Sabres’ 10-day layoff nearing an end Bearcats here this weekend

If waiting is the hardest part, this past week has been downright rough for the Fort Frances Jr. Sabres.
After losing three-straight games to the Dryden Ice Dogs, the Sabres were saddled with a stretch of 10 days between games—having nothing to do until their tilt this Friday against the visiting Thunder Bay Bearcats but practice, add plays, practice, make cuts, practice, and, of course, wait.
“We’re trying to rebuild after those three losses in a row, and it’s going to take time to get into shape,” goalie Ryan Faragher said.
Sabres’ head coach Wayne Strachan said there would be major changes to the team following their third loss—and some gruelling practices.
The big change in the team’s morning practice is “we did work a lot on skating, not so much our systems,” Strachan said.
“We do have to get in better shape on the ice to play back-to-back games,” he stressed. “And the way our schedule is set up right now, we play I think nine games in [16] days or something, so we’re going to be busy.”
The Sabres wrap up their two-game series with the Bearcats on Saturday night before hosting the Ice Dogs next Tuesday (Oct. 9).
All three games start at 7:30 p.m.
When asked how the practices have been going, Faragher replied, “This week? Rough. We’ve been skating a lot. It wasn’t focused on goalies until today.”
Fellow goalie David Novak’s one-word assessment was less diplomatic: “Horrible,” he said.
While the Sabres will see some new faces when they hit the ice this weekend, two of the most obvious ones will be the return of MacKenzie York and Joey Shaw.
Both players were out for the series against Dryden with knee injuries, but both are skating and should be fine to play the Bearcats.
Strachan said Shaw’s work ethic should help the team play three consistent periods while York’s presence on defence should make an impact.
“It definitely helps in the physical aspect of the game with MacKenzie on the line,” Strachan remarked. “He clears the front of the net, something we have been having a problem with.”
York said he’s anxious to get back on the blueline.
“I’m excited. Sitting out three games . . . it’s cold in the stands. I don’t like sitting out there. I’m itching to play,” he enthused.
That said, York thought the past week of practices has been “pretty intense.”
“I think whatever emotion we have, we’re starting to show it in practice . . . if we bring that character to the game, we should be able to play the full 60 minutes.”
The Sabres also used the layoff to cut two of players—Nick Knutson and Shane Kakegamic. Neither had managed a point in the Sabres’ first five games.
Joining the team will be defenceman Mario Boivin, a native of Sioux Lookout, coming in a trade for considerations from the Fort William North Stars. In four games this season with the North Stars, Boivin had yet to register a point but amassed 14 minutes in penalties.
The Sabres also permanently added a pair of players who had put in a few minutes against Dryden—forwards Dan Usiski, a native of Rainy River, and Dustin Johnson, from Campbell River, B.C.
Strachan figures Usiski will bring some power and physical presence to the club while Johnson will provide some energy and grit.
Strachan hinted there will be more changes to the roster to come, but said he likes the lines where they are—preferring to let the top two lines spend time together to build chemistry.
He said the fourth line will be a little different this coming weekend, but added he liked the low-scoring but high-intensity third line, made up of Ray Pressacco, Colin Spencer, and Johnson.
The layoff also has given time to think, and Strachan said that’s led to the team focusing on some specific goals.
“We had a team meeting [last] Friday and discussed a lot of different goals we have for the year, and how we have to obtain them and what we have to do to achieve them,” he noted.
“We realize that the next nine games, we play six against the top three teams.”
The first of two major goals is to cut down on “overshooting,” said Strachan. The Sabres currently are second-last in goals scored in the SIJHL, but have averaged more than 34 shots a game.
The second was to finish fourth in the league standings.
“That’s where we’re predicted to finish [by the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal] and I think that would definitely be a good spot, and an obtainable spot,” Strachan said.
“Obviously anything higher would be great, but we do have to realize that there are some good teams in the league and we have to get better to catch ’em,” he stressed.
The Sabres currently sit in fifth place. Fourth in the regular season also would assure the expansion team a spot in the playoffs, Strachan noted.
However, the team’s focus is on their upcoming series here against the Bearcats—and working in practice to up their game to their level.