Ty Eigner has had two weeks back with his hockey team, and despite inhabiting the bench in only two games, it could not have come at a more opportune time.
According to Eigner, he is “appreciative to be back,” which is understandable given he was away from the team during the drama of the hazing incidents and some tough competition early in the season.
Yet Eigner seems to have put the issues of the early part of this season behind him.
He expressed that he was focused almost exclusively on the present and the future, as he and the team attempt to “put what happened in the rearview mirror.”
While this may be easier said than done, this sentiment recurred throughout his entire press conference on Wednesday, including the team’s gameplay against an impressive Augustana team, and a top-10 Western Michigan team, where he reiterated that he has only worry.
“The only thing we can worry about is the stuff we can control,” said Eigner.
So far, “the stuff (they) can control” is the penalty kill efficiency. Eigner was highly pleased with the penalty-kill ability of his team, as they have successfully killed 15 out of 17 penalties.
The lead in those penalty kills are the goaltenders, especially Cole Moore, whom Eigner was highly complementary of.
“Cole was put into a difficult spot and he responded,” said Eigner. “He was one of those guys in the Western series that was part of the solution, giving us an opportunity.”
In the last three games, the staff experimented with Moore a backup to last year’s starter Christian Stoever.
His outlook on the goalie reflected on the rest of the team, viewing Moore, and the team situation as “a glass half full” and an opportunity to improve both short term and long term.
“We felt like the group of players that played last weekend competed their tails off – Both games were really good games that really challenged our group and we felt like our group responded,” said Eigner.
Even still, the veteran coach understands the need for practice and some uncompetitive hard work.
“It came at a good time no question,” said Eigner. “We needed some time to practice some things and work on some things and got a chance to watch Mercyhurst in a great series against Notre Dame.”
Eigner and the 1-5 Falcons will try to win their first game at home this Friday and Saturday at Slater Family Ice Arena against a winless Mercyhurst team.
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