Article written by
Brent Alderdice
In light of rumour and speculation and opinions abounding based on evidence and hearsay I believe it is time this matter of a team jinx, or jinxes, is investigated and either proved or disproved for the good of everyone involved. Before I begin to introduce the evidence that has been presented to me I would like to clear up some definitions for our out of town readers that may not be as close to the team and not so ready to jump on or off the jinx bandwagon.
Definitions
· Team: the Grey Bruce PeeWee Highlanders and is comprised of the players and the coaching staff.
· Jinx: a person or thing that brings bad luck.
Evidence
Pre-Season Tournament
· This concept of a team jinx can be dated back to the early bird tournament the young PeeWee Highlanders entered when the team struck for a win and a tie the first day and then two horrible losses the second. I can attest as I was there the second day that there were murmurings about why the fortunes of the team had turned. Was there a cooler that had come only for the second day? Did someone have such jinxieness that they could turn our young teams’ fortunes from hero to zero? No one knew for sure but the whispering would soon turn to shouts.
Last Week
· On the weekend of October 26th and 27th the most obvious evidence of a jinx was noted by several parents. On Saturday, the 26th, the PeeWee team played the exceptional well skilled Hamilton Bulldogs. The team lost 3-2 but in general the Highlanders played well at all positions. Shots from the point on a power play were tipped in, breakouts were working, and great passing led to the second Highlander goal. Although the team lost, it was agreed that the hard fought battle would pay dividends on the 27th, when the team met the less powerful Niagara North Stars for a at home doubleheader. Clearly at this game there was no jinx present.
· Fast forward to the doubleheader. The first game was back and forth with goals and assists all being created by the Highlander forwards. A tie seemed destined to be the outcome and then with 9 seconds left the Niagara team scored. 9 seconds left and they scored. Now I was not at the Bulldog game on the 26th but I was at this game and I thought then and there the rumour could be true. How else could such misfortune strike ?
· Game Two. This game was not as close. The Highlanders lost 4-2.
Summary
There are two strong trains of thought concerning this jinx theory. One is that there is no such thing as a jinx and that if you look at the style of game that is presented when playing against a strong team our players find it easier to compete when the competition is brought to them each shift. Examples of this are the tie against the Guelph Gryphons and the loss against the Hamilton Bulldogs. Perhaps it is easier to counterpunch rather than directing the fight oneself. This theory would also hold that when playing a more equal team the PeeWee’s have not yet developed the confidence to force the game momentum onto the other team and then are caught in a back and forth coin toss outcome type of game. This theory certainly holds truth with outcomes such as the 7-6 loss to Brampton and the recent doubleheader losses to Niagara which were all back and forth games.
The second theory is that there is a team jinx and when they show up to a game they jinx the team. With this theory more effort needs to be placed in finding the jinx and asking them not to attend games.
I will leave it to the reader to choose which side of the jinx theory they side with. Perhaps it will take a few more games to allow the fans to make their decision.