of a good team before, but does bouncing back from a tough loss to a controlling win factor into that as well? What does it say about your team when you think about the fact they haven't lost three in a row since Oct. 31?
KH: We believe the "bounce back" characteristic is a quality that becomes a part of your culture. Again, this quality can not be cultivated without tremendous leadership, which is what we are getting from the leaders on our team. It starts in practice, our preparation after a tough loss is detailed, and intense.
DS: The North Stars drew 15 penalties against the Hawks, one of the highest totals this year. They fired 47 shots once again and the offensive outpour began. You said it before that they had a tough-to-play-against defence, how much does the score factor into just how good this offence can be on any given night, especially going up against a hot team like the Hawks?
KH: For the first 35 minutes of that game, the score was very close and the offensive zone time probably favored the Hawks. They worked extremely hard and were relentless on the forecheck. I was very proud at how well our team played defensively in that time and we simply and patiently waited for our opportunities. A lot of those shots came in the third with the man advantage, our players and staff know that the score wasn't a reflection of the game. Rewerts played very well when called upon and we generated offence off our cycles which ultimately became the difference in the game.
DS: The Downs/Gorgi/Young line combined for 15 points in two games last week. Like your goaltending situation, the North Stars have line 1A and line 1B working now. How has this line improved and matured over the year to become such a dominating force, with two rookies skating on it?
KH: We believe we have four lines going right now and have been getting contributions from everyone, not only offensively, but defensively as well. Not too long ago, the Nachtegaele, Kanter and Davidson line scored all three goals in a 3 -1 win over the Hounds. The Downs, Young and Gorgi line have been on fire as of late. They have worked very hard to earn the confidence to play that way. They have a lot of fun in practice and keep the atmosphere loose.
DS: Part of the reason why I think this team is so successful is the unselfish play. From top to bottom, each player takes on a "teammates first" approach and wants to contribute to the team instead of thinking of individual numbers. Was this part of your message before the year began?
KH: Absolutely it has been. Our leaders have made the room what it is through their actions and their words. Everyone contributes to a common cause and our guys are focused on achieving that together.
DS: Your sixth and final matchup against Notre Dame is this Wednesday. Although your team is 22 points ahead of them in the Finning Division, this could be a big game in terms of clinching the division. Is this something that has crossed your mind, or is it still a bit early? How are you looking to shut down their PP unit? For a team that somewhat lacks offence, is it key to stay out of the box to stay away from their power play?
KH: We will be well prepared for Notre Dame when they come to the Civic Center. Certainly it would be an honour to win our division, however, our focus remains on the way we play and continuing to get better in preparation for playoffs. The Hounds could be a first round opponent so it will be critical we use the previous games and this final regular season game to get a clear sense of how to play them. We respect the ability of their power play and will be keying in on the strengths of that part of their game to hopefully shut them down. Our primary objective is to play with discipline and keep the game five-on-five.
DS: Two-day road trip in Melville and Yorkton this weekend. The North Stars are a perfect 3-0 against a Melville team that has the least goals for in the league. Will you be taking a "get ahead, stay ahead" approach knowing it will be tough for them to come back? Yorkton boasts the number one PP unit in the SJHL, but one of the worst PK units. Do you think this game will come down to special teams?
KH: Both Yorkton and Melville are in a playoff race for the final spot. They will both be relentless with their effort and extremely determined to earn two points against us. We believe all games could be impacted by special teams, however, we have also learned in this league that anything can change the outcome of the game. We want to continue to improve all aspects of how we play, and with this being the last overnight road trip of the regular season, we will take full advantage of the opportunity with preparation being the highest priority.
