The Oregon club hockey team faces off with Western Washington University this Friday and Saturday for its last home games of the fall term.
The Ducks don’t expect an easy opponent in the Vikings, said Oregon captain Tyler Shaffar.
“Last year they were a really good team,” he said, noting that the Vikings field one of the best players in the league in forward Julien Lalonde from Quebec, Canada.
“They’re underrated,” Shaffar said. “They have a really solid organization, top notch.”
Oregon defenseman Tim Gibbons agrees: “I’m expecting a tough game. We’ll work hard and give it 60 minutes of focus.”
In preparing for the weekend’s games, the Ducks have looked back on what didn’t work leading up to these games. The last few games have been frustrating for the Ducks, especially in Seattle where Oregon dropped two games to Northwest rival Washington.
This week’s practice has revolved around simplicity, Shaffar said. Simple vortex, quick passing and timing to refocus what’s happening on the ice.
“We have the better skills, but we’re not executing. We just don’t work together,” Shaffar said. “We should not be 6-7 right now.”
On a brighter note, almost everyone is back injury-free after a gameless weekend that healed the wounds from Seattle.
Josh Hardin will be back as the main goalie, but the starting line for Friday has not yet been picked, Shaffar said.
Friday is also a mini-Greek night, Shaffar said.
“We’re hoping to get a decent-sized crowd this weekend,” he said.
Both games will be played at the Lane County Ice Arena at 7:30 p.m.