<> Michigan Tech Huskies 2023-24: Is the MacNaughton coming home? <>

[John J. MacInnes]

https://ccha.com/news/2023/9/18/mens...announced.aspx

2023-24 CCHA Preseason Coaches’ Poll:

Michigan Tech - 67 (4 first-place votes)
Northern Michigan - 66 (3)
Bowling Green - 55
Bemidji State - 49
St. Thomas - 45 (1)
Minnesota State - 45
Ferris State - 36
Lake Superior State - 29

I am going out on a limb to say this is the first time Tech has ever been a preseason poll pick to win a conference. The last possible time would have been 1976, and I don't think preseason hockey polls existed then.

[manurespreader]

I found out today by listening to the THG awesome podcast that there will be no more joe shows . Apparently he kept getting in trouble for what he said on the show. Personally he will still get in trouble for saying stuff just not there . This was his decision from what I gather.
also if you’ve been paying attention Michigan state has a ton of new quality players transfer in and they will be very good this year

[StevieYnot]

I found out today by listening to the THG awesome podcast that there will be no more joe shows . Apparently he kept getting in trouble for what he said on the show. Personally he will still get in trouble for saying stuff just not there . This was his decision from what I gather.
also if you’ve been paying attention Michigan state has a ton of new quality players transfer in and they will be very good this year

This show was started by Mel. It was never in Mel's contract and consequently never in Joe's. It is more on the AD for not including this if they wanted this avenue of public outreach to continue.

[manurespreader]

As far as I can tell UMD is the only entity selling tickets to the Hall of Fame game. Tickets go on sale today at 10AM central time. I believe you have to use ticketmaster or go to the arena in person.

[manurespreader]

This show was started by Mel. It was never in Mel's contract and consequently never in Joe's. It is more on the AD for not including this if they wanted this avenue of public outreach to continue.

The trouble is that the show really helped in getting fans invested in the team. Without the show, fans are less invested and there will be lower attendance and fewer donations as a result if you ask me. Whether the show was in the contract or not imho is irrelevant honestly. Let's hope he still is willing to be interviewed after the games.

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

As long as he still gives postgame interviews, I don't think it's a huge deal giving up a local radio show. Maybe the athletic department can train one of the assistants to do a shorter, less frequent and/or freeform version of the show that doesn't give Suzanne nightmares. :-p

[model94]

CHN has Tech ranked #7 overall in their preseason prediction. Huh.

[manurespreader]

CHN has Tech ranked #7 overall in their preseason prediction. Huh.

That's about right if you ask me. Could be a little lower but not a lot.

BTW, tickets in Duluth that have a face value of 30 dollars sell for 48+ on Ticketmaster. or 34 at the rink. You can't pay 30 bucks and get in.

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Looking over the returning roster + the freshmen and playing around with possible forward lines, I see quite a few guys outside my preseason Top 6 who have mainly played LW. Who has faceoff skills and could convert to center (or maybe played it at some point in juniors)? I recall they tried Bronte at C when he first transferred in, but he's landed at RW ever since. Nardella filled the L4 centerman role for most of last year, but he graduated.

Speculative Forward Lines:

L1: Mosley - L. Pietila - K. Kukkonen
L2: Works - Koskipirtti - Gordon
L3: Rasmussen - Caderoth - ?
L4: ? - ? - Bronte?

Potential/Likely Regulars (ranked by likelihood IMO):

Bartle (Joe loves his skilled power forwards)
Raiman (reported to have great skating ability, but likely needs time to adjust to NA rink size/style of game)
Stauber (earned more ice time as the season went on last year; likely has a higher ceiling than Bronte)
Marcinkevics (his ceiling is higher than Bronte's and possibly Stauber's, but a lot of his points at LIU were against bottom-feeders and other startup programs; for now he lands here)
Bronte (not the most skilled player, but brings a hard hat and generally tries to do what he's told)


Extras:

Nordstrom
Pedersen
Richartz

[giwan]

As long as he still gives postgame interviews, I don't think it's a huge deal giving up a local radio show. Maybe the athletic department can train one of the assistants to do a shorter, less frequent and/or freeform version of the show that doesn't give Suzanne nightmares. :-p

I disagree I think fans enjoyed the show. Did it really cause headaches for Suzanne?

it's important to keep connections, especially ones that are wider in scope

[manurespreader]

Looking over the returning roster + the freshmen and playing around with possible forward lines, I see quite a few guys outside my preseason Top 6 who have mainly played LW. Who has faceoff skills and could convert to center (or maybe played it at some point in juniors)? I recall they tried Bronte at C when he first transferred in, but he's landed at RW ever since. Nardella filled the L4 centerman role for most of last year, but he graduated.

Speculative Forward Lines:

L1: Mosley - L. Pietila - K. Kukkonen
L2: Works - Koskipirtti - Gordon
L3: Rasmussen - Caderoth - ?
L4: ? - ? - Bronte?

Potential/Likely Regulars (ranked by likelihood IMO):

Bartle (Joe loves his skilled power forwards)
Raiman (reported to have great skating ability, but likely needs time to adjust to NA rink size/style of game)
Stauber (earned more ice time as the season went on last year; likely has a higher ceiling than Bronte)
Marcinkevics (his ceiling is higher than Bronte's and possibly Stauber's, but a lot of his points at LIU were against bottom-feeders and other startup programs; for now he lands here)
Bronte (not the most skilled player, but brings a hard hat and generally tries to do what he's told)


Extras:

Nordstrom
Pedersen
Richartz

I'm going with your first and second but Raiman as rw on the third and might get the second by Christmas. And 4th Stauber, Bartle, Bronte.
Joe hinted the system would change which would be very welcome by me for sure. Bronte's speed means a lot and he's responsible. I think Stauber is on the bubble. I'm not sure Rassmussen is deserving of that spot either.

Also, I went to the MTU vs SVSU soccer game. you all ought to go to these games, they are excellent.The few fans there are were very knowledgeable, especially about college-specific rules such as substitutions. The refs however are terrible. We got fouled in the box twice and no call and fouled just outside the box twice where SVSU was given the ball. The ref was overweight and could not run down close enough to see anything. He made these calls from 40 yds away.

[Crocodile Tears]

Looks like those line predictions are getting shaken up a bit. Swankler is headed north.

[Puckstopper467]

well you must have some really swag gear that he can swipe and sell.. Hoodies galore outlet. He will do well however team chemistry will fall now, he had a good year last year and then BG gets swept in the playoffs. It's about team

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Well, I hope this works out. He certainly injects some scoring touch into the lineup and I'd like to think that I trust Joe to assess & judge a player's character. Time will tell, I suppose.

[John J. MacInnes]

If he's eligible after the fall semester, the earliest he could debut is the GLI. The NMU series would come a week too early.