It Is Called Accountability

The other night after the New York Rangers lost to the Edmonton Oilers 2-0; John Tortorella took the easy way out rather than answer questions from the media.

"We Stunk and I am not going to answer any questions" he said and walked away before anyone could ask him a single question.

Those who defended Tortorella's behavior did not understand that part of being the coach of the New York Rangers means that your actions are always going to be under media scrutiny. How can you preach accountability when you are not willing to allow the media or the fans to question the job you are doing?

His defenders say that Tortorella does not have to answer to the fans or the media only to Glen Sather and the rest of the Ranger management but that is not correct. The fans are the folks who put the money into the Ranger's coffers that eventually pay Tortorella's salary; the media are the voices of the fans as they are the ones who tell the story.

What the Tortorella defenders fail to realize is that if John Tortorella does not have to answer to the fans and media then neither does Glen Sather or the Dolans. Using your logic then you have no right to question any move that Glen Sather makes or question why the price of your tickets or cable service.

After all why should they answer to you when the team has failed to well do anything you did not like. Under your own logic just shut up and do not question why things happen the way they did.

Now let me share with you something I got in my email from Dave Reid the GM of the Peterborough Petes addressing the fans of the Petes as part of the Peterborough Petes Insider. The Petes are in the midst of a 4 game losing streak and give him credit he did not shy away from it.

Adversity is a term used regularly in sports and after this past weekend our team is facing some adversity as our losing streak has reached four games. A hard fought 3-2 loss to Oshawa at home on Thursday, with a shorthanded goal against as the game winner was a tough way to start the weekend. This game could have gone either way but we were unable to generate enough second and third scoring opportunities by putting pucks to the net and playing off of rebounds and loose pucks.

The weekend got worse on Saturday as Saginaw's high powered offence exploded for 9 goals in a 9-1 game where we were poor defensively and Saginaw was on fire offensively. Andrew D'Agostini had very little help and was not removed from the game because the coaching staff felt he was battling hard and they wanted his teammates to respond to his efforts.

Unfortunately the harder we pushed the more mistakes we made and the more Saginaw scored as they got five in the third. After games like this it is sometimes best to burn the DVD and move forward. Which we did as we travelled to Brampton on Sunday where we again were unable to capitalize on early chances and Brampton shut us out 4-0, handing us our fourth straight defeat. Brampton scored all four of their goals on second opportunities and capitalized on keeping their game simple by putting pucks to the net and putting bodies to the net for rebounds and traffic.

The effort from our players throughout the season has been excellent and their passion to win each and every game cannot be questioned, so we can eliminate these elements as to why we have lost four straight games. To win in the OHL a team has to be able to score at least four goals a game and this is where we have been struggling in our last four games.

Four goals scored in four games played is not going to win many games. We have shown this season that we can score goals with our skill and speed, now we have to focus on being able to generate offense when our opponent takes away our skill plays and matches our speed. This is the adversity we are facing at the moment. Our scoring has disappeared and how do we get it back immediately and start winning again? As most teams say "back to the basics" which means put on your work hat and generate the ugly goal with keeping the game simple.

This weekend has us playing two divisional rivals starting Thursday, when we host the Ottawa 67's for the first of four games at the Memorial Centre. Ottawa handed us our first regulation loss of the season and boast some of the best scorers in the league in Sean Monahan, Tyler Toffoli and Shane Prince. Saturday we will be in Belleville to face a Bulls team that is much like ourselves, a young team looking to make a statement that they are ready to challenge for the top of the division. Both teams are divisional rivals that we must take points from in the standing if we want to be the East Division Champions.

I am looking forward to these games and looking forward to two victories this weekend as we work toward putting this first test of adversity behind us.

Thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing you at the rink.

David Reid
General Manager
Peterborough Petes

Yes it is easier to send out an email where you do not have to answer questions but here is the thing; Dave Reid knows that he has to answer to his season ticket holders, to the Pete fans as well as the management. When your team is playing poorly people want answers and if you refuse to address issues then why should anyone fork over their money?

Accountability is important because it forces people to accept responsibility for their actions and without accountability then there is not a single incentive to force change or improved performance.

Becker Shoes Attacker of The Week

The Owen Sound Attack is pleased to announce that overage goaltender Scott Stajcer has been named to clubs Becker Shoes Attacker of the Week for the week ending Sunday, October 23rd, 2011.Stajcer, a New York Rangers prospect began the week in Barrie on Thursday night against the Colts. The overage goaltender turned aside 26 of 28 shots and carried a shutout into the final 10 minutes in a 4-2 Attack victory over Barrie

The Cambridge native was called upon once again on Sunday afternoon in a match up against the Sudbury Wolves. Stajcer turned in an impressive performance, turning aside 28 of 29 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss. Scott finished the weekend with a 1-0-0-1 record to go along with a 1.47 GAA and a .947 save percentage.

(Tortorella/New York Rangers)