Wednesday Practice

The Soviets just wrapped up an optional practice here at Yoo-Hoo Plex a few minutes ago. All but three players (Mike D'Ignazio, Ryan Odell, and Jamie Simek) attended the practice run by Trotz-Stalin. Most of the practice focused on the penalty kill and one on one drills.

The highlight came at the end, when the players took part in a shootout contest. If the player scored, he was free to head to the locker room. Steve Hand, Pat King, and Pete Collis all scored on their first attempts. Scott Hoefer and Ben Breiterman scored on their second attempts. Tony Horton scored on his fourth attempt and Jason White scored on his fifth attempt. Mark Hendricks did not score until the 37th attempt, and it was only after practice goaltender Dominic Tretiak vacated his crease because, "this [stuff] was getting ridiculous".

At this point, for unknown reasons, should the Comrades enter another shootout, Hendricks is still expected to get the nod.

"He's a goal scorer," Trotz-Stalin told reporters after the practice. "Well, sometimes. He has scored at least one goal before. This we know."

Trotz-Stalin also explained his thoughts on players taking the optional practices off.

"Simek and Odell are excused, they had some bumps and bruises to heal. As for D'Ignazio, well, there's a Russian expression for how I feel about him."

The expression?

"It is better to have a bird in the hand, then no hands at all."

You're guess is as good as mind, people.