Was it Really Just a Loss?

On Thursday night at 7:00 PM Eastern Time, the Howell Rebels will face-off against Middletown South in the second round of the state playoffs.

Just those two teams in the same sentence together should make any typical fan cringe, nonetheless sitting together in the same section of the same bracket.

For those of you who can't remember, on January 30th, the Middletown South Eagles stormed back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Howell Rebels 4-3 at Gold Coast Arena. That game was so much more than a loss, however.

Whether it was the fact that my posts were 'too hard' on the players in assuming that they were out-of-shape after their fifth blown lead in the third period, or the fact that losses were just uncommon in Howell territory, there was certainly hostility in Rebel country.

While many feel it was a bad time for Howell, now, it's evident that it was better. In the wake of what was noted as the toughest time throughout the two years of Howell hockey, it's time to realize it was actually good.

Considering that this team had never gone through that much trouble--or any serious--adversity, there was no better time for them to start. The fans thought extremely highly of the players, and the favor was returned as the players were appreciative of the fans.

After that night, it all changed.

Fans would take up the same assumption that players didn't work for their success, and the players started to realize the fans were only there when they were good, when they were putting up banners.

Following that night--and several blizzards--the Rebels would be back in action, and finished off some unworthy opponents rather easily. In the Dowd Cup, they would be ousted heavily in the second round, as everyone is aware.

But now, over a month since that heart-breaking loss against the Eagles, it's time to observe: what did everyone learn?

Did the players learn to play how they feel they should and not listen to writers or fans?

Did the fans learn to support their team and not causing adversity, because, hey, that is my job?

But most importantly, did everyone learn that there is a reason why these teams will face-off in the second round of thew state playoffs, a place that the Rebels have never gone past?

Revenge.

That's what Howell is in for, and, in the end, a victory tomorrow night will make all the problems go away from players to fans and to everything else.

Winning solves everything.