Michigan Tech Huskies 2020-21: * Our 100th Anniversary * No Catchy Title Needed *****

[Lost_Husky]

So this is from last night and from a lady called Jennifer Hill in MQT.
Here's what Health Director and Medical Director said: UP's number of cases per day and test positivity are "EXTREME", meaning the virus is spreading all over. About half of the cases in Marquette County are in City of Marquette. MQT County deaths were flat from March - early October at 12, but have doubled in last 6 weeks to 30. Deaths are happening in nursing homes primarily. Our medical system in the UP is at capacity, just like the rest of the Upper Midwest, because staff sick or in quarantine from possible contact and also ICU beds (key number) are mostly full as heart attacks, car accidents etc continue to happen plus covid. The hospital bed number changes every day. Last month, almost all severe covid cases in the UP came to MQT hospital. Now they stay put because MQT is at capacity due to lack of staff. But Keweenaw, Ironwood & Portage hospital ICU beds are at 100% on Nov. 25 (last day data available). It is going to get worse in December as the infections spread at Thanksgiving gatherings start to show up at emergency rooms. The vaccine will keep you from getting sick! It is very good news and will be the hero riding in over the hill for all of this. BUT there is NO EVIDENCE that it won't prevent you from spreading it. So will still need to wear a mask probably next 9-12 months because even if you are vaccinated, you *might* still be contagious and could make someone else sick. GET YOUR FLU SHOT - there have already been cases in the UP of people with flu and covid.

My question is this: would the Keweenaw icu being full affect our ability to host games.

There is the logic/statistical answer and the conservative answer.

Logic/statistics would say the players are in an age group that rarely needs ICU space and testing protocols are in place. There are the coaches, staff, and building staff, but by and large the vast majority can wear masks/social distance. The only people I worry about are the penalty box and on ice officials. I would highly recommend the WCHA to break with their protocols and get the youngest adults to work those positions. Since there are no fans, there is very little reason to worry about having a super spreader event, assuming everyone follows the rules. If the testing protocols are followed, social distancing/mask wearing are in effect, and they say keep the staff as young (within reason) as possible, there is very little need to worry about making the public health situation worse.

Conservative answer would be yes. If local ICU is full, they can't handle another case. That would mean any risk of non-essential spreading events should be stopped. As much as I love Tech hockey, it isn't essential.

Selfishly, I hope they play. That said, an "almost meaningless" hockey game isn't worth someone's life/creating a potentially deadly public health event.

[manurespreader]

So this is from last night and from a lady called Jennifer Hill in MQT.
Here's what Health Director and Medical Director said: UP's number of cases per day and test positivity are "EXTREME", meaning the virus is spreading all over. About half of the cases in Marquette County are in City of Marquette. MQT County deaths were flat from March - early October at 12, but have doubled in last 6 weeks to 30. Deaths are happening in nursing homes primarily. Our medical system in the UP is at capacity, just like the rest of the Upper Midwest, because staff sick or in quarantine from possible contact and also ICU beds (key number) are mostly full as heart attacks, car accidents etc continue to happen plus covid. The hospital bed number changes every day. Last month, almost all severe covid cases in the UP came to MQT hospital. Now they stay put because MQT is at capacity due to lack of staff. But Keweenaw, Ironwood & Portage hospital ICU beds are at 100% on Nov. 25 (last day data available). It is going to get worse in December as the infections spread at Thanksgiving gatherings start to show up at emergency rooms. The vaccine will keep you from getting sick! It is very good news and will be the hero riding in over the hill for all of this. BUT there is NO EVIDENCE that it won't prevent you from spreading it. So will still need to wear a mask probably next 9-12 months because even if you are vaccinated, you *might* still be contagious and could make someone else sick. GET YOUR FLU SHOT - there have already been cases in the UP of people with flu and covid.

My question is this: would the Keweenaw icu being full affect our ability to host games.

[Lost_Husky]

Per Joe Shawhan on his radio show this morning when asked about playing Adrian - "That's a last resort. My first obligation is to teams in our league who need help. We know NMU is going to need games. If we get a game in on a Tuesday or a Wednesday or a Thursday where we can just get on the bus, have our own food from home, and go right back after the game or them do the same thing, then we're going to first take care of our league."

Came about 45 minutes into the show. https://d2o2figo6ddd0g.cloudfront.ne..._113020_SM.mp3

He also revealed that the Mankato series this upcoming weekend is now tentatively scheduled for Sunday-Monday to allow more time for the Mavs to clear the protocols.

