[COPENHAGEN | DENMARK]
With
the 2015 CCHL Canosa Conference playing out like the NL Central Division
in Major League Baseball did in 2015, the Minnesota Norsemen are preparing
daily for what is expected to be a dog fight all season to come out on
top of.
"As
teams were lining up in the offseason, it was obvious then that we were
in a highly competitive conference," said Norsemen GM Blake Wendt.
"As we've crossed that 10-game threshold, you're really starting to
see how much parity there is in the Canosa. It's great to have the competition.
Any victory is hard fought and well deserved. Makes every team that much
tougher on each other and wield the sword when we get into inter-conference
play."
Currently
sitting atop the Canosa Conference, the Norsemen are 9-2-1 (19 points).
Only one point ahead of the Victoria Ronin and five points from the sixth-ranked
Georgetown Millers in the conference.
"The
talent is immense," said Norsemen head coach, Craig Hartsburg. "We
face it every game, so we have to come into every game dialed in and ready
to go with a game plan. As a coaching staff we have to formulate a pre-plan
that reflects the given opponent, adjust in-game and the players execute
the plan. The team across from you is doing the same thing, so it's a constant
battle. 'W' goes to the one who wants it more or gets the lucky bounces."
Minnesota
found early on what was working with their group and what was not. Special
teams was a sore subject in the pre-season and leaked into the regular
season. "We were not panicked by the lack of production on the power
play and penalty kill," said Wendt. "But there just wasn't much
clicking for the first few games with any of the coach Hartsburg's lineup
selections. We hope that with the moves we have made recently, that we
can iron that part out of our game and let these units be successful."
The
most recent move the Norsemen made specifically addressed the man advantage.
Acquiring Clarke MacArthur from the Springfield Homers. MacArthur at the
time was leading the league with four power play goals, and the Homers
with ten points. Prior to the MacArthur deal, Wendt picked up penalty killers
and defensive specialists in Jay McClement, Cedric Paquette and Rob Scuderi
from the Portland Owls.
"Clarke
has a knack for success on the PP so far this season," said assistant
coach Dean McAmmond who runs the teams power play. "The struggle will
be fitting him into the everyday lineup with all the guys we have that
play the left side. But he's a pretty good all-around player and teammate
that we feel can adapt to whatever situation we put him in. He's got the
right mentality for this group. On the PK side of things, the guys that
just came in are a really good mix of talent that again gives us so many
more options. McClement is good on draws and a polished penalty killer.
Paquette is a young guy that has some sand paper to his game. Good hands
and very good on the defensive side of the puck for his age. He should
play a big role with this club for many many years. Scud is just a really
good shutdown d-man. He has the ability to control his zone, and when paired
a more puck moving guy, he can be apart of a nice third option in the pairings."
Scuderi has so far played with Jonas Brodin since being acquired.
Big
test for the Norsemen comes again on Saturday in Copenhagen when they take
on the defending back-to-back Kehler Cup champs. Minnesota beat the Crusaders
4-3 in their last meeting. But the champs are coming off a 3-3 tie against
the winless Ice Cats.
"We
know they're going to come out swinging," said assistant coach Phil
Housley. "I think it was a bit of a shock for everyone that seen Siberia
play with them like they did. So we will have to be ready ourselves just
from an adrenaline stand point right off the bat. They're at home, it's
obviously a big game for both teams and we will have to weather the storm
and play our game, dictate the tempo and try to quiet their house that
will for sure be rocking.
