A Mark On The Developmental Measuring Stick

December 22, 2001
The Cougars took on the San Jose Jr. Sharks Pee Wee A2 team at Vallco during the Christmas break and lost 7-1.  Although the Cougars lost, they still played very well and were in the game until the middle of the third period. The game was tied 1-1 after the first and ended with two empty net goals by the Jr. Sharks.

Even though the Cougars were missing several of their key players (so might have the Jr. Sharks), this game can be used as a measuring stick to where the Cougars are in their development as a team. They were not physically manhandled, but lost to a team with better passing and stick handling skills, and more advanced schemes for entering the zone. The Cougars now know what they need to improve on in order to extend their season into the NorCal playoffs and beyond.

The only way the Cougars will have truly lost this game is if they don’t learn from it..