This is not the first season the Gazette has criticized Dalhousie’s men’s hockey team. Far from it.
Only a few years ago the Tigers were arguably one of the worst university hockey outfits in the nation. It wasn’t pretty. Dal was last in the loop for four consecutive seasons. The team had only three wins to show for themselves in 28 games in the 2005-06 season. Their encore performance was seven victories, and they had five wins the season after.
It was nothing to write home about.
The Tigers, however, have slowly improved since inviting head coach Pete Belliveau to right the ship in 2008. Last season the Tigers finally returned to the playoffs—their first berth after a miserable six-year absence.
Sure, the team was booted from the post-season last spring almost as quietly as they entered, but our men’s hockey team was the best it has been in years. It was a relief, and we were sure Dal would keep improving. The offseason acquisitions of fifth-year transfers David MacDonald and Zach Firlotte only made the team better. We even titled our season preview a few months ago, “Men’s hockey poised to join post season.”
Turns out, we should have dialled down our optimism.
This season the Tigers crawled back to the AUS basement as if they never left. After a commendable 2 – 1 start, Dal would drop 11 consecutive games, only ending that futility streak this past weekend with another victory against St. Thomas, the sole team the Tigers appear capable of beating.
It has been disappointing. And we have not been afraid to say it in these pages.
See, we got some flak back in December during the height of Dal’s dismal losing streak for our, I’ll say, humorous, jabs at the team in our ‘Semester in Review’ feature. We bestowed such glamorous awards on the squad as ‘Best Team At Not Winning’ and ‘Best Disappointment.’ We had a little fun at the team’s expense, as you can tell.
It might be harsh, but drawing attention to the Tigers’ faults was also deserved. This is a team that languished away in the bottom of the league for years, and when we saw them making a return visit, we did not enjoy the deja vu.
We cannot deny the Tigers’ numerous injuries to key players like Bobby Nadeau, Wendell Vye, Patrick Daley and Brad McConnell have hurt them tremendously, but good hockey teams must find a way to win. Dal didn’t. The team knows it has to be better. In fact, they would be the first to tell you.
Refreshed from the holiday break, the Tigers have ample opportunity to turn their season around. Former assistant Chris Donnelly has taken over the head coaching reins from Belliveau, and it’s hoped the new perspective behind the bench will provide a jump in the team’s step. Last Friday’s game was indication the Tigers are well on their way to changing their fortunes. Last Saturday’s game was not.
The Gazette sports section is filled with talented sports reporters, but we’re also fans, too. We don’t want our hockey team to become the league’s laughing stock again. We want Memorial Arena—or wherever the team happens to play—to be an exciting place to cheer on the Tigers; a team with a legitimate chance to win every night. Is that too much to ask?
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