2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

[Suze]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

Serious, non-smack question for you Seawolf types.

What's your opinion of the Shyiak tenure? Is it time to cut the cord, or has he earned some more time? Your program, in all honesty, hasn't exactly been gang-busters since he's been around. I know Donald's blog had a long post about this subject earlier in the season that, as I recall, basically said he needed to go. I'm curious if this general thought has brewed on throughout the season.

I don't recall which post of Donalds you are referring to, but I don't believe he is calling for Shyiak's head, in any shape or form. I don't hear any talk from boosters about getting rid of him.

Unlike UA_, UAA has played a lot of nationally ranked teams this year, (they have the second toughest schedule in DI), and have been able to get wins against all of them. That is progress. They beat CC both here and in the Springs, they beat DU here and tied them in Denver (losing the next night with 30 seconds left in the game). They split with UND here. They just split with Minnesota, who has 20 NHL draft picks on their team.

You're right, the team hasn't been "gang busters", but neither have the Nanooks. Are you calling for your coaches head? The Nanooks had an incredibly easy first half of the season, with a lot of home games. Since their schedule has gotten tougher, they have dropped out of the national polls and are only 3 points ahead of the 10th place team, who has 2 games in hand on UA_.

Shyiak has a really nice recruiting class coming in next season, and the team will consist of all Shyiak recruits. Then you can start to judge him a bit more critically. And you can't argue with his success against the Nanooks.

 

[1/2 nook]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

while there is this so called "fright night fridays"

I think you had a typo, you put a r in fight. Which you lead the league in.

 

[Suze]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

I think you had a typo, you put a r in fight. Which you lead the league in.

Yup, so the Nanooks better watch out. It might be like the good old days between these two schools!

 

[Alaska Hockey]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

I think you had a typo, you put a r in fight. Which you lead the league in.

better spread the word …….. Or be ready for the nooks to look like they were at a weekend long “Mary Kay Makeup Party” when they show up for the Saturday Night after Game Ice Cream social.

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

"NON-SMACK" did you read the question? Are Anchorage fans able to be civil for one minute?

Why do you think I included the word "rage" in the thread title?!

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

I don't recall which post of Donalds you are referring to, but I don't believe he is calling for Shyiak's head, in any shape or form. I don't hear any talk from boosters about getting rid of him.

Unlike UA_, UAA has played a lot of nationally ranked teams this year, (they have the second toughest schedule in DI), and have been able to get wins against all of them. That is progress. They beat CC both here and in the Springs, they beat DU here and tied them in Denver (losing the next night with 30 seconds left in the game). They split with UND here. They just split with Minnesota, who has 20 NHL draft picks on their team.

You're right, the team hasn't been "gang busters", but neither have the Nanooks. Are you calling for your coaches head? The Nanooks had an incredibly easy first half of the season, with a lot of home games. Since their schedule has gotten tougher, they have dropped out of the national polls and are only 3 points ahead of the 10th place team, who has 2 games in hand on UA_.

Shyiak has a really nice recruiting class coming in next season, and the team will consist of all Shyiak recruits. Then you can start to judge him a bit more critically. And you can't argue with his success against the Nanooks.

Nice post and thank you for the response, but implying that UAF hasn't played anybody is a bit of an eyebrow raiser. Teams that were ranked, off the top of my head, when we played them are Michigan (which pasted UAA the next night, as you may recall), Notre Dame, I believe UNO, and Miami, who you've probably noticed has been the #1 ranked team in the country for most of the season. And we also swept Ferris State, who wasn't ranked at the time but is now up to #11. Not to mention this weekend against #12 Michigan State. I definitely won't argue on our second half swoon, but I think anybody who closely follows this team probably saw it coming to some degree. Defense and goaltending isn't what it was last year, and that combined with a difficult January (At Omaha, at Michigan, Miami, and then ending in our favorite black hole, Marquette) put us back where most people originally pegged us in the CCHA this year. On Saturday at NMU, the last two Northern goals were the result of some pretty blatant defensive breakdowns that you didn't see with last year's team.

As for Shyiak, I don't think he deserves to be on any hot seat yet. I think what has hurt you as much as anything in the WCHA, at least this year, is injuries. I'd be interested to see what he can do with a relatively injury-free year. Back in the early part of this season, I meant it when I said that UAA was my sleeper WCHA team this year.

 

[Suze]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

Nice post and thank you for the response, but implying that UAF hasn't played anybody is a bit of an eyebrow raiser. Teams that were ranked, off the top of my head, when we played them are Michigan (which pasted UAA the next night, as you may recall), Notre Dame, I believe UNO, and Miami, who you've probably noticed has been the #1 ranked team in the country for most of the season. And we also swept Ferris State, who wasn't ranked at the time but is now up to #11. Not to mention this weekend against #12 Michigan State.

