AFTER BACK-TO-BACK WEEKEND SWEEPS THE YELLOWSTONE QUAKER ARE CURRENTLY RIDING A FIVE GAME WIN STREAK. THE QUAKE HAVE HIT THEIR STRIDE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON PLAYING SOME OF THEIR BEST HOCKEY. THE QUAKE ARE PLAYING AT A MORE CONSISTENT LEVEL WEEK-IN AND WEEK-OUT AND COACH OBERLIN TOUCHES ON TWO PLAYERS WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN THE TURNAROUND.
“WE STARTED OUT LAST YEAR WITH JACK HARRIS, TYLER CRAMER WERE THE ONLY GUYS THAT RETURNED. WE’VE PUT THEM IN A POSITION WHERE THEY PLAY A TON FOR US SO THEY’RE BIG CONTRIBUTORS. THEN AGAIN THE GUYS THAT RETURN FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR, THAT CORE GROUP OF PLAYERS THAT UNDERSTAND WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND WHAT WE WANT TO DO, I THINK IS A HUGE BENEFACTOR TO US. JUST HAVING THOSE GAMES UNDER THEIR BELT AND THE CONFIDENCE THEY CAN PLAY AT THIS LEVEL.”
NOW, THE QUAKE GET SET FOR WHAT COULD BE THEIR TOUGHEST STRETCH OF THE SEASON. YELLOWSTONE’S NEXT SEVEN CONTESTS COMES AGAINST THE TOP THREE TEAMS IN THE FRONTIER DIVISION. COACH OBERLIN ON THAT STRETCH OF GAMES.
“THIS IS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE BUT AGAIN I THINK WE JUST NEED TO EMBRACE THAT. THEIR’S TEAMS THAT WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH IF WE END UP MAKING IT DOWN THE ROAD THROUGH THE PLAYOFFS. SO IT CAN’T BE SOMETHING THAT WE FEAR. IT JUST HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE EMBRACE. AGAIN, WE’VE BEATEN SHERIDAN. WE’VE BEATEN BOZEMAN, TWICE NOW. SO IT’S NOT ANYTHING THAT WE CAN’T HANDLE, IT’S JUST HAVING THE RIGHT MENTALITY AND THE RIGHT MINDSET GOING INTO IT, I THINK IS THE BIGGEST THING.”
UP FIRST ON THIS DIFFICULT STRETCH WILL BE A FACE-OFF WITH THE SHERIDAN HAWKS. SHERIDAN IS A POWERHOUSE OFFENSIVELY, LEADING THE DIVISION IN GOALS SCORED WITH 213. COACH OBERLIN ON WHERE THE QUAKE WILL LOOK TO FIND SUCCESS.
“THEY’RE A VERY OFFENSIVE TEAM SO IF WE CATCH THEM BEING OVERLY AGGRESSIVE AND WE CAN END UP BREAKING THE PUCK OUT WITH SPEED, OR REGROUPING AND CATCHING THEM A BIT OVER-PURSUING THE PUCK. SO ON THOSE TRANSITIONS, I THINK THAT WE CAN END UP SCORING SOME GOALS AND EXPOSING THAT A LITTLE BIT. THAT’S KIND OF WHAT WE’RE LOOKING AT. AGAIN, ATTACKING AS A GROUP. NOT LOOKING FOR THOSE BREAK-AWAY PASSES OR STRETCH PASSES OR ANYTHING. WE’VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE COMMITTED TO COMING BACK AND ATTACKING AS A GROUP.”
AND IF THE QUAKE ARE TO CONTINUE THEIR WINNING WAYS IT ALL STARTS WITH DEFENSE.
“WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE’RE NOT GIVING UP 60 PLUS SHOTS IN BOTH GAMES. IF WE CAN LIMIT THEIR SCORING OPPORTUNITIES AS A GROUP I THINK THAT’S GOING TO END UP CREATING GOOD RESULTS FOR US. I THINK IT’S MORE OF A TEAM COMMITMENT TO GOOD DEFENSE IS WHAT’S GOING TO END UP HELPING US OUT. IF WE CAN DO THAT AS A GROUP I THINK WE PUT OURSELVES IN A GOOD POSITION TO AT LEAST GET ONE, POSSIBLY TWO (WINS).”
THE YELLOWSTONE QUAKE WILL RETURN TO THE ICE THIS WEEKEND FOR A SERIES AGAINST SHERIDAN. FRIDAY’S CONTEST WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE REILLY ARENA IN CODY WITH PUCK DROPPING AT 7:30. SATURDAY’S CONTEST WILL BE IN SHERDIAN WITH A 7PM START.
