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Through the early stages of the preseason and training camp, Winkler Flyers Head Coach Matt Melo has been building the team through a process, and believes they are very much on the right track.
Process over results
"It's been good for us to get some younger players into the mix," Melo outlines. "They're getting some experience for the MJHL and our organization, as well. We've allowed guys that we've committed to get get some experience, and as we go through the process, there's a ton of learning. We've had two really good games where we can work out the kinks, and work out the foundation for our group, who we want to be, and how we want to play. We know it's going to take time, but it's been a good start for our group."
Attitude and bonds
Throughout the first two games and in the camp, Melo says there's been a noticeable feel of togetherness, something he says is very important going forward. "Obviously, we want a really strong culture here, it's a pretty big buzz word. I would like to say we pride ourselves on recruiting really good men into our program. I'm really proud with our veteran core with how they've returned, we've been communicating with them about the guys we've recruited and how they've meshed the entire group. It speaks volumes about our leaders who have taken steps in those roles, supporting our younger players, and new guys, helping them feel comfortable and teaching them how we want to be. It's all the little things we've been talking about, in terms of how we want to gel, and what that looks like when it comes to our performance on the ice. It's all based on the kind of people we want to bring in, and the leaders in our group that have done such a great job."
Goaltending battles
In the first two games of the preseason, goaltending has been standing out, and Melo is pleased that the guys he has in camp are pushing each other to be the best. "It's been really good. Those two games, the scores could have been more lopsided then they were, honestly. I thought both guys were good in their games, and it certainly is going to be a tough decision. We have Leif Ekblad, he's in the mix and yet to play a game. I've felt pretty good with the guys that we had recruited and brought in. This year, when a guy like Liam Ernst was headed out to Anchorage (Alaska), I still felt really confident with the guys we were bringing in. It's been good, they're all really good teammates. They're competitive, they want the net, but they're doing it in a healthy way, they're pushing each other. It'll be a tough decision we have to make here as a group, in terms of the two guys that in the end we're going to go with. That's exactly what we want, we want tough competition at every position, and obviously, we want to build from the net out, so this is a good problem to have."
Building confidence
Winkler has another preseason game coming up on the 14th, and Melo would love to get a few guys in a position to start building confidence, something he's already working on now, as the regular season draws near. "I think guys are feeling good," he says with a grin. "I would say we've only had three veterans in our lineup to this point, and we expected some early growing pains with going young. We felt it was important to get guys experience, so I feel really good with where our group is at. Now, it's about getting more into structure, like we have really started to teach through our coaching. We'll start to increase the focus on things here this week, we want to start ramping up for the opener on the 19th. A thing that stands out is that our guys are feeling good, they love being around each other, they love coming to the rink, and they're really understanding the opportunity. I keep using the analogy of climbing the mountain, and right now we're laying down the foundation, taking our first steps here. It's a long year, a 58 game year, so we're going to build from this time out, but I think everyone is confident in our group that we have now and going forward."
Final tune up
The Winkler Flyers have one more preseason game, September 14th, as they host the Winnipeg Monarchs.