They knew that by watching the home team come out on the ice for the pre-game warmups.
"You could just tell, " said Matt Condon, the Orrsmen's starting netminder. "Usually when you come into Dayton, their guys are talking a lot, making jokes and being pretty social. Well, with all the trades they've made lately, nobody feels safe."
Former Musicman Cody Ceci agreed. "It's tough.I wasn't there very long, but it was one of the best dressing rooms I've ever been in as a pro. Guys were really friendly, the front office was amazing the way they helped me and my wife find a place to live, a good school for our kids. Dayton is known as one of the best run organizations in the CCHL. Management has obviously decided it's time for some big changes. The kids they're acquiring are good talents, but they're aren't going to be here for a couple years. Guys are on one year deals, and there's a lot of pressure to perform."
Tonight's game was a fairly quiet affair.
Parry Sound came out flying and before the end of the first period, had taken a 2-0 lead. The second period was a scoreless one and the two teams traded goals in the third, which gave the Orrsmen the victory and the two points they had hoped for.
"Well, no, we didn't play very well tonight." said Thomas Vanek." After Nate (McKinnon) was traded to the Isotopes, you could just feel the whole room kind of go into a daze of sorts. We are professionals. We understand what management is trying to do to secure the future of the franchise. Dayton is one of the smaller markets in the CCHL. Sometimes there are tough decisions to make."
Vanek continued.
"I've talked to some of the guys. I've told them we are professional hockey players. We get paid a crazy amount of money to play a game we've loved since we were kids. We need to do our best, keep our chins up and show up every night. It's not that hard."
(Article reprinted, with permission, from October 20th, 2017...)
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