The Courier Blog

Tonight, the St. Stephen Seahawks will take to the ice in Game 4 of the SHL opening-round series.
It’s an important game, and not just because the local squad is facing elimination.
Now, chances are that today, all the Seahawks players and coaches will utter the time-honoured clichés: they’ll play it “one period at a time,” and “the series isn’t over yet” and other such things.
But the reality is that of course, the series is over. Maybe the Seahawks will win tonight – but it won’t change much.
If they do win tonight, statistics gleaned from decades of best-of-seven series dictate that the squad will simply close out the season on the road in Game 5. Or, less likely, they’ll pack in the season in Game 6.
The finality of the season not in any real doubt, then, the squad takes to the ice tonight with really only one thing to salvage.
Pride.
That’s because the March 12 outing at home was one of the most lackluster efforts many local hockey fans had seen.
In 14 years of covering hockey at all levels, from novice to minor pro, I can’t think of a hockey game that had less passion, less contact and less intensity than the ho-hum outing in Game 2. That includes all-star affairs, for what it’s worth.
Further, I have yet to find a person who thought anything different than my own take on the matter.
By sharp contrast, Game 1 of the junior B playoffs the next night (Saturday) in St. Stephen was a delightful affair, and not just because the home side won.
It had hitting, it had energy, it had … well, it had what hockey fans should expect if they delve into their pocket for a couple loonies and toonies to pay for entrance. Even if the home side lost, no fan could have gone away from the game wondering if their money was well spent.
In that light, the ‘hawks have to show that they care. They have to show some energy, some intensity. Good gravy, losing is OK – but only if there’s some blasted effort, guys.
This isn’t a group of teenage boys we’re talking about. This is a team of grown men. People pay to see ‘em play. This is serious stuff. Or, at least, it should be.
Friday’s game wasn’t any of that.
Hence, the Seahawks have to show the fans – who by all accounts seem to be a loyal bunch – that even though this year is all but over, there’s something worth stumping up season tickets for in the season to come.

- Vern Faulkner is the editor of the Courier and Courier Weekend.