Improved Jr. Flyers No Pushover In Met League
September 26, 2006
Breakaway! Hockey Newswire

It’s a been said many a time about hockey teams, but it couldn’t be more appropriate for the Met League’s Jr. Flyers: what a difference a year makes.

When head coach Dave Dorman took the job, he knew he had to change the culture of the team. He achieved it perhaps even more quickly than he could have anticipated, and he’s already begun to see dividends.

“It’s a 100 percent different atmosphere this season,” said Dorman, who has an entirely new roster. “The way this team conducts itself, their dedication - they’ve really embraced the changes we’ve tried to instill.”

It took weeks for the Jr. Flyers to win their fist game last season, and they were routinely on the losing side of lopsided margins. But this year, they’ve already defeated a formidable opponent in the Northern Cyclones, 5-4, and dropped a close decision to the Hudson Valley Eagles, 6-4 (with an empty netter).

Dorman has a group of offensive performers that should keep a steady flow of goals coming. Kevin Murray will likely wear a letter for the team, and Kevin Keavany will be expected to produce up front as well. Dorman praised Shane Golden as one of the hardest workers on the team, “a guy who comes of out of the corner with the puck 90 percent of the time.” Billy Latta also drew praise from the coach for his gritty play.

On defense, Eric Knodle has shined thus far, as has Ben Weston. Dorman fully expects the corps to benefit from BJ Blaker’s leadership as the season wears on.

Perhaps more surprising than the early win in the strength of the Jr. Flyers' play. The Flyers outshot Hudson Valley 39-34 in their narrow loss, and then outshot the Cyclones 57-34 in their 5-4 win.

Dorman's team is clearly benefitting from their familiarity with each, and with him. Almost half of the squad was coached by Dorman in AA hockey in recent years, and they know what to expect from him.

"The guys are learning the importance of making quicker decisions with the puck at this level," said the coach. "They're sticking together through the learning process."

As unlikely as it may have seemed last season, Dorman has the Jr. Flyers thinking big. “We look at ais as this is our first year,” he said. “As soon as they got together, this team set a goal to make the playoffs, and I thnk we can do it.”

Part of the culture change that Dorman has sought to instill has been helped by the support he’s gotten from ownership, something the team did not have last season under different managment. “We’ve gotten unconditional support that I am so grateful for from our owner, John Graves. Everyone here has embraced the junior hockey concept. I think we can have a really good year, and I know our guys believe that.”