All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

[Pablo]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

I did see it, it happened very close to where I sit. I have it on my DVR and have watched it over and over, even in slow motion. LaFranchise came across the ice laterally, he bent over and Wiercioch flipped right over LaFranchise's HIP, as far as I can see there was no knee involved.

My husband thought it was a knee initially (at the game) but after watching the replay he now thinks it was a clean hip check. Opposing fans are never going to agree on hits like this, and it really does no good to argue it over and over. The fact is, he continued to play and skated just fine. Watching him, there was no indication of him being injured in the least.

Well, good to hear that it wasn't a dirty play. We DU fans are a little touchy on potential knee to knee hits after losing Bozak last year.

Dave: you're right. I can't even aspire to Mr. Baer's impressive post count. Some people are just on a different level, and I'll have to be content with my 3K status.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

In other news, the Pioneer women's soccer team will play in the NCAA tourney again, and await their bracket assignment, which will be announced on ESPNNews at about 6 pm MT today.

Most of the amateur poster 'bracketologists' on the Big Soccer.com forum are predicting that DU is likely to be sent to the Portland (Ore.) regional to probably face Oregon State, and should they get by the Beavers, they would play the winner of top-seeded Portland and Boise State to advance. DU lost to OSU already this year in Corvalis, so revenge will be on the docket....

DU's RPI is about #66 out of 300+ teams.

Also, one of the DU soccer players, Emily Stewart, is the daughter of former Pioneer hockey forward Bill Stewart, who was a good forward on the high scoring DU teams of the very early 80s:
http://www.denverpioneers.com/ViewA...&DB_OEM_ID=18600&ATCLID=1178876&Q_SEASON=2009

 

[Old Pio]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

All of the analysis has been right on. In my case, I've kinda boiled it down to one question: watching UAA get three goals in two minutes or whatever it was, I asked myself: weren't we the ones who were supposed to be doing that?

 

[dave29]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Dave: you're right. I can't even aspire to Mr. Baer's impressive post count. Some people are just on a different level, and I'll have to be content with my 3K status.

 

[Suze]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Since it was a clipping penalty, it doesn't matter what part of LaFranchise hit Wiercioch; it just matters where he hit Wiercioch. If it was below the waist(which I'm guessing it might be if he flipped), then it's a penalty.

It sounds like UAA could really use a lesson on how to hit people in the torso.

It was called clipping, and changed to kneeing. It was neither, it was a great hip check.

 

[Suze]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

All of the analysis has been right on. In my case, I've kinda boiled it down to one question: watching UAA get three goals in two minutes or whatever it was, I asked myself: weren't we the ones who were supposed to be doing that?

There were several DU defensemen who simply didn't show up on Saturday night. I will repost what I put in the Wisconsin/UAA thread:

It was interesting to watch what happened just before the LaFranchise penalty. Leinweber was behind Salazar, he touched him with his stick, took his stick away, and Salazar went down like a sack of potatoes. I don't ever want to hear DU fans talk about Clark taking dives, because Salazars performance was worthy of an Oscar.

One thing that DU needs to brush up on is their defense. UAA's 6th and 7th goals were scored by UAA getting past TWO defensemen and taking the puck to the net. Wiles got past Wrenn and Lee, and Lunden got past Donovan and Colborne. Wrenn didn't make a big impression on the home town fans. He was a huge liability for DU, taking two penalties each night.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

All of the analysis has been right on. In my case, I've kinda boiled it down to one question: watching UAA get three goals in two minutes or whatever it was, I asked myself: weren't we the ones who were supposed to be doing that?

Forget the Saturday night issues. Forget the goaltending problems.

This is a team that has trailed in every game its played this season except for Chevy's three shutouts against Ohio State & Minnesota (2). To me this is the real problem. These guys don't start playing until they are trailing by two goals. I guess the good news is that they are talented enough to stage comebacks, but its getting ridiculous.

Vermont - Trailed 1-3. Won 5-4
Vermont - Trailed 3-5. Lost 4-6
Ohio State - Won 2-0
Ohio State - Lost 0-4
Minnesota - Won 3-0
Minnesota - Won 3-0
MSU-M - Trailed 1-2. Won 4-3
MSU-M - Trailed 0-2. Tied 4-4
UAA - Trailed 0-1. Won 3-2
UAA - Trailed 2-6. Lost 3-7

 

[Pablo]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

If there is a "star" of DU's impressive freshmen class so far, it has definitely been Donovan. The others will be very good players, too. But as is alluded to below, I think guys like Wrenn and Murray have been thrown into the fire a little too quickly. They're definitely still adjusting to the college game, and Gwoz has not shirked from giving them big responsibilities in the meantime. This could pay dividends as the season progresses, but for now we will struggle a bit until they get up to speed.

