MORNING SKATE NOTES
Sunday will be Vincent Trocheck’s first game back at Madison Square Garden since he was traded to the Mammoth
Head coach André Tourigny confirms no changes to the lineup
The Mammoth look to build off of their first two performances in tonight’s game
Back at the Garden
Tonight will be a special moment for center Vincent Trocheck, who spent the last four seasons with the Rangers, and is making his return to MSG for the first time. Trocheck discussed the emotions of returning and how it’s been a different experience each time he’s changed teams.
“I thought it would (be easier), but I don’t think it makes it any better or any less difficult. I think it’s just different each time,” Trocheck said of playing a former team. “I feel like each team, Florida, Carolina, New York, they’ve all been different chapters of my life, and it’s just been a different feeling coming back to each place. Coming back to New York, I feel like it’s more of this is where my kids grew up kind of thing … (it’s) just a little bit different.”
It’s an early return for Trocheck as it’s Utah’s third game of the season. Trocheck and former New York Islanders captain Anders Lee discussed this on the bus to the hotel last night.
“(Trocheck) and I on the bus last night were like (we) can’t believe we’re back in the city already,” Lee smiled. “He’s checking it off pretty quick and I’m excited for him tonight. But yeah, we’re right back here. It’s definitely a little weird to be back in the city this quick, but at the same time it’s awesome. It’s good to be here. We’re going to have some friends at the game and all that stuff. And always loved playing at MSG so we get to (do) that again quick.”
The Lee family and the Trocheck family have grown close after each moved from New York to Utah this summer. Both Lee and Trocheck discussed what each other and their respective families have meant to the other.
“It’s been a huge help for me and my family,” Trocheck said of the Lee family. “I feel like just having somebody you’re familiar with or someone who’s going through the same things as you at the same time, and being able to lean on each other. And then having the kids, obviously both having kids around the same age, being able to play with each other, and have friends at school the first day, that obviously goes a long way.”
“My family and I, we’re so fortunate that the Trochecks have been going through this too,” Lee said. “We spent a lot of time together in the last month and a half with our families and getting the kids together and hanging out. Because they’re going through something similar, moving across the country and settling into a new place with kids and getting into schools and stuff like that. So, Vince and Hillary have been awesome for my wife and I and for the kids, just to spend time with one another and hang out. It’s been great just to be on the same side.”
Bringing Leadership
In addition to having each other, Lee and Trocheck have brought a lot of leadership and experience to Utah’s locker room. Both have been leaders on other teams. Tourigny explained what type of leadership they’re bringing to the Mammoth.
“Right now it’s by their presence,” Tourigny said of Lee and Trocheck in the locker room. “The way they prep themselves, the way they carry themselves, the way they approach challenging situations, you can see they have a calmness about them … right now they carry a lot of weight by their presence, by their experience, etc. I think they bring a lot of experience, a lot of maturity, a lot of calmness in our group. And I know their leadership will keep growing, because they already brought a lot of leadership, and it will be even greater.”
Keep Building
After two strong performances to start the regular season, Sunday is an opportunity for the Mammoth to keep building.
“I think the way the game presented itself last night, I think we kind of stuck with our plan and played pretty fast throughout the game,” Lee explained. “I think that was kind of the story of it of us, being consistent throughout all 60 minutes. Obviously our power play made some phenomenal plays, and gave us some great leads and stuff like that. But overall, I think our game was just consistent throughout and kind of to our identity. And tonight will be no different. These guys post quite a threat offensively and we’re going to have to be really good on the defensive side. To take from last night would be to try to maintain that momentum throughout the game and stay on the forecheck like we did last night.”
“I think our ability to transition against teams and turn pucks over, go back the other way, and create offense out of it,” Trocheck shared. “I think our whole identity is speed, and we have to continue to play into that.”
Picking Up Where He Left Off
Center Nick Schmaltz recorded his 500th career NHL point in Saturday’s win. Tourigny is happy with how Schmaltz has started the season, especially after a strong season last year.
“He’s playing unbelievable hockey right now,” Tourigny said of Schmaltz. “I think he picked up where he left last year. His play away from the puck, his reads everywhere on the ice, it’s amazing. I think in the past two seasons, I will say, his inside game, his game at the net, has improved a lot. I think now his line with (Trocheck), a guy who goes to the net a lot, I think it mixes up things in the o-zone. I really like the look they have and he’s playing really good (Schmaltz) right now: (penalty kill), 5-on-5, power play, really happy.”