Urgency In New York As Decisions Loom

Coach Howie Draper discusses the tough decisions to come, the role of Claire Thompson, an injury to Madison Packer, and a fight in net for jobs.

STAMFORD, CT -- The mood on Sunday was much different from that first on-ice practice a week ago Friday as PHWL New York hit the ice for its third scrimmage in five days at Chelsea Piers Connecticut.

Nervous excitement and anticipation was replaced by intensity and a sense of urgency with the mindset shifting to doing everything possible to not be one of those cut on Nov. 29 which is just days away.

From the opening puck drop in Sunday's scrimmage, the players went full throttle in a match-up of teams wearing black and white jerseys.

After 15 minutes of regulation, there was a 3-on-3 overtime for another five minutes. Then, after the ice was cleaned, the squads went right back at it for another regulation and overtime session.

Keenly focused on the scrimmage with general manager Pascal Daoust from the North Rink stands while the assistants took over the coaching duties, head coach Howie Draper said the players did nothing to make the task of reducing the roster any easier.

"It's so tough," Draper said. "You see every player bringing something different and important, so for us the challenge is trying to figure out what we need the most."

Draper had planned to meet with Daoust and the coaching staff on Sunday night to try to get a better handle on the roster they want to carry into the regular season.

One common denominator to the hour and a half of competitive and hard-charging back-and-forth action on the ice was the leadership roles shown by those in leadership positions.

They took the initiative both at the offensive and defensive ends, and teammates picked up on their work ethic and followed suit.

"You look at those expected to be our key players and they really stepped it up today," Draper said. "We need those players to drive the tempo of our team and set an example for the others. You need your on-ice leaders to lead, and I felt like they really did that today."

In perhaps the wow moment of the afternoon performance, tic-tac-toe passing from Jaime Bourbonnais to Jessie Eldridge to Alex Carpenter near the crease resulted in a highlight-reel goal.

"The puck movement not only (in that goal) but throughout the scrimmage I thought was very high quality," Draper said.

The goal was the second by Carpenter, who also scored in the first of the 15-minute rounds of play along with Jill Saulnier.

Saulnier poke-checked the puck off a stick deep in her own end, raced untouched across all three zones, flew across the slot and beat Corinne Schroeder to the glove side.

"That's what you look for; plays like that going end to end,' Draper said. "It shows the others that in order to get better you have to put yourself in situations where you can succeed.".

Weekend Warrior - Claire Thompson

No one could fault Claire Thompson if she were not up to speed with everything going on in PWHL New York's training camp.

After all, being a medical student at New York University and unable to attend every practice obviously has its drawbacks.

But for Thompson, an Olympic gold medalist with Team Canada, it hasn't been hard at all picking up the game plan on weekends.

Along with her tenacity on the rush, Thompson showed her ability to compete at both ends of the ice during Sunday's scrimmage. She was so excited to score during a shootout session that she raised her arms in victory as she skated back over to the bench.

As for making the team as a reserve player, Draper likes her chances.

"She's a top player and she makes us better," he said. "She's a lot of fun to watch out there, and I get the sense she'll take what she can get in terms of her role and playing time."

Packer Day-To-Day

Madison Packer, who was reported by Draper to have been injured in Wednesday's first scrimmage, is being given all the time she needs to get back to 100 percent.

"We're taking it one day at a time," Draper said. "Madison got bumped in our first game and that has set her back a bit but she's coming along and we're looking forward to getting her back."

Packer attended Sunday's scrimmage with her wife and kids and indicated that the injury is not serious and that she hopes to be back on the ice soon.

Dilemma In Goal

With all four goalies showing "flashes of brilliance" during the scrimmage, Draper said he expects the decision on the No. 1 and backup goalies to be just as difficult as the positional choices.

"That'd also something that's tough because all four are competing very hard (to make the team) and it puts us in a pretty good spot regardless of the ultimate decisions. I think we're going to be strong in goal and that's a big positive."