NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

[davyd83]

Re: NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

The problem with accepting "pretty good" is that certain things are supposed to be important. That's what they tell us.

Now, I can see the NMU questionable call being made because of that- we saw it last week with call on Trouba which was the same (I still would put Troubas more as an elbow vs last night, but streaker disagrees). But if that is important, isn't CFB STILL important? That one didn't even need to be called CFB, but it was clearly not a good place to put a check on, and lesser has been called a lot in the past. So if borderline elbows are called since the hit was big, then borderline CFB should be called as well.

I'm not looking at it as "we were wronged" as paula implied- I'm looking at it as what they have called and what tell us should be called. If things are going to be penalties form borderline situations, then ALL borderlines should be called. Rules are rules, call it. We think that the games will be penalty filled- and sometimes they are. But the players know what they can not get away with.

Anyway, enough of that rant.

Not sure how much it will be rocking. I'll still only have one of our two seats... But more students should be back- so there should be more there. If it goes to game 3, the IU-UM BB game is at 4pm, so that will spill nicely into the game. Hope we don't have to deal with that.

The only consistent has been the inconsistency.it's hard to tell what is and isn't a penalty not only week to week and crew to crew, but period to period and play to play. We will see in the coming months just which refs Piotrowski brings along to the B10, and which ones he defended in the CCHA, that he doesn't want to bring along.

[potternmu]

Re: NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

One comment to the Northern fans. I was waiting for one opposing CCHA fan to notice the big slight in the remodel. From what I can see, none of you guys picked it up, either.

So you probably noticed the lack of other team logos as we had before. To me- eh, ok, I can deal with that.

But did any of you notice that there was no mention of the CCHA at all (not including the banners)? A B1G is on the upper west side, but no CCHA. That really bugged me.

Anyway, quite the different game tonight.

I did notice that when I was in the building Friday night. That bugged me as well.

[oldtyme25]

Re: NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

Boy were the Cats awful tonight!

Watched both games this weekend and the already offensively challenged Wildcats were really stunted without Matt Thurber. In my opinion, he is what makes the offense roll and from what I saw in these two games, the high powered Higby/Seckel line was invisible without the CCHA's leader in assists between them.

Although it is a disappointing way to go out, thank you to all the senior's for your time and effort for NMU over the last 4 years!

[alfablue]

Re: NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

One comment to the Northern fans. I was waiting for one opposing CCHA fan to notice the big slight in the remodel. From what I can see, none of you guys picked it up, either.

So you probably noticed the lack of other team logos as we had before. To me- eh, ok, I can deal with that.

But did any of you notice that there was no mention of the CCHA at all (not including the banners)? A B1G is on the upper west side, but no CCHA. That really bugged me.

Anyway, quite the different game tonight.

[aparch]

Re: NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

Way to make us alumni proud boys by mailing this weekend in. Too excited by the posh accomodations in Ann Arbor to give two ****s?

[alfablue]

Re: NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

alfa, based upon the performances we've seen over the past couple week, pretty good fits. And I do agree on the misses you pointed out. But then again, we all know the best refs sit in the stands and press box! Should be a rockin house tonight and tomorrow for game 3!

The problem with accepting "pretty good" is that certain things are supposed to be important. That's what they tell us.

Now, I can see the NMU questionable call being made because of that- we saw it last week with call on Trouba which was the same (I still would put Troubas more as an elbow vs last night, but streaker disagrees). But if that is important, isn't CFB STILL important? That one didn't even need to be called CFB, but it was clearly not a good place to put a check on, and lesser has been called a lot in the past. So if borderline elbows are called since the hit was big, then borderline CFB should be called as well.

I'm not looking at it as "we were wronged" as paula implied- I'm looking at it as what they have called and what tell us should be called. If things are going to be penalties form borderline situations, then ALL borderlines should be called. Rules are rules, call it. We think that the games will be penalty filled- and sometimes they are. But the players know what they can not get away with.

