Frustration Turns to Anger

Coach Ron Wilson halted practice after 45 lackluster minutes, angrily telling the players to meet among themselves. Wilson and assistants Tim Army and Walt Kyle then left the ice.

The players then huddled with captain Paul Kariya, defenseman Bobby Dollas and winger Teemu Selanne speaking briefly.

“Ron’s message was that we can’t look for easy ways out,” Army said. “We’ve got to win hockey games, not make excuses.”

Wilson, who declined to speak with reporters, became angry only a few minutes into practice. He stopped a drill then had the Ducks skate a set of wind sprints as punishment.

When the skating was finished, Wilson gathered the team at center ice then began shouting at defenseman David Karpa, one of the team’s least reliable defenseman with only one point and a plus-minus rating of minus five.