Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

[owslachief]

With apologies and a nod to seanpc03, I believe the title really belongs this year ... seeing as there's a new emblem on center ice.

There's quite a bit of naysaying and doubting in the air because of the would-be seniors who left. But interestingly, with the return of last year's freshman group that sort of flew under the radar, this team has the potential for greater stability, and will be a solid foundation to which we can add a very intriguing 2011 freshman class.

So will this less-than-glitzy (should I say "blue collar"?) squad go further in the post season than the last two attempts? I think it all depends on certain juniors finally playing up to their potential (you know who they are), hitherto successful forwards contributing right away as freshmen, and the continuation of consistent goaltending.

Will Leveille to Gazely to Grant be synonymous with Tinkers to Evers to Chance? The mystery is soon to unfold!

 

[aallenpollreisz]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

Anybody hear anything about preliminary season ticket sales? Better? Worse? About the same?

We hemorrhaged a bunch last season - I'm hoping we've regained some lost ticketholders with our stronger play, though.

 

[owslachief]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

With the $5 drop in price, one would hope numbers pick up. I know the ending left a bad taste for those who actually showed up in that abortive CCHA round 1 - but a 25% discount could mean the difference for a lot of people.
I would love to say that attendance at the Western Ontario game serves as an omen (good or bad), but it just hasn't worked out that way. We practially pack the place for Notre Dame and get barely two thirds for others.
I don't know if the gimmicks really worked.
MSU just needs to play exciting hockey and somehow find a way to put a lot of pucks in the net to get the interest flowing again.

-- oh yeah and the Everbody's tradition needs to continue.

 

[seanpc03]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

I didn't follow the offseason too closely, but I was surprised to see MSU picked third and fourth in the preseason CCHA polls. I see this team as more of a .500 in-league team.

 

[Nevergoodenough]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

I didn't follow the offseason too closely, but I was surprised to see MSU picked third and fourth in the preseason CCHA polls. I see this team as more of a .500 in-league team.

Based on finishing the season in second place (CCHA) you would expect the preseason polls to reflect that, regardless of how the post-season went. I'm hoping that the team continues to surprise you.

 

[aallenpollreisz]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

I didn't follow the offseason too closely, but I was surprised to see MSU picked third and fourth in the preseason CCHA polls. I see this team as more of a .500 in-league team.

That's about where I have them. I think this team's ceiling is third and its floor is sixth.

This is a good, yet young team with solid defensive talent and good goaltending.

 

[aallenpollreisz]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

Must admit, it was nice to see Mason at the football game earlier today.

 

[owslachief]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

Must admit, it was nice to see Mason at the football game earlier today.

Hope to see him swing by our table this year a couple times. But when it's Florida, and it's winter ...

 

[Pirateasaurus]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

Checked out the Green and White game and had a great time. I thought it was pretty good hockey and a high level of play. I was quite encouraged. Krug and Shelgren really stood out to me.

Just about the most boring shootout i've ever seen though

I have a feeling we are gonna struggle in those.

 

[aallenpollreisz]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

I'm a little upset that Yanakeff was beaten on his first shot by a club team player. I also find it concerning how poorly he defends the corners... either he's caught sleeping, or he overreacts and flops to his gut.

But, seeing that it was the Green v. White game, I'm probably scrutinizing the kid way, way too much.

Palmy looked really good, but he still scrambles around the cage way too much.

Aside from that, tonight's scrimmage was perhaps the most entertaining I've seen while here. $2 well spent.

 

[owslachief]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

The thing I don't like about these scrimmages is it's difficult to tell who's going 100% and who's not.

I will say I was really impressed by a couple of our freshman. Wolfe looks like he's got all the tools. Palmisano looks ready to have a solid season. If he doesn't, McMahon will very capably step in. Yanakeff was tested early and often and gave up a couple goals.

The scoring:
Ben Marengo (green) on a bad clearing pass stepped in and fired it over Yanakeff's left shoulder - 1-0.
Gazley stepped around the net with the puck, hit Grant with a pass across the crease, and Grant buried it. 2-0.
Dean Chelios with a wrap-around goal - 2-1.

