Hard knocks for hockey

Please note: The Blair Blazer ice hockey team is not affiliated with Montgomery Blair High School or Montgomery County Public Schools.

The Blazers never gave themselves a chance, losing 9-1 to Magruder. Blazer hockey is now 0-4, with no season turnaround in sight.

Coach Kevin McCabe didn't arrive until halfway through the second period due to traffic problems. Sophomore Mitchell Metcalf had to sit out because of a suspension. Junior Nick Falgout was checked, knocked to the ice and forced to leave for the local hospital.

These setbacks may or may not have affected the game's final outcome, as the Blazers were unable to put strong shots on goal for the fourth straight game. The Blazers did not take half as many shots on goal as the Colonels did. Junior goalie Graham Mathews faced close to 50 shots before he was given a rest on the bench with seven minutes left in the game.

Matthews blames the poor play on the missing players and coach. "We really couldn't get past all the setbacks," Mathews says. "It was just too many losses at once."

The Blazers main problem this season is clearly a lack of experience. According to McCabe, a number of players this year had never played hockey on ice before. The winter season is the first time many had traded in their roller blades for ice skates. According to McCabe, so many players are playing ice hockey for the first time that they must focus on the basics of the game, like keeping balance while looking up. This allows more experienced teams to get more shots on goal and to set up better opportunities.

In order to win this season, the Blazers must look past the basics of the game and focus on keeping the puck on the opponent's side of the rink.

Falgout will be out for the next week, while Metcalf sits out indefinitely.