Troops "ready to go" for Erie opener

BRAMPTON, Ont. – With less than 24 hours to go before the opening faceoff of their Western Conference semi-final series against the Erie Otters, Battalion Assistant Coach Derrick Smith says the Troops are "ready to go. I think our team was very focused and ready before the Guelph series and it showed in their play. I feel right now that the team is showing that same kind of focus."
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The Battalion hasn´t played since closing out their playoff series against the Guelph Storm last Friday at the Bunker and Smith says that the team "had a really good week of practice and the guys are anxious to get back into a game situation."
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The Otters advanced to the second round after ousting the London Knights in five games and Smith believes that many of the Brampton veterans will be looking for a little redemption after Erie eliminated the Troops in six hard fought games in last year´s playoffs.
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"I´m sure the guys that were here last year definitely remember the series they had with Erie and hopefully getting beat last year will make them want it even more this year," says Smith, who is in his first season with the team.
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The Otters ended the season as the top team in the Ontario Hockey League and the third ranked team in the CHL. Erie compiled a 4-0-2 regular season record against the Battalion, but two of the wins were one-goal victories, while a third ended on an empty net goal.
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"We know that the Otters are an extremely hard working team," Smith says, "and I think the main thing we need to do to be successful is match their work ethic and be ready to compete for 60 minutes in every game.
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"The playoffs are a totally different story," he continues. "Anybody can win in the playoffs and a lot of things can factor into it, like injuries and hot goalies. Every team you play in the playoffs can beat you and you have to make sure that you are ready for every team you play."
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Smith played 537 games in the National Hockey League, the bulk of them with the Philadelphia Flyers, and also suited up for 82 NHL post-season games, including two trips to the Stanley Cup finals, but he is in his first playoff season behind the bench.
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"As a coach it’s a little more intense," he says when asked to compare the playoff experience from a player and coach perspective. "Playoff hockey is a very exciting time and you can feel the electricity from the fans and that filters down through the coaching staff and into the players."
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The Troops are once again beginning a playoff series on the road against an Erie squad that put together one of the best home ice records in the OHL.
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"They have very vocal fans who really get behind them," notes Smith, "and I think that gives them a boost. I think they play an aggressive, physical game at home and I think it is important for us to match their effort."
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When asked about the value of home ice advantage in the playoffs, Smith replies, "I think it all depends on whose home it is. I know that playing in the NHL, a team like Philadelphia or Chicago that had loud fans could use that to their advantage, but there are teams that have fans that aren´t quite as vocal so it doesn´t really matter. I think teams, on the whole, are more relaxed and a little looser on the road."
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Smith says that the support that the Battalion has received at the Bunker in recent weeks has been beneficial to the Troops.
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"I think the crowds at the last few games in Brampton have been excellent. They´ve been very loud and that has really helped our team and I think that coming home to great fans is one of the key reasons that we beat Guelph."
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