No doubt UA_ has had some tough competition recently, but you misread my post. I said that the Nanooks had an incredibly easy first half of the season.

I was regularly checking the rankings of your opponents, and if those teams were ranked (and I don't think they were), they were not listed very high. In fact, I remember writing such a statement on the UA_ thread, that they didn't play a ranked opponent until the second half of the season, and nobody said that was incorrect. I may be wrong on that, and if so I stand corrected.

Face it, the WCHA has teams at 2, 3, 5, 9 and 10 - five teams in the top ten. The CCHA has one, Miami - and they have traded that number one spot with Denver. Clearly UAA has had a much tougher schedule. UAA's is the second toughest in the nation. Do you know how UA_'s schedule is ranked? I'd be curious to know.

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

No doubt UA_ has had some tough competition recently, but you misread my post. I said that the Nanooks had an incredibly easy first half of the season.

I was regularly checking the rankings of your opponents, and if those teams were ranked (and I don't think they were), they were not listed very high. In fact, I remember writing such a statement on the UA_ thread, that they didn't play a ranked opponent until the second half of the season, and nobody said that was incorrect. I may be wrong on that, and if so I stand corrected.

Face it, the WCHA has teams at 2, 3, 5, 9 and 10 - five teams in the top ten. The CCHA has one, Miami - and they have traded that number one spot with Denver. Clearly UAA has had a much tougher schedule. UAA's is the second toughest in the nation. Do you know how UA_'s schedule is ranked? I'd be curious to know.

Michigan was 4 or 5 when we both played them in October, and Notre Dame was top-10 (I believe, if they weren't they were still ranked) when we played in November. I also am fairly sure that UNO was ranked somewhere between 10 and 20 when we played in December, and may have been in January when we played as well. Miami definitely looked like #1 when I saw them in person last week...they looked like UAA on steroids (meant as a compliment, not an accusation!)...very big, fast, and physical. I have no idea what to expect from the Spartans this weekend; I haven't seen or even paid any attention to them this season, but they must be doing pretty well for themselves to be holding down 2nd in the conference.

Definitely not doubting the WCHA strength, though, and I have noticed the five in the top ten stat. I just wanted to make sure I threw some facts back at you.

 

[Methodical]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

I think shyiak's doing just fine, and replacing him would be a mistake. He hasn't turned around the program overnight, but it's improved and continued to do so. I expect that to continue, and his ouster would be a big red flag about the administration and not his performance.

and to be honest, I think an injury free season is unheard of in the wcha. I would love to see stats in injury rates in ccha vs wcha teams. Obviously the wcha has many more. I hate to think of athletes losing seasons and having permanent injuries just because of one hit in whats in the long run, probably a meaningless game.

 

[Rms123]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

Getting rid of Shyiak would be stupid, he has done nothing but improve that team. I find it funny, that other than Suze (who still had to bring up comparisons of UAF-UAA for whatever reason); you couldn’t get much of a coherent response to your question. Maybe try reposting in the Seawolves season thread, to see if you get a better response……………is there a season thread for UAA?

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

I vaguely remember a season thread for UAA. Most of them decided to apparently migrate to our thread a month or two ago.

 

[the U of Not Fairbanks]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

Getting rid of Shyiak would be stupid, he has done nothing but improve that team. I find it funny, that other than Suze (who still had to bring up comparisons of UAF-UAA for whatever reason); you couldn’t get much of a coherent response to your question. Maybe try reposting in the Seawolves season thread, to see if you get a better response……………is there a season thread for UAA?

According to the UAA Media guide:
UAA under Talafous was 50-108-22 in five seasons, averages per season 10-21.6-4.4, Win percentage of .339
WCHA record- 36-87-20, averages of 7.2-17.4-4, win % of .322
Placing in WCHA-9,9,6,7,9 = 40 total/5 seasons= 8th place average
Had 40 players make the WCHA All-Academic team (8 per season)
Had 18 players make WCHA players of the week (3.6 per season)
Other WCHA awards(All-WCHA, WCHA Rookie of the Year, WCHA All-Rookie Team, WCHA Scholar Athlete) 7 total for 1.4 average
Other relevant things:
Three time Gov Cup Champ

UAA under Hill was 39-89-21 in four seasons
averages per season 9.75-22.25-5.25, win % of .322
WCHA record- 26-69-17, averages of 5.2-17.25-4.25, win % of .308
Placing in WCHA- 6,10,8,7=31 total/ 4 seasons =7.75th place average
Had 39 players make the WCHA All-Academic team (9.75 per season)
Had 18 players make WCHA players of the week (4.5 per season)
Other WCHA awards(All-WCHA, WCHA Rookie of the Year, WCHA All-Rookie Team, WCHA Scholar Athlete) 2 total for .5 average
Other relevant things:
Got UAA to the Final Five for the first time
Two UAA tournament champions

