Halifax Mooseheads’ veterans are struggling to find their way in their first few games under new head coach Bobby Smith.
Since winning their first game after the majority owner took over for Cam Russell on Oct. 21, the Mooseheads have lost three straight and now hit the road to play the P.E.I. Rocket on Friday and the Moncton Wildcats on Saturday.
Some veterans have been cast in new roles and the adjustment obviously hasn’t happened overnight.
“It’s two different personalities, two different coaches,” said captain Travis Randell. “Especially guys who have been here for a couple of years, you got to know (Cam’s) expectations. It’s been an eye-opener for some players but you have to play with the cards you’re dealt and Bobby’s a great coach.”
Veterans are few and far between on the Herd, with Randell and goalie Mathieu Corbeil the only 19-year-olds and Gerrad Grant, Charles Bety and Pascal Amyot the 20-year-old over-agers.
But the veteran skaters have combined for just one assist and a nasty minus-16 rating during the losing streak, while Corbeil’s save percentage was a hair above .700.
Amyot said Smith runs practices differently than Russell, but that he hasn’t significantly changed the Mooseheads’ systems. He said it’s up to the players to turn things around.
“After all, it isn’t Bobby and it wasn’t Cam playing the games, it’s us,” Amyot said. “We have to bring it and we can’t blame coaches. We have to look at ourselves and see what we can do better to win more games.”
The Halifax Mooseheads are 5-12-1, 16th among 18 teams in the QMJHL.
