Oct. 29 Press Conference Transcript
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, good to see everybody. Excited to get on the road for the first time this year and head up to Colorado College. Again, just really positive weekend looking back against UMass there. I thought (we) played pretty solid both nights. Obviously nice to get a big win on Saturday there and clean up a couple things from the weekend heading into this week against Colorado College.
Emma Goldstein (Sports Information, Omaha Athletics):
Any questions for head coach Mike Gabinet?
Mike Patterson, Omaha World-Herald:
Just talk about the start of the conference season, Coach, and Colorado College specifically.
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, it’s always exciting to start an NCHU play here. We’re starting to play for some points, and we’re looking forward to getting on the road as well. I don’t mind being on the road, especially early in the season, just a chance to kind of connect a little bit more as a team, and get a chance to play in a different environment. So I’m looking forward to that. And obviously, we all know how important points are in the NCHC. They’re hard to come by there, so you’ve got to be ready to go right from opening puck drop on Friday night..
Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:
Since you’ve got Simon here, did you feel Simon and the defensive group gave you something on Saturday that maybe wasn’t quite there on Friday? And what kind of help does that give you going into this first conference series?
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, I think especially early here, you want to, anytime early, you want to build on what you did the night before. I think we’re always looking at ways to find those little improvements, find those little tweaks you can make to continue to grow as a team, (to) continue to grow individually there and like I said, when you watch the game back on Friday there, I liked a lot of our play there. I think we had three goals go off our own players, which is pretty unusual. But then, you know, sometimes that’s how you score as well, right? So that’s going to happen in the game of hockey. But again, that’s why you have to look at the process and, you know, how are they generating those goals? What can we do differently to be a little bit better? So we’ve definitely done that, and we’ll continue to work on that. And also not beat yourself up too much at certain times too, if that is, you know, a little bit of a fortunate bounce or something for the other team. But again, I thought Saturday (we) just really took care of the puck — especially in that first period – really well, (to) start their transition which led to good things happening all night for us.
Terry Leahy, Learfield Sports:
What would be the coach of Colorado College style that you’re looking at, at least out on the ice? And then maybe I’ll follow up with (that this is) another outstanding NCAA goaltender matchup coming up again. We saw one last weekend right here in this barn. But talk about Colorado College and the way they play.
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, they’re a really structured team that plays well. Obviously, they’re off to a great start being 5-1 and ranked, and all that good stuff there. So, again, just (watched) them quickly. Not a ton’s changed from previous years there. They’re obviously sticking to their structure that they play. I know their coaches mentioned, I think maybe numerous times, this is the most deep team they’ve maybe had, just with some of the personnel they’ve added to their team. So, they’ll be ready to go and so will we. So, it should be a really good matchup.
Mike Patterson, Omaha World-Herald:
Mike, since Simon is here, let’s talk about (how) there’s so much movement of players in college hockey these days, and when Simon said he was coming back this season, how did that make you feel and just having somebody to build around like that?
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, well anytime you got a good goaltender I think it always makes the head coach feel a little more comfortable and Simon’s done that — not only for you know three years for here now, into his fourth season here so again, right, just when I think about the program, I think about Simon.
You know, I think he kind of just goes hand in hand with some of the guys we’ve been fortunate to have here for so long. It’s kind of hard to imagine them not being here. And I think that’s a good thing. You know, those are guys that you really lean on, you know, and you really value their opinion on things and you communicate with and you really know they care as much about you and the team as you care about them. And I think that’s something really special in today’s environment, especially in today’s college environment. You don’t see that very often, and I think that makes them really special.
And like I said, I’m sure you guys will ask him, but (it was) just pretty cool to have his family, his mom here and his grandma and grandpa here, (for the) first time in four years last weekend. Pretty special, right, to see those guys here and just to see them smile and take in practices and the games and get to see the facility and the university and Omaha in general was pretty cool, for me as a coach. So that was pretty special as well.
Terry Leahy, Learfield Sports:
Coach, with the defense, defensemen from the net out, the forwards, talk about how it just permeates a team with confidence with an outstanding goaltender. And you had Dan Ellis back in your days wearing the Maverick sweater. Talk about, well, it just gives you the confidence to get on the attack even more.
