Jefferson Hagen
MacEwan Athletics
EDMONTON – Don't look now, but the MacEwan Griffins are tied for the final playoff spot in the Canada West women's hockey standings.
It's early and there are a lot of things that need to happen for that to become a reality at the end of the season, but it's an encouraging sign for a team still trying to progress from Canada West newbie to contender.
"It would obviously be nice to make the playoffs and, overall, that's a goal for our program," said interim head coach Chris Leeming. "But there are a lot of things that need to happen – a sequence of events of games and practices in between that.
"So, it's just making sure we're dialed into the details of every day. That's going to give us an opportunity to be successful. That's where our heads are at right now."
Their next chance to put their process into action comes on the road this weekend as the Griffins (3-6-1) visit the Saskatchewan Huskies (5-3-2) on Friday and Saturday (6 p.m. MT both days, Canada West TV).
The Griffins are coming in off a weekend where they secured three of a possible four points against Trinity Western to move into a tie for sixth in Canada West with Calgary. The Huskies, meanwhile, are coming off a sweep of Regina.
"I think we just want to keep building off the concepts and habits and detail work we've been working towards," said Leeming of this weekend's focus. "I think every time we speak, the word consistency comes out. We chatted about that as a team again – starting the week, going through practice every day, just making it an everyday thing.
"We're trying not to become outcome-focused because then we lose sight of our process when that happens. That's the big thing for us is just dialing in on our measurables and the things we want to do as a group to be successful."
One of the big things they're working on is shoring up is an anemic powerplay, which has converted at just 2.4 per cent this season (1-for-42).
"(That percentage) is a lot lower than I'd like," said Leeming. "We just haven't been able to convert. We're creating some scoring chances on at least one of the powerplay units that we have.
"We shook things up here with the absence of Murrs (Amanda Murray, who is currently serving a suspension). We're just going to try a couple different looks this weekend and get some different bodies out there – people who have been generating offence for us five-on-five. We're going to give them a look on the man advantage now."
