Number_4
08-30-2006, 01:21 PM
from reginapats.com
Parker expects Pats to move forward
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Greg Harder, The Leader-Post
Brent Parker doesn't want to shovel so much weight on the Regina Pats that he inadvertently digs the WHL club an early grave.
With that said, the veteran GM acknowledges that last year's 40-win season should be a clear signal for the organization to lift its collective nose out of the dirt.
After more than three years of careful planning, the Pats' rebuilding days should officially be declared a thing of the past.
Simply put, it's time to move forward.
"Looking at it, this was the year we thought we would really start to make some strides," agreed Parker, whose team opens training camp on Thursday with rookie workouts at the Lumsden arena.
"We feel we can go in and compete against anybody now."
In the same breath, Parker cautions that games are won on the ice -- not a sheet of paper. That's part of the reason why the growing expectations for the Pats, who should boast their strongest lineup in five years, are written in pencil.
"Like every other team, we want to finish first in the division," continued Parker. "That should be your goal every year and that doesn't change. For us (to reach that objective), we need to continue to progress as a hockey team. It's a real process getting to where you want to be with the culture in your room and so on."
Success can help speed up the process -- and vice-versa.
"Winning 40 games, I don't think there were many people who expected us to get to that point last year," added the GM. "It probably adds some outside pressures a little bit but I don't think it changes how you prepare. We're a year older and a year more mature so the expectations (within the organization) change. But what the so-called experts and such predict really will have no impact on us in terms of what we're trying to do and how we're going to go about doing it. We can say, 'This is supposed to be the year, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah,' but in the past there have been other teams that have gone in with high expectations (and failed). Unless you perform, unless you're committed, what everybody else thinks isn't going to win hockey games. You still have to go out and do it."
Perhaps the single biggest reason why many observers believe the Pats have indeed 'arrived' is the development of their 18-year-old talent.
Three years ago, Regina drafted the likes of Logan Pyett, Justin Bernhardt, Craig Schira and Ian Duval with the hope they would mature into a top-flight unit.
Although those players -- to varying degrees -- still have some questions to answer, the fact that they have two full seasons of experience means that youth is no longer an excuse.
"They're not kids anymore, they're not rookies," noted Parker. "They've been through it, they've all got 100-plus games under their belts and the expectations are that they will continue to progress. I don't think you get as much leeway (as players get older). You're not going to be given the freedom of making the same mistakes that maybe have been made in the past as you were growing as a player.
"If you look at it, we're still going to have probably 15 guys in the lineup every night who are 18 and under, so in terms of junior hockey we're still relatively young. But 'we're young' can only be thrown out there for so long. I think it's time for those guys to shed that label and start maturing into what we think they're capable of."
While the Pats' braintrust believes its core of 18-year-olds is capable of becoming the foundation of a solid team, there is also a belief within the organization that the crop of 17-year-olds -- including Nick Ross, Brett Leffler, Matt Delahey and Linden Rowat -- has a chance to be even better.
It's not a burden they carry alone.
The Pats also believe they have the kind of leadership necessary to steer those players in the right direction, led by 20-year-olds Kyle Ross, Garrett Festerling and Kyle Deck.
"That group (of 18-year-olds), we had a lot of focus around them being the cornerstone as we rebuild," added Parker. "But I still think you're only as good as your older players. Those guys are going to be expected to continue to lead that group."
Parker expects Pats to move forward
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Greg Harder, The Leader-Post
Brent Parker doesn't want to shovel so much weight on the Regina Pats that he inadvertently digs the WHL club an early grave.
With that said, the veteran GM acknowledges that last year's 40-win season should be a clear signal for the organization to lift its collective nose out of the dirt.
After more than three years of careful planning, the Pats' rebuilding days should officially be declared a thing of the past.
Simply put, it's time to move forward.
"Looking at it, this was the year we thought we would really start to make some strides," agreed Parker, whose team opens training camp on Thursday with rookie workouts at the Lumsden arena.
"We feel we can go in and compete against anybody now."
In the same breath, Parker cautions that games are won on the ice -- not a sheet of paper. That's part of the reason why the growing expectations for the Pats, who should boast their strongest lineup in five years, are written in pencil.
"Like every other team, we want to finish first in the division," continued Parker. "That should be your goal every year and that doesn't change. For us (to reach that objective), we need to continue to progress as a hockey team. It's a real process getting to where you want to be with the culture in your room and so on."
Success can help speed up the process -- and vice-versa.
"Winning 40 games, I don't think there were many people who expected us to get to that point last year," added the GM. "It probably adds some outside pressures a little bit but I don't think it changes how you prepare. We're a year older and a year more mature so the expectations (within the organization) change. But what the so-called experts and such predict really will have no impact on us in terms of what we're trying to do and how we're going to go about doing it. We can say, 'This is supposed to be the year, dah, dah, dah, dah, dah,' but in the past there have been other teams that have gone in with high expectations (and failed). Unless you perform, unless you're committed, what everybody else thinks isn't going to win hockey games. You still have to go out and do it."
Perhaps the single biggest reason why many observers believe the Pats have indeed 'arrived' is the development of their 18-year-old talent.
Three years ago, Regina drafted the likes of Logan Pyett, Justin Bernhardt, Craig Schira and Ian Duval with the hope they would mature into a top-flight unit.
Although those players -- to varying degrees -- still have some questions to answer, the fact that they have two full seasons of experience means that youth is no longer an excuse.
"They're not kids anymore, they're not rookies," noted Parker. "They've been through it, they've all got 100-plus games under their belts and the expectations are that they will continue to progress. I don't think you get as much leeway (as players get older). You're not going to be given the freedom of making the same mistakes that maybe have been made in the past as you were growing as a player.
"If you look at it, we're still going to have probably 15 guys in the lineup every night who are 18 and under, so in terms of junior hockey we're still relatively young. But 'we're young' can only be thrown out there for so long. I think it's time for those guys to shed that label and start maturing into what we think they're capable of."
While the Pats' braintrust believes its core of 18-year-olds is capable of becoming the foundation of a solid team, there is also a belief within the organization that the crop of 17-year-olds -- including Nick Ross, Brett Leffler, Matt Delahey and Linden Rowat -- has a chance to be even better.
It's not a burden they carry alone.
The Pats also believe they have the kind of leadership necessary to steer those players in the right direction, led by 20-year-olds Kyle Ross, Garrett Festerling and Kyle Deck.
"That group (of 18-year-olds), we had a lot of focus around them being the cornerstone as we rebuild," added Parker. "But I still think you're only as good as your older players. Those guys are going to be expected to continue to lead that group."