Most athletes will tell you, they learn more from their defeats than their victories.
The Cochrane Generals are no exception.
Two weeks after losing the Heritage Junior Hockey League Championship to the Mountainview Colts, the hurt is still there for team captain Craig Packard.
“It was quite upsetting for a lot of guys,” he admitted. “So many people put in so much effort this year, and because we have a lot of 20 year olds on the team, a bunch of guys won’t be playing next year since we can only have four over-agers.
“It’s been tough.”
After recording a franchise record of 62 points during the regular-season, the Generals playoff run took them on a journey which saw them sweep the Strathmore Wheatland Kings in four games, and smash the Coaldale Copperheads in five, only to lose heartbreakingly at the final hurdle to the Colts in six.
For Packard – who was given the captaincy at the start of the season – it’s been a season full of trials and tribulations. The blueliner only played 24 games during the regular-season due to injury, recording 15 points (five goals, 10 assists), not exactly up to par with his previous regular-season total of 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 35 games.
However, considering how long the skipper was out of the lineup with a series of injuries, it’s not at all surprising.
“It was very frustrating to see the guys go on a run and not be part of it,” Packard admitted. “It just seemed to be one thing after another. I dislocated the ACL joint in my shoulder, compressed some cartilage in my wrist, and strained my wrist, all on the left side.
“I never did fully recover, so it was tough trying to give my all and play to the best of my ability.”
Despite his own adversity and disappointment, Packard embraced his role as a leader, and repaid head coach Evan McFeeters’ faith in him with unwavering commitment.
“I’ve known Craig for a long time, when he was one of the top guys in the midget AA program I used to coach,” McFeeters said. “I named him captain there in our first year together. He displays a workman-like attitude and he leads by example. He’s very professional and mature with how he goes about business.
“When we were considering our captain this season, we wanted to make sure our group would be led in the right direction, and the way Craig carries himself at the rink and on the ice, makes him the perfect role model for our group.”
For Packard himself, stepping up to the captaincy only seemed like a natural progression from the previous seasons.
“I was an assistant captain in past seasons, so I wouldn’t say I wasn’t used to playing a leadership role,” he said. “The key is to never miss any games or practices.
“I always try to show commitment and give the guys a push when they needed it or were feeling down anytime during the season.”
Does he think the pressure of being handed the captain role caused him to up his game in order to lead by example?
“I didn’t do much different than before,” he admitted. “You can always improve on things and I think this season the communication with everyone was a lot better because this was a tight-knit group.
“For myself, in terms of playing, I feel I could still work on my overall speed, transition of the puck, and getting up the ice faster.”
After coming so close to the ultimate prize this season, Packard knows it’s not that long until September rolls around and the grind starts all over again.
“I mostly do my own thing in the off-season because of work,” he said. “A lot of guys go to the gym together and play three-on-three when they get a chance, so everyone stays in shape.
“A lot of guys now have a taste of what it feels like to get that far into the playoffs. Next year, that’s going to give us more drive to succeed past our own standards than ever before.”
