Indians await second-round NOJHL opponent
by Randy Russon
RR Media Service
They've had their rest and have been working hard at practice and now the Soo Indians
are looking forward to the second round of the Northern Ontario Jr. Hockey League playoffs.
Finishing in first place during the NOJHL regular season earned the Indians a first-round
bye.
"We took a few days off (after clinching first place by winning their regular-season
finale on March 10) but since then we've been busy doing dryland and practising to get ready for the next round of the playoffs,"
noted Indians' head coach Kevin Cain.
"We're looking forward to getting back in action."
With the first round of the playoffs still ongoing, the Indians will begin a semi-final
series on Saturday night at Big Bear Arena against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
"We had some bumps and bruises that have healed and the only question mark is Nick
Novak," Cain said of the defenceman from Green Bay, Wisc., who broke his hand in a game three weeks ago.
Looking ahead to the semi-finals, Cain said he's expecting "nothing less than a
battle, regardless of who we face. You know the league, you know how tough and tight it's been all season. We don't have a
weak team in this league."
Cain took over the Indians with 20 games left in the regular season and led the
team to a 14-6 record, including a 9-2 finish. Despite placing first, the affable head coach noted that "since I came on board,
we haven't had an easy game. Not one."