I was just thinking, for all the doom and gloom from us DU fans, we should remember that we're what, 6-3-1? Not a horrible record for a team that is still finding its way, with 2 of its stars hampered by injuries, and guys like Maiani and Salazar who really haven't even started playing real hockey.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Forget the Saturday night issues. Forget the goaltending problems.

This is a team that has trailed in every game its played this season except for Chevy's three shutouts against Ohio State & Minnesota (2). To me this is the real problem. These guys don't start playing until they are trailing by two goals. I guess the good news is that they are talented enough to stage comebacks, but its getting ridiculous.

Good points.

As the more talented team than most of the teams they've played, the propensity for DU to trail early in games is often due to horrendous early goalie play ('Glenn Fisher Deflating Softie Syndrome'). DU has also been slow to score goals early which seems to be more of a motivational issue. Both areas need to be rectified.

 

[ELFORS]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

I think we need to get more Physical, put Gifford on first line with Rett and Tyler. go in the corners and muscle up. Is Colborne Healthy enough to take faceoffs yet. if so put him on line two, have Shore center line three and put a physical player with two finess players on three even lines instead of six finesse players on the two first lines especailly against ND. they will be out to crunch all our little guys.

 

[Farce Poobah]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJUq42Nzk1o

Video made by our comrade - ACHSDU17

Aren't rivalries great? They get the blood flowing, they raise the level of play on the ice, and the level of sound in which the game is played.

And they override reason with emotion. Take this video as Exhibit #1, where a Denver Pioneers fan compares his own coach with Colonel Nathan R. Jessup. Yes, that murderous, raving lunatic. Yes, that Colonel who chooses which rules to abide by and which he can ignore. Yes, that Colonel who lied through his teeth about the truth. Now, if it were my coach, I wouldn't want that comparison made.

But hey, its your video. Whatever fires you up.

Aren't rivalries great?


P.S. My compliments on the video. Very professional.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Aren't rivalries great? They get the blood flowing, they raise the level of play on the ice, and the level of sound in which the game is played.

And they override reason with emotion. Take this video as Exhibit #1, where a Denver Pioneers fan compares his own coach with Colonel Nathan R. Jessup. Yes, that murderous, raving lunatic. Yes, that Colonel who chooses which rules to abide by and which he can ignore. Yes, that Colonel who lied through his teeth about the truth. Now, if it were my coach, I wouldn't want that comparison made.

But hey, its your video. Whatever fires you up.

Aren't rivalries great?


P.S. My compliments on the video. Very professional.

Jessup was fictional, and we need all the help we can get. Without the DU students in the building (they will be in final exams, and there are no student tickets for this series), this is going to sound like a North Dakota home series, as there are thousands of North Dakotans who have escaped to live in Denver.

 

[Farce Poobah]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Jessup was fictional, and we need all the help we can get. Without the DU students in the building (they will be in final exams, and there are no student tickets for this series), this is going to sound like a North Dakota home series, as there are thousands of North Dakotans who have escaped to live in Denver.

Any chance that one of Rakhshani's finals is scheduled for the evening of Friday the 20th?

That said ... Gwozdecky always finds a way to push the right buttons when the Pioneers play the Sioux. I'm hoping the injury bug stays away from UND for a while (its not contagious is it?) and that DU has a full complement; its more fun that way. Mr Fixit indeed. Or maybe Ty and the gang can do an Extreme Hockey Team Makeover.

For the record, the reason all those North Dakotans move to the Front Range is that its easier to get Sioux tickets there...

 

[WetSubArticCanine]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Since it was a clipping penalty, it doesn't matter what part of LaFranchise hit Wiercioch; it just matters where he hit Wiercioch. If it was below the waist(which I'm guessing it might be if he flipped), then it's a penalty.

It sounds like UAA could really use a lesson on how to hit people in the torso.