Glad we were flexible and worked with them.

We are going to need to get our act together or it could be two ugly games.

[John J. MacInnes]

Per Joe Shawhan on his radio show this morning when asked about playing Adrian - "That's a last resort. My first obligation is to teams in our league who need help. We know NMU is going to need games. If we get a game in on a Tuesday or a Wednesday or a Thursday where we can just get on the bus, have our own food from home, and go right back after the game or them do the same thing, then we're going to first take care of our league."

Came about 45 minutes into the show. https://d2o2figo6ddd0g.cloudfront.ne..._113020_SM.mp3

He also revealed that the Mankato series this upcoming weekend is now tentatively scheduled for Sunday-Monday to allow more time for the Mavs to clear the protocols.

[John J. MacInnes]

LSSU's hospital is above 93% capacity as of yesterday. makes you wonder, since it's not all that big anyway. Reference the post by someone about no games if hospitals are full. Additionally, due to ever-increasing covid cases, the Gov will speak today at 6 pm. Press is signaling that more restrictions on the way. I think Marquette is also nearing the breaking point.

I think you may have been looking at something from a couple weeks ago. That press conference was on November 15, and that's also when all the stories about War Memorial Hospital were out. Not saying we are out of the woods or even improving, but this was outdated.

[manurespreader]

LSSU's hospital is above 93% capacity as of yesterday. makes you wonder, since it's not all that big anyway. Reference the post by someone about no games if hospitals are full. Additionally, due to ever-increasing covid cases, the Gov will speak today at 6 pm. Press is signaling that more restrictions on the way. I think Marquette is also nearing the breaking point.

[John J. MacInnes]

I have to imagine Tech would have been pushing for LSSU to be in Houghton since Tech was just in the Soo. A home/home Tech vs LSSU doesn't make much sense given the distance between campuses, but it's not like Adrian is any closer for the Lakers. I'm guessing Tech had no interest in going back to the Soo for 1 or 2 games this weekend and that's why it didn't happen. I'm sure Damon would have been happy to take another two wins from Tech based on last weekend's performance if he didn't have to leave home to do it.

Tech wanted to play. Lake State made the choice to play Adrian instead.

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Our games vs Mankato... are they league games.?

No, the games in December are "non-conference". The games at Mankato in January count for the WCHA standings. In short, none of the December games count for WCHA standings. The conference games start 1/1/21 vs UAH.

[manurespreader]

Our games vs Mankato... are they league games.?

[JohnsonsJerseys]

I have to imagine Tech would have been pushing for LSSU to be in Houghton since Tech was just in the Soo. A home/home Tech vs LSSU doesn't make much sense given the distance between campuses, but it's not like Adrian is any closer for the Lakers. I'm guessing Tech had no interest in going back to the Soo for 1 or 2 games this weekend and that's why it didn't happen. I'm sure Damon would have been happy to take another two wins from Tech based on last weekend's performance if he didn't have to leave home to do it.

[Laker Dude]

I don't know if it ever got that far in the discussion.

It would have made sense in the regard that this was the arrangement with Adrian, with the justification being the elimination of a necessity for a hotel stay. Rough to travel that far, play, and leave - but understandable.

The determining factors had to be that LSSU and Tech just played last weekend, and in this agreement Lake State gets a home game (and the preferable first game of the set for travel purposes).

Seems like playing Tech would have made way more sense for both LSSU and Tech than LSSU playing Adrian College.

[John J. MacInnes]

Would it have been a home and home or both games in Houghton?

I don't know if it ever got that far in the discussion.

It would have made sense in the regard that this was the arrangement with Adrian, with the justification being the elimination of a necessity for a hotel stay. Rough to travel that far, play, and leave - but understandable.

The determining factors had to be that LSSU and Tech just played last weekend, and in this agreement Lake State gets a home game (and the preferable first game of the set for travel purposes).

[LSSULaker889294]

Ferris called off their series with LSSU. Tech approached the Lakers about playing this weekend, but they opted to schedule a home-and-home with Adrian College instead.

Would it have been a home and home or both games in Houghton?

[John J. MacInnes]

Ferris called off their series with LSSU. Tech approached the Lakers about playing this weekend, but they opted to schedule a home-and-home with Adrian College instead.

[Lost_Husky]

This week's games canceled.

I think this week off could be a blessing in disguise. Here's hoping they enjoy Thanksgiving, get some great practices in, and focus on doing what needs to be done to win.