We mentioned last week, the hockey season is over for the Owen Sound Greys, a season in which they struggled in their return to the Midwestern Junior Hockey League.
Not that the Greys ever ask for my opinion, but if I was to give a priority list of areas to address, it would start with roster size.
I know, I know, that’s easier said than done, but really, how many games and points were lost because Owen Sound was short of manpower, or ran out of gas ?
Listening to Mark Reeds with the Attack for 4 years, his most common lament prior to this year was a lack of depth.
A player who has a bad performance, lacks discipline, has a bad attitude, whatever, needs to be replaced, sometimes in the short term, sometimes for the long run.
With the Attack, Reeds often confided in his early tenure, he wanted to do this or that with a player, but didn’t have a legitimate replacement.
This year with up to 5 guys waiting in the wings when healthy, keeping players motivated to be their best and stay in the lineup was not a problem.
I went to the Greys game last week, and in fairness I fully understand it was the end of a long and miserable season, but I watched them squander a chance to upset a good Listowel team with unsportsmanlike conducts, 10 minute misconducts and maybe the most pointless fight I’ve ever seen in hockey.
In all 4 cases, the players involved should have known better, or been shown better, but with a roster already short, I assume coach Gibbons hands were tied.
There’s a lot of work for the Greys if they are to progress, but priority 1 must be a deeper roster
I’m Fred Wallace