Re: '12-13 Michigan Tech Season Thread: Screw the Election, Let's Play Hockey!
Mel Pearson show summary for 2-11, Mel was on the phone:
Real good weekend of hockey, real tough loss Friday, for 55 min we were better team, we did not finish well
Overall real happy with how we played
Dirk - one of toughest losses in awhile Mel - most important is to put it behind us and move forward, can't change the past
Out staff didn't dwell on the game, disapointed as coaches, one of Mel's toughest losses he's ever had, can't get too low or too high when we win, got the team ready for Sat
Credit to our players too, put their disapointment behind them, had a real good game Saturday
On Friday's game:
A. Pietila goal - great shot by Aaron, amazing how many good saves goalies can make, have to get traffic in front of goalie at our level and NHL too
Furne scores from Gordic and Sweeney, up 2-0, UAA calls TO, wanted to use back of the net in this weekend, buy some time and force goalie to look over his shoulder
UAA goal, Bailey beat Seigo to score
Seigo goal, waited for a screen to setup, JJ screened the goalie, great shot, well placed wrist shot, up 3-1
Gordic goal, PP goal, Kero found a lane, J. Johnstone and Gordic did a nice job in front of the net
UAA's been down quite a bit, including last weekend against CC, always battling to get back into it, PP goal got them back in the game, 4-2 going into 3rd
UAA's 3 gaols in 3rd, we started playing on the wrong side of the puck, they drew a penalty, have to kill penalties especially in the 3rd, tough PP goal to give up 4-3
17:51, UAA freshmen scores on harmless looking shot, misplayed by Copley, Copley would stop that 9.9 times out of 10, we had opportunities to put the game away before that and didn't
UAA cranked it up and scores to win, hit UAA guy high and into the net, refs didn't think there wan anything to review with the goal, looking back, it would be real hard to determine how high it hit or who
Mel told his wife he lost a championship game in OT a few years ago and this loss was much harder to take than the Friday night loss
On Saturdays game:
uAA had the momentum, our guys came out and played one of our best games of the year
Hyland first career goal, PP was good to start the weekend, tough day of practice on Wed, so skipped PP on practice schedule, stepped away form it started 3-3 on PP for the weekend, Gordic screen
Gould from Blake Pietila, 2-0
Gordic, up 3-0, on top of rebound, Rix on that line because J. Johnstone had an equipment issue, nice line rush, Frune shot, Gordic found the rebound
Furne played really hard this weekend, he's moving his feet, engaged in other players, backchecking, Milos, J. Johnstone, Furne, really good weekend for us
UAA scores, but we didn't let off the gas, Pheonix stopped a few chances right after that
Petan from D. Johnstone, Hyland, - 4-1, perfecly placed pass from D. Johnstone, those two have been on odd-man rushes the last few games, create it with speed/skill
There's a time to pass and a time to shoot on those rushes, have to take what the opposition gives you
Eick scores to make it 5-1, first career goal, happy for Eick, he's such a hard worker, good team guy, excited for him, gets chances because of speed
Petan back door, 6-1, usually burries those chances around the net
Shots Tech 43 UAA 25
Jamie Phillips got 9 mins of play, he's worked hard in practice, limited time in net, with out 5 games in 9 days, wanted to get Copley some rest
Questions for Mel, as always email
dj@themix93.com
When he took over the program what was his 5 year plan, can he compete for a nation championship at Tech?
1st and foremost need to win the conference regular season, that's our goal. Number 2 is playoff championship to get an NCAA birth. Once in the NCAA anything can happen. We can do that at Michgian Tech, the way the game is you can recruit and get the right pieces at Michigan Tech. Our team played hard against MN and beat them, beat a good Western MI team, UNO etc.
Obviously feel we can compete with the best teams, need to be more consitent. Want to get in NCAA tournament, anything can happen there. No question the goal is a national championship.
It's easy to sit here and say we can do it, but it's tough to do. That's our goal.
What is used to determine the players in teh lineup, it seems liek some players struggle and make the lineup each week. Others score and don't get consistent play.
A lot goes into our lineup, we talk as a staff a lot about our lineup. Some of it's chemistry, some is matchups, some have more "money int eh bank" have proven they can have success even if they're on tough times at the moment. It's not necessarily who's scoring goals.
For example, Copley had a tough Friday, would've been easy to start someone else, take everythign into account, that young mane needs to be able to respond after a tough game. Everyone on our team has played except one young guy that's had a lot of injuries, Patrick Anderson.
Fan only get to see glimpses of games, we see practice and what's going on.
Dirk - Also some hunches goes into for example, Likteig, who hasn't played a tone with old coaching staff or this staff, and in UNO he scores game winner.
Mel - No question, he can skate/shoot and playing a fast team like UNO. Road is diff than home, don't have last change, so try to balance lines, want a grinder with 2 guys that can score. UNO put top 3 scoresr on one line and they didn't have a good night.
At the end of the day have to put our best foot forward and give Tech the best chance to win.
Sometimes throw Rix with Furne/Gordic, other lineup changes, learned taht from Berenson and watching Mike Babcock over the years
On NMU game:
They've done very well in non-conference games, swept SCSU, WI, struggling a bit in CCHA play
Walk does a nice job, they play hard, they don't beat themselves, have to find a way to beat them, push the pace and put pressure on them
Tough start in Marquette, after 1st period we were the better team
They have a good goalie, big kid that takes up a lot of the net, need to get him moving
Big game for us, we don't have much time to get ready for it, we'll have short practice today
Phillips was in that last NMU game, played pretty well, they bombarded us prety early, but he stood tall
Physical game, they play with an edge, have to be ready for that
On Mankato:
Sweep UMD, Hastings has this team playing well, they've got talent, really impressed with their younger players
Had a lot of injuries and lost a lot of tough games, on bit of a roll
We'll have our hadns full, we did go down there last year and beat them once
Should be a real good series, it will be an uptempt goame, their freshmen goaltender has been good
Like how we play on the road,
Will it be another tough decision for who to take on this trip, Mel - it always is, have to juggle Tuesday players as well, need to have energy to play Friday/Sat after TUesday, will sprinkle some other guys in lineup
Comment on Milos and the kissing of the queen, did he take any ribbing from the team?
maybe, how awkard was that, very nice yougn lady, congrats to her, sort of a funny moment, one of our goals to win the WC trophy and we did that
Jim Markam passed away, sympathy to him, great guy and hockey mind, big part of Michigan Tech, thoughts
