Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!
Mel had a last minute phone call/meeting at 9AM ET, so couldn'd do a full show, so Steve Shields is in:
Steve doesn't like the weeks off, likes to play until xmas break, but guys like a week off once in awhile
They reviewed WCHA action, anybody can beat anybody, we've played 3 pretty good teams the first 3 weeks
We're off to a slow start in terms of W and Losses, easier schedule is ahead, but can't say there is anythign easy in this league
It keeps the standing tight, so when we start turning the corner we'll be in the middle of the chase
Did Bjustad for MN struggle against us, maybe frustrated by Copley? Sure, Copley is a bigger goalie, can get frustrated trying to find spots.
As a freshmen Copley will have ups/downs, all in all, all goalies are improving. Waiting for someone to step and give us a game where we don't need to score 3/4 goals and get away with a win.
We're learnign how to play against teams that want to chip the puck out and get in a foot race with you. Guys need to grind out a game, win races to the puck and grind along the boards. They need to learn what it takes to win at this level.
Most of our forwards and goalies are young guys, this isn't juniors, it's a battle, have to be strong every night.
Questions for Steve:
Does Steve think there'll be an NHL season?
About 4 days ago would say yes within a month. Not sure at this point. D. Fehr has done a really good job on the side of the players keeping them together. How to make sure the existing contracts are honored.
Do you feel players have justification to get what they're looking for? To a degree, yes, players have conceeded 7% of revenue back to owners. League has grown since last agmt, in 2004 we wasted a year to do a deal that could've been done right away beacuse owners got everythign they wanted. GMs need to sign good contracts, players shouldn't be responsible for teams to spend money wisely. Overall see both sides, there should be time to get something done. Terrible for the game if nothing gets done. Too bad GLI outdoors is cancelled. Sometimes 75% of players that have 3-5 year career are the guys that don't get to go overseas right now, and aren't getting paid right now. They shoudl speak up and say what they want to do.
Do you think our PP will get better? Absolutely, we're very young, put pressure on a few freshmen and a lot of sophmores, not an excuse, a fact. They're putting pressure on themselves, you're going to struggle at times. We have a good setup, need to focus in practice and then execute.
Do you think some of our best players on the PP not playign their best right now? Yeah some of our best players are not playing thier best on the PP, they need to produce if we're going to win.
Rix doesn't playe on teh PP but he's leading the team in goals. Says somethign about him and how hard he is playing. Tells somethign to the other guys need to play harder until it starts to go in, and it will.
Talking more about Rix, 5 goals, tied with B. Pietila. Rix great example of tyipe of guy we want on our team. Take accountability for his play on the ice, plays hard, every night. He plays when he's banged up, blocks shots.
Goalies have to be best PKer. Copley has a really good opportunity, has looked really good and others where we want mroe. He's starting to turn the corner and learn how to fight through traffic and take control of his end. When that happens you'll see a big turnaround with Phoenix and whoel team.
This applies to all goalies, we'll get a look at Jamie in near future. Kevin will have a chance as well.
Who starts in goal this weekend? Not sure, Kevin came in last weekend played really well, gave us a chance on Friday. Didn't have big save when it was needed.
We need to work on playing well when we are playing the teams that are not top ranked teams, we have to work hard and not get disouraged when we have difficulty breaking out of the zone etc. Can be a challenge for younger players.
Will Steve Shields be back at Tech next year?
He'd love to be back next year, he's come a long way to know enough about other parts of the game to show a kid what he's doing right/wrong, but Damon and Billy are here as assitants. Like all the coaches he works with. It's tough for Steve to jump in and talk about forecheck etc. Steve continually gives his input in between periods. His goal is to be a coach, not sure when that'll happen. Definately wants to be here, has a lot invested in these guys. Hopes it works out and Coach and Suzanne like what he's doing, but it's up to them.
Dirk asked more specifically about his coaching goals? He's where he wants to be right now, fine tuning being a goalie coach, it transitions well to being an assistant coach at NCAA level. At some point he'd like to see what he really wants to do, have to be in it and relied on to run a bench/make decisions. Doesn't have that experience, but needs to get it at some point, needs opportunity to do it.
Dirk thinks most volunteer coaches don't go on road trips and are at end of career. Steve is on oppisite end, going on road trips etc. Steve would like the NCAA to allow a developmental coach to be paid, especially considering how much Damon and Billy are gone recruiting. The NCAA shoudl want kids to be coached. Dirk concerned small schools may not be able to afford extra developmental coaches,. Steve doesn't want decisions made on lowest common denominator. Larger schools also have better opportunity to get volunteer coaches because they have more options in the big city to have a paying job as well. Ferris state does it very well, basically having a 3rd assistant coach, he gets on the ice and they do it within the rules. Being a D1 school can require that you spend the money to get the players and develop the players. Overall the school will have success and justify the added costs.
Big weekend at Bemidji:
Guys are working harder to get better.
This is a big weekend to get some points. If we can get on a roll, the top of the standigns aren't far away.
Last note: Steve thanks everyone in the community/students that have come out. The crowds have been great/supportive, it's makes a huge difference to the players. We have knowledgable fans in this community. The fans have been great, appreciate that we play an entertainig style, it goes a long way to helping the program getting the crowd support.
