The Latrobe Ice cats were faced with a unique battle this week. The boys had their work cut out for them with a long road trip to take on the Cathedral Prep Ramblers. Not only has Cathedral Prep had a strong start to the season with a 4-1 record, but the home arena for the Ramblers is a two-and-half-hour drive from Latrobe. The Cats had a tough time overcoming this challenge as they fell to the Ramblers for the second time this season, this time by a score of 6-3.
A road trip like this can present issues for the players. Problems getting prepared and stretched out, problems staying on task, and staying focused. Puck drop for the game was also at 8 pm making it a very late night for the Cats. With Cathedral Prep being new to the AA division this trip was a first for all the boys on the team.
The senior leaders had to create a plan to get everyone ready come game time following the long bus ride. Senior Bryant Dumnich said, “I mean we gotta get off the bus and stretch right away. Coming in from all these practices we´ve been doing, I think we are gonna come in hot. “ Dumnich believed the team was playing at their best. The result of the game, however, shows how a trip like this can affect a team. “Our practices have been looking good, our power play has been looking better, we’re starting to change some things and throw some different players in there,” said Dumnich.
The seniors on the team knew they also were going to be facing a battle after getting everyone prepared for the game. Cathedral Prep was able to beat Latobe at Kirk S Nevin Arena in Latrobe on October 3, by a score of 4-2. The Ramblers controlled the entire pace of that game and the boys knew they needed to be better to put up a fight. Dumnich said, “I need to be a leader this game, I can’t be in the box this game as I was last game… taking ten-minute and two-minute penalties.” Once again a long trip can sway focus and affect the mindset of a team as the Cats were guilty of 6 two minute minor penalties throughout the game.
The Cats were focused on making sure they were ready to go after a long trip and wanted to have a strong first period. “We finally found our identity, starting to work out a little bit, but if we don’t spend time stretching, it is gonna show in the first period.” Latrobe went into the second period with a 3-2 lead and had exactly what they were looking for. This turned into a tough loss for the Cats though as they lost control of the game in the second period and went into the third down 5-3. A lot can be said about why the cats had such a rough second frame of this game. Was it focus, and stamina, or were they still tight from the long bus ride? No matter the reason a two a two-and-a-half-hour drive to the arena had a lot to do with the struggles.
The cats seem to be hitting their stride as confidence going into the Cathedral Prep game was at an all-time high. The cats look to be able to control the remaining schedule as their only losses this year are against Cathedral Prep. With both games against the Ramblers behind them, Latrobe has a chance to go on a hot streak in a huge stretch of the season with some beatbale teams coming up. The Cats play the Hempfiled Spartians, the Penn Trafford Warriors, and the Cannon McMillan Big Macs over the next few weeks. These upcoming games will be very important for Latrobe to secure another trip to the AA Penguins Cup Playoffs.