 

[Arwen22266]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

I'm a little upset that Yanakeff was beaten on his first shot by a club team player. I also find it concerning how poorly he defends the corners... either he's caught sleeping, or he overreacts and flops to his gut.

But, seeing that it was the Green v. White game, I'm probably scrutinizing the kid way, way too much.

Jeez, how 'bout instead giving the club kid credit for taking advantage of an opportunity? I was excited for him - heck, way to show off for the coaches!

Don't scrutinize things too much, or next thing you know you'll be like Angry Guy, complaining about no icing being called in the scrimmage ...

 

[Arwen22266]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

The thing I don't like about these scrimmages is it's difficult to tell who's going 100% and who's not.

I will say I was really impressed by a couple of our freshman. Wolfe looks like he's got all the tools. Palmisano looks ready to have a solid season. If he doesn't, McMahon will very capably step in. Yanakeff was tested early and often and gave up a couple goals.

The scoring:
Ben Marengo (green) on a bad clearing pass stepped in and fired it over Yanakeff's left shoulder - 1-0.
Gazley stepped around the net with the puck, hit Grant with a pass across the crease, and Grant buried it. 2-0.
Dean Chelios with a wrap-around goal - 2-1.

Kid's name is James Boyd. You got the wrong #26 ...
Very impressed by Wolfe. Kid has good wheels. On to Friday!

 

[Arwen22266]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

Just about the most boring shootout i've ever seen though

I have a feeling we are gonna struggle in those.

At least our guys could put a couple home, unlike those folks in Ann Arbor ...

 

[Nevergoodenough]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

I've watched some threads regarding why folks don't cheer at MSU games here, on the RCMB and even FaceBook. I wonder if we can compare that to what we see in the forums? I've been looking for feedback from the G&W game and all I see are a few generic responses, yet go to the scUM threads and they get excited and discuss every aspect of each play for just about everything done by their players. I can get a good feel about pretty much every scUM player yet here we just have a couple of folks that talk about anything.

Let's get this moving, and we might even offend on occasion but that keeps it fun, right?

Defense - discuss:
Who's there? Krug, obviously...
Josepher, yes....
Crandell, yes....
Buttery, should be, could make a good match with Krug or Crandell. He should play a lot more this year...
Grassi, needs strong partner but makes a good match with Josepher..... Shelgren, needs strong partner, works well with Crandell as evidence over last two seasons show.....
Chelios, looked pretty good with Crandell in G&W game, might break into the lineup now. He has a huge upside...
Sturges, still struggling but he might get a chance this year....
Sandemeyer, will blossom but might not play a ton yet.
Did I miss anyone?
I see this as a potential start of season lineup:
Krug - Buttery
Josepher - Grassi
Crandell - Chelios

They may want to see Shelgren early and match him with Crandell or Josepher just to see, the next game is an exhibition so a lot can happen.

Forwards - discuss:
I have to admit that my web view made it hard to keep track of the lines and such during the G&W game, so this will need a lot of detail from those of you there.
Grant - Gazely - Laveille Is that right? This will stick
I thought that Perlini, Nill and Chelios were really visible and looked good on the screen. Also, Wolfe and Merrifield had good moments, but not sure how consistent.

OK, so I need help on the forwards, give me info... It was harder to see them.

Goalies: Of course Palmy, then to be honest I liked McMahon but that will have to work itself out and this wasn't the best way to see what they have.

Let's go folks, get some excitement going..

 

[Arwen22266]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

Word on the interwebs is that Tropp, Petry and Rowe did not make their big clubs. I know it's an opportunity to be seen by the parent club, but sometimes I wonder why you leave early if you're not going to make it. Just venting, and just my .02.

 

[owslachief]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

I like your spirit, NGE.

 

[owslachief]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

Word on the interwebs is that Tropp, Petry and Rowe did not make their big clubs. I know it's an opportunity to be seen by the parent club, but sometimes I wonder why you leave early if you're not going to make it. Just venting, and just my .02.

I'm surprised given the Oilers' deficiencies that Petry isn't in the opening day lineup. Other than that, not a huge shock. Tropp's got the physical attributes but he needs to be more than a one-dimensional offensive threat. Rowe has a lot of young competition. But he's in a lot more favorable financial situation.

