Forward ends scoring slump by keeping it simple
Robbie Holmes’ recent slump might have seemed complicated at the time, but it had a simple solution.
After failing to record a point in his first 10 games this season, the 18-year-old forward took some advice from the Regina Pats’ coaches and went back to basics. He was rewarded with four goals in his past five games — by far the best scoring stretch of his young WHL career.
“I just have to get pucks to the net and work hard down low and opportunities will come,” explained Holmes, who was the game’s second star on Wednesday with a goal and an assist in Regina’s 5-1 win over the Kootenay Ice.
“I didn’t get (any) goals at the start of the year but now it’s coming. It feels good to finally find some success.”
The secret to Holmes’ success was rather straightforward. Although he’s not a natural dangler, the 6-foot-3, 184-pounder has the size and speed to be an effective north-south player — assuming he stays within his limitations.
“There was a game two, three weeks ago; at that time he doesn’t have a point,” recalled head coach/ GM John Paddock. “It’s in the third period, the game is close and he needed a shift change. He tries to beat a guy one-on-one (at the blue line). He obviously sat out the next game. You can’t do that. Now he’s chipping it in all the time, going to get it, and you get the results.”
Regina has gone 3-1-1 since Holmes started hitting the score sheet. The team’s success has also coincided with an improved effort from Bryan Lockner, who often plays on a line with Holmes.
“There’s lots of expectations on him and Locks,” noted Paddock. “Until the last couple of weeks it hasn’t been happening. Now that it is, you see the difference in our team . ... They don’t have to end up with 30 goals each but they have to play right, play hard, get 15 goals. That’s pretty good.”
Holmes and Lockner provided important depth last season. They also stepped up at key times due to injuries, supplying a couple of huge goals during Regina’s run to the league final.
“Playing last year as a rookie, now you kind of know what the league is like; now you know what to expect,” said Holmes, who had two goals and seven assists in 54 games before adding three goals and two helpers in 22 playoff contests.
“Coming into this year, you have more confidence. Guys had to step up in the playoffs. You just have to take (the opportunity) you get and run with it.”
Paddock hopes to see more of the same from Holmes — a smart, fast, physical game with lots of effort and not many frills. He’d also rather not hear any talk about confidence.
“I don’t like that stuff,” Paddock added. “You have confidence by doing things right. He’s doing things right and he’s getting rewarded.”