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| Ward isn't ducking the challenge |
| September 13, 2007 |
| Source: Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff |
| WILMINGTON - Last spring, while his teammates had scattered to their offseason hideaways, Aaron Ward was still working. |
| The Bruins defenseman served as a Versus studio analyst during the playoffs, breaking down both conference finals, and being on standby duty for the Stanley Cup finals. |
| So Ward, who won the Cup with Carolina in 2006, had as good a look as anyone at Anaheim and the manner in which the Ducks stomped their competition en route to the championship. |
| Yesterday, Ward ran down the list of on-ice attributes. The big and skilled No. 2 line of Dustin Penner, Ryan Getzlaf, and Corey Perry. The take-no-prisoners approach of the checking line. The skill with which the Ducks chased down their dump-ins and snatched pucks off the Ottawa defense's sticks. |
| But while Ward didn't have an eye into Anaheim's off-ice behavior, he could tell by the Ducks' play that something special was taking place inside their dressing room. |
| "Systems have to fit the components that are inside the locker room," said Ward. "The biggest key to success - you saw it with Anaheim - is that teams that reach that stage of the season have a large amount of discipline. It's discipline in your systems, discipline in how you're coached, discipline in your decisions. There was just so much of it. The onus there is on the players." |
| Ward and his veteran teammates participated in their final informal practice at Ristuccia Arena yesterday, giving way to the rookies, who had their first on-ice session in the afternoon. |
| Like players from 29 other teams around the league, Ward is optimistic about the upcoming season, preferring not to dwell on the "seven weeks of despair," as he termed the stretch run of 2006-07. |
| "I listen to what's said on the radio. I read what's written. I listen to what people say," Ward said. "We're living in Boston now. We're integrated here in this environment where people talk about sports, and they're upset with the Bruins. So, I want to win as much for the guys in the locker room as for the city of Boston." |