Quake Hockey Set to Host Bozeman Friday, Saturday’s Contest Moved to Next Thursday

Coming off the heels of a 6-4 win over Bozeman last weekend the Yellowstone Quake Hockey team gets set to face Bozeman once again this Friday inside the friendly confines of the Riley Arena. While last Friday’s win wasn’t a must win game as we’re just five games into the season, it was probably their most important win to date. I caught up with Quake Head Coach Phil Oberlin who last week said the Quake don’t want to be a team who loses back-to-back games. Coach Oberlin credits the team’s resolve for earning that win.

“We wanted to make sure we were a team that could bounce back from adversity and that we don’t get stuck falling into losing habits. It was a big game in regard to that. So it was good to see the guys bounce back, even within the game getting scored on, coming right back, scoring that next shift, that’s typically what’s going on to us. So it was nice to have a bounce back, even shift-to-shift and then obviously game-to-game. So it was definitely a good win for the guys.”

Going into this week coach Oberlin says getting better at five-on-five is the biggest emphasis at practice and adds how they get better at that.

“The focus this week is just our compete level, our battles. Positionally and structurally we feel like we’re in good spots, we just aren’t playing as intense as wee need to or to the level that we need to in order to play in the O-Zone more often and less time in our D-Zone. So structurally we feel like we’re good, it’s just effort wise right now, winning puck battles.”

While Coach Oberlin and the Quake will continue to take things one day at a time, coach also knows with just four games left in the month, being able to end October on a high note can go a long way for the season ahead.

“We’re 2-3 right now, first five games. We haven’t won multiple games in a row so I think that’s just something we need to build on. Again, just understanding that level of play you need to be at to consistently win games. I think it’s just pushing ourselves in practice and playing with intensity. We’re going to will ourselves to win games. It’s not an X’s and O’s things at this point. It really just comes down to effort and your want.”

As for playing the Ice Dogs on back-to-back Friday’s Coach welcomes the challenge of now hosting the Ice Dogs. Coach Oberlin on the preparation for this contest.

“Obviously, being able to play a team and have a video and go back and see what tendencies they do and what they have, helps because then we can go back and kind of make adjustments and see if there’s things we need to do differently in our game-plan. We break down neutral zone regroups, our breakouts, where we can get pucks out, where we can get pucks in. So all those types of things we’ll end up looking at moving into the weekend.”

And what are some of the biggest adjustments that will have to be made if the Quake are to defeat Bozeman once again?

“I think it’s our defensive zone. I think we took steps towards being better this weekend at it. We only gave up one 5-on-5 goal this past weekend. So it was better, still wasn’t great yet. I think that’s the biggest thing, is that, if we can continue to block shots and help our goaltenders out, out shoot them. That’s going to end up benefiting us in the long run.”

The Yellowstone Quake will be back on their home rink this Friday as they welcome the Bozeman Ice Dogs into the Riley Arena. Puck drops at 7pm. The Quake’s Saturday game vs. Sheridan has been moved to Thursday October 29^th.

Quake Hockey Schedule for the rest of October.