Playoff hockey is similar to the regular season in several ways: you still get 2 points for winning and zero for losing, the game still has three periods, players suffer bumps and bruises, coaches push their players to the limit and refs will make the odd bad call. So what is the real difference? The real difference for the PEAC Burlington students is the level of intensity. This coupled with increased pressure to perform makes playoff hockey a whole different animal.
The change of intensity makes the pace faster which usually results in the aforementioned bumps and bruises, and poor decisions by the ref that much more memorable. Nobody wants to feel the sting of defeat after putting in months of hard work and sacrifice even if it does mean hitting the “links” for a relaxing round. As PEAC Burlington student Damian Bourne put it, who is in the GTHL semi-final’s this week representing the Mississauga Rebels, “when you lose in the playoffs, it feels like everything that you worked towards for the entire season was for nothing.” This is definitely one of the playoff emotions that no player or team ever likes to experience. When a team loses and sees the other team celebrating their win, it fuels players to compete even harder the following year; a reality that all athletes will face at some point in their lives. Let’s hope for Damian Bourne, Ryan Foss, and David Miller’s sake that they can keep the clubs in the basement for a few weeks longer!
On the other hand, everyone likes winning. It is the best feeling in the game. Wins are more important in playoffs to Kylie Cameron (Gr. 6 Burlington student), who feels that a win in the playoffs means more because you get to advance to the next round. It isn’t just a win or loss like in the regular season- the stakes are high; one goal can end your entire season. Winning is a great relief for others including Cassidy Miller (Gr. 6 Burlington student) who says that even the thought of losing is very stressing and a win is a huge relief.
A few of the Burlington students have also had some memorable moments in these playoffs. Some players at Burlington like the ‘big goals’ in the playoffs. For Ryan Foss, his only goal in game six put his Mississauga Rebels past the Vaughn Kings for a 7-5 points lead. For others such as Marcel Leclerc, the playoffs were a first time experience playing with the Halton Hurricanes.
Over all, though the playoffs can be a little stressing for some, pushing players, coaches (sometimes parents!) to their limits, it is the reason we love, and play this game. Playoffs are the reason we train hard, eat properly, and ignore the bumps and bruises when necessary. I say bring on the pressure and intensity because with that comes playoff success, something we work towards all season.
Submitted by: Marcel Leclerc, grade 9 hockey goalie
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