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, as a head coach, you never want to see mistakes or turnovers or not managing the puck. But at the end of the day, that’s hockey, right? There’s going to be times where (your) guys don’t execute exactly what you’re trying to do. And that’s going to happen throughout a game. Even on Saturday, we were really good for probably, you know, 40, 45 minutes of the game. But there’s those 15 minutes that, you know, the guys are going to make those those either mental or physical mistakes. And that’s where you need a goalie to help you out. And Simon’s been doing that for a long time. And especially on Saturday, there’s some key saves at the right time can really allow yourself a reset and you’re not necessarily down a goal. And I think that always helps teams be successful.
Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:
Saturday was a big win obviously — and for fans and the media who maybe focus on those big wins What’s one under-the-radar takeaway from that UMass series that you’d like them to focus on — and what’s one thing on the to-do list for Colorado College that they should pay attention to?
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, I think some of the growth just that I could see, obviously I see these guys every day, but I could see it individually just in confidence a little bit. And I think that’s always, you know, people talk about confidence. I believe confidence is earned. And I could just see all that work that these guys have been doing day in and day out start to shine through. You can just tell the way a guy’s moving, the way he’s handling the puck. You can just see that confidence growing, the way he’s making reads a little bit quicker So I thought that was maybe something that you know was a really positive thing to see as a lot of guys are getting used to a new environment there,
And then just to the second part of your question, focused on for Colorado College. Again, I think just the one thing I think you saw in UMass and you’ll see in (Colorado College) is just the level of play right now. I mean, I thought that was two really good hockey games. I mean, you were talking about impressive hockey players out there. It is big. It is fast. There’s no time and space. You know, just even talking to some of those parents, we can talk to the parents. They’ve just never seen hockey live — that their kids have been a part of — that fast and at that high of level. And I think that’s pretty awesome for the fans of Omaha, for college hockey in general. Just the level of play you’re seeing right now in college hockey, to me, is another level than we’ve seen before.
Mike Patterson, Omaha World-Herald:
Mike, have you talked to the team about the probable hostile atmosphere you’re going to encounter this weekend?
Mike Gabinet (Head Coach, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, exactly. I think some guys have been there before, and it’s always a fun place to play. I think any time you’re on the road in our conference, usually the other venues are full and loud and tough to play in, which I think is kind of fun, right? And I think that’s why we play the game. We want to compete. We want to go make other buildings quiet. And our goal will be no different this weekend to go there and be successful.
Emma Goldstein (Sports Information, Omaha Athletics):
Thank you. Questions for Simon?
Mike Patterson, Omaha World-Herald:
Simon, just your general thoughts on how the season’s gone so far. I know it’s just the start, (with the) Mavs being 2-2.
Simon Latkoczy (Senior Goaltender, Omaha Hockey):
I think it’s been good so far. As Coach said, like early in the season you kind of want to build on from the previous games, and I think that we are doing it. We have almost a whole new team, you know, so it takes some time to get where we want to be, but I think that we are doing a good job in the locker room and the staff as well to kind of set (us up) for success.
Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:
The last time you were on Colorado Springs was that exciting playoff series that propelled you to the Frozen Face-Off. Do you draw on the emotions of that last time that you were out there as you’re preparing for this series?
Simon Latkoczy (Senior Goaltender, Omaha Hockey):
I have good memories from that building for sure. I like to play in Colorado. I think it’s a cool spot, (a) nice hockey rink. So it’s always fun to go there. I don’t mind to travel there at all. So yes, I am excited and I remember all that emotions that we had there when we made it — (not to the) Frozen Four, but Frozen Face-Off.
Mike Patterson, Omaha World-Herald:
Coach mentioned it, Simon, just talk about playing in front of — was it your mom and your grandparents — this past weekend? And they hadn’t seen you play in four years.
