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2011 Alaska Nanook Offseason: Wake Me Up When September Ends

S

Squarebanks

New member
And so it begins. I don't think it's news to anybody, especially our fans, that there were high hopes for this season, but for whatever reason we were never able to get in a groove. We didn't have the consistency that had brought us a fair amount of success in 2009 and 2010.

Home losses to NMU, WMU, and Ferris were backbreakers. Also, the early season loss to North Dakota seemed to put a damper of sorts on getting our usual strong start. Not that it mattered, but it also really hurt us in the PWR.

Good things? Gut check wins on the road at Miami and Notre Dame. A great home shutout of Michigan. The playoff sweep of Michigan State despite Comleygate. And keeping the Cup, even through dubious shootout measures.

All things considered, I'd say there are glimmers of hope for 2011-2012. The thing this year's team lacked the most, IMO, was a Knelson-ish playmaker. Andy Taranto in particular seemed to suffer from the lack of a setup man, especially early in the season. As we went into the second half, Cody Kunyk really seemed to step up into that playmaker role. I'm hopeful he will continue to grow into that role next season; if he does it will really help the team to get back into being a conference contender.

We will be a veteran-heavy team next year, most notably Greenham and Sova. Our seniors will have a lot of big game experience under their belts. If our guys keep working in the summer and start fresh in the fall, there are good reasons to be optimistic for next year. I am absolutely convinced that Coach Ferguson has us on the right path despite a minor blip this year. We all probably recall that until he was promoted, home playoff games were an extreme rarity.

Already looking forward to next year.
 
Re: 2011 Alaska Nanook Offseason: Wake Me Up When September Ends

Squarebanks said:
Just announced about an hour ago that defenseman Joe Sova (would have been a senior next season) has signed with the New Jersey Devils. Definitely happy for Joe and wish him all the best, but man oh man does this put a dent in our defenseman corps for next season.

Here's the link:

http://www.alaskananooks.com/news/2011/3/19/MHOCKEY_0319112926.aspx
Click to expand...

I was going to ask last week if any of the Alaska players were going to receive free agent interest or consider that route given the age of some of the players....

Greenham turns 24 as a Sr.
Taranto turns 23 as a Jr.
Gens is 24/25 next season as a Sr.
Sova turns 23 and has signed.
 
Of the remaining 3, I'd say Taranto is the most likely, but I'd be surprised if any of those listed leave now.

alnike said:
I was going to ask last week if any of the Alaska players were going to receive free agent interest or consider that route given the age of some of the players....

Greenham turns 24 as a Sr.
Taranto turns 23 as a Jr.
Gens is 24/25 next season as a Sr.
Sova turns 23 and has signed.
Click to expand...
 
Re: 2011 Alaska Nanook Offseason: Wake Me Up When September Ends

We played with a ton of injuries this year, that’s why we were never able to get into a groove. We beat some very good teams such as; Union, CC, Mich, ND, Miami. Overall the season wasn't as good as I wanted, but with no offense, it wasn't as bad as it could have been either. Sova......happy for him, and sucks he is leaving. He logged a ton of ice, and was a good O minded D-man. I think we will be perfectly fine without him. We have a deep D, and honestly I think he turned the puck over a number of times this year in key situations. Maybe because he was on the ice a ton, but there were games he was good, and games when he wasn't that great. Our D can lose a guy and still be good. Our O is non-existent, and cannot afford to lose anyone! Toranto played through a ton of injuries this year, more than the casual fan knows! He said he is coming back next year. I think he will be healed up, and will have a great year. We have some good young guys, and really aren’t losing anyone that was that great (other than Sova). I think we will be a better team next year than this year!
 
Re: 2011 Alaska Nanook Offseason: Wake Me Up When September Ends

Other guys will step up in Sova's place but it still hurts to lose him. Looking forward to seeing him in the NHL eventually though.

I definitely don't doubt Taranto's injuries, and I was happy to see him start to get back to his old self in the last third of the season. If he has a year like his freshman year next year, I'd be surprised to see him back in a Nanook sweater after next season.

We have the ability, and if Kunyk continues his playmaker role we have the potential to have a good year next year. I know our offensive woes wore heavily on the staff and players; I'm sure they will be working hard over the summer.