Kane Lafranchise, whistled for “clipping” Saturday in Anchorage is the player I mentally “adopted” when Mark Smith was done in 07. I’ve watched him more than any other D-man on UAA. His game is not cheap. He play in 33 of UAA’s 36 games as a freshman, with 3 goals (1 PP) and 5 assists good for 12th place on UAA’s season scoring list, and was whistled for 4 penalties totaling 8 minutes. Last season in 31 games (out for 2 series before the Christmas break), he was 10th in scoring with 3 (1 PP)-7-10 and was assessed 7 trips to the box for 25 minutes. IIR that included a 5 minute checking from behind and the accompanying DQ.

This year, playing in UAA’s first 10 games, he has 1 (the PP game winner vs ND)-4-5 totals and 3 penalties for 20 minutes. Against Robert Morris in Fairbanks (CCHA officials) he was call for a 5 minute boarding, (one of 3 boarding calls, although the only major penalty in the game) but no misconduct or DQ. For this year, the total is 2 bogus majors and the (10 min game DQ).

Lafranchise’s game DQ has to stand, and he will be in civvies on Friday, although AD Cobb has authorized another ticket to Madtown. Per the WCHA, there was <b>no foul</b>, but the NCAA forbids a conference from affecting a remedy. Having the referee crew from the DU v UAA series sitting in the stands, or on a barstool, somewhere this weekend is the best the WCHA can do.

 

[PiosAvsFan]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

<A HREF="http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_13750831">Bye week agrees with DU hockey team</A>

 

[vizoroo]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

<A HREF="http://www.denverpost.com/colleges/ci_13750831">Bye week agrees with DU hockey team</A>

"Injury prone"--hope we get this out of the way now and can be healthy the rest of the year.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Does anyone (outside of scouts) track number and severity of injuries by team across the league? It does seem that DU has a few more than other teams...but that maybe simply due to the perspective of followers.

It might be impossible to study the injuries in college sports due to the privacy rights of the athletes involves. The other problem is due to the small sample size of college hockey participants (1,500 players) and how subjective injuries tend to be.

Thanks to internet, message boards and media blogs, injuries that we never used to hear about are now public knowledge. Swami often refers to DU's 1986 team and the injuries leading up to the Frozen Four. Most fans didn't know about the injuries back then.

I would catagorize the injuries into five groups. Concussions, Shoulders, Knees, Broken Bones, Other Injuries.

Hip surgery such as Jesse Martin had in the off-season is becoming more common, but that is due to the improving technology in that particular medical field. Knee injuries that used to be career ending are now a couple of weeks or at most a season.

The players' equipment is stronger, lighter and better than ever. Lighter equipment has led to a faster game and faster collisions, so the net gain of better equipment is offset by higher speed injuries.

Rules changes have probably cut down on boarding and clutching and grabbing, but this too has led to a faster game.

Players are bigger, stronger, faster and older than in the '80s. Bigger players lead to more forceful collisions.

Today's players also probably have played almost 800 games before entering college, whereas players maybe used to play 200 games before entering college. More opportunities to get hurt may lead to preexisting conditions.

Faceshields have prevented mouth and nose injuries, but blocked shots have led to more bruises and puck related injuries.

The long and short of it is the medical care and treatment is better than ever before. The medical staff is more cautious than ever and coaches don't risk playing injured plays as much in the past. But all this is offset by a faster paced game and a different breed of injury. If I was to venture a guess, less broken bones, but more cartilage and concussion injuries.

 

[Pablo]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

From Mike's article in the Denver Post. Ouch!

"DU freshman Adam Murray has an .838 save percentage, 80th among 81 goalies who have played in at least 33 percent of games"

 

[dggoddard]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

From Mike's article in the Denver Post. Ouch!

"DU freshman Adam Murray has an .838 save percentage, 80th among 81 goalies who have played in at least 33 percent of games"

Terrible stats but doesn't mention if he has had or has the flu.

He played well on Friday and played like crap on Saturday just like the entire team.

 

[Pablo]

Re: All Things DU XXV - Murray Up and Get The Chevy Out of The Repair Shop

Terrible stats but doesn't mention if he has had or has the flu.

He played well on Friday and played like crap on Saturday just like the entire team.

Yep, there could certainly be some behind the scenes stuff going on. Just interesting, though, that the pre-season #1 team is playing with a goalie that's 80th out of 81 teams in terms of save percentage. Incongruous!

It has got to be tough for a young goalie to be put into a situation where the defense in front of him has been so inconsistent. I think the defense and Murray will grow together, but it could take another month or two for both things to happen.