""First, it's a mindset, and we had to change that. I've been really hard on our guys. I have been hard on my leaders, and you have to be. It's the same message for everybody. It's the same standard for everybody.""
""You can't cheat the game... the game will humble you. We're going to outwork every team... we're going to attack.""
""That approach could have backfired. But instead, it did exactly what Bridgeport needed - it forced the group to confront how far they had fallen and what it would take to climb back.""
The Bridgeport Islanders faced a disastrous previous season with only fifteen wins and a record low home performance. Rocky Thompson was brought in to change the team's culture. He emphasized accountability and a high standard for all players, regardless of experience. This approach forced the team to confront their past failures. As practices intensified and conditioning improved, the team's identity shifted. By the season's end, the Islanders achieved a remarkable 39-point improvement and secured a playoff spot, winning 10 of their last 13 games.
Read at Eyes On Isles
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