Rms123 said:
We played with a ton of injuries this year, that’s why we were never able to get into a groove. We beat some very good teams such as; Union, CC, Mich, ND, Miami. Overall the season wasn't as good as I wanted, but with no offense, it wasn't as bad as it could have been either. Sova......happy for him, and sucks he is leaving. He logged a ton of ice, and was a good O minded D-man. I think we will be perfectly fine without him. We have a deep D, and honestly I think he turned the puck over a number of times this year in key situations. Maybe because he was on the ice a ton, but there were games he was good, and games when he wasn't that great. Our D can lose a guy and still be good. Our O is non-existent, and cannot afford to lose anyone! Toranto played through a ton of injuries this year, more than the casual fan knows! He said he is coming back next year. I think he will be healed up, and will have a great year. We have some good young guys, and really aren’t losing anyone that was that great (other than Sova). I think we will be a better team next year than this year!
Click to expand...
 
Re: 2011 Alaska Nanook Offseason: Wake Me Up When September Ends

Looks like we're not the only school to lose Guy, new head coach at PSU.
 
Re: 2011 Alaska Nanook Offseason: Wake Me Up When September Ends

Not hockey related, but Clem Johnson appears to be headed to Florida A&M. Probably a blessing in disguise for our basketball program.
 
Re: 2011 Alaska Nanook Offseason: Wake Me Up When September Ends

F Nolan Youngmun, originally from Anchorage, is headed to UAF by way of USHL Sioux City. As seen on Doyle Woody's Alaska Aces (ha!) blog, as well as a couple other sources.
 
Squarebanks said:
Not hockey related, but Clem Johnson appears to be headed to Florida A&M. Probably a blessing in disguise for our basketball program.
Click to expand...

'Nooks have hired Mick Durham, by way of Montana State and New Mexico State, as our new head men's BB coach. Sounds like a strong hire. Interesting that Tim Moser (UAA's women's coach) also applied for that job but withdrew from consideration last week.
 
Re: 2011 Alaska Nanook Offseason: Wake Me Up When September Ends

Really disappointed to see that Brian Meisner just interviewed for the assistant coach opening at UMD. He didn't get it. I think he's been great at Alaska, and would certainly understand him leaving for a head coach position elsewhere . . . but to take an equivalent position? He's from Minnesota, so that may have been a factor. Still, this is sad. If he stays with us for the 11-12 season, I hope he's happy here. Anyone know more?
 
Re: 2011 Alaska Nanook Offseason: Wake Me Up When September Ends

Wondering said:
Really disappointed to see that Brian Meisner just interviewed for the assistant coach opening at UMD. He didn't get it. I think he's been great at Alaska, and would certainly understand him leaving for a head coach position elsewhere . . . but to take an equivalent position? He's from Minnesota, so that may have been a factor. Still, this is sad. If he stays with us for the 11-12 season, I hope he's happy here. Anyone know more?
Click to expand...

An equivalent position? I think not! He'd be going to the WCHA!! ;)
 
Re: 2011 Alaska Nanook Offseason: Wake Me Up When September Ends

Suze said:
An equivalent position? I think not! He'd be going to the WCHA!! ;)
Click to expand...

Suze is right. :eek: Assistant coaching positions are so prestigious in the WCHA that they have been known to attract head coaches from struggling wanna-be programs...even from with-in. ;)

My apologies for the weak effort. There's a better joke/dig in there somewhere but I'm not in mid-season "posting" form. The off-season sucks.

The silence is deafening around here with regard to any hockey news. Anything? Some fan bases have closed their first season thread, we're still trying to drop to page two. Makes me yearn for the good ol' days of "Doc" (just kidding).

Regarding our assistant coaches. There is probably little chance that the Nook head coach position opens up in the foreseeable future. They certainly know that. Plus, I would assume that working under different coaches, systems, and within different recruiting circles makes an assistant that much more valuable and prepared for the next level.

It would probably benefit our program to pick up an assistant coach with some new, radical ideas...like scoring. I know nothing about either assistant coach or what their responsibilities are. Both seem competent and professional. Personally, I would occasionally like to see a little more emotion from the bench, from someone. Not over the top, just a bit more inspiring at times.
 
Re: 2011 Alaska Nanook Offseason: Wake Me Up When September Ends

mmf said:
Suze is right. :eek: Assistant coaching positions are so prestigious in the WCHA that they have been known to attract head coaches from struggling wanna-be programs...even from with-in. ;)
Click to expand...

And that turned out so well, didn't it? ;)
 
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