J.P. Hoornstra, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Recently appointed captain David Walker has never before worn the "C" from the start of a season in his professional hockey career.
The 31-year-old defenseman also is an honorary player/coach for the first time.
With the Reign in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, that suddenly sounds like a lot of responsibility.
Not so, Walker said.
"For me, I'm a big believer that when you have a letter or are in a position of leadership you don't change who you are," he said. "I just try to stay positive, lead by example, do a few little things that kind of help a team get over the hump."
The problem, head coach Karl Taylor said, isn't unique to the team's veterans or its rookies.
"Our game is loose," Taylor said. "Our goal this week is to tighten up our game and change a few things. We need to be a better team."
The Reign have had their share of problems during a 2-6-0-1 start.
Playing the Alaska Aces last week, the Reign lost on two breakaway goals in the third period Saturday and committed a turnover behind their own net that led to the only goal in a 1-0 loss Thursday.
The Reign's power play ranks 15th in the 19-team ECHL and the penalty kill ranks 17th. Their five points in the standings rank 19th - dead last.
Curiously, the Reign are sixth in shots against but 17th in goals against.
"Usually you'd analyze that as the goalies are brutal," Taylor said.
"Our goalie's played really well. We're giving up too many grade-A scoring chances - off the rush, those type of plays - and that's our focus, lowering their scoring chances, being better defensively, also creating more on the power plays."
If there's a positive, it's that the team's morale is high.
That's good news for Walker and the team's four alternate captains, whom Taylor relies on to keep a pulse on the locker room.
"There's still a lot of hunger," Walker said. "Guys want to win. We don't have bad apples in here, guys that don't really care."
Added Taylor: "The negativity isn't there. All those things you look for, that at times with last year's team might have been there, haven't happened."
Taylor characterized Walker's coaching duties as voluntary. Other than occasionally leading a drill, they mostly consist of the defenseman observing and asking questions, and the coach answering, after practices when Walker has time.
It's the first time Taylor has appointed an honorary player/coach in Ontario.
Left wing Larry Courville had the role when Taylor was head coach of the ECHL's Reading Royals. Courville became the Royals' interim head coach in January 2009 and was named their permanent head coach the following summer.
Walker said he's picked up a plethora of "little things" - everything from salary-cap management to dealing with immigration issues and the intricacies of systems.
"It's an opportunity to see an inside look that, down the road, when he's finished playing, gives him a better understanding of this league if he tries to pursue something," Taylor said.
So what's been the biggest eye-opener?
"How much work he actually has to do," Walker said of Taylor. "For one person being coach, general manager, assistant coach, doing it all - there's a lot of stuff on his plate. There's a lot of time you have to be committed to, and he is."
Tending the goal
Curtis Darling led the ECHL in games and minutes played last season and goalie Kellen Briggs is nearly on pace to do the same. Briggs is tied for second in the league with eight games played and ranks third in minutes (443).
Taylor said he isn't concerned by Briggs' workload.
"Our schedule's been set up for one guy to play a lot," he said. "If you play three in three, it's a little more challenging."
The Reign have played on consecutive nights three times, but won't play three games in three days until this weekend in Alaska.
Alumni update
Defenseman Andrew Martens scored his first two goals of the season Saturday and also had an assist for the Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League.
Forward Greg Hogeboom also had a two- goal game Saturday for the CHL's Texas Brahmas. Defenseman Darren McMillan scored his first goal of the season for the CHL's Quad City Mallards on Saturday.
Forward Jordan Nolan recorded his first point of the season, an assist, for the Manchester Monarchs of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. Manchester's Bud Holloway had a three-game point streak snapped Saturday. |
