What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

Red Cows said:
Does this kind of behavior have anything to do with why he's no longer at Notre Dame?

http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/8...wings-prospect-gets-dui-charge-teletubby-garb

Teletubby costume? LOL
Click to expand...

Not at all. He left in good standing and would have been welcome for his senior season. Hopefully he gets the help he needs, or this could turn into another in the long line of young athletes who cannot handle a little extra cash and a lot of unsupervised time with tragic consequences.

As for the Jackson issue, what can you say? Well, apparently you can't say anything. Which is ridiculous, based on his comments. He didn't question the state of officiating in the league, and he didn't question the integrity of the official, he simply said one call was awful and wrong. I understand the league's point of view and figure the fine and reprimand are better than a suspension, which would have been an unbelievable overreaction on the part of the CCHA. I have heard many coaches say worse things and I get the feeling that since this is the last year of the league and many of these coaches won't be seeing most of these officials much in the near future the CCHA wants to make sure it isn't open season on the officials.
 
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

I once read that some men resent praise because it assigns a limit to their abilities. So I'm going to hold off praising my team for the time being because this better not be the limit. And if I compare them to their upcoming opponent, there's not much other than goaltending and team defense that separates the two sides nor easily lends itself to praise.

Those two stats alone though might explain why Lake Superior State is just .500, while Notre Dame is .692. Kevin Kapalka (who has recently come back from injury) has a save % of .894 and a GA of 3.23 (numbers that surely will improve) while Steven Summerhays has a .935 save % and a GA of 1.59. The Lakers give up more than two-and-a-half goals/game, while ND gives up much less than two goals/game. Their PK is struggling at 80.7% while ND's 90.2% looks pretty solid.

Other than that, these teams are interchangeable. We have a player who has scored more goals than their leading goal scorer. They've scored more PPG's than we have. We've scored more goals overall. They have more players in double digits. Every other stat is virtually equal: shots/game, shot %, number of players on the roster with points, number of players with at least half-a-point/game, neither team has played an OT game yet, and so on.

ND has 5 more games (this weekend's games being the last Movember fund-raiser game and the teddy bear toss game) before the first half of the season comes to a close. Will they be praise-worthy endeavors? The inimitable John Wooden once said, "Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability."
 
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

How committed the Lakers are to playing defense on a given night has usually dictated the type of game it is going to be, we have allowed 36 goals in 14 games this season but 21 of those 36 have come in 4 contests...in the remaining 10 games we've allowed just 15 goals, and it's not just a case of getting beat badly by a clearly superior team or not being able to handle the other teams offensive attack in those 4 bad games either, as we have not only split every series this season but have kept every opponent to 2 goals or less in at least one game.....

This is a hard team to figure out; as you mentioned, Kapalka has played in 6 games (he left one with an injury) with a below average GAA of 3.23 and save pct of .894 and his record is 3-2......Kevin Murdock has played in 9 games, has a GAA of 2.06 and a .936 save pct., great numbers right? He has a losing record at 4-5 lol. All things considered you will be our toughest test of the season thus far, so I am interested to see how we stack up.
 
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

AnchorsAway said:
...we have not only split every series this season but have kept every opponent to 2 goals or less in at least one game.....
...so I am interested to see how we stack up.
Click to expand...
Greeeaaat. You may want to pencil in another split as that is all ND has been capable of at home. We've lost the first night and come back strong the 2nd. God I hope that trend ends soon. No offense...
 
Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres. said:
Greeeaaat. You may want to pencil in another split as that is all ND has been capable of at home. We've lost the first night and come back strong the 2nd. God I hope that trend ends soon. No offense...
Click to expand...

Well we are perfect dancing partners then, as we are 5-2 on Fridays and 2-5 on Saturdays lol sounds like a date!
 
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

Didja notice? Didja notice? Gold jerseys on the first night of a series at home...and they won!

Didja notice? Didja notice? Anders Lee keeping the dreaded drought at bay!

Didja notice? Didja notice? Mario Lucia on the top line...and he scored a PPG!

Didja notice? Didja notice? Mike Voran on the top line...and he scored the GWG...also a PPG!

I'm guessing Mike Johnson is between the pipes tomorrow because Steven Summerhays had a mighty off night, yet managed the win. I like a team that can pull out a win even when the goalie poops the crease.

Here's to the first opportunity this season to avoid a home split...
 
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

That was a good weekend of Notre Dame hockey. They held on for a tough win last night, withstanding a good counter punch or two from LSSU in the process, then totally dominated tonight in a game that was over with 5 minutes still left in the first. Hopefully Mike Johnson did not suffer too severe an injury while picking up his second win. Both goalies played well tonight. The team weathered the hard portion of the first half and now gets a chance to play teams that are not quite as loaded. This is exactly what you are supposed to do in those games.