UAA under Shyiak in his fifth season(a few more games to play still) 54-101-21
averages per season 10.8-20.2-4.2, win % of .372
WCHA record-32-86-17, averages of 6.4-17.2-3.4, win % of .3
Placings in WCHA (assuming UAA finishes 8th this season)-10,10,10,9,8=47 total/ 5 seasons= 9.4th place average
In his first 4 seasons, has had 41 players make the WCHA All-Academic Team (10.25 per season)
Had 19 players make WCHA players of the week(in 4 seasons, 4.75 per season)
Other WCHA awards(All-WCHA, WCHA Rookie of the Year, WCHA All-Rookie Team, WCHA Scholar Athlete) 5 total for 1.25 average(4 seasons)
Other relevant things:
One time winner of UAA tournament
Three time Gov Cup Champ

So these are the facts, if you score the three coaches with a 3-2-1 approach, it looks like this:
averages per season(based upon wins)- Shyiak, Talafous, Hill
WCHA averages(based upon wins)- Talafous, Hill, Shyiak
Placings in WCHA- Hill, Talafous, Shyiak
WCHA All-Academic Team- Shyiak, Hill, Talafous
WCHA players of the week- Shyiak, Hill, Talafous
Other WCHA awards- Talafous, Shyiak, Hill
Other relevant things- Shyiak, Talafous Hill (tie)

Talafous points: 2,3,3,1,1,3,1.5= 14.5
Hill points: 1,2,3,1,1,1,1.5= 10.5
Shyiak points: 3,1,1,3,3,2,3= 16

Coherent Response?
Again, the season is not over, so Shyiak may be able to put a few more points in this. Currently, they got one more game @ SCSU tonight, 2 @MSU, H/W with UAF, 2 at H with UMD

Let me hear what your thoughts are, these are the facts, hard to deny it. I could have done the scoring another way or found some more things to score, but this seemed to be simplest off of what I gathered from the UAA media guide.

I look forward to the Gov Cup games this year, as its 8 wins for UAA, 8 wins for UAF, it should make for a good two game series(even though I wish it was four)

 

[mmf]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

What’s with all the hockey stats? Who are we kidding? They’re Anchorage. They suck. Period. They could win the Governor’s Cup, the MacNaughton Cup, the Frozen Four, the Hoby Baker, and a Tony award for some catchy little show tune, I don’t care. They’re Anchorage. They suck!

Alaska Hockey is a good guy, but he’s a C-Woof fan, so he sucks too.
Carry on.

Go Nooks!

 

[the U of Not Fairbanks]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

What’s with all the hockey stats? Who are we kidding? They’re Anchorage. They suck. Period. They could win the Governor’s Cup, the MacNaughton Cup, the Frozen Four, the Hoby Baker, and a Tony award for some catchy little show tune, I don’t care. They’re Anchorage. They suck!

Alaska Hockey is a good guy, but he’s a C-Woof fan, so he sucks too.
Carry on.

Go Nooks!

Any guess on how we feel about you?

 

[Suze]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

Getting rid of Shyiak would be stupid, he has done nothing but improve that team. I find it funny, that other than Suze (who still had to bring up comparisons of UAF-UAA for whatever reason); you couldn’t get much of a coherent response to your question. Maybe try reposting in the Seawolves season thread, to see if you get a better response……………is there a season thread for UAA?

For whatever reason? When disecting a coaches performance, you need to look at the coaches success/failure with winning the Gov Cup. Winning the Cup also means a bonus in Shyiak's contract, so the U seems to deem it very important and gives him that incentive.

Hill sucked when it came down to the games between UAA and UA_. Shyiak has done well. Not only did UAA win the cup for the past three years, but they shut out _airbanks in both games last season. That is why I brought it up. Sheesh.

 

[Rms123]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

According to the UAA Media guide:
UAA under Talafous was 50-108-22 in five seasons, averages per season 10-21.6-4.4, Win percentage of .339
WCHA record- 36-87-20, averages of 7.2-17.4-4, win % of .322
Placing in WCHA-9,9,6,7,9 = 40 total/5 seasons= 8th place average
Had 40 players make the WCHA All-Academic team (8 per season)
Had 18 players make WCHA players of the week (3.6 per season)
Other WCHA awards(All-WCHA, WCHA Rookie of the Year, WCHA All-Rookie Team, WCHA Scholar Athlete) 7 total for 1.4 average
Other relevant things:
Three time Gov Cup Champ

