Green Knights rust-free after bye week

DE PERE - Whether or not you believe in the concept of “rust” in sports, St. Norbert hockey is trying to avoid the fate that befell the Packers: a playoff loss coming off a bye week. The Green Knights have 15 days between games when they hit the ice Saturday evening for the NCHA semifinals.

“I think you weigh the rest vs. the rust idea, it's worked out well for us in the past with the structure we've had," said St. Norbert head coach Tim Coghlin.

The Green Knights battled for the top seed in the conference right up to the end of the regular season, and feel they can keep that momentum going in the playoffs.

“Being in season is more a mentality thing than anything,” said St. Norbert forward Johan Ryd. “Once you're in the period of playing games in general, you're mindset is always going to be competing and working hard."

There are, of course, plenty of differences between the Packers and Green Knights, both defending champions. One of those differences is the type of practices the teams hold during their weeks off: the Packers often work in shells, not always at full speed.

"We go padded all the time,” said Coghlin. “We've got live bodies crashing live bodies all the time."

The veterans are used to this. The Green Knights have taken two straight Peters Cups, winning both with a bye week to start the playoffs.

"[The week off is] a little more relaxed, we'll have a little more fun, but other than our preparation, it's going to be the same as any other week," said St. Norbert forward Cody Keefer.

The Green Knights host UW-Eau Claire Saturday evening at 7pm in the NCHA semifinals.