Mel had a last minute phone call/meeting at 9AM ET, so couldn'd do a full show, so Steve Shields is in:
Steve doesn't like the weeks off, likes to play until xmas break, but guys like a week off once in awhile
They reviewed WCHA action, anybody can beat anybody, we've played 3 pretty good teams the first 3 weeks
We're off to a slow start in terms of W and Losses, easier schedule is ahead, but can't say there is anythign easy in this league
It keeps the standing tight, so when we start turning the corner we'll be in the middle of the chase
Did Bjustad for MN struggle against us, maybe frustrated by Copley? Sure, Copley is a bigger goalie, can get frustrated trying to find spots.
As a freshmen Copley will have ups/downs, all in all, all goalies are improving. Waiting for someone to step and give us a game where we don't need to score 3/4 goals and get away with a win.
We're learnign how to play against teams that want to chip the puck out and get in a foot race with you. Guys need to grind out a game, win races to the puck and grind along the boards. They need to learn what it takes to win at this level.
Most of our forwards and goalies are young guys, this isn't juniors, it's a battle, have to be strong every night.
Questions for Steve:
Does Steve think there'll be an NHL season?
About 4 days ago would say yes within a month. Not sure at this point. D. Fehr has done a really good job on the side of the players keeping them together. How to make sure the existing contracts are honored.
Do you feel players have justification to get what they're looking for? To a degree, yes, players have conceeded 7% of revenue back to owners. League has grown since last agmt, in 2004 we wasted a year to do a deal that could've been done right away beacuse owners got everythign they wanted. GMs need to sign good contracts, players shouldn't be responsible for teams to spend money wisely. Overall see both sides, there should be time to get something done. Terrible for the game if nothing gets done. Too bad GLI outdoors is cancelled. Sometimes 75% of players that have 3-5 year career are the guys that don't get to go overseas right now, and aren't getting paid right now. They shoudl speak up and say what they want to do.
Do you think our PP will get better? Absolutely, we're very young, put pressure on a few freshmen and a lot of sophmores, not an excuse, a fact. They're putting pressure on themselves, you're going to struggle at times. We have a good setup, need to focus in practice and then execute.
Do you think some of our best players on the PP not playign their best right now? Yeah some of our best players are not playing thier best on the PP, they need to produce if we're going to win.
Rix doesn't playe on teh PP but he's leading the team in goals. Says somethign about him and how hard he is playing. Tells somethign to the other guys need to play harder until it starts to go in, and it will.
Talking more about Rix, 5 goals, tied with B. Pietila. Rix great example of tyipe of guy we want on our team. Take accountability for his play on the ice, plays hard, every night. He plays when he's banged up, blocks shots.
Goalies have to be best PKer. Copley has a really good opportunity, has looked really good and others where we want mroe. He's starting to turn the corner and learn how to fight through traffic and take control of his end. When that happens you'll see a big turnaround with Phoenix and whoel team.
This applies to all goalies, we'll get a look at Jamie in near future. Kevin will have a chance as well.
Who starts in goal this weekend? Not sure, Kevin came in last weekend played really well, gave us a chance on Friday. Didn't have big save when it was needed.
We need to work on playing well when we are playing the teams that are not top ranked teams, we have to work hard and not get disouraged when we have difficulty breaking out of the zone etc. Can be a challenge for younger players.
Will Steve Shields be back at Tech next year?
He'd love to be back next year, he's come a long way to know enough about other parts of the game to show a kid what he's doing right/wrong, but Damon and Billy are here as assitants. Like all the coaches he works with. It's tough for Steve to jump in and talk about forecheck etc. Steve continually gives his input in between periods. His goal is to be a coach, not sure when that'll happen. Definately wants to be here, has a lot invested in these guys. Hopes it works out and Coach and Suzanne like what he's doing, but it's up to them.
Dirk asked more specifically about his coaching goals? He's where he wants to be right now, fine tuning being a goalie coach, it transitions well to being an assistant coach at NCAA level. At some point he'd like to see what he really wants to do, have to be in it and relied on to run a bench/make decisions. Doesn't have that experience, but needs to get it at some point, needs opportunity to do it.
Dirk thinks most volunteer coaches don't go on road trips and are at end of career. Steve is on oppisite end, going on road trips etc. Steve would like the NCAA to allow a developmental coach to be paid, especially considering how much Damon and Billy are gone recruiting. The NCAA shoudl want kids to be coached. Dirk concerned small schools may not be able to afford extra developmental coaches,. Steve doesn't want decisions made on lowest common denominator. Larger schools also have better opportunity to get volunteer coaches because they have more options in the big city to have a paying job as well. Ferris state does it very well, basically having a 3rd assistant coach, he gets on the ice and they do it within the rules. Being a D1 school can require that you spend the money to get the players and develop the players. Overall the school will have success and justify the added costs.
Big weekend at Bemidji:
Guys are working harder to get better.
This is a big weekend to get some points. If we can get on a roll, the top of the standigns aren't far away.
Last note: Steve thanks everyone in the community/students that have come out. The crowds have been great/supportive, it's makes a huge difference to the players. We have knowledgable fans in this community. The fans have been great, appreciate that we play an entertainig style, it goes a long way to helping the program getting the crowd support.
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