Junior Blues flourish in determination, fight and heart; but are in desperate need to find some consistentcy

The Springfield Junior Blues haven't started off exactly as well as head coach Joe Dibble and his 2011-2012 squad had in mind--but a couple of things are most definitely for sure about this team: they have tremendous hearts and are one-hundred percent determined, as well as having no problems to show fight night-in and night-out.

But what is one thing that this team lacks desperately: Consistentcy.

The team has had its fair share of ups and downs this season but being consistent from night to night has been a major problem. It's always seems that when the goalies are 'clicking', the offense can't score--and vice versa.

The Jr. Blues started out rough with the guys behind the net--but that was until they cut goalie Caleb Neal last month. Neal finished his tenure with Springfield with a 1-3 record, as he allowed sixteen goals and converted seventy-nine saves.

Tyler Parks seems to have taken over the number one goalie spot--but that could be lost at any moment and time. Parks is 5-5-1 on the season with a (2.73 GAA) and has allowed thirty-one goals and made 336 saves on the season. As for backup goalie Connor Girard, he hasn't been that bad this season, hes just been a little inconsistent as well. In ten games behind the net, Girard is 4-6-1 with a (3.51 GAA) and has allowed thirty-four goals and made 294 saves.

The Junior Blues, who are being led by the likes of Kyle Cook, Chris Sitler and Josef Pontasch, all are having pretty good seasons through twenty-four contests thus far. The three players have combined for a total of 73 points (28 goals, 45 assists), and have helped lead Springfield score a total of seventy-three goals as a unit all season.

Mike Williams, one of the teams reliable scoring forwards, has notched nine goals this season and is currently third on the team in scoring. Ethan Nauman (16) and Gavin Tufte (18) both have combined to put up 34 points between the two.

Coach Dibble has a talented bunch of hockey players here in Springfield, and the potential for this team has a very high cieling. Despite being shutout for the fifth time this season on Friday night against the St. Louis Bandits, the offense has the potential to score goals at any time second--the consistency from the goalies and the defense will be a big key to the Jr. Blues making any run.