These days, Northampton hockey coach Brian Ruff isn't satisfied.

He knows his team is better than their 3-3 record through the first six games of the Lehigh Valley Scholastic Hockey (LVSHL) season this year.

Through Monday's action, the Konkrete Kids were in the midst of a two-game losing streak, dropping a 9-3 decision to Emmaus and a 3-1 contest to Freedom.

"So far, it has been a so-so season for us," deadpanned the veteran coach of his team's start this season. "These kids could have easily been 5-1 or 4-2 instead of our current record. I would have felt a lot better if we had either of those records at this point.

"We're like a car not running on all of its cylinders. We aren't generating enough yet. It has been hard to pinpoint what is wrong, but this club still doesn't have a solid feel for things."

Ruff debunked the theory that his club might be in a rebuilding year with the loss of six seniors from last year's club that lost in the LVSHL Non-Pure Division finals to Pleasant Valley/Palisades in the first two games of a best-of-three series. The Konkrete Kids, normally a Non-Pure perennial favorite, are three years removed from their last championship.

"We're not in a transition year this season," said Ruff. "We do have a number of people back and we should have a strong nucleus."

The Kids returned leading scorer Gunnar Mishko, who is currently leading the team in scoring with seven goals and four assists for 11 points.

"Gunnar (Mishko) should have a good year for us," stated Ruff. "He (Mishko) will get his share of goals for us. He is also a strong defensive player and will play both ends of the ice for us well."

Ruff is also looking for Derrick Wruble, Danny Farkas, and Tyler Feist to help make an impact this season. Wruble (6 goals, 5 assists, 11 points), Farkas (5-1-6), and Feist (2-6-8) are the Kids' second, third, and fourth leading scorers respectively behind Mishko this season.

Senior Adam Orsulak, who has been a fixture in the Kids' nets the past two seasons, is back. He will share some time with Chris Tanczos this season. In five games, Orsulak had a 3-2 mark with a 4.29 goals against average (GAA), while Tanczos had a 0-1 mark with a 3.00 GAA.

The Kids will look to get back on track before the Christmas break. They have a rematch with Freedom (3-1) Monday night and then will meet Phillipsburg (0-4-1) and Becca/Central (2-3) in consecutive weeks before they get back into action against Easton Jan. 10.

Despite having an unorthodox start for them, Northampton began the week atop the LVSHL Non-Pure Division, being the lone club with a record of .500 or better (3-3).

"We'll get better," pressed Ruff. "We have the talent here and a number of guys who have been through the postseason. It may be a little frustrating now, but we'll regroup and get everything together."