Anyway, enough of that rant.

Not sure how much it will be rocking. I'll still only have one of our two seats... But more students should be back- so there should be more there. If it goes to game 3, the IU-UM BB game is at 4pm, so that will spill nicely into the game. Hope we don't have to deal with that.

[bluevox]

Re: NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

Those are the best AR's in the league.

They are back to being linesmen again.

[aygwm2]

Re: NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

Let's not start out tonight in a hole

...especially 3 in the hole. That was unnerving.

Should be a rockin house tonight...

Attendance was 4500 last night, are they expecting a few more this evening?

...and tomorrow for game 3!

Fingers crossed.

I think we have been diplomatic about the officiating....Other than that, a couple missed tripping calls aside, it was an ok officiated game.

Agreed.

[davyd83]

Well, except the elbow call your guy got, he didn't deserve, and there was a missed trip and boarding/CFB that was missed right in front of the ref. Not even paying attention to the missed calls against us.... "Pretty good" is a pretty low bar, apparently.

Oh, and TONIGHT is the one that is supposed to have a lot of stuff going on at the same time. So come early to find parking. Last night should have been easy- it was empty.

alfa, based upon the performances we've seen over the past couple week, pretty good fits. And I do agree on the misses you pointed out. But then again, we all know the best refs sit in the stands and press box! Should be a rockin house tonight and tomorrow for game 3!

[streaker]

Re: NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

Well, other than NMU giving up two PPGs and another "shorty" (what world record is that for shorty's now) it was a pretty evenly played game. If not for the failure to defend those three goals, it was either teams game to win or lose; and, unfortunately the 'Cats ended up on the wrong end of the deal.

I don't know what folks have with the officials; there wasn't much to call in that game and the hit in the corner, which I was near could have been called, but I thought the M player who got hit collapsed (read: took a dive) when he felt the hit from behind (but, I don't read intentions). The official in that instance was looking up ice and not at the boards as I remember. The call on Daugherty was simply one of those calls you get nowadays--no hard hits on open-ice in college hockey.

[On a side note: I was a soccer official for a dozen years doing youth, high school and some small college gigs. I soon learned that it was probably easier for those standing on the sidelines and sitting in the stands to see some of the things I did not or could not. When you're a soccer official, or basketball or hockey official for that matter, you are moving, turning, pivoting your legs and body, moving and turning your head, while your eyes are moving, focusing, concentrating, all while everything and everybody about you are doing the same. Sometimes it's a blur out there. It is, at times, more difficult to comprehend what is going on immediately before you than something further away. I suspect it's the same for hockey officials. It's all about perspective. As in life, perspective is often tough to maintain. So, yes, sometimes coaches on the sidelines, fans in the stands, and those of you following along at home on the tube have better perspective than the official. Overall, I think most officials do the best job they can do and by and large the calls of officials (good or bad) do not effect the outcome of a game. It is the team and players duty to overcome adversity (deserved or otherwise) and put the puck or "football" in the back of the net. Just my two cents...sorry for the homily ]

Anyway, it was nice to meet a few NMU folks last night and talk with the M fans I sat alongside. The renovations to Yost are very nice! The place seems much brighter and livelier than ever before, even with an attendance of 4506, which doesn't seem half bad what with many of the students on break.

I think I'll check out The Blue Tractor in A2 for dinner late this afternoon.

Hope for another good game tonight. GO 'CATS!

I think we have been diplomatic about the officiating. It was ok, but there were too many "I think I'll call this, but not that" type of moments. If it is a penalty, call it. If you don't call anything, then that's ok as long as it isn't called later.

The hit in the corner could have been a charge or a board. The Michigan player (Sinelli, 17) laid there for a minute before skating off to the bench. It's stuff like that which gets pontificated about when there is a catastrophic injury, but is oft forgotten when it only looks bad. Either way, it was a penalty. Other than that, a couple missed tripping calls aside, it was an ok officiated game.

