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View Full Version : Deja Vu All over again ....



IceMan
03-17-2005, 01:24 PM
GP W L T OTL GF GA STK P10 PTS PCT PIM
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2003/04 72 35 27 8 2 157 153 1 L 6-4-0 80 0.556 1026
2004/05 69 33 26 8 2 165 143 2 W 5-4-1 76 0.551 1019

With 3 games to go (2 Vs Tri Cities, 1 Vs Seattle), it's a very realistic possibility that the Tips could end up with exactly the same record. Not only that, depending on how the scoring and penalties go, they could almost end up with identical GA and PIM numbers as well.

Looks like we'll most likely have a better GA this year, and more PIMs, and have already eclipsed last years goals scored number.

Say what you will about Constantine ... this years group of 9 16 year olds and 2 20's is on pace to duplicate and possibly eclipse last years squad with 5 OAs. Everyone said we were lucky beause of the 5 20's and that this year, we'd be in last place .... just the opposite is true.

Some of it can be attriuted to the Left Wing Lock system that the team employs, but I'd say that the lions share of the credit goes to a coach that is able to plug in the talent he has into the right places, gives the guys a chance to succeed every night with good line combinations, and has a knack for getting 120% out of everyone.

I don't know if it's going to translate into another good playoff run, but how you not be encouraged, as a Tips fan, by what we've seen so far from this group ... one that has a good 3-4 years of playing together left in them?

grumphy
03-17-2005, 01:29 PM
[QUOTE Some of it can be attriuted to the Left Wing Lock system that the team employs[/QUOTE]
Nice name for it-----I think the rest of the league call it TRAP :laugh: :laugh:

IceMan
03-17-2005, 01:49 PM
It really is the Lock, not The Trap.

There's a big difference. The lock that the Tips play relies on reading the play and amounts to a 3 man trap IN MOTION (meaning that it's flexible and can operate blue line to blue line). The defenders cycle without the puck which makes the puck carrier make bad decisions.

The Trap, as employed by Kelowna and Kamloops is a 4 man system that is basically stationary in the neutral zone, which really slows down play.

Both systems do the same basic thing, which is to force turnovers in the NZ. The Lock, as employed by the tips, does a better job of generating offense and odd man rushes, but also, since play is moving, allows the opposition entry into the zone, so there's lots of shots (mostly poor quality) on goal.

The Tips average about 27 shots against per game
Tips: 1853 (27 shots against per game)
Kelowna: 1662 (23 shots against per game)
Kootenay: 1788 (25 shots against per game)

The Tips play a much more wide open game than you have been led to believe ... and their system is designed to encourage more motion and opportunity than a typical trap.