Tournament Hockey- A Different Mindset

By Kelly Sharp

   The result of  Quesnel Millionaires running Spruce Kings goalie Joe Rodwell on February 24 at CN Centre

So welcome to tournament hockey, the host Prince George Spruce Kings join 4 dominant junior A hockey teams in the RBC Royal Bank Cup at CN Centre. A 5-team round robin will eliminate one team for a pair of sudden-death semi-finals. Spruce Kings head coach Ed Dempsey knows a little bit about championship tournaments. This will be Dempsey’s 7^th national tournament. He played in 3 NCAA finals as a player. He was an assistant coach on three Kamloops Blazers teams who reached the Memorial Cup tournament, winning back-to-back major junior hockey championships as an assistant to head coach Don Hay.

“It’s like six straight seventh games almost,” Dempsey said in recalling the atmosphere surrounding the championship format. “So much is emotion and adrenaline, it’s 80 % mental.”

Dempsey has stressed to his players the importance of not being distracted with all the attention focused on tournament.

“It’s important how you carry yourself for the whole event, you have to work hard to make sure you do all the little things and are committed.”

Despite the long layoff between competitive hockey, the Spruce Kings head coach and general manager is confident the Kings can elevate their game against the junior A powers. “The downside is we have been out of the playoff pressure, on the good side we are healthy and fresh,” noted Dempsey.

“We realize a chance to play in a national championship doesn’t come very often every one is working hard to make the most of this opportunity.”

Spruce Kings captain Brayden Penner says the Kings lineup can meet the challenge of taking on regional champions.

“With that competition comes better play, that’s why we are going to be a different team when we go out their.”

Of course the importance of goaltending is escalated two-fold in facing snipers from 4 different teams. The Prince George tandem of Joe Rodwell and Jordan White will be on the hot seat.

“We are confident in both are goaltenders,” said Dempsey.

The challenge opens Saturday night at 7 at CN Centre when the Spruce Kings take on the Pembroke Lumber Kings.

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