Speaking
of Sports 

by
Lance J. Lilla

 
Varsity Hockey
reunites to raise
the banner

December 4, 2011

For the first time in about a year the alumni, along with the returning players from last year's Novi High School Varsity Hockey State Championship team came together. The team was asked to reunite at last week's game against Livonia Churchill so they could be once again recognized and remembered in the memorial event of raising the state championship banner.

Due to this emotionally charged event, a lot of energy was in the air. Past teammates saw each other once again in the environment that was so comfortable to them that, at one point, it felt like a second home.

A moment such as this is comparable to a family reunion after a seemingly long and dragged out separation. If you were in the audience witnessing this event unfold, the emotion and sheer joy was profoundly apparent. So much that one could argue it was too distracting and inhibited the performance of the Novi Wildcats.

Senior Curtis Herzog felt that, "as a team we played poorly and didn't execute our systems, it was an undisciplined game and we didn't capitalize on opportunities. We had a lot of unnecessary penalties and could have been more focused on the game plan."

Herzog went on to explain how in mentally preparing for their games they do their best to not worry about who they play and remind themselves that their, "opponents are nameless and faceless" (this a newly introduced team motto).

 Herzog appeared to believe that as a team they simply forgot all of these fundamental components of the game and played at an untrained, instinctual level which lead to their downfall when the game ended 2-3.

The 'Cats looked more focused against Baseline rival Northville Saturday, where they skated to a 4-4 tie. Hopefully they will remain mentally prepared this week when they take on Plymouth at the Novi Ice Arena. Face-off is 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

(c) 2011 Novi Information Network
www.novi.org