Road trip to Quad City

Not having a computer right now is killing me. We are stopped at a gas station just outside of Quad City. We usually stop so that guys can get energy drinks and other things they need. I went with a chocolate milk. I borrowed Lefty's (Bryan Bloodworth) computer to give you guys some more to read.

Last night was a game that I have been waiting for. Although we got away with some mistakes, I was happy to see that we came back from the Christmas break and worked hard. Martin bailed us out a few times. I want to talk a lot more about last night, but I am afraid I am not going to have time. Finishing that last home stand at 5 wins and 1 loss was huge. I don't care who we played. We have to win the games that we are supposed to win. I thought that the passing was sharp in the second period and that the new lines are starting to come together.

I was recently asked how many extra sticks I take on a road trip. I usually bring one new one for every road game we have for each guy. Most of the time I don't use many of them, but you never know what is going to happen.

I was at the rink at 8 am to get all my trunks packed. I try to make it so that every road game feels like a home game. I never want to tell the guys that I don't have something, even at this level. I bring extra laces, laundry, equipment. I pull out every ones bags a lay them in front of their stalls, put skate guards on the skates, and lay out the helmet bags. I only had to sharpen 7 pairs of skates this morning. We will see if there is any more when we get there.

We are going to wear the gold third jerseys today. With all of the changes I have not been able to complete all the white ones. I sew all the nameplates and I even had to make up a jersey for Banga, because I did not previously have a #39. It is very important that every new guy has his name on the back of his jersey, even if it is just for one game. I do everything I can to make it happen. I remember a few years ago when I was the assistant for Utah, we played a couple of preseason games in Idaho for training camp. They told us in advance who would be playing in the games, but one guy impressed the staff so much that they added him to the game roster. Normal we would have had letters to make up a nameplate, but this was the first and only year Utah was affiliated with the Coyotes and we did not have any yet. Well instead of going without, we took white letters and colored them dark red with some markers that we had bought. It wasn't perfect, but probably not many people noticed it that night. Last year, when Jason Muzzatti (the current coach for Flint) back up a game for us, he was excited to see his name on the back of the jersey.

The weather is much better up here then it was in Bloomington. We actually saw the sun at one point. Well I have to go. We are here. Enjoy!

KINCH