Tim Ruhnke – Recorder & Times
Making up for lost time will be difficult, but it’s a challenge facing the entire league.
The Brockville Braves returned to the Memorial Centre on Monday following a break of more than six weeks dating back to mid-December. Brockville’s two games on the weekend before Christmas were postponed because of the COVID-19 Omicron surge, and all of the team’s games in January were also called off because of the provincial order closing arenas and certain other indoor venues.
“It was amazing just to see all the guys,” Braves captain Thomas Haynes said in an interview Wednesday.
“It felt great; I’m sure everyone was super happy to be there,” he added.
Brockville head coach Randy Jones indicated on Wednesday that he “didn’t have overly high expectations” when the players practiced for the first time in several weeks on Monday. However, Jones went on to note in an interview that the Braves “picked up not too far off where they left off before Christmas.”
Players worked a lot on their team game at practice to start the week, according to the bench boss.
“It’s been really enjoyable, and the boys are really starting to gel together,” Jones said.
Although weather and road conditions could disrupt the plan, the Braves are scheduled to play their first game of 2022 in Cornwall on Thursday night. Brockville’s home-opener of the new year is set for Friday night, when the Kemptville 73’s will visit the Memorial Centre.
The Braves (18-8-0-2) are third overall in the 12-team Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL). Kemptville is tied for fifth, two points behind Brockville. The top eight at the end of the regular season advance to the playoffs.
Each team in the Jr. A league is slated to play between 25 and 30 games before the extended season ends in early April.
“The biggest thing is about keeping it simple,” Jones said about returning to action and having so many games to play in a fairly short time.
“We understand it’s not going to be perfect. It’s going to take a little bit to get all the cobwebs out from being off from playing together,” the Brockville coach added.
“It’s playing collectively, but also playing with patience.”
Although leading scorer Evan Boucher has left Brockville to play major junior in Halifax, the Braves welcomed forward and assistant captain Colin Stacey back to practice this week after being out with an upper-body injury since October. Also returning from injury following the extended break was forward Caleb Kean, who came to Brockville with Carleton Place teammate Ryan Bonfield in a trade in November.
“I think they all looked really good,” observed Haynes, who noted he didn’t know what the lineup would end up being for Thursday night.
“I think we’ll be ready to go right off the hop,” commented the Braves captain, who spoke of the importance of getting off to a quick start when play resumes.
Spectators are still required to wear face masks. Proof-of-vaccination QR code and government-issued ID are required at the door. Attendance is currently capped at 50 per cent of capacity or 500, whichever is smaller.
Original Story at Recorder.ca
