Greg Keiser ’09
Web Sports Editor
When coaching a team that consists almost exclusively of new players, the most beneficial philosophy is probably to play for fun.
Staples’ chemistry teacher Dave Rollison took on the task of teaching twenty girls the game of hockey when the girls’ team was first established last year. Rollison, who started as goalie in college for Maine Maritime Academy, is without an assistant coach; he relies on his own knowledge and the leadership of tri-captains Paige Smith ’08, Becca Tash ’09, and Casey Richards ’09 to prepare for playing varsity programs. At this moment in time the girls’ ice hockey team is just a club, but they plan to become a varsity team next year, the first year they are qualified. Rollison has his work cut out for him; the majority of the girls did not have even a game’s experience under their belt before the team was formed.
“The girls are still absolutely learning the basics,” said Rollison. The team played against a varsity team for the first time just two weeks ago when they faced off against Fairfield, Trumbull and St. Joes in the Shelton jamboree. Although the collective score of the tournament was 15-0 against Staples, Rollison was not upset.
“Half of my players have never touched a puck before,” said Rollison. After assistant coaching the boys’ ice hockey team in 2005, Rollison finds teaching the fundamentals to a group of new players rewarding.
“I see more improvement from them from someone who already knows how to play,” said Rollison, who is attempting to apply systems used by the boys, such as the 1-2-2 fore-check and triangle offensive-zone coverage.
“The players know what they want to do they just can’t do it quite yet,” said Rollison. The team practices everyday to change that, two days a week on the ice, two days conditioning in the field house, and one day in the classroom reviewing film. Despite this daily strive to get better, winning isn’t the first thing on Rollison’s mind. This new program is going to be playing varsity teams that have been together for years, it is “unrealistic” to expect wins out of these games.
“I just want them to have fun,” said Rollison, “you have to take what you have.” Rollison hopes to bring talent to the program by implementing a feeder program for middle school girls who are interested in playing. Rollison thinks that just a couple days a week at Longshore would do wonders for the future of the team, and make them potential contenders for varsity wins.