While the Mitchell Marlin girls haven't started off the way they hoped, first-year head coach Cody Denne said he has still seen bright spots through the first seven games.
"We've been playing pretty good, solid hockey," Denne said. "We just need to win a few more one-on-one battles and need to skate a little better."
The Marlins are 0-7 on the season, but Denne has confidence that his team can make adjustments and rattle off a couple victories by keeping the game plan simple.
"Adjustments going forward, we're going to try a few new line combinations," Denne said. "We're going to work on the basics, get back to simple passing to spring some girls on to one-on-one matchups. If we play a little harder and get more aggressive on the puck, good things will happen."
The Marlins hope to earn their first win of the season when they take on Oahe at 7 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday in Oahe.
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Trying to force opponents into bad shots
The Marlins have had two goalies split time in the net through seven games, as Tiadra Simmermon and Katelyn Uithoven have been given the task of keeping Mitchell in low scoring affairs.
Simmermon has played in all seven games, logging 204 minutes of ice time, and has an 0-4 record. She has saved 87 of 103 shots on goal and has a 84.5 save percentage.
Meanwhile, her counterpart Uithoven has played in five games, tallying 153 minutes on the ice, with an 0-3 record. Uithoven has saved 79 of 99 shots on goal, good for a 79.8 percent save percentage.
While both goalies are winless, Denne said it isn't because they haven't kept the Marlins in games. He hopes the surrounding players can help narrow the season goal differential, as opponents are outscoring Mitchell 36-12.
"(Our goalies) are both playing pretty solid," he said. "We just need to get the forwards and defenders to step up and challenge the opposition to take more challenging shots on the ice."
Denne said he has a good base of defenders that will help take pressure off the goalies for the remainder of the season.
"Bailey Hohn and Cassidy Stuckey would be my top two defenders right now," he said. "They're playing the most solid (defensive) hockey so far. I have a young girl coming up in Faith Halvorson that's playing really well so far."
Hohn has played in six games, recording two assists, including one on a power play. As for Stuckey, she is tied for the team lead in points with five, as she has scored two goals and tallied three assists. Halvorson has played in six contests for Mitchell.
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Senior led offense
Mitchell's other point leader, Kylie Barington, has led the way offensively for the Marlins. Barington leads the team with four goals and an assist on the season. In addition to Stuckey, Denne called Barington a tremendous asset to the Marlins.
"(Cassidy and Kylie) are both really improving right now," Denne said. "Both are being great leaders in their senior seasons, and provide a big boost to our team."
Jacey Brunsen and Michelle Wyatt are also playing a big role on offense. Brunsen has four points on the season, scoring three goals and dishing out one assist. As for Wyatt, she has scored two goals and recorded one assist.
Ice time has been distributed evenly so far but as the games become closer in the final minutes, Denne said he will play to win the contest.
"When it comes down to tight situations, I try to throw out my top girls and my senior players that I can count on to come through for us in those situations," Denne said.