UAA under Hill was 39-89-21 in four seasons
averages per season 9.75-22.25-5.25, win % of .322
WCHA record- 26-69-17, averages of 5.2-17.25-4.25, win % of .308
Placing in WCHA- 6,10,8,7=31 total/ 4 seasons =7.75th place average
Had 39 players make the WCHA All-Academic team (9.75 per season)
Had 18 players make WCHA players of the week (4.5 per season)
Other WCHA awards(All-WCHA, WCHA Rookie of the Year, WCHA All-Rookie Team, WCHA Scholar Athlete) 2 total for .5 average
Other relevant things:
Got UAA to the Final Five for the first time
Two UAA tournament champions

UAA under Shyiak in his fifth season(a few more games to play still) 54-101-21
averages per season 10.8-20.2-4.2, win % of .372
WCHA record-32-86-17, averages of 6.4-17.2-3.4, win % of .3
Placings in WCHA (assuming UAA finishes 8th this season)-10,10,10,9,8=47 total/ 5 seasons= 9.4th place average
In his first 4 seasons, has had 41 players make the WCHA All-Academic Team (10.25 per season)
Had 19 players make WCHA players of the week(in 4 seasons, 4.75 per season)
Other WCHA awards(All-WCHA, WCHA Rookie of the Year, WCHA All-Rookie Team, WCHA Scholar Athlete) 5 total for 1.25 average(4 seasons)
Other relevant things:
One time winner of UAA tournament
Three time Gov Cup Champ

So these are the facts, if you score the three coaches with a 3-2-1 approach, it looks like this:
averages per season(based upon wins)- Shyiak, Talafous, Hill
WCHA averages(based upon wins)- Talafous, Hill, Shyiak
Placings in WCHA- Hill, Talafous, Shyiak
WCHA All-Academic Team- Shyiak, Hill, Talafous
WCHA players of the week- Shyiak, Hill, Talafous
Other WCHA awards- Talafous, Shyiak, Hill
Other relevant things- Shyiak, Talafous Hill (tie)

Talafous points: 2,3,3,1,1,3,1.5= 14.5
Hill points: 1,2,3,1,1,1,1.5= 10.5
Shyiak points: 3,1,1,3,3,2,3= 16

Coherent Response?
Again, the season is not over, so Shyiak may be able to put a few more points in this. Currently, they got one more game @ SCSU tonight, 2 @MSU, H/W with UAF, 2 at H with UMD

Let me hear what your thoughts are, these are the facts, hard to deny it. I could have done the scoring another way or found some more things to score, but this seemed to be simplest off of what I gathered from the UAA media guide.

I look forward to the Gov Cup games this year, as its 8 wins for UAA, 8 wins for UAF, it should make for a good two game series(even though I wish it was four)

Great response, nice to see the numbers! Like I said getting rid of Shyiak would be stupid. Like I also said He has done nothing but improve the team in my opinion. He is a good coach. Why anyone in that program or town would be calling for his head is beyond me.

 

[Suze]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

Great response, nice to see the numbers! Like I said getting rid of Shyiak would be stupid. Like I also said He has done nothing but improve the team in my opinion. He is a good coach. Why anyone in that program or town would be calling for his head is beyond me.

UAA is promoting this series. I like their poster, they have the F in Fairbanks covered with the "no" symbol.

Four tickets and four T-shirts that read "Beat The Nooks" for only $39.99, what a deal. And if you already have season tickets, you can get one of those highly prized, soon to be collectors T-shirts, for only $5 at the UAA bookstore. Nice job Derek!

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

UAA is promoting this series. I like their poster, they have the F in Fairbanks covered with the "no" symbol.

Four tickets and four T-shirts that read "Beat The Nooks" for only $39.99, what a deal. And if you already have season tickets, you can get one of those highly prized, soon to be collectors T-shirts, for only $5 at the UAA bookstore. Nice job Derek!

Glad to see you are making at least one valiant attempt to fill up your barn for a night.

 

[Alaska Hockey]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

What’s with all the hockey stats? Who are we kidding? They’re Anchorage. They suck. Period. They could win the Governor’s Cup, the MacNaughton Cup, the Frozen Four, the Hoby Baker, and a Tony award for some catchy little show tune, I don’t care. They’re Anchorage. They suck!

Alaska Hockey is a good guy, but he’s a C-Woof fan, so he sucks too.
Carry on.

Go Nooks!

The therapy isn’t working
Why do I articulate that? Because …….. _airbanks …Just up the road from…..Skinny Dicks Halfway Inn

 

[Squarebanks]

Re: 2010 Alaska Airlines Governor's Cup: The 'Banks vs. The 'Rage

The therapy isn’t working
Why do I articulate that? Because …….. _airbanks …Just up the road from…..Skinny Dicks Halfway Inn

Sounds like somebody used the Skinny Dick's Halfway Inn remote control fart machine on your behalf.