USA Hockey Magazine

SEPTEMBER 2021 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 39 Talk it up! PowerPlayer makes it easy for coaches to deliver private metrics, ratings, comments, and video to players and parents, any time. Why? Because winners communicate, and feedback is fuel. www.ThePowerPlayer.com © 2021 The PowerPlayer Inc. "I remember being so focused going into the game," recalls Ross Gimbel, who would captain the Tufts University hockey team. "We were ready to beat them, finally. I could feel it. I told the guys I believed in them, and let out a final roar which every teammate followed. I knew we were ready for that game and we sure as hell played like it." In front of a full house we scored five minutes into the game. "Through the sweat, the tears, and all the time we put into our goals," captain Chris Kunkel remembers, "we believed we deserved to win their respect." With a period left we were tied, 2-2. Everyone on our bench stood up the entire game. Trenton went ahead, 3-2, but we weren't backing off. "We were the best conditioned team that season," Kunkel recalls. "One of my favorite memories was in the third period, lining up for a face-off and looking over at their exhausted forward, huffing and puffing. I smiled and gave him a wink because I knew he wanted to give up in fatigue. "We just needed more time. Everyone believed we were going to win. There was no other way this story was going to end." Late in the game we pulled our goalie and unleashed a barrage of shots, hitting a post and a crossbar. But when the horn blew Trenton had won, 3-2. The Trojans' fans gave our players a standing ovation. "I will never forget shaking the hand of the Trenton captain and him stopping me," Kunkel recalls. "He gave me a big hug and whispered in my ear, 'You guys should have won that game.'" A class act from a class team. I told my guys to stand on our blue line while the Trojans received their medals. I went down the line, giving all our players a handshake and a message: "You belong here. You have earned this right. Stand tall." Later, in the locker room, I asked them, with a glint in my eye, "Hey! What's the first rule of Huron Hockey?!?" They boomed it the first time: "WORK HARD!" "What's the second rule?" "SUPPORT YOUR TEAMMATES!" "That's right. You did it a year-and-a-half ago, when they kicked our butts, 13-2, you've done it every game since, and you did it today. I love you guys." I walked out spent, but impressed by the young men who were leading our team. * * * The next season, our third together, the River Rats finished 17-4-5, ranked 5th in the state, and 53rd in the nation, thereby passing 95-per- cent of the nation's teams. Our fourth year, playing at Trenton, the Rats finally beat the Trojans 4-3—our first victory over Trenton in 20 years. Herb was right: "You gotta believe." P The Huron River Rats were able to accomplish big things because they believed in themselves and each other.

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