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'12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

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Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

aparch said:
I think that has to do with the storied career that Esposito had with the Blackhawks. What other Tech alumnus went on to have such a legendary NHL career? Jarkko Ruutu? Andy Sutton?
Click to expand...

If we disregard awards won and Stanley Cups and use a simple measure - their ability to maintain a career at the highest level (games played in the NHL and WHA) you might be suprised at where some folks are on the list and some of the names that appear. I think I have captured everyone who played at least 100 games in one or both of those two leagues.
932 - Randy McKay
886 - Tony Esposito
741 - Tim Watters
679 - Lou Angotti
676 - Andy Sutton
652 - Jarkko Ruutu
541 - Mike Zuke
529 - Bob Lorimer
481 - Al Karlander
438 - Steve Jensen
368 - Al McLeod
309 - Damian Rhodes
301 - George Lyle
250 - John Grisdale
236 - Warren Young
158 - Bill Prentice
147 - Chris Conner
146 - John Scott

Watters prob doesn't come to mind as quickly because of his lack of success behind the bench just as Scott is thought of more highly because he's fresh in our minds and usually makes a splash when he does make the line up. Scott hasn't played in the minors since the 2008-09 season, but has only appeared in an average of just over 40 games per season. Not many of us would guess that Conner has actually been in more games than Scott. Then factor in the number of guys who are on this list, but played at Tech more than 30 years ago. They just don't come to mind for most of us even if they had great NHL careers back in the day.

If the NHL ever gets their act together, Sutton might crack the top three all time in games played, but if this whole season is lost, that is not likely. Ruutu has gone overseas and is not likely to ever return to the NHL so he prob won't move up the list any farther. I could also see Conner or Scott cracking the 200 game mark, again assuming the NHL plays some games. They are not getting any younger and there is always someone quicker or tougher looking to fill their skates.

Ryan J
 
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Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

bose301s said:
The crazy thing about Esposito IMO is that he wasn't head and shoulders above Tech's other goalie, Rick Best. The split time in net the whole time they were there, there was no #1 goalie really, yet Esposito is know in Tech lore and Best isn't.
Click to expand...

Another very true point - Espo only played 51 games at MTU over three seasons. Maybe that's why he doesn't feel much of a connection to Tech. How much to you see him hanging out in Montreal as a former Canadiens player (13 games) or even the Vancouver Canucks (63 games) where he played before Chicago? It would be nice to see him on campus, but not if you have to beg him to come - then what's the point. I fully expect the '65 team to be back on campus in a few years, maybe that will break the ice and let him see what MTU is about about today. (And if Tech win's about 50-60 games between now and then, that won't hurt either.)

So if we simply look at playing time...
Josh Robinson (91) > Tony Esposito (51)
Ok maybe that's a reach to make that assumption in 2013... but after Josh wins his third Cup we'll call it fact.
:-)
Ryan J
 
Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

We'll need some hockey highlights to get us through the weekend, so here is good one from back in the day. The era when you would put in your "fighting goalie" during the line change when a score needed to be settled and protect your primary net minder.

Ryan J

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bdrG-rpRh2Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

JohnsonsJerseys said:
Another very true point - Espo only played 51 games at MTU over three seasons. Maybe that's why he doesn't feel much of a connection to Tech. How much to you see him hanging out in Montreal as a former Canadiens player (13 games) or even the Vancouver Canucks (63 games) where he played before Chicago? It would be nice to see him on campus, but not if you have to beg him to come - then what's the point. I fully expect the '65 team to be back on campus in a few years, maybe that will break the ice and let him see what MTU is about about today. (And if Tech win's about 50-60 games between now and then, that won't hurt either.)

So if we simply look at playing time...
Josh Robinson (91) > Tony Esposito (51)
Ok maybe that's a reach to make that assumption in 2013... but after Josh wins his third Cup we'll call it fact.
:-)
Ryan J
Click to expand...
Do they give away a cup in the ECHL?
 
Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

bigblue_dl said:
Do they give away a cup in the ECHL?
Click to expand...

Yes the ECHL Champions are awared the Kelly Cup. But as you can see in the photo it isn't quite to the scale of the Stanley Cup. The Kelly Cup is being held by former MTU player Davis Payne after winning the Cup as head coach of the Alaska Aces in 2006.

Ryan J

<img src="http://www.johnsonsjerseys.net/hockey/people/payne_3.jpg">
 
Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

JohnsonsJerseys said:
Yes the ECHL Champions are awared the Kelly Cup. But as you can see in the photo it isn't quite to the scale of the Stanley Cup. The Kelly Cup is being held by former MTU player Davis Payne after winning the Cup as head coach of the Alaska Aces in 2006.

Ryan J

<img src="http://www.johnsonsjerseys.net/hockey/people/payne_3.jpg">
Click to expand...
So you're saying there's a chance!
 
Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

eye4talent said:
Tony Esposito once referred to Houghton, MI as the armpit of the midwest.
Click to expand...
That's funny because that's my opinion of Chicago.

It's still worth a try because you just never know. Maybe an invitation to Winter Carnival or ask him to send a letter to Copley. I remember telling Pres. Mroz during alumni visits that Tech should hire Mel. He told me, "Mel's the heir apparent at Michigan. He won't leave." Kudos to Suzanne for ignoring conventional wisdom and being persistent.
 
Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

this fall we were having lunch with some friends from the Copper Country. got to talking about the hockey strike and the possibility (or not) of a season. one friend mentioned having talked to "Tony" about it. Tony who, I asked. I admit to being blown away that it was Tony Esposito. they had known him when he was at Tech and still see him occasionally. perhaps the bad blood between Tony and Tech is an urban legend not unlike that of Suze Pearson's not wanting to move to Houghton for lack of shopping? does anyone have hard confirmation that Tony refuses all contact with Tech?
 
Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

huskyfan said:
this fall we were having lunch with some friends from the Copper Country. got to talking about the hockey strike and the possibility (or not) of a season. one friend mentioned having talked to "Tony" about it. Tony who, I asked. I admit to being blown away that it was Tony Esposito. they had known him when he was at Tech and still see him occasionally. perhaps the bad blood between Tony and Tech is an urban legend not unlike that of Suze Pearson's not wanting to move to Houghton for lack of shopping? does anyone have hard confirmation that Tony refuses all contact with Tech?
Click to expand...

This board's resident ex-Tech fan turned NMU grad/radio guy claimed once that Tony O had returned for an alumni event in the past. Maybe he mellowed in his old age. *shrug*
 
Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

Cousens and Reddick fought each other in tonight's game between the Idaho Steelheads and Bakersfield Condors. :D Idaho won 7-2.

Josh Robinson had 35 saves on 37 shots. If only Brian Stewart had started for Bakersfield instead of Scott Greenham. ;)
 
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Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

wow. what a week! GLI championship and now Blake comes home with a gold medal!
 
Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

Dave Starman has Tweeted that it will likely take all the WJC players 2-3 weeks to fully recover from the trip and the emotional/physical strain of winning the championship. He's heard this from former WJC players and coaches over the years. So while we all expect he'll come back to Tech and immediately kick it into high gear, don't be surprised if he looks off his game for at least the first series with Duluth. However, I'm sure the coaches will hold him to the same high standard as the rest of the team coming off the GLI title.
 
Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
Dave Starman has Tweeted that it will likely take all the WJC players 2-3 weeks to fully recover from the trip and the emotional/physical strain of winning the championship. He's heard this from former WJC players and coaches over the years. So while we all expect he'll come back to Tech and immediately kick it into high gear, don't be surprised if he looks off his game for at least the first series with Duluth. However, I'm sure the coaches will hold him to the same high standard as the rest of the team coming off the GLI title.
Click to expand...
That's understandable. The WJC is quite a few games in not many days, and they're traveling back from half way across the world. Regardless, the reward is well worth the cost, as I don't know if there is anything more rewarding in sports than playing for your country and winning the gold. Besides, they did ok without him, there is enough talent on this team to pick up the slack. It all depends on how well they play, because at this point in Tech hockey, for the first time in a long time, talent is not the problem.
 
