We knew they were missing some physical presence tonight, and we wanted to take it to them a bit. Coach has been harping on that all year, but it's tough when you play 76 games to do it every night. It's something we need to do, especially here at home.
Last year, playing against Rockford at home, I hurt my right shoulder. This year, in Rockford, I hurt the right wrist. Rockford's got my number, I guess.
That's one of the hardest games I've worked this year, I felt. To get nothing accomplished is real frustrating. I was hound-dogging that puck at both ends like it was nobody's business, like I haven't eaten in a month, and I didn't get anything for it.
We just have to try and tighten things up defensively. We all know our responsibilities.
People ask me to shoot more, and it's hard for me to do that. I'd like to shoot more. Even my mom tells me to shoot more and she doesn't even watch the games.
Tyler Willis, he's improved in the past three years. When he first got to Kalamazoo, I thought, 'How did this guy play in the American League?' Some guys, they get better, and he's a first-line player right now.
I kind of feel sometimes that you're doing the exact same thing and it's getting called on you, but not the other way around. Tonight was one of those nights. We just got called.
We had a slow start, and a couple teams came out of the gate really fast. It's kind of tough to get into any better position than we have. But I think we've played really well since those first 16 games.
I think we feel good about ourselves right now.
It's no secret the penalties and frustrations of our club need to be better. I'm one to blame. I'm not blaming the officiating for any game or anybody else. It's completely the team's loss because of the penalties and the lack of discipline and not getting the right bounces tonight.
