The Syracuse players were quiet as they finished the evening by stretching at center ice.

It was the first practice back after losing to Drexel in the second game of a two-game series, and the atmosphere was noticeably tense.

“It was kind of an on-edge practice,” junior assistant captain JR LaPointe said. “Everyone seemed real pissed off. I know I sure was.”

The voice of captain Nino DiPasquale broke the silence, and he gave a speech that would propel the team forward into a strong week of practices. In the following weekend, No. 21 Syracuse (17-8) took both games in its series against No. 23 Robert Morris (15-2-2) and will now look to earn an automatic bid to the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Championship Tournament in its final five games.

The 4-2 loss to Drexel resulted from issues in defense, discipline and missed opportunities. LaPointe said the defeat may have actually been better for the Orange, which was on a seven-game winning streak, to lose.

“If anything it was just like a wake-up call for us. We needed that in order to know where we have to be,” LaPointe said of the loss to Drexel. “Sometimes when you get to the point where you’re doing well and winning a lot of games, you need to get humbled in order to really reach that goal that you have of winning the championship.”

Still, DiPasquale felt the need to speak with his team at practice.

“We’ve come this far in the season. There’s no reason why we can’t do this thing,” said LaPointe, paraphrasing his captain’s speech. “It’s one small bump in the road.”

DiPasquale also reminded his team that the season is long and that it doesn’t need to panic as a result of the disappointing loss.

The speech came at a good time for the team, which found back-to-back victories over Robert Morris. The defensive problems and excessive penalties that plagued the Orange in its loss against Drexel were less present in these two games and the turnaround was evident.

“The rest of the week we had a jump in our step,” LaPointe said. “We seemed more focused, more relaxed, more aware of what needed to be done and all the guys were out there competing.”

DiPasquale realizes his talk may have boosted SU for the time being, but his on-ice performance will now need to carry his team into the postseason, assistant coach Connor Treacy said.

“It’s huge as a coach,” Treacy said of DiPesquale’s leadership ability. “You’re able to depend on someone and not worry about putting them out in any sort of situation, whether it be five on five, penalty kill, power play. You can always depend on Nino to go out there and work hard.”

With two of Syracuse’s final five opponents being in the top 20, it’ll take more than just a speech in the season’s final stretch of home games.

Though DiPasquale’s words had an immediate effect, the page has turned and the final block of games is what will determine SU’s postseason fate.

“I just felt like I had to say, ‘Keep our heads up,’” DiPasquale said. “We’re still right in the playoffs and these next couple games are crucial to our season and to eventually get to nationals.”

Published on January 22, 2015 at 12:05 am

Contact Kevin: kjpacell@syr.edu