2013 (like most every year) is all about 3s

2013 (like most every year) is all about 3s

As Tech gets back to conference play the one thing I would like to see more than anything else is consistant play, even if it is only 85% of our best games to date. The number three is pretty important in college hockey. If you can score three goals per game, you're going to win more than you lose. Through 20 games, only twice (2-1 W vs Bemidji and 1-1 T vs WI) has Tech won or tied when failing to score three goals. On the other end, only twice (5-3 L to UNO and 7-3 L to UMD) failed to win or tie when scoring three or more goals. So that means for the other 16 games if you got three goals you won or tied. Unfortunately to date, Tech has not in most cases.

In 10 games this season Tech has given up 3 or more goals. In only three of those games did Tech get a tie or a win (8-4 W v LSSU, 5-4 W v Bemidji, 4-4 T v UMD). All of Tech's net minders are hovering right around 90% saves (0.892, .902, .905) so in order to keep it under three goals allowed you need to keep your shots on goal under 30 if you want a shot to win. As a team, the save percentage sits at 0.898 so we're allowing a few more than we can afford right now. Not to mention, there is nothing better for a net minder's confidence than to play with a lead.

If Tech can get that third goal each game and keep the shots on goal allowed down around 25, I see no reason Tech still can't pull out home ice this year. Another good stat to consider, if you rank the WCHA teams by goals allowed here's the list starting with the most allowed:
CC, MTU, Bemidji, UMD, UNO, St Cloud, Anchorage, Mankato, Denver, UND, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
Tech will play all of the top 8 (not counting themselves) and doesn't play any of the bottom four. So the defenses we face down the home stretch should give us a better chance at that magic number of three goals per game or more. Interesting fact, the lowest on the list, Minnesota, has only allowed 35 goals the entire season, SEVEN of them courtesy of MTU.

I think 29 points certainly puts Tech on home ice for the playoffs. Getting 20 pts points in 14 games would require a 0.714 win percentage. Tough skating, but given the schedule, I think it is possible if we win the games we should win, and pick up our play for the tougher games and steal a point here or there from the top half teams.

Go Tech,
Ryan J
 
Re: 2013 (like most every year) is all about 3s

Re: 2013 (like most every year) is all about 3s

TBH, I've already written off home ice. While a surge isn't impossible, we should've gotten more points against Omaha, Duluth, and Wisconsin, but did not get it done. Our home schedule is "easier", but there are some tough-arse road games still to come. Omaha, a silent-but-deadly Mankato team, plus the St, Clooud roadtrip, where we still haven't won a game at the NHC since Y2K and Clinton getting Oval Office blowies were major news stories.

I'm just not seeing it, but I sincerely hope I'm proven wrong.
 
Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!

JohnsonsJerseys said:
Yes the ECHL Champions are awared the Kelly Cup. But as you can see in the photo it isn't quite to the scale of the Stanley Cup. The Kelly Cup is being held by former MTU player Davis Payne after winning the Cup as head coach of the Alaska Aces in 2006.

Ryan J

<img src="http://www.johnsonsjerseys.net/hockey/people/payne_3.jpg">
Click to expand...

Davis Payne was an excellent, excellent coach. The Aces are always a top team, and this year they have 4 local NHL players on the roster. Fans have deserted UAA in favor of the Aces, and I can't say I blame them. Rumors are Payne was available to hire as a coach to replace Shyiak, but UAA wasn't interested. Don't know if that is true or not, but if it is what were they thinking????
 
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