[RaceBoarder]

Re: NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

Let's not start out tonight in a hole... First goal is huge tonight... If we get on the board early, I think we extend the season to Sunday... If we are in a hole again, we're toast.... Michigan is playing with more momentum at the moment, so we need to break that down ASAP tonight... Seems like the Cats answered the bell later in the game last night... Play the same way and we live to fight another day...

GO CATS! GO CATS! GO CATS GO!!!

[aygwm2]

Re: NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

Well, other than NMU giving up two PPGs and another "shorty" (what world record is that for shorty's now) it was a pretty evenly played game. If not for the failure to defend those three goals, it was either teams game to win or lose; and, unfortunately the 'Cats ended up on the wrong end of the deal.

I don't know what folks have with the officials; there wasn't much to call in that game and the hit in the corner, which I was near could have been called, but I thought the M player who got hit collapsed (read: took a dive) when he felt the hit from behind (but, I don't read intentions). The official in that instance was looking up ice and not at the boards as I remember. The call on Daugherty was simply one of those calls you get nowadays--no hard hits on open-ice in college hockey.

[On a side note: I was a soccer official for a dozen years doing youth, high school and some small college gigs. I soon learned that it was probably easier for those standing on the sidelines and sitting in the stands to see some of the things I did not or could not. When you're a soccer official, or basketball or hockey official for that matter, you are moving, turning, pivoting your legs and body, moving and turning your head, while your eyes are moving, focusing, concentrating, all while everything and everybody about you are doing the same. Sometimes it's a blur out there. It is, at times, more difficult to comprehend what is going on immediately before you than something further away. I suspect it's the same for hockey officials. It's all about perspective. As in life, perspective is often tough to maintain. So, yes, sometimes coaches on the sidelines, fans in the stands, and those of you following along at home on the tube have better perspective than the official. Overall, I think most officials do the best job they can do and by and large the calls of officials (good or bad) do not effect the outcome of a game. It is the team and players duty to overcome adversity (deserved or otherwise) and put the puck or "football" in the back of the net. Just my two cents...sorry for the homily ]

Anyway, it was nice to meet a few NMU folks last night and talk with the M fans I sat alongside. The renovations to Yost are very nice! The place seems much brighter and livelier than ever before, even with an attendance of 4506, which doesn't seem half bad what with many of the students on break.

I think I'll check out The Blue Tractor in A2 for dinner late this afternoon.

Hope for another good game tonight. GO 'CATS!

[Alton]

Re: NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

Oh, and TONIGHT is the one that is supposed to have a lot of stuff going on at the same time. So come early to find parking. Last night should have been easy- it was empty.

The only other thing I see going on is #2 men's gymnastics against #3 Oklahoma, and the combined attendance of gymnastics and hockey will still be less than the average attendance of a hockey game last season. I was very disappointed that the athletic department sent us a "show up early" e-mail without making it clear that they meant Sunday was the day that everybody needs to show up early (because a somewhat important basketball game will be ending between 6 and 6:30).

[alfablue]

Re: NMU At Michigan: **Swear Words**

Though I have given Willins and McInchak low grades on many occasions, I think they did a pretty good job overall last night. You had to know there were going to be some "too many" calls this weekend. Wonder how they totaled up around the league?

Well, except the elbow call your guy got, he didn't deserve, and there was a missed trip and boarding/CFB that was missed right in front of the ref. Not even paying attention to the missed calls against us.... "Pretty good" is a pretty low bar, apparently.

Oh, and TONIGHT is the one that is supposed to have a lot of stuff going on at the same time. So come early to find parking. Last night should have been easy- it was empty.

[davyd83]

Those are the best AR's in the league. McInchak is decent, but Wilkins is a putz. Both let things go pretty much after the first period. Ironically, both teams had too many men calls.

Though I have given Willins and McInchak low grades on many occasions, I think they did a pretty good job overall last night. You had to know there were going to be some "too many" calls this weekend. Wonder how they totaled up around the league?