CCHA v2.9.1 - BGSU BSU FSU LSSU MSU MTU NMU UST & Special Guests - The Augie Vikings

[aparch]

[Bale]

As far as the CCHA and NMU becoming a feeder system to the big schools, I have no interest in that at all. The one thing I loved about college hockey was the fact that small schools had a chance to win. With the consolidation of the big school conferences, and shoving the small schools to the side, it has removed that which drew me to being a college hockey fan.

I think this is the thing everyone is missing and it's all through college sports, not just hockey. At some point fans of the smaller programs will just go away. Then the smaller programs will go away. The fans won't become fans of others, they will just leave. It's more noticeable in hockey because there aren't many teams AND the unique nature of d2 and d3 schools competing against d1 schools.

I still have hope though. Smaller schools can offer a charm the big schools just can't. They can provide a culture that big schools cant. Good ADs will be able to work in the system to find good coaches. I also want to wait until after the COVID exception works through. We are seeing inflated numbers right now. Let's see what happens in 2-3 years and then make judgements. I'm alaed by what I'm seeing, I'm just not sure it's the end of the sport as we know it. Just my 2 cents.

[WayUpNorth22]

If CCHA coaches are smart, they can use the portal as a two way street. “Oh, you don’t think you’re getting enough playing time at ND? You can come play for me. “You’re not getting PP time at BU, you can come play on ours”. Smaller schools need to use the portal against the big schools and continue to recruit the older kids. Tech played BC to a 2-1 hockey game for 50 minutes of that game. It was a lot closer than that 6-1 score would indicate.

[NMUFAN]

As a Wildcat grad and fan, I am very concerned with the current situation at NMU. I thought our play this year was uninspired and lacked any kind of urgency. That is either on the coach or the coach needs different players. So, maybe Grant is encouraging these boys to hit the road or he has lost the team and has a major problem on his hands. If he has lost the team and half the team is bolting, then he needs to go.

As far as the CCHA and NMU becoming a feeder system to the big schools, I have no interest in that at all. The one thing I loved about college hockey was the fact that small schools had a chance to win. With the consolidation of the big school conferences, and shoving the small schools to the side, it has removed that which drew me to being a college hockey fan.

All of this.

[John J. MacInnes]

The portal list is going up to 13 entries and will include Beni Halasz. This is the passive aggressive version of the team storming into the AD office and demanding a coaching change.

But Potulny's buyout will be a major financial obstacle to the NMU athletic department. They tied up a bunch of money in facilities with the Vandament and Berry projects that put them already in the hole. The situation has reached critical mass for Comley to get the broom out, but the bank account is going to have a different answer.

[aparch]

Two more 'Cats into the portal. Thirteen total now.

Kevin Marx Noren, Beni Halasz, Isack Bandu, Carsen Stokes, Josh Zinger, Travis Hensrud, Brendan Poshak, Zach Michaelis, Charlie Glockner, Kristof Papp, Mitchel Deelstra, Michael Colella (Canisius), Aiden Gallacher

[devildog]

Two more 'Cats into the portal. Thirteen total now.

Kevin Marx Noren, Beni Halasz, Isack Bandu, Carsen Stokes, Josh Zinger, Travis Hensrud, Brendan Poshak, Zach Michaelis, Charlie Glockner, Kristof Papp, Mitchel Deelstra, Michael Colella (Canisius), Aiden Gallacher

So what are the players saying? I thought we had a good coach.

[manurespreader]

I think this is a mean joke and i don't think it's at all funny.

[manurespreader]

Here is the difference between the two way portal as I see it. when a smaller school gets a kid he is a fringe player who is getting less than ideal time as a general rule. When a small school kid leaves, he's a regular starter. Now what they gain is questionable, but this is reality anyway. I think the agents have a lot to do with it.

[manurespreader]

Some lyrics to the Engineers' song.

We are, we are, we are, we are, we are the engineers,
We can, we can, we can, we can,
Drink all of 40 beers
Drink up, drink up, drink up, drink up, and come along with us,
For we don't give a D*** for any man, who don't give a da** for us.

Second verse, I think there are about 20 btw.

The engineer came to class so drunk and very, very late,
He stumbled thru the lecture hall at a diminished rate
The only thing that held him up and kept him on his course
Were the boundary condition and electromotive force!

Venus is a statue made entirely of stone
There's not a fig leaf on her, she's as naked as a bone
On noticing her arms were gone, an engineer discoursed,
The Da** thing's busted concrete, and it should be reinforced.!

We are, we are, we are, we are.........

[aparch]

So what are the players saying? I thought we had a good coach.

I'm just as confused and heard as much as you have. I get there is most likely something that needs to be taken care of that we don't need to be told, but yet, the silence is deafening.

I'm not sure what's worse at this point: airing the dirty laundry or staying silent.

[tmoney@nmu]

I'm not sure what's worse at this point: airing the dirty laundry or staying silent.

Why not both?

[John J. MacInnes]

Rick Comley is about to do a radio interview in Lansing. This could be really interesting.

EDIT - says he's disappointed but that's the nature of the sport right now. He's planning on meeting with all the players who are entering the portal to try and figure out if they're A) recruiting the wrong players or B) there's something they're doing wrong with them once they're at NMU.

Doesn't sound at all like he's considering a coaching change. Knowing him, that's probably not a company line he's parroting either.

[devildog]

Rick Comley is about to do a radio interview in Lansing. This could be really interesting.

EDIT - says he's disappointed but that's the nature of the sport right now. He's planning on meeting with all the players who are entering the portal to try and figure out if they're A) recruiting the wrong players or B) there's something they're doing wrong with them once they're at NMU.

Doesn't sound at all like he's considering a coaching change. Knowing him, that's probably not a company line he's parroting either.

Not sure why the coach is not stepping up and saying anything. Further, what does that tell you when all these players leave and the AD, and apparently the coach as well, don't know why they are leaving? Clearly, there is a statement being made by all these players. We just don't know what the statement is, yet. But, I do like that Comley will investigate the recruiting angle. As I have said before, this team underperformed. We would all expect that the coach is going to hold players responsible and conduct some uncomfortable meetings, either individually or as a group. Maybe Grant said either step up or hit the road to all these guys.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Not sure why the coach is not stepping up and saying anything. Further, what does that tell you when all these players leave and the AD, and apparently the coach as well, don't know why they are leaving? Clearly, there is a statement being made by all these players. We just don't know what the statement is, yet. But, I do like that Comley will investigate the recruiting angle. As I have said before, this team underperformed. We would all expect that the coach is going to hold players responsible and conduct some uncomfortable meetings, either individually or as a group. Maybe Grant said either step up or hit the road to all these guys.

A similar situation happened at BG a few years back. We suddenly had 8 guys in the portal and the college hockey universe was like "WHAT'S GOING ON AT BOWLING GREEN?!?!?!!!" Eigner came out with a statement reminding everyone that a) every single player in the portal that season graduated with a degree from BG and b) keeping all these players would completely screw up the recruiting pipeline. @World then calmed down. It looks like there are a number of things going on with Northern right now, one of which is graduations and guys turning pro, one is the extra year of Covid eligibility, one is a big incoming class for next year. I agree Potulny could tamp down some of the hysteria with a statement outlining the plan going forward. But hey, I'm just a dumb fan, not an experience executive in charge of a program.