When final the Coachella Valley Firebirds had taken the ice in Hershey again on June 24, they possessed a roster brimming with professional expertise, playoff-tested, and with a core that had been by way of the Calder Cup Finals twice.
Even earlier than the Firebirds had reached the Calder Cup Finals for his or her rematch with the Bears, that they had recognized that change would hit. Head coach Dan Bylsma had already been promoted to that very same position with the Seattle Kraken, and he was ending off his Coachella Valley tenure. And it was an inexpensive assumption that assistant coach Jessica Campbell could possibly be off to Seattle as nicely after a powerful two years with the Firebirds.
On that night time in Hershey, the Firebirds’ bid to undo a number of the ache created by a Recreation 7 additional time loss to the Bears within the 2023 Finals once more fell brief. It was Recreation 6 in additional time when Hershey’s Matt Strome broke unfastened earlier than cranking a shot previous goaltender Chris Driedger and once more scuttled the Firebirds’ hopes.
All through the 2023-24 season, the Firebirds had labored by way of the residue left by that Recreation 7 additional time loss of their first battle with Hershey. By the point a Finals rematch had materialized, they had been prepared. Getting a second shot doesn’t occur typically, particularly in a sprawling 32-team league just like the AHL.
So when Strome’s shot went in, the Firebirds’ ache was palpable. They gathered close to their bench in silence for a couple of minutes because the Bears celebrated, shook palms with Hershey, after which left for his or her dressing room.
Inside per week, that roster had come aside. Cameron Hughes and Kole Lind went to the Dallas Stars. Andrew Poturalski and Jimmy Schuldt left for the San Jose Sharks. Driedger headed east to the Florida Panthers. Connor Carrick headed north to the Edmonton Oilers. Campbell did land that assistant’s job in Seattle.
A lot of what the Firebirds have constructed of their new desert residence since starting play in 2022 has been successful. In a market the place hockey had little, if any, presence, they shortly constructed an brisk fan base. Taking part in out of the brand-new Acrisure Enviornment, they stuffed that constructing. They received rather a lot, too, ending second general in every of their first two common seasons. A fourth-overall NHL choose in Shane Wright got here by way of. Joey Daccord turned a fan favourite for Firebirds followers earlier than going to Seattle and solidifying himself as an NHL number-one goaltender.
However a lot concerning the AHL is about beginning over. Simply because the 2022-23 Firebirds constructed a lot of a basis, and the 2023-24 group solidified that work, this 2024-25 staff has a distinct process. Seattle now has 4 draft courses, and this inflow of prospects wants a spot to play. Jagger Firkus rolled up 61 targets final season within the WHL. Nikke Kokko and Jani Nyman have been examined in Liiga play.
This 12 months’s Firebirds look way more like a regular AHL roster – heavy on prospects surrounded by some high quality veterans. However largely a gaggle that may want a whole lot of persistence moderately than the time-tested assortment that the Firebirds iced of their first two seasons.
2024 Coachella Valley Firebirds vs San Diego Gulls
Eduard Sale is nineteen. Firkus and David Goyette are 20. Jani Nyman possesses that Liiga expertise; however once more, he’s 20. Nikke Kokko has impressed in internet throughout his restricted Liiga motion, however he, too, is a 20-year-old. Ty Nelson is a 20-year-old, and that’s typically a troublesome problem for any rookie defenseman.
So nights like the primary two of this common season are going to occur for the Firebirds. Opening night time introduced a 2-1 loss at residence to Bakersfield. On Wednesday night time, the Calgary Wranglers got here into Acrisure Enviornment and took a 3-1 win. There have been moments of promise, occasions the place somebody can see the potential that Seattle sees. There are additionally these momentary breakdowns which can be simply sufficient to value a staff a sport. Even a lot of the veterans with the Firebirds are new – Brandon Biro (Rochester), Nikolas Brouillard (Hartford), Max Lajoie (Toronto), and Mitchell Stephens (Laval) are a part of the incoming contingent – nevertheless it takes time even for skilled gamers to regulate to a brand new staff. A flubbed clear, a missed protection, a foul bounce, and it provides as much as a pair of losses.
Left to place all of it collectively is new head coach Derek Laxdal. It’s one thing that he has completed earlier than, together with as just lately as his most up-to-date cease with the OHL’s Oshawa Generals. There, he took a younger roster and acquired it to the OHL Closing final 12 months, most likely forward of schedule.
The tip of October begins a stretch of eight of 9 video games on the street for the Firebirds. There’s loads of observe time at Laxdal’s disposal, nonetheless. Coachella Valley solely performs 5 video games this month and is off for the primary three Saturday nights of the season. They make a brief journey to San Diego this Friday night time earlier than one other week-long break on the schedule that may afford that priceless observe ice.
So Laxdal wasn’t fazed after Wednesday’s residence loss to the Wranglers. They outshot Calgary, 40-22, to start out. They’d grabbed the opening lead.
“I like the way in which we performed,” Laxdal instructed native reporters through the staff’s YouTube website.
However a defensive-zone turnover allowed Calgary to even the sport. Then bouncing puck gave Calgary a 2-1 lead.
“These youngsters are going to make errors, and it results in our internet,” Laxdal stated of a Calgary aim. “I can’t fault our effort. We may have simply had each of these wins. I do know the blokes are annoyed. There are excessive expectations.”
Laxdal made a concerted effort to diffuse any issues.
“As soon as they simply settle in and simply form of take a deep breath…and simply discover somewhat little bit of confidence. In sports activities, whenever you’re mentally tight, issues are arduous. You’ve simply acquired to play freely and let it movement. We’re not there but. I believe we’re somewhat bit tight nonetheless.
“We’ll discover our method.”
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