 

[owslachief]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

I've watched some threads regarding why folks don't cheer at MSU games here, on the RCMB and even FaceBook. I wonder if we can compare that to what we see in the forums? I've been looking for feedback from the G&W game and all I see are a few generic responses, yet go to the scUM threads and they get excited and discuss every aspect of each play for just about everything done by their players. I can get a good feel about pretty much every scUM player yet here we just have a couple of folks that talk about anything.

Let's get this moving, and we might even offend on occasion but that keeps it fun, right?

Defense - discuss:
Who's there? Krug, obviously...
Josepher, yes....
Crandell, yes....
Buttery, should be, could make a good match with Krug or Crandell. He should play a lot more this year...
Grassi, needs strong partner but makes a good match with Josepher..... Shelgren, needs strong partner, works well with Crandell as evidence over last two seasons show.....
Chelios, looked pretty good with Crandell in G&W game, might break into the lineup now. He has a huge upside...
Sturges, still struggling but he might get a chance this year....
Sandemeyer, will blossom but might not play a ton yet.
Did I miss anyone?
I see this as a potential start of season lineup:
Krug - Buttery
Josepher - Grassi
Crandell - Chelios

They may want to see Shelgren early and match him with Crandell or Josepher just to see, the next game is an exhibition so a lot can happen.

Forwards - discuss:
I have to admit that my web view made it hard to keep track of the lines and such during the G&W game, so this will need a lot of detail from those of you there.
Grant - Gazely - Laveille Is that right? This will stick
I thought that Perlini, Nill and Chelios were really visible and looked good on the screen. Also, Wolfe and Merrifield had good moments, but not sure how consistent.

OK, so I need help on the forwards, give me info... It was harder to see them.

Goalies: Of course Palmy, then to be honest I liked McMahon but that will have to work itself out and this wasn't the best way to see what they have.

Let's go folks, get some excitement going..

I believe we have two very capable top lines (Leveille, Grant, Gazley and Perlini, Chelios, Nill) but after that there's a drop-off. I see Forfar on the 3rd line and either Reimer, Shean or Wolfe centering the 4th line to start. Golembiewski might sit out more than last season. Same with Walrod.

Krug and Josepher as the top power-play pairing looked really good Sunday. I liked Jake Chelios coming in, but he didn't show me a lot in the scrimmage. I don't think A.J. is there yet.

Don't be surpised if Palmisano struggles, McMahon will be an effective replacement the next time out.

 

[Pirateasaurus]

Re: Come Back With Your Shield, Or On It: MSU Spartan Hockey 2010-11

I've watched some threads regarding why folks don't cheer at MSU games here, on the RCMB and even FaceBook. I wonder if we can compare that to what we see in the forums? I've been looking for feedback from the G&W game and all I see are a few generic responses, yet go to the scUM threads and they get excited and discuss every aspect of each play for just about everything done by their players. I can get a good feel about pretty much every scUM player yet here we just have a couple of folks that talk about anything.



Let's go folks, get some excitement going..

Well, remember, Michigan has played their yellow and blue game, as well as games against Mercyhurst and Western Ontario. I am sure they have much more to talk about as all we have seen is a green and white game.

But Krug is clearly a very special player. I hope he sticks around for as long as possible.

I though Shelgren played very smart for the most part. There were a couple instanaces where i thought he showed a lot of poise. I think he is growing into one of our finer defensemen.

Grant, Gazely and Leveille should be a great first line. Lots of speed with Gazely and Leveille with hopefully some finishing ability with Grant. We are going to need a big year out of Grant because we don't have very many pure scorers.

Perlini, Nill and Chelios all indeed looked great. I think Chelios and possibly Perlini will both be constant fixtures in our shootout lineup.


Grassi got dinged with about 2 minutes left and went down the tunnel immediately. I figured it was a bad omen to already be losing guys before an exhibition game even starts but he came back and participated in the shootout so i am gonna believe he is fine.

Goaltending was great, as expected.

I am gonna wait until we play an actual game before i make more observations .