Tommy Walker | For The Republic
Indiana Sentinels’ Ethan Esposito takes a shot against Port Huron Prowlers’ Bailey Huber during Friday’s game at Hamilton Community Center and Ice Arena in Columbus.
With the Indiana Sentinels out of the Federal Prospects Hockey League playoff picture, head coach and general manager Everett Thompson is looking at building for next year.
Thompson, who took over early in the season, said following Friday’s 5-0 loss to the Port Huron Prowlers that players are essentially auditioning for spots on next year’s team.
“It’s a rebuilder,” Thompson said. “We obviously got handed something from the beginning of the year that wasn’t ideal. It’s been one of those things that this time of year, we’re looking at a lot of guys for next year. So it’s kind of a tryout period for a lot of guys here, which is a unique situation. But we are getting better. We’re building a solid foundation for next year. That’s kind of how we’re looking at it from here on out.”
The Sentinels, who sit in seventh place in the FPHL’s Empire Division, were playing their first of three games in three days against the second-place Prowlers. Port Huron scored a goal late in the first period and added two early in the second and two more early in the third.
The Prowlers outshot the Sentinels 37-29. Chris Curr recorded 32 saves.
“We didn’t really show up for 40 minutes,” Thompson said. “We had a couple young guys really pull a lot of weight tonight. We had some guys that have been working really hard.”
The Sentinels host Port Huron again at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Hamilton Community Center and Ice Arena.
“We have to refocus and get back to our game here,” Thompson said. “Earlier this year, when we had success against them, we were playing our style here. We’re a puck-possession speed team, and tonight, we didn’t find our game at all, and it kind of showed.”
The Sentinels are under new ownership. Late last week, Ryan Furr, who had been the club’s marketing and promotions chief, bought the franchise from Gavin and Garrett Campbell of Plainfield.
“It’s much more positive,” Thompson said. “Having local ownership is always tremendous, especially someone in the community that has a lot of pull and is known and has some backing from other companies and has relationships that we need ultimately to be successful here in Columbus.
“The support we’ve been getting from the community has been awesome,” he added. “We haven’t necessarily been handed everything perfectly, so we’re getting more and more community support, and we’re getting into the community more and more, which is just going to build success for us overall.”
