Ice Hockey

Amid losing streak, Syracuse emphasizes ‘core values’

Ally Walsh | Staff Photographer

Syracuse learned its core values — passion, character and discipline — last season. Its relied on them in its current campaign.

Syracuse won its last hockey game 38 days ago. Yet, head coach Paul Flanagan hasn’t noticed the signs of a losing team. They haven’t dwelled on losses, let frustrations linger or lost motivation.

The Orange (4-14-1, 4-3 College Hockey America) have maintained a positive attitude in the locker room during their eight-game losing streak, Flanagan said. To maintain mental strength in the face of adversity, Syracuse has reinforced its “core values” — passion, character and discipline — which sport psychologist Dr. Mark Randall introduced to them last year.

The values translate to playing with passion on the ice, displaying strong character off of it and exerting discipline in the weight room, during film sessions and at practice. The team refers back to them “in everything we do,” leading goal-scorer Emma Polaski said.  During winter break, Syracuse has three exhibition games in Montreal to address its lack of offensive production and defensive miscues by turning back to the “core values” it regards so highly.

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“We try not to be too down,” defenseman Allie Munroe said. “It’s been honestly a little tough, but you honestly learn a lot about yourself when you start losing games. When you start facing adversity, you find out what team you actually are.”

Munroe, a senior captain, added that Syracuse hasn’t folded and are “still motivated.” Munroe realizes diminished confidence could sink SU’s season, especially with conference play looming after break. She credited Randall for helping the team through difficulty but noted it takes time to exemplify all of the core values.

After each game in the current losing streak, Syracuse has reconvened in the locker room and reviewed the values, Polaski said. Conversations have led to constructive criticism instead of whining, something Flanagan said his past teams have done.

One of the worst losses of the season came on Nov. 16, when Syracuse blew a 4-2 lead in the third period against RIT. SU reflected on its values after the contest, but still dropped the next six games. During its eight-game losing streak, SU has been outscored 41-13.

Another low point came when the Orange lost two games at No. 1 Wisconsin, 6-1 and 9-1. After the weekend series, they rode a bus to Chicago, where their flight got delayed. They arrived back in Syracuse at 3 a.m., exhausted and demoralized.


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“You can see the frustration, but I think it’s how we manage it,” Flanagan said. “Don’t let it fester…You gotta push through.”

In years past, Flanagan’s teams have responded poorly to adversity, he said. But the institutional commitment to positivity has made the locker room stronger this year. With about half the season left, Flanagan said he is optimistic that SU’s tough nonconference slate — nine of Syracuse’s losses have come against top-10 teams — will prepare it for a conference title run.

SU started working with Randall in the beginning of last season. In 2017, the team went through a similar stretch, losing seven of eight games between Dec. 2 and Jan. 16. Players offered a list of values, and it wasn’t finalized until the second half of the season.

This year, the Orange have worked with Randall multiple times, but they haven’t met recently because of the team’s schedule. Flanagan plans to set up a session with him in January after winter break. Until then, Randall’s messages remain on the player’s mind.

“At the end of the day, our core values are everything,” Munroe said.

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