FALCONS PREPARE TO OPEN THE PRESEASON
By: Andrew Tressler
September 22, 2009 - Tuesday morning’s practice consisted of another 60-minute Black vs. White team scrimmage, with the White winning the battle 4-3. Today’s scrimmage was another step in the right direction for the Falcons before tomorrow night’s first preseason game of the year against the Providence Bruins. This will be the first chance for the coaching staff to see what the Falcons players can do against other competition.
The game against Providence will provide the Falcons coaching staff an opportunity see what the players can do in a game situation. “Some players look real good when it is a comfortable scenario like we have here,” says Head Coach Rob Daum, “Then once you get shooting against another team, some guys disappear while other guys will raise their game and that’s the purpose of preseason to determine what players fall into what category.”
Coach Daum is happy with his players’ intensity level thus far through training camp, “The intensity level was about the same as it was yesterday and that’s fine because we had a good intensity level yesterday so to keep it at that spot was fine.”
Even only after a few days of practice the players are beginning to get comfortable with each other becoming more vocal with one another while on the ice. “You get a certain comfort level after a little bit more time,” Coach Daum says, “and so each day the guys are going to get more familiar with each other, familiar with the environment, familiar with the routine and that makes them feel more comfortable.”
The only new face on the ice today was 19-year old Swede Johan Motin. Motin has been playing professionally in the Swedish Elite League (SEL) since 2006 at the age of 17 in Farjestads. Motin played well enough in the SEL to be drafted by the Oilers in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft in the 4th found (103rd overall). At 6’1” and 202 lbs, Motin is seen by many scouts as a stay at home defenseman with very good size and strength with a lot of potential. Coach Daum calls Motin an “aggressive player and not intimidated” which will help Motin throughout his professional hockey career.
Motin has been in Edmonton since September 12 training with the Oilers, but was recently assigned to Springfield. During his first practice with the Falcons today, Motin played hard and looked good out there after a couple days off the ice. “I felt pretty good,” Motin says about getting back on the ice, “I have had a couple days off from the ice so it’s good to get started again.”
It will be a tough adjustment for Motin this year as he moves away from Sweden for the first time. “He’s going to be an interesting guy to watch as time goes on,” says Coach Daum, “because he has to adjust to North America. He has to adjust to the pro game here. He has to adjust to the American Hockey League. He is going to have to make a lot of adjustments and that’s going to be the key in determining how good of a player he is for us.”
One advantage Motin has over most 19-year old rookies is that he has played in a professional hockey league for a few years. Being able to play with highly skilled players can help make the transition from Sweden to North America much easier for Motin. “I have played against many skilled older players,” says Motin, “I’ve played pro hockey for like three years now. I think I am pretty ready for this.”
Motin is a talented young hockey player looking to improve his game in all aspects, but especially his skating and puck movement. Motin has the skills, confidence, experience, and now the opportunity to develop his game to a higher level of play, while helping the Falcons along the way.
Tomorrow the Falcons will practice at 10am at the MassMutual Center before heading to Marlborough, MA to play Providence at 7pm.
Team White Lineup
11 Chris D’Alvise – 9 Colton Fretter – 12 Ryan MacMurchy
10 Jeff Lee – 14 Colin Power – 17 Jamie Bates
8 Kelly Czuy – 15 Slava Trukhno – 16 Marc Rechlicz
18 Colin McDonald
5 Cody Wild – 21 Daryl Marcoux
4 Jesse Dudas – 20 Jay Holladay
6 Johan Motin - 3 Matt Nickerson
35 Andrew Perugini
30 John Hallas
Team Black Lineup
41 Adam Henrich – 26 Bryan Lundbohm – 45 Dylan Stanley
38 Jeff Hazelwood – 44 Bryan Lerg – 39 Chris Davis
43 Chanse Fitzpatrick – 36 Geoff Paukovich – 27 Riley Emmerson
24 Chris Armstrong – 25 Dinos Stamoulis
28 Tim Kunes – 29 Jordan Bendfeld
33 R.J. Anderson
1 Bryan Pitton
40 Aaron Sorochan
