A mind is a powerful thing. So powerful, in fact, even the smartest, fittest and most talented person or team can fall into the abyss commonly known as a slump.
Powell River Kings lost a couple of games last week, 4-0 to Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Wednesday and 4-1 against Merritt Centennials on Friday, to run their current losing streak to five games.
A possible upside to the slump is that only good teams have them and sooner or later break free of their hold. But, nobody enjoys losing.
The origin of a slump is mysterious and complex but certainly expectations have a huge impact. Just as confidence and execution create a winning environment, during a slump there is a tendency toward negativity and lost focus. In short, expecting the worst usually delivers the worst.
Kings travelled to Alberni hoping to turn things around but the last-place Bulldogs are scrambling to make the playoffs and pounced early.
Kings’ goalie Jeff Smith was pulled after allowing three goals in the first 13 minutes and 47 seconds and although the Kings outshot the Bulldogs 32-27 overall the final was 4-0 for the home team.
Hoping to turn things around at home with a couple of games on the weekend, the Kings first faced Merritt on Friday night.
They, too, are fighting to secure a playoff spot in the Interior and nothing but a full 60-minute effort was expected from them.
Kings looked ready for that and started the game with a good pace and the first goal at 9:23.
Kings won the draw in the Cents’ zone and from the point captain Aidan Wright blew a shot by the game’s third star, goalie Jarrod Schamerhorn.
For the next five minutes however, it seemed like every shot the Centennials aimed at the Kings’ net went in.
They scored on a couple of wrist shots at 14:09 and 15:54 and then a slapshot from Zach Hartley at 16:37 and starter Jonah Imoo was relieved after the first period by Smith.
Just like that the Kings were down 3-1 and after a scoreless second period only the Cents could find the net and won easily 4-1.
There was supposed to be a third game last week but mother nature stepped in to cause a ferry cancellation and the postponement of the Alberni game to 6:30 pm Tuesday, February 25 at Hap Parker Arena.
Experts agree that off-ice distractions are helpful in turning around teams and a luncheon already planned for Sunday was a perfect diversion. It also presented a chance to gather some thoughts on the current situation.
Long-time fan Jerry Stroomer attended the luncheon and said, “We’re in the playoffs, we’re a good team, so let’s try to create a positive atmosphere out of this. Don’t dwell on the games that you lose, it’s a cancer. The professionals that I see and hear on the media say focus on the next game and I think that’s good advice.”
Wright said he and his teammates need to dig deep in the next few weeks. “Any slump I’ve been part of,” he said, “you’ve got to keep working hard to get out of it. Eventually, once you break the slump, that’s when teams become dangerous because they kind of find their groove. That’s when good things happen.”
Coach and general manager Kent Lewis admitted the Kings are partially responsible for the relapse. “Fans want to come to the rink and see a group compete their rear ends off,” he said. “We’ve haven’t been doing that, so you can call it whatever, maybe a wakeup call because lately we haven’t been playing to the desperate level of our opponents.”
As for finding a way out of their current situation, Lewis said, “Work harder, trust your instincts, trust how you’ve been trained and execute.”
In summary, “Let’s not be babies about it and there’s no on-off switch,” he said. “It’s a process where you’ve got to earn the breaks again and over the next two weeks we’ve got to get our systems down in practice and prepare for our next five games which will go very fast. After that we get ready for the post-season.”
Kings host Surrey Eagles at 7:30 pm on Friday, February 21 and Cowichan Capitals at 6:30 pm on Saturday, February 22. Bulldogs return Tuesday, February 25 for a 6:30 pm start.
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