Girls' hockey: First trip to state ends in 5-0 loss

I just read the article in the paper from Feb. 26th regarding the girls game v.Warroad. I found it very interesting that Head Coach Fabel sold out his goaltenders-again. Shots on goal were 54-6. Now, giving full disclosure, I'm a goalie mom. And there are times I struggle with helping my second grader in math. But, um, if we don't score any goals, doesn't that mean that the first goal was the game winner?

Clearly stopping 42 shots on goal wasn't enough to lift the team to a victory, that's a fact. Both goalies struggled, another fact. But gee whiz, were they the only two on the ice who were responsible for their team? To listen to the coach's quote, it sure sounds like it.

Good thing he has goalies to blame for this loss and not his coaching or anyone else on this team who didn't score goals or stop Warroad's offense. Yup, yup-as my goalie would say...good thing.

The goal tending has been a weakness all season long. Are they alone in stopping the other teams attempts.... at times the other five players do not do their jobs and it results in point blank shots on our goalies. A coaches job is to be truthful and honest, if he feels that our goal tending has been lack-luster lets believe him. I thought our goal scoring was as sick and weak and could also be blamed. When you go up against teams that are bigger, faster, and better at handling the puck we sometimes would rather blame our players for being flat or not ready, or that our coaches were not doing a good job... lets just be more truthful with ourselves and admit that the Tigers were not nearly as talented. Our regular season's record was an accurate predictor to what happened to us as we began to play against teams at the state level.
This years team found itself in a soap-opera with their goalies. One had more talent, but was uncoachable and had a very poor attitude and the other was less talented but was much more manageable but was much more open to her team and teammates.
Being a goalie is not as easy as it seems... I'm sure its so much fun shooting and shooting and scoring goals and getting the player of the minute, day, and week awards I'm sure... however working hard on the defensive side of the ice means more than just pointing fingers at your goalies.
Lets just be happy at getting to the state tournament and if it happens again, lets work towards being more competitive. Good job coaches and team!

Jep-
I'm sorry if four words ("goaltending was not good") buried deep in a game story makes you think Coach Fabel put a 12-0 loss on just the goaltenders. Like I said, if you read his entire quote, he said goaltending was not good, but it was a combination of things (that led to the score).

Clearly with the outcomes at state, it was "they" were just better than "us." In Tuesday's paper, Coach Fabel talks abouts this. It was great to get there. Next time, the team and coaches need to find a way to be competitive, he said.

Regardless of the outcome, it was great experience I'm sure for everybody involved. For the three seniors, it is something they won't ever forget. For everybody else, it's a goal to get back and have a second chance. Congrats Tigers!

I"m sorry you're offended by my example given. As I stated, it was an example. It was not written, just an example. But clearly you perceived it otherwise and I'm sorry for that.

It is a goaltenders position to be front and center in a loss. One of the former girls 12u coaches said it best, "When a defensemen or wing makes a mistake, no one cares. When a goalie makes a mistake, games could be lost." So calling out goalies is an easy target. Calling out any other players, as was the example above, is not acceptable to some.
You have proved my point.

i do not believe that being happy at the idea of being at the state tournament for the first time in program history is lame biteme. i honestly can't believe you would even think that. it shows heart that they got there and actually had to work as a whole team to get there. it is not about one wing, one defensemen, or one goalie. blame is falling on one or two players and i agree, that is not fair at all, they went there as a team and they fell as a team. however, is this not supposed to be about the girls? why not get mad at the people who are blaming the goalies instead of making comments about the players or other fans for being excited the girls had the chance to go. i do not appreciate being referred to as lame for being excited for our girls to the the chance to play the state tournament. maybe that is just me...

I'll make one last comment and then I'm closing this thread because it has run its course.

What gets put in the paper is a small percentage of what I hear from players/coaches. As a reporter, you use the "best stuff." I did not specfically ask Coach Fabel to comment on the goaltending, but I did ask him for his general comments on the 12-0 performance. He said all sorts of things - one being goaltending, other things such as being tight to begin the game and other reasons for the loss.

I didn't write the story as to blame anyone. Like MissThang19 said, you win as a team, you lose as a team. Anybody who read the game story in Thursday's paper and thought anyone was blaming the goaltenders has an axe to grind.

Coach Fabel did say goaltending wasn't good, but in no way did he say it was the sole reason for the loss. And those other reasons were quoted earlier in the story, because being tight and being first-timers to state playing the No. 2 team in the tourney were the main reasons for a loss. Anybody who watched that game, or read the story, or heard accounts can safely say to lose 12-0 it is a complete team breakdown.

Like I said before, be proud that the Tigers made it that far. They were the first team I covered at state since the first weeks of my employment spring of 2006 with the baseball team. The girls get to hang a banner next to the boys' three (hopefully four) and all 16 girls got a chance to skate at the X and say they played in the state tourney. Regardless of outcomes, it was a big deal to the team and hopefully the community.