Regg Simon Quotations

We started out very solid back there, then got young real quick. Now our young guys have grown up. I like where we're at right now.

We always harp on our guys - good things happen when you shoot the puck.

Scoring is two things for us - a byproduct of hard work and a byproduct of how we like to play hockey. We like to play up-tempo, puck-pressure hockey. And creating a lot of offense out of that is part of that style of play. It's a lot of (talent) too.

If we go into the third period down 2-1, I like our chances. But a lot of games come down to two or three plays this time of year, and those guys made them tonight.

I think it hurt us number one from a leadership standpoint because John was our captain and Al . . . was a quiet leader with his effort he'd give every day. It hurt us defensively losing two experienced guys like that. Unfortunately, it coincided with the time we went through a slump. Whether that was part of it or not, I'm not sure.

Kyle is as fine of a player as the league's ever seen.

I think each one of them has certainly earned it. The better your team does, the more notoriety you are going to get. The guys who have made the all-star game, they put in the hard work for it, but should be just as thankful toward their teammates. Without good players around you, you don't get to excel like that.

Over a 60-game schedule you're going to have ups and downs. What will be important is how we respond with the best team in the league coming in.

That extra output from guys lower in your lineup makes the difference. We have guys on that third or fourth line that can score.

Troy is playing well and has been - no doubt about that. But, the team has been limiting high scoring chances and allowing him to see the puck.

We haven't done anything special for the playoffs, but it is everything we do at and away from the rink that gets us ready. It's how we conduct ourselves and being responsible . . . from what we eat to getting enough sleep. Games hinge on one or two plays, so we put ourselves in the best position we can.

We have guys who have good instincts. They know when to lay back and make the safe play.

We've been close (in the standings) all year. I don't care if it's one point or 12 points (Cedar Rapids is) still a great team and we are going to have to be at our best to beat them.

Everyone was looking around the room for someone else to do it and someone else doesn't play for our team. I think it took close to a month for some other guys to reassert themselves.

Especially this time of year, you have to capitalize on special teams.

Alan was the consummate defensive-defenseman for our team, and in my opinion, one of the best at doing that in the entire USHL. He was matched against other team's top lines, he was our best penalty killer, he led our team in blocked shots...he did everything for us. I'm happy and proud that he'll get to move on to a great college hockey program.

Your guys that have scored all year should be scoring in the playoffs, too. (Sioux Falls') two big defenders were doing a good job on them with hooks and holds, but they always find a way to score.

You never want to go 0-5 against one team.

They got the momentum there in the second, but I stressed to our guys that that was as good as we would see them all night. I knew as long as we could get to the locker room at 2-2 we'd be OK.

They have a game in hand, but this gives us some breathing room ? if you can call it that.

They are a tough team to play. They play . . . physical.

There was one team prepared to play tonight and one team that wasn't. The team that was up 2-0 was prepared.

It's a nice individual accolade if he can get it.

For all the things we've went through for the past few years and for people doubting what we could do, this year's with another hockey team in town and to come back and do this I couldn't be happier.

It's great for our organization. To get the ship righted and play in the finals is big.

That's the beauty of junior hockey. You have to show up and compete every night.

It's nice right now. But tomorrow will be even more of a challenge. They are a good team and they are going to rebound.

That has to give our guys confidence knowing that we can come over here and get a win.

They will be desperate, any team facing elimination will be prepared with their back against the wall.

It was just a matter of getting to the net and getting shots.

It was just a matter of Chicago being more prepared to play tonight. We've stressed all year that we have to take it game-by-game.

I initially knew it would be a tough series; we never ran away from them in the regular season, so I don't expect to in this one.

I like that we used our home ice to our advantage. We got off to a fast start and the crowd really got into it. They helped carry us through.

I like where we are at right now.

You couldn't have asked for a better series. These were two great teams playing at their best when it counted most.