Lancers taking their lumps

by Matthew Ondesko, Associate Editor

A new league can always be difficult.

And while the record for the Lewiston-Porter Lancers isn’t what they want it to be – they can still take some measure of respect that they have at least been competitive.

They have hung tough with some of the best small school in the Western New York Varsity Hockey Federation – losing to Sweet Home by only a goal and hanging with the likes of West Seneca East and West.

“We are going through some growing pains and some learning curves,” stated Lew-Port coach Kevin Kirsch. “We are trying to figure out what teams are the higher teams.”

One of the biggest problems so far for the Lancers through a month of the season is consistency. One game they will go out and beat a Lockport 10-6. Then the next night lose to Williamsville East, 9-2. Once they can find that consistent play game in and game out they could make a little noise come February.

“We are just trying to find a little consistency and trying to get a consistent effort game in and game out,” stated Kirsch. “Each team that is out there is a talented team, so there is a learning curve for the first go around - but we are looking for bigger things the second half of the season.”

The biggest change for the Lancers this season is they are finding out that every team has at least one real talented player.

Unlike the club leagues where teams may take a period or so off, in the Federation every game has a playoff like atmosphere and the Lancers are finding out they can’t take a shift or even a period off.

“Basically, they (the kids) are finding out that they can’t take a shift off,” explained Kirsh. “They have to come all three periods. It’s a bit of an adjustment, but they are learning.”

And the kids couldn’t have a better teacher teaching them the game. Kirsh played his hockey at Bishop Timon-St. Jude High School and learned the game from Frank, Gary and Chris Panek.

And if you look at his team they kind of play like the old Timon teams from the past – a gritty in your face style that puts pressure on the opposing team’s defense to make quick plays.

“Compete on all the lose pucks. Compete in every aspect of the game,” said Kirsh. “I am trying to instill the work effort that Coach Panek, Gary and Chris Panek instilled. The Timon philosophy of going down competing. It doesn’t matter what the score is you never stop competing.”

With that kind of work effort the Lancers could be a team to watch come playoff time.