|
Player Spotlight highlights the finer details and elements while supplying insight to the fans on what a player's thought process may be pertaining to a certain play, game or situation. It brings the intensity, passion, and inner most thoughts of the individual player that otherwise may not be felt or heard. |
|
02/23/02
A few words with Columbus Landsharks' Forward Kyle Arbuckle. Kyle sat down with PLPA Correspondent David Unkle. | |
 |
The Columbus Landsharks' seem to be a streaky team this year; the team lost three games, then won three games, then lost three again. What do you attribute that to? |
 |
I think it's having guys in and out of the lineup all the time. It's amazing because every win it's been a different lineup. Our defense's fitness level is above that of other teams...and the offense will chip in goals and by the end of the game, we're up one or two [goals].
|
|
|
Philadelphia threw a lot of shots on goal tonight; is this approach that the team expected tonight? |
|
|
Yeah…they came in against an expansion team…they took a lot of shots which we didn't mind because the guy who took the shot wasn't from a quick stick pass and our goalie is a blocking style goalie…he just stood in front and took out the angles...that is what we wanted. |
|
|
In your opinion, how has the league changed this year compared to last year? |
|
|
I think a lot of players that can play and should have been playing because of expansion have been able to jump in and make a team…our team is an example of how the league can grow with talent.
|
|
|
What adjustments do the Landsharks' need to make to be competitive within the Central Division? |
|
|
Our Division is probably the best Division…we have to stress defense and we expect to keep the other teams to about ten [goals per game] and score about twelve [goals per game] on average…have we been doing that, No, because we had a couple of games that really got away from us.
|
|
|
What is the psychological impact does it have on a team when two of your opponents players are scratched as was the case tonight with Philadelphia's Jake Bergey and Dallas Eliuk, two guys who are the heart and soul of the Wings? |
|
|
We really didn't mind that tonight…that was a pleasant surprise. I don't think anything changed…some of our guys have problems with Dallas so the offensive shooters had a bit more of a chance…it's an early Christmas present …they [Philadelphia] have a really deep team so if it's not one it's another.
|
|
|
How did the trade involving goalies Phil Wetherup and Ken Montour impact this team? |
|
|
It impacted this team because we knew we had three goalies that could start in this league…so mentally if a goalie had a bad game, he didn't know where he stood. Ken Montour won two games in a row and he never played again. We know now and the goalies know now that this is what we're going to go with since we have the players in place…I think we can plan more knowing who is in net for us.
|
|
|
With your playoff chances pretty slim, what are your goals for the remainder of the season? |
|
|
We have a lot of divisional games left…we want to win the games and continue to improve. A lot of teams, regardless of what they do, are going to have some retirement…our average age is twenty-three…so we want to keep winning…it's pretty fun right now.
|
| PLPA Correspondent David W. Unkle is the host of The Topcat & Taggart Sports Show aired on WNJC 1360-AM...Philadelphia's Renaissance Radio Station every Sunday from 4:30-5:30 PM (Eastern Time). The Topcat & Taggart Sports Show brings local and national sports figures of yesterday and today to the airwaves highlighting both the professional and personal dimensions. David also is a Staff Writer for South Jersey Sports On-Line (www.SJSports.com) covering the Philadelphia Wings. A former semi-professional football player and ice-hockey enthusiast, David covers the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Philadelphia Phantoms (AHL), Trenton Titans (ECHL) and Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (ECHL). You can write to David at: dunkle@sjsports.com |
|