Laval Rocket | The mood is positive despite the recent series of defeats

(Laval) No one in the Laval Rocket organization is satisfied with the current five-game losing streak, but the team is far from feeling sorry for itself.

After goalie Strauss Mann wowed the crowd by not allowing a goal during a lengthy shootout between the Reds and Whites on Tuesday at practice, the losing team had to go back and forth a bit under the mockery of the victors.

Back towards the locker room, the children of goalkeeping coach Marco Marciano and video department instructor Charles Juneau were there to welcome the players. After his media availability, striker Jan Mysak even took the opportunity to chat with them.

For a moment, hockey returned to its purest form, the atmosphere was light as at the start of training camp and the 5-9-4 record no longer seemed to exist.

“It’s important to stay grounded. We have lost our last five games, but we think our team is going in the right direction. We’re not where we want to be in the standings, but the team is improving. We like the atmosphere and it was nice to have the kids around today,” said head coach Jean-François Houle, after the Rocket’s practice at Place Bell.

After a bad start to the season, the Laval team got back on track by signing three victories in a row. Since then, she has lost five times in a row, the last three of which came in overtime or in a shootout.

In addition to having to manage all the physical and mental aspects of his players, Houle must also ensure that they have fun when they come to training, so that they are in a good position to accept advice.

Through this series of failures, this is perhaps the biggest challenge for the Rocket coaching staff, who makes it a point of honor to maintain a positive atmosphere in the locker room.

“We talked about it at the beginning of the year, but the important thing for us is the process. Yes, we will win and lose, but what we want is for the players to improve every day. This is why the players must have fun coming to the arena. If you take a hard line, if the coaches and players are not happy, it quickly becomes negative,” mentioned Houle.

The players also felt these efforts in training. With good mood comes better focus and a desire to do more to take the next step.

Also comes the hope that the concepts applied in training can be transposed into matches and that victories become less rare.

“We lost our last matches and it can be tough on morale, but we know that we have a good team and we have confidence in ourselves. We focused on details today and it’s important to constantly be mentally ready so as not to make the small mistakes that will help our opponents score. It was a good practice today and we can build on that,” Mysak said.

The Rocket is also confronted with the reality of the American Hockey League. When there are injuries in the NHL, he has to lend some of his best players to the Montreal Canadiens. In the meantime, the Laval squad must also deal with their own injuries and personnel movements.

Houle would like to develop players in a winning environment, but he is aware of the work he has to do to prepare the younger players for the NHL. Defender Jayden Struble, recently recalled by the Canadian, is a good example.

Struble was having good times with the Rocket before his recall, with six points in 12 games, and he played effective games with the Habs during his trip to California.

“We are here to support the Canadian. When a prospect can rise, like Struble, it’s good for us, for the young person and for the organization. Of course we want to win, but our first objective is to make sure that the recalled players are well prepared, that they can immediately get into the concepts and do well. But it’s always easier to develop in a winning environment,” Houle said.

The Rocket will now head to Abbotsford to face the Canucks on Friday and Saturday. The Canucks spoiled the party at Place Bell by winning the first two games of the season.

“They are a very good team in the league. It will be a very big order, but I think if we can get a few points abroad, it will be good for the team,” argued Houle.

“They beat us earlier this season, so it would be nice to get that little bit of revenge,” concluded forward Riley Kidney.