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11/20/2009-Hockey
ORCHARD LAKE -- With the changing of players, comes a change in philosophy. Two years ago, in the same season that Orchard Lake St. Mary's hockey team tied in one of the greatest games in the MHSAA playoffs, an eight-overtime thriller that eventually ended in a tie with Marquette, the Eaglets played lock down defense, rarely allowing multiple goals in a game by the opposition.
This season, St. Mary's looks to put a faster, more agile team on the ice, looking to score more often while still playing lock-down defense.
The quickness and agility are just a few things that head coach Brian Klanow sees as strengths in his senior laden team.
"I think we have good speed, I think we've got good heart, we're going to be competitive because we work hard,"
There was a clear message sent by Klanow that was very simple.
"The word team, and discipline, that's the message," said Klanow on what he has preached to his team. "Certainly, we have a long way to go, a lot of things to work on, a lot of speed and a lot of good puck movement."
Senior captain Cody King said the team responded to Klanow's message shortly after the team was assembled.
"We're coming together as a team a lot better than we did last year," said King. "After the first couple of practices, everyone came together."
The Eaglets won't have to wait long to have their first real test, playing rival and reigning state champions Novi Detroit Catholic Central twice within the season's first two weeks, something that Klanow doesn't see as a deciding factor in where the teams will be at the end of the season, but sees these games as a learning tool of sorts.
"That's something that coach (Todd) Johnson (Novi Detroit Catholic Central) and I decided to do and it's not going to be an indicator of where we are going to be at the end of the season, but I know that they are very strong and we don't ever shy away from playing good teams. We feel that it's a benefit for us. Good teams are going to expose your weaknesses and when your weaknesses are exposed, that's how you learn"
When comparing this year's version of the Eaglets, King said that while there are a few things in common, this team will be different in various ways.
"The way the systems work, there are some similarities. Everyone works hard. This team is probably a faster team while that team was more of a defensive team. Also, this team is a lot more of an offensive team."
As St. Mary's looks to recapture the success it had in 2007-2008 season, one thing is certain, the Eaglets will be a much different team in 2009-10.
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