Oh, and that Lucia kid? He's pretty good.
 
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

Finally. A sweep at home. In decisive fashion.

10 guys found their way onto the scoresheet, with Shayne Taker, Bryan Rust, Mario Lucia, Jeff Costello and T.J. Tynan turning in multi-point games.

Those among my posse had discussed the effects of shaving on Stephen Johns because we had determined that moustachioed Johns was not the same player as clean-shaven Johns, and, sure enough, he shaved and ripped a PPG past the Laker netminder for his first goal of the season. Apparently, he's the anti-Samson.

Particular kudos also go out to Costello for having a fantastic game tonight. His hard work battling along the boards and racing to loose pucks led to 2 goals. Kudos also to the PP units for registering 2 more special team goals. Goalie kudos go to Mike Johnson for some nice saves and taking one for the team when he finally got a second start.

And an Irish kudos go to the Leprechaun for bringing down the lynched teddy bear with a puck. :eek:

Am I being greedy if I ask for another home sweep next weekend?
 
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

We're starting to look like a team whose confidence matches the level of talent. Combine that with a championship level of effort and I like our chances.

Mario Lucia getting his legs about him looks like it has made a world of difference. It's solidified the depth of the team even further, and Notre Dame has been a deep team for a long time now. I like how all four lines have taken care of the puck we look like we can get at least some scoring from any one of them.

Kudos to the coaching staff as well in making a couple of changes to the lines and special team units. Our power play is slowly looking better in that both units are getting good forechecks going, possessing the puck and spending a lot of time in front of the other goalie, AND the Irish have moved up 20 spots in the national rankings in the last couple of weeks. Almost as much as scoring, good hard work on the power play helps wear down the other guys and is one reason a Jackson team is often light years ahead of the competition in the final period of games. We've outscored the opposition 3-1 in the third periods so far and in CCHA play it's by a 5-1 margin.

There's still plenty of time for this thing to go off the rails (just like last year) so hopefully this team learns lessons as well as they're possessing the puck right now. Going forward leadership will tell the tale of the tape.
 
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

Notre Dame has anywhere from 1 to 4 games in hand on every league opponent except WMU. Since they are playing only 3 more league games before break (2 of which are here), they will head into the new year still with games in hand. That bodes well--if they can keep winning. I want to be optimistic, but I remember a few seasons ago that after every win, I would say, "Okay, maybe now they've turned the corner." Then-Pfft! They'd come out flat the next few games. This team is not that team, and I do feel more confident in the team chemistry and possibilities. At least cautiously so.

Notre Dame's junior class leads the way in scoring and goaltending. Anders Lee, CCHA POTM, has 10 goals so far and is 7 points away from his own berth in the century club. Steven Summerhays (.936, 1.57) didn't get much of a rest last weekend, so it's a good thing there are just 3 games left before he can take a 3-week vacation. While ND's PP is improving (it almost had no option), it is still middling at 15.7%. However, it is monumentally better in league play. Their PK is stellar, both overall and in the CCHA. They are finally above three in GF (3.07) and still have a stingy GA (1.67). Here's to scoring first, scoring often and scoring a man up.

I don't understand why Michigan State is below .500 and towards the bottom of the league standings. While they are a very young team (4 of their top 5 scorers are underclassmen and their top goalie is a freshman, which bodes well for them in the future), some of their stats are outstanding. Speaking of that frosh goalie, Jake Hildebrand (who has been starting both nights lately), his numbers are killer. He's got a save % of .942 and a GA of 1.76, and those numbers are better when playing a league opponent. MSU's special teams are outstanding with a PP of 21.8% (even better in league play) and a PK of 87.9% (also better in league play). Their leading scorer, sophomore Matt Berry, has 7 goals, 4 of which have come on the PP. It appears their only stumbling block is in goals/game for and against. They average 2.21 for while giving up 2.79 against. When those numbers start to reverse, look out...and I certainly hope it doesn't happen this weekend.

It seems that when I called out Captain Lee, it worked. So now I'll call out T.J. Tynan, Mike Voran and David Gerths. If you want Santa to leave presents under your trees, you've got to be "nice" to your adoring fans. Or is it "naughty" to the opposing team?

Remember that both games now start at 7:00 for t.v.

