Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!
Good questions for Mel on UAH, recruiting, non-conference scheduling etc.
I'd think we'd be hearing about a goalie recruit sometime soon for next year. Do we know the 4 non-conference teams for 2013/14? UMD, Mich and ?
Mel Pearson show summary for 1-21:
Huge points, anytime you can get points in this league, big
Played well this weekend except 1 period, 1st period on Saturday
A lot of hockey left, still trying to reach some of our goals, want to improve in pratice, had really good practices last week
Turned up the intensity a bit in practice and they responded
On Friday:
Changed up lines seemed to work, Junior lines, JJ wasn't with Petan etc
That junior line played excellent Friday, but Gordic minor injury and couldn't play Saturday
Changes were good, sometime need that to spark a line/player
Got a break on 1st goal Saturday, goes to show, put the puck on net, great effort by D. Johstone
B. Pietila goal, had them outnumbered down low, big goal, Walsh had played well to only allow 1 goal to that point
Blake second of the night in 2nd period, we executed our 3x2 that we practice, great shot, up 3-0
Early 3rd period goal, Gould, good play, Gould has great hands, showed patience
What are you looking for from Gould? Good all around player, can contribute offensively, great hands/release, haven't seen enough of that, has to work on getting in position. Will improve on skating/strength.
Bemidji 0-3 on PP, we were 1-4, quiet game for power plays, wanted to limit out penalties
Copley did a very nice job, rebounds were a minimum, was on his game, learning what it takes to battle through screens/find the puck
Gordic took a shot in the foot, tough to get up - not as bad as it sounds, should be ready for Omaha
Dirk - looked like the old Gordic Mel - he looked good, he didn't make the Duluth trip, he played well with purpose, used his body, skated well, best game of the year
Gordic has had a lot of bumps/bruises this year, takes toll physically and mentally, not scoring and so many people measure you that way, can lose confidence, not all about goals/assists, like that game, he was effective with 0 points
J. Johnstone, he skated well, real good game, he's skating/competeing, good to see that
On Saturday:
Got into penalty trouble, got on our heels, thought we were ready, we talk about being mentally ready to go, unfortunately we weren't ready enough, Bemidji was more ready than us
Kinne breakaway SHG, result of Bemidji's style, their forwards leave zone right away when they get the puck, our Dman thought they could keep it in, Bemidji was gone the other way
Furne to make it 1-1, he was aiming for a spot, good to see him score, glad we got through 1st only down 1-0, Copley a big part of that
We played really well 2nd/3rd, Furne's goal was big, great job by Brown to pinch and keep it in the zone right before goal
A. McLeod goal, defensive breakdown, we got caught out on a long shift
B. Pietila ties it 2-2, Kero quickly threw it out in front, smart players, big goal
OT Shots 4-2, touch and go at the end with MTU penalties, a couple good chances before that
Copley playing well, 31 saves, in a zone, take one UMD game out, 3 GA in 5 games, our Dmen playing better too, Forwards helping too
Questions for Mel:
What do you think about Alabama-Huntsville coming in?
Give our presidents and ADs a ton of credit for saving a program. UAH running out of options for hockey. It makes our league balanced with 10 teams.
Being in a league will help them with recruiting. Good overall for college hockey. WCHA has always reached out and helped teams, weather it be UMD, Wisconsin, SCSU, Bemidji, Omaha etc.
Dirk - Re: UMD, remembers Sertich thanking MTU and coach MacInnes because he was willing to play UMD when it didnt' help Tech, but was still willing to play them
Same here, what will playign UAH add, some will say not a lot, but eventually they will, and good to save a program
Not a lot of other teams/league would do that, good for WCHA
Have you heard what this will do to next years schedule?
Next year was almost set. League and Non-conference. It will be adjusted, not sure if it will be 28 or 24 game conference schedule. We'll have to totally redo our schedule, we had just got approval for our schedule for next year.
We'll have time to get things in order.
Can you talk about recruiting some more in light of all these guys leaving mid season for major juniors?
Usually a player isn't happy with ice time or role, or academic problems. We haven't had that issue or anticipate that being issue.
Recruiting is going well, had some kids in this weekend. They enjoyed it, have another one in today. It's ongoing.
Fortunate to have a couple kids on the NHL Central List recently. It's a measure of the type of player we're brinign in.
Any more line combinations changes going into the next game?
We'll see how Gordic is, always looking to tweak lines. Have a lot of gusy who can play, want guys active and in lineup. Sure there will be some changes.
Can you talk abotu non-conference games next season?
We've got 4 series in place, don't have contracts. Fans will be happy with them, most are multi year agreements. Hoping to get 3 of 4 done this week. They're good teams, teams we havne't seen for awhile.
Dirk - How do contracts work on that? Basically you can have a single one both teams sign or some will want a single contract with terms for future games.
What's possibility of half shields?
They're doing studies. Safety on visors, coaches want them. They polled players, 90% would like to see them. Every other leagues uses them. Including International play, Blake had one at World Juniors.
Did Bemidji make an adjustment to slow the game down Saturday?
They payed their game more. That was part of our doing, we allowed it. When we shot puck in, it went to the goalie, he'd rim the boards to get the puck out or to a Dman to do that, didn't get on our forecheck.
Hard to forecheck when we don't keep it from their goalie. Could use soft chip into corner or try to carry it in. We got better at that as game went on.
Dirk - Does Bemidji purposely try to draw our one Dman back as their forwards are leaving the zone, yes, spreads you out.
Saturday night scrimage at 6:30 at the Dee, black/gold game.
Admission will be a canned good. Will try and help Houghton/Hancock area food banks.
Will also have autograph and skate with the Huskies after.
Will get some posters and will have the GLI trophy for pictures.
Dirk - Great display of the GLI trophy at the games last weekend too. Mel - It hasn't been here for 32 years, it's a big deal. Guaranteed it wont be another 32 years before it's back.
This will give us an opportunity during bye to have a game like situation.
Good opportunity to see the guys, and spend time on ice with players afterwards.
It's only one canned good, something non-perishable, but if you can bring more, it helps a great cause.
They discussed WCHA results to wrap up the show
The intrasquad will help get through the bye, tried to have it at an earlier time to get the younger fans out, probably two 25 min halves
Thank the crowds for coming out this weekend, not the best weather, good crowds especially Saturday, only 5 home games left
