Games one and two of the 2012-13 season for the Farmington Falcons were a stark study in contrast. The season opener, a 4-3 loss to Plymouth on November 16, was a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory.

"We gave that game away," said Vellucci. "And I'm one who usually gives due credit to the other team. But we let in a couple of soft goals in that one."

The next day, November 17, Livonia Stevenson rolled the Falcons 8-0, and Vellucci was quick to praise the Spartans.

"They are one of the top teams in the state, regardless of division," said Vellucci. "They are solid from top to bottom."

Frankly, the Falcons are not all that solid this season, and after a 3-0 blanking at the hands of city rival Farmington Hills Flyers in their traditional day-before-Thanksgiving game, Vellucci gave his charges the weekend off for the first time in years to evaluate whether or not they were hungry enough to compete with the likes of Brighton, Novi and Howell as well as teams in the OAA Red. 

"The guys realized that we just can't show up and expect to succeed," said Vellucci.

Some personnel adjustments were in order, too, which were a little delicate to make since the Falcons have only 16 skaters this season to complement goalies Tom Lochner and junior starter John Lethemon. The refurbished number-one line of Nick Gensheimer, Cooper McLean and Nick Heffron has amassed 40 points in 10 games.

"Nick (Gensheimer) is the heart and soul of the team," said Vellucci. "Our top line is scoring about 80 percent of our goals. They have been carrying us."

So has Lethemon. After his own shaky start, he's settled into a comfortable .901 save percentage and has surrendered only six goals in the last four games, in which the Falcons have gone 3-0-1, including a 2-1 overtime win in the rematch against the Flyers.

"As soon as John's game improved," said Vellucci, "so did the rest of the team's. He's the MVP of the season so far." 

Lethemon's season stats with Farmington belie his innate abilites. He played in the Michigan Developmental Hockey League (MDHL) in the fall and was selected to represent the MDHL Minor Team that competed in Minnesota in October.

"He's one of the top high-school goalies in the state," said Vellucci. "And I think that he was caught a little off guard in the transition from playing for an elite team to playing for his high-school buddies—back to the real world so to speak."

Speaking of the real world, the Falcon's roster is leaner because of declining enrollment in the Farmington School District. It didn't help that three freshmen opted to play AAA because, according to Vellucci, they were reluctant to mix in the corners with players up to three years older.

"We do have a couple of freshman on the team who are doing just fine," said Vellucci. "And we might get those Travel kids to come back next season."

The drop in school attendance prompted Farmington to drop down to Division 3 this season. 

"This is the first time that the program has had fewer than 20 skaters," said Vellucci. "We'll see how being in Division 3 goes. I think we can compete against any team, especially with the way that John has been playing in net. He's the best goalie to come out of our program since I've coached here."

Farmington still applies a hard, relentless forecheck with all three lines, even though Vellucci is accustomed to have four lines to work with.

"We need to keep the puck in the other team's zone to take the pressure off our defense," said Vellucci, which is often times reduced to four deep. 

It remains to be seen if the extra wear and tear on the forwards affects the Falcons' projected playoff run, which could very likely include a quarterfinal match against Cranbrook, if things play out in their favor. 

"I am a little worried about tiring them out in the stretch," said Vellucci of his nine forwards.

After an 0-3 start, the Falcons are 5-4-1 with 15 games remaining on the schedule. Before the season started, Vellucci pegged this bunch to finish a little above .500, but those expectations may be elevated now.