I like this timely saying by Edgar Guest:

"At Christmas, a man is at his finest towards the finish of the year; he is almost what he should be when the Christmas season's here.
Then he's thinking more of others than he's thought the months before, and the smiles of his friends are a joy worth toiling for.
He is less a selfish creature than at any other time; when the Christmas spirit rules him he comes close to the sublime..."
 
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

Notre Dame recruit Justin Wade has been traded to Cedar Rapids
 
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

I have something in common with Steven Summerhays! Holy crap. However, I at least made it to 9000 feet before feeling like barfing my guts up... :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

Deck the halls with pretty goals...

Those 3 goals were some of the best looking goals I've seen. Good things happen when you put pucks on net. Good things also happen when you control the puck. Other than on special teams, Notre Dame did a nice job on face offs. And I gotta wonder...was Linesman Molina's, ahem, comment to Kevin Lind about what he had for dinner? Or the really bad call by the ref? Something is amiss when Anders Lee and Mike Voran each take a penalty...and check out the box score on Lee's major and GM. While I know that's a mistake, it would almost be laughable if that's what he got sent to the showers for.

Fa la la la laa, I want a sweep.
 
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

Jeff_Jackson_for_Pres. said:
And I gotta wonder...was Linesman Molina's, ahem, comment to Kevin Lind about what he had for dinner? Or the really bad call by the ref? Something is amiss when Anders Lee and Mike Voran each take a penalty...
Click to expand...

Which really bad call? I think there may have been 10 or 11 last night, and not all of them screwed Notre Dame. To say the officiating was up-and-down last night would be an understatement. I'm starting to wonder if the break-up of the CCHA is having an effect on the refereeing this season. Is the oversight still in place? Is anyone in the league office actually critiquing the officiating on a nightly basis? Is Piotrowski doing his job now, or preparing for his job with the B1G? What did Molina say? "I'm sorry?"

Anders Lee didn't come close to committing a major penalty in his first 99 games (and had been whistled for about one minor every 4 or 5 games in his career) and did not appear to commit one last night either. Notre Dame's response to the call and the ensuing 5 minutes was one for the Hockey 101 textbooks. Patient play, great positioning, active sticks, keeping your head in the game, what more can you ask for? Oh, getting the other guys to commit two penalties of their own killing their PP and scoring a PP goal of your own, that's what. Done, and done.

Notre Dame has turned around the two things that were holding them back, home ice and the power play. After the first North Dakota game the PP was ranked in the 50s. Now it is 28th, and in the last 4 games is 6 for 21. After the first game against the Sioux Notre Dame was 2-3 at the CFIA. In the last four at the Comp they are 4-0. And in second games of the weekend so far the Irish are 7-0, outscoring the opposition 31-9, so let's keep that up and make it 5-0 in the last five at home.
 
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

IrishHockeyFan said:
Which really bad call? What did Molina say?
Click to expand...
The call on Gerths. He said, "That's effing awful." (Although he didn't say "effing." He actually said the F dash dash dash word.)

me said:
So now I'll call out T.J. Tynan, Mike Voran and David Gerths.
Click to expand...
Thanks guys! 6 points total from the 3 of you this weekend answers the call.

13 wins for the most in D1. 1st in the league. 4th in PWR. That makes up for Manti getting robbed.

Odd that I thought ND played better last night, but scored 2 more tonight and almost pitched a shutout. Speaking of that "almost," I think Captain Lee has his work cut out for him this week as he tries to patch things up between Steven Summerhays and Stephen Johns. I'm gonna side with Summerhays in that squabble because Johns has not been playing well or playing smart for weeks now.

Here's to settling down, focusing on the next opponent and keeping team chemistry cooking. Remember, Santa's watching. So are your adoring fans.
 
Last edited:
Re: Irish hockey '12-'13: Why would you not wanna go there?

NotreDameFan27 said:
What squabble?
Click to expand...

Both Johns and Summerhays behaved immaturely following MSU's goal. Johns loafed the play after the long lead pass to Matt Berry and let him skate untouched around the pack of the net and he easily slid the puck by Summerhays. Summerhays then pounded his stick on the ice, and said something to either Johns or David Gerths, who may have deflected the puck off his skate or stick. Johns appeared to take quite a bit of exception to what was said, or perhaps to Summerhays acting as if losing the shutout meant more than the win. One of the linesmen had to separate them. The anger continued to be evident after the game when the team gathered around Summerhays following the final horn, and the team seemed pretty subdued leaving the ice in the aftermath.

All in all it was a rather juvenile display of frustration out of Summerhays and a shockingly lazy effort by Johns. Too bad that was the capper to a pretty dominating weekend of hockey. If the leadership on the team is half of what Jackson crows about, this incident has already been taken care of.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top