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BIG / WCHA Challenge - 2015 Great Lakes Invitational

H

Huskiefan906

Well-known member
Well it is that time of the season to shift the focus to the GLI.
Michigan State has one more warmup before the tourney, but the other 3 teams are off until they drop the puck at the GLI.

I expect some entertaining hockey as it appears Connor is not going to World Juniors for the Wolverines.

Michigan Tech has a win and a tie to date against the BIG (Michigan State)
Northern Michigan has two ties to date against the BIG (Wisconsin)
Michigan has not played a WCHA opponent to date.
Michigan State has two wins, two losses and a tie against the WCHA (Lake Superior and Michigan Tech)

There is no truth to the rumor that no player over 21 was being allowed to play at the GLI.

I expect two close semi-finals and this one could go either way depending on the puck luck that each team gets.

Go Tech, it is time to win this again in Jamie Phillips final year.
 
Re: BIG / WCHA Challenge - 2015 Great Lakes Invitational

Well which Michigan team shows up?
MSU seems to be in the same boat, but for anyone including NMU a win at this tournament would really launch them into he second half. !

If you're a Michigan fan, don't take NMU lightly, they can play.
 
Having the GLI during the week (Tue.-Wed.) Sucks. I wonder when it will be scheduled on a weekend again. Probably a few years as the calander falls. I went last year and was disappointed with fan attendance. Maybe with the wings new digs in a couple years it will revive again.
 
Re: BIG / WCHA Challenge - 2015 Great Lakes Invitational

Michigan will likely be missing their two most important defensemen for the GLI. Werenski is almost a lock to be on the WJ team, and Downing has now been suspended for two games following a high hit against Minnesota.

And on the subject of that hit, I want to give kudos to the Michigan athletic website. They actually showed video of the incident which you can see here - http://www.mgoblue.com/sports/m-hockey/mich-m-hockey-body.html It's refreshing that a school shows what actually happened in the game, rather than just the plays that paint their team in a good light. Perfect example...Michigan State's video wrapup of their 3-0 loss to Wisconsin which showed none of the three goals - http://www.msuspartans.com/sports/m-hockey/msu-m-hockey-body.html So if you don't show us the "bad" highlights, then they didn't really happen? Must be hard to keep searching for something positive with that lot right now too.
 
Re: BIG / WCHA Challenge - 2015 Great Lakes Invitational

One of two MSU teams will show up:

1) The one that gives up a lot of goals and scores a lot
2) The one that gives up a lot of goals and does not score

Our thin defense is getting thinner. Despite the first two Tech-State games being high scoring, I could see Tech running away with it 4-0 or 4-1.
 
Re: BIG / WCHA Challenge - 2015 Great Lakes Invitational

John J. MacInnes said:
Michigan will likely be missing their two most important defensemen for the GLI. Werenski is almost a lock to be on the WJ team, and Downing has now been suspended for two games following a high hit against Minnesota.
Click to expand...

If you guys have been following us a lot, both Downing and Werenski have been a major part of the defensive struggles we've had this season. Neither seem to want to play defense in our zone- both have done an amazing job not covering the people they should get. On top of that, each like to pinch, which left their partners (each other much of the season) with an odd man rush. Again, both players have shown an amazing ability to really do nothing remarkable in preventing goals on an odd man rush.

Zach will probably get a lot of flack if the same things happen on the Jr team.

Mike, well... all I can do is shake my head.
 
Re: BIG / WCHA Challenge - 2015 Great Lakes Invitational

Not too worried about Werenski being at the WJCs again. He was there last year and Michigan won the whole thing.

Compher, Motte and Larkin were all there as well.

Downing and Porikos can be swapped for Lohan and Piazza. Not a big deal.

I want MVP Racine to get back. Nagelvoort just has lost all confidence, and who can blame him? How good of a goalie would you be if your D was literally turning the puck over 10 feet away from you multiple times per game? Racine is just used to it by now and doesn't let in the soft goals.
 
Re: BIG / WCHA Challenge - 2015 Great Lakes Invitational

davyd83 said:
Can't wait for the new place. It'll actually have a press box that was built the same time as the arena and will actually be incorporated into the design.
Click to expand...

No name yet.........makes me think it'll be a corporate sponsor.
 
Re: BIG / WCHA Challenge - 2015 Great Lakes Invitational

Well maybe and I'll try not to make it personal, but really there was a straw poll and they all voted in favor of it. So did York and a few other big time program coaches.Like Quinn etc. Not only that but several B1G coaches, when interviewed, re affirmed their support.

I just have a real tough time believing that the B1G is altruistic in that they have the best interest of the students and that this minimal benefit is enough to cause them to do this. To me the real reason is they are trying to stop some schools from stockpiling recruits.
Having said that, I give Michigan a ton of credit for playing a lot of schools they don't have to, for the good of college hockey in general. I also don't believe that scheduling is done by the AD.
 
manurespreader said:
Well maybe and I'll try not to make it personal, but really there was a straw poll and they all voted in favor of it. So did York and a few other big time program coaches.Like Quinn etc. Not only that but several B1G coaches, when interviewed, re affirmed their support.

I just have a real tough time believing that the B1G is altruistic in that they have the best interest of the students and that this minimal benefit is enough to cause them to do this. To me the real reason is they are trying to stop some schools from stockpiling recruits.
Having said that, I give Michigan a ton of credit for playing a lot of schools they don't have to, for the good of college hockey in general. I also don't believe that scheduling is done by the AD.
Click to expand...
They have to play those schools. How else would they fill 14 non conference dates? The Big Ten schools don't give an ounce of care to "the best interests of college hockey." If they did, they wouldn't have back doored this legislative attempt. If they did care, they'd be playing even series with the smaller schools instead of the 2-for-1 swaps they "generously" offer. What the rest of college hockey needs to do is reject the 2-1 offers.
 
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Re: BIG / WCHA Challenge - 2015 Great Lakes Invitational

davyd83 said:
They have to play those schools. How else would they fill 14 non conference dates? The Big Ten schools don't give an ounce of care to "the best interests of college hockey." If they did, they wouldn't have back doored this legislative attempt. If they did care, they'd be playing even series with the smaller schools instead of the 2-for-1 swaps they "generously" offer. What the rest of college hockey needs to do is reject the 2-1 offers.
Click to expand...

Uh, the large schools (i.e. Michigan, sparty, Minnesota, etc.) were doing the 2-for-1's back when there was a CCHA/previous WCHA... If the rest of college hockey rejects those offers you'll never play us. The larger schools actually make money to support their programs on home hockey games, Lake State/Bowling Green/Ferris St/etc. don't. I'm not sure about your school (NMU) but I don't expect that it's much different. Why should a larger school give up money to go to a smaller rink? For that matter, don't the larger schools give you a percentage of the gate? You most likely make more money on a road trip than playing at home.

Try again.
 
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