Simon Latkoczy (Senior Goaltender, Omaha Hockey):
It was nice. It was kind of weird because I’m not used to having someone here to watch me. So it was a little weird (the) first couple of days. It was nice. It was great and I’m really happy that they could come see me play. It means a lot for them and they watch every game at 2 a.m. at night. Even (my) grandparents, and the whole family does. So seeing me live meant a lot for them and it was a little emotional for them as well. So I love that.
Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:
Did you show them around Omaha, and if so, what were the highlights?
Simon Latkoczy (Senior Goaltender, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, well I showed them the locker room, the rink, and the school. We went to the zoo. So that was something, and they saw the downtown as well. So they were here for six days, you know, like I also need to focus on hockey and we are at the rink and in school all the time. So they made their own program kind of, but they just wanted to see me play, you know, and they did. So that was nice.
Terry Leahy, Learfield Sports:
Speaking of concentration, Simon, during the stoppage and play, media timeout, you’re going to go off kind of along the goal line, usually to your right, and go down on one knee and lift the mask up. What are you thinking about? Maybe it’s not this dramatic at all. It’s nothing. But what are you thinking about at that point in the game when the world’s fastest sport is in a stoppage like that, and you’re just kind of off to the side, just focusing on the next shift?
Simon Latkoczy (Senior Goaltender, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, I just try to kind of get back to my body, focus on the breath work a little bit and a couple of affirmations and then I go back to the net and I’m ready for the next puck. But it’s just a little mindset reset for me, nothing big. I don’t put too much pressure on me when I’m down there during the media timeout.
Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:
You earned the NCHC Goaltender of the Year honors last season, and now that conference play is starting, is it a reset for you, or are you looking to defend that title?
Simon Latkoczy (Senior Goaltender, Omaha Hockey):
Hard question. I don’t know even if they would give it to me twice in a row, even if I was the best.
You know, the trophies are just something that you get back after all the hard work. But there are other success that like can mean maybe even a lot or more, and yeah I (want to) focus on just on the teamwork now and you know, like if I’m gonna win NCHC Goaltender again, great. If I’m gonna win the Mike Richter award, that would be great too. I haven’t had that one yet, but I haven’t had the national championship trophy or even the NCHC trophy yet. So those are goals as well, and I don’t really want to look too much ahead and focus on winning some — whether individual or team trophy — I think it’s, you know, I’m really kind of day-by-day oriented goalie. So I just focus on getting better every day and hopefully the success is going to come (at) the end of the season.
Mike Patterson, Omaha World-Herald:
Simon, as a co-captain, do you have to get after the guys at all? What’s your role as a co-captain? Because a goalie having that role is fairly rare.
Simon Latkoczy (Senior Goaltender, Omaha Hockey):
I think that the guys are great, the teammates are great and especially my other captains are doing a great job. Griffin (Ludkte) is a great captain, and Rolly (Tyler Rollwagen) and Mitchie (Cam Mitchell) are doing an unbelievable job as well. So I think that we really kind of fit in well together and everyone has maybe a little different opinions and ideas, and I just think that you can see it on the ice as other teammates behave. It’s a really well-behaved and disciplined team, I would say. I think that as we just get more into the season, it’s going to be even better and better. But I really think that we are doing a good job together. And yeah Griffin is doing an unbelievable job as well.
Bridget Brooks, MavPuck.com:
Speaking from that leadership role, do you have any message for the fans in the community about how we can support you this upcoming season?
Simon Latkoczy (Senior Goaltender, Omaha Hockey):
I think they are just showing up to the games, that’s great. I mean, we see them, we hear them, and it’s always nice to have a full barn here and they give us a great support (the) whole year, even in the previous seasons. I mean, I think this past weekend was great as well. So I think they are doing a great job. We are happy to have them here and hear them. And yeah, no, it’s been good. I think they are doing a good job.
Mike Patterson, Omaha World-Herald:
Have the Canadian players talked you into cheering for Toronto in the World Series?
Simon Latkoczy (Senior Goaltender, Omaha Hockey):
Yeah, actually I have a family that lives in Toronto, so I cheer for our Blue Jays as well.
Mike Patterson, Omaha World-Herald:
Got it.
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