FLYERS HOCKEY NOTEBOOK: SMALL NUMBERS HAVE BEEN BIG PROBLEM FOR FLYERS.

Byline: Gideon Rubin Staff Writer

VALENCIA - The Valencia Flyers began the season short-handed, and their lack of depth continues to be a problem.

The Flyers have been trying to add players to their roster, but help hasn't come fast enough. That was apparent over the weekend, as they were swept in a two-game home-and-away series against the Bay City Bombers.

Valencia, which has lost five consecutive games, lost the series opener 11-8 on Oct. 25 and then lost 8-3 on the road the next da ``Right now we're really light,'' Flyers coach Ryan Rockabrand said. ``I'm rotating 13 skaters and every other team's rotating 18. It's a huge disadvantage right now and it's really starting to hurt us. The kids are playing the first two periods, and then they're kind of dead in the third period. Every other team's rotating four lines and we're rotating two, and it's taking a toll on the kids physically and mentally.''

Exacerbating the Flyers' roster woes has been a difficult stretch in their schedule. They've played their last five games against the undefeated Phoenix Polar Bears and the Bombers, who are a combined 21-1.

The good news for Valencia (5-7) is that help is on the way. Over the weekend, the Flyers acquired goalie Travis Cottom via trade from the Bombers in exchange for future considerations. Also, former Flyer Clay Arnold, who was the team's second leading scorer last season, has rejoined the team.

Also, the Flyers have a much easier November schedule. After a bye this weekend, Valencia plays its next seven games against the Rattlers, who are a combined 4-20.

``November is a huge month for us,'' Rockabrand said. ``If we can win six out our next seven games that would get us back to competing for second place, which is where we really want to be. We really want to show that is going to be Valencia versus Phoenix in the finals. It's e he league, and that's our goal.'

--Familiar faces: Cottom played his first game as a Flyer on Saturday against his former team.

``It was weird,'' Cottom said. ``It felt strange playing against a team that you were just playing with and seeing your old coach many problems getting here.''

Cottom, 16, had requested a trade to the Flyers for several weeks and said his former team dragged its feet on the transaction.

--Breakdowns: Although lack of depth was a contributing factor, Rockabrand was displeased with defensive breakdowns in the Flyers' 11-8 loss to Bay City that he said were ``unacceptable.''

``There were a lot of defensive breakdowns and mental breakdowns and we're losing a lot of physical battles,'' he said. ``There are a lot of little things we're going to work on, but tonight we're going to skate.''

The Flyers spent their Tuesday-night practice skating in circles with sticks but no pucks and no nets on the ice in a grueling physical workout. Rockabrand said it was the equivalent of doing a 10K run.