MORNING SKATE NOTES
- Full attendance at the Mammoth’s morning skate.
- Defenseman Juuso Välimäki and forward Alexander Kerfoot were in regular jerseys during skate.
- Head coach André Tourigny said there are some game time decisions for the team.
Game Time Decisions
Following morning skate, Tourigny gave updates on tonight’s roster:
“We’ll have some game time decision, roster decision, so we’ll figure that out later during the day.”
When asked about Kerfoot’s timeline and progression, Tourigny had two words to say: ‘It’s coming.’
Mr. 400
Defenseman John Marino will play his 400th NHL game against his former team, the New Jersey Devils. His coach and d-partner reflected on what he brings to the group following morning skate.
“Former team, John ‘Mad Dog’ Marino,” Nate Schmidt smiled. “What a character. Him and I, you couldn’t find a bigger Yin and Yang. Between my energy exertion and exuding to John’s giggly, calm demeanor. I’m super proud of him. We’ve found a lot of chemistry together on the ice, and off the ice as well. It’s fun to play with him because we talk a ton and it makes my job a lot easier and I think, I hope he would say the same. You’d have to ask him though.”
"A lot of poise, a lot of brains, he's super smart,” Tourigny said. “Smart hockey player, he's a good puck mover. He moves the puck really well, even in crunch situations."
Managing the Game
Following a strong performance in the Mammoth’s 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings, Schmidt reflected on his team’s effort.
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned over the course of my career is that the work you put in the first period and the second period, it is what comes out in the outcome in the third,” “Because at some point you’re going to change the way they play, you’re going to force them to do things they don’t want to do. If you’re continuing to be on top of them and put pressure on them, then they’re going to make a mistake and then put themselves in a position they don’t want to be in.”
