University of Massachusets Athletics
Cahoon Quotes From Hockey East Media Teleconference
January 20, 2011 | Hockey
Jan. 20, 2011
On Wednesday, UMass hockey head coach Don "Toot" Cahoon spoke on the Hockey East Media Teleconference speaking about the season to date, the progress of his team and the upcoming portion of the season.
Cahoon On UMass' Season to Date:
It has had a lot of downs, unfortunately, but it's had a few `ups' as we try to grow as a young team. Some of the downs we can look at that we started out with two loses at Minnesota and we go to Wisconsin after Christmas break and start with two loses there; so we are 0-4 starting two different semesters and yet we didn't feel we were 0-4 in our play. That starts us off with a negative to overcome, but at the end of the day with our young team we benefited from both those trips to help identify our weaknesses and our strengths and it gives us a base to work from. Then you get into league play, and we find ourselves on and off, so we have one type of night on a Friday night and we come back and we are a totally different team on Saturday night. I guess that's youth but its also gaining the confidence to play at a consistent level. I think that shows itself throughout the season whether it be the BU series where we competed hard at BU to get the tie and couldn't get it done at home or whether it be the Providence series where we couldn't win either one of those games. Then at New Hampshire where we get taken care of on Friday night and then Saturday night we play very well. We are still working on consistency and trying to get ourselves to know what we are going to get day in and day out.
Cahoon On Vermont And UMass' previous Win vs. The Catamounts:
That was a good night for us but Kevin (Sneddon) didn't think it was a good night for them and the game was closer than a 4-1 score and could've gone the other way if the puck bounced a little bit differently. Vermont is a very difficult place to play and every team going in there will tell you the same thing. They play a real good tempo up there, the crowd gets into it and they respond to it and it will be a real challenge for us. They have only given up one five-on-five goal in almost five games and they have been a real shutdown defensive team that they have become to be known as in the last five games. Any goals that they have given up have been on special teams or an odd man lineup.
Cahoon On Watching The Standings During The Season:
I don't sit there and stare at them day in and day out; I take a glimpse at them and we pay attention to what is going on in our league week-to-week. You pay attention to college hockey overall, not only as a participant but as a great fan, to what the other leagues are doing as well. We can't get lost in the standings, our job is to teach and try to grow the group of kids that we are working with. As much as you like the idea of climbing the ladder, and that's the objective, we put the emphasis on the teaching, the practicing, and the preparing and take it game by game.
Cahoon On the Progression Of Younger Players At UMass:
The younger players are benefitting from the experiences of the older guys. Even though the older guys by and large aren't the point producers, other than T.J. Syner and Danny Hobbs. Our older guys are really solid citizens, are passionate about the sport, do all the right things, and they have really set the stage for the younger guys to follow. With the younger guys, we are getting pretty good production, and I expect as they continue to grow physically and emotionally, that production will increase. Michael Pereira has gotten off to a great start; he is putting up points as well. But if you look at Conor Sheary and Branden Gracel, you will see a couple other guys that will fit in and look like they will have great careers, be productive, and be a real source of energy for our team. Our defensive core - I can't say enough about the four freshmen playing defense. You have Adam Phillips, Conor Allen, Joel Hanley, and Colin Shea, four defensemen that are logging a lot of minutes; playing in every situation, power-play, penalty kill, all of the five-on-five ice team that you would give the top four defensemen for that matter; and they have really held up well. You look at Phillips, who has chipped in six goals and Allen with one, so they have found a way to contribute.
