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Laker Hockey 2009-10

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Re: Laker Hockey 2009-10

I think jnacc's comments were right on. Coaching is a very small part of the issue. I've said it before....it's $$$. The Lakers' resources for hockey were always very low compared to the other teams in the CCHA. I would love to know the numbers for the recruiting budget of the other schools in the league. Ours has to be at rock bottom.

Obviously, we can't compare ourselves to Michigan. MSU, ND, etc when it comes to recruiting money but we have to be in the same ballpark as many of the others. If more recruiting money can't be found or raised.....10,11,12 will be a familiar home.

If you watched the Saturday night game, the talent differential was obvious. Does anyone actually think Red Berenson "outcoached" Jim Roque in that game?
 
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Re: Laker Hockey 2009-10

Coaching comes in to play for recruiting, off ice activities, practice. There isn't a great deal of difference in a game situation outside of juggling lines, last line changes, starting lineups, calling timeouts etc.

I don't want to discount the resources issues, but it seems to be the lean on excuse for the last decade and a half. What was it in the late 80's-early 90's against Michigan, etc? I'd compare LSSU to like size Div I programs for a fairer analysis of what LSSU is really doing to help their program. Also, look at recruit patterns that have changed. Seems that the high end recruit pipeline has dried up more due to the CHL instead of NCAA programs stepping it up. That makes the opportunity for a smaller school to be iced out greater than a big name school like Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan etc.
 
Re: Laker Hockey 2009-10

streaker said:
Coaching comes in to play for recruiting, off ice activities, practice. There isn't a great deal of difference in a game situation outside of juggling lines, last line changes, starting lineups, calling timeouts etc.

I don't want to discount the resources issues, but it seems to be the lean on excuse for the last decade and a half. What was it in the late 80's-early 90's against Michigan, etc? I'd compare LSSU to like size Div I programs for a fairer analysis of what LSSU is really doing to help their program. Also, look at recruit patterns that have changed. Seems that the high end recruit pipeline has dried up more due to the CHL instead of NCAA programs stepping it up. That makes the opportunity for a smaller school to be iced out greater than a big name school like Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Michigan etc.
Click to expand...

The expansion of the CHL has had a devestating impact on LSSU...no question about it. The other devestating impact occured when large schools like Ohio State, Notre Dame, Miami ect all began to get serious about their hockey programs.

Remember in the mid 80's Michigan hockey was suffering, the school not placing alot of emphasis on its program. That of course all changed with the hiring of Red Berenson. Other schools followed suit and began placing more money into their hockey programs.

Suddenly Laker Hockey was faced with a dwindling talent pool from their traditional recruiting areas of Ontario and Sasketewan due to a much larger CHL presence and was forced to compete against the powerhouse schools of Michigan-Michigan State for recruits in the midwest region of the U.S.

Lake State could not compete and its program faltered.....to where we are today.
 
Re: Laker Hockey 2009-10

If coaching is just a small part of the big picture,ask how many on here would want Borek back.
 
Re: Laker Hockey 2009-10

jnacc said:
The expansion of the CHL has had a devestating impact on LSSU...no question about it. The other devestating impact occured when large schools like Ohio State, Notre Dame, Miami ect all began to get serious about their hockey programs.

Remember in the mid 80's Michigan hockey was suffering, the school not placing alot of emphasis on its program. That of course all changed with the hiring of Red Berenson. Other schools followed suit and began placing more money into their hockey programs.

Suddenly Laker Hockey was faced with a dwindling talent pool from their traditional recruiting areas of Ontario and Sasketewan due to a much larger CHL presence and was forced to compete against the powerhouse schools of Michigan-Michigan State for recruits in the midwest region of the U.S.

Lake State could not compete and its program faltered.....to where we are today.
Click to expand...

I think we are on the same page. My point is, it is hard to fairly compare resources from a school like LSSU to a Michigan etc. which is why I am just curious as to how LSSU stacks up against other Div I hockey programs that are the same size- maybe CC? That would be a better judge since that program competes in a tough conference and has still been very competitive against other high profile programs. The better question would be, how can we learn from what they are doing? How can the CCHA help them? Would a high profile coach (a Blais, Berenson etc.) really make a difference?

I think the facilities improvements will be a good start. What other unique resources does LSSU have that no other school can claim (academics in certain fields etc.) Just trying to think out of the box here.

Any way, good luck to the Lakers.
 
Re: Laker Hockey 2009-10

Thanks for joining me with the pledge this weekend, PeryforPrez, I was hoping it would cost us a bit more than in did.

With the increased resources, there will be increased expectations on the coaching staff going forward. Whoever donated all the $$$ isn't going to be happy with many more 10th place early exits.
 
Re: Laker Hockey 2009-10

Mogerfan said:
Thanks for joining me with the pledge this weekend, PeryforPrez, I was hoping it would cost us a bit more than in did.

With the increased resources, there will be increased expectations on the coaching staff going forward. Whoever donated all the $$$ isn't going to be happy with many more 10th place early exits.
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Same here Mogerfan, but i will enjoy the golf outing on June 26 and they will get some more of my hard earned cash then.


The bar has been raised as far as expectations are concerned with the teams and coaches performances. This season was a stange one to say the least hopes raised then dashed. I don't care if it's inside or outside the box the Laker team that raised to 18th in the Country was not playing the same way at the end of the season for some reason i have no idea. If the team continues to struggle in 10th place or less it seems more likely that there will be a change at the Lakers helm.
 
Re: Laker Hockey 2009-10

streaker said:
I think we are on the same page. My point is, it is hard to fairly compare resources from a school like LSSU to a Michigan etc. which is why I am just curious as to how LSSU stacks up against other Div I hockey programs that are the same size- maybe CC? That would be a better judge since that program competes in a tough conference and has still been very competitive against other high profile programs. The better question would be, how can we learn from what they are doing? How can the CCHA help them? Would a high profile coach (a Blais, Berenson etc.) really make a difference?

I think the facilities improvements will be a good start. What other unique resources does LSSU have that no other school can claim (academics in certain fields etc.) Just trying to think out of the box here.

Any way, good luck to the Lakers.
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Thanks Streaker.

CC is isn't a good comparison. They are a private institution and I'm sure they have a lot more resources than LSSU. LSSU needs to find a way to increase the recruiting budget, and that will have to come from private sources. The nature of recruiting has indeed changed a lot over the past 15 years, and I think it will be very difficult for small public institutions to have the kind of success the Lakers had in the mid 80s-mid 90s. I can see such schools occasionally having great years and making it to the NCAA Tournament and Frozen Four, but not on a consistent basis like the Lakers did back during those years.
 
Re: Laker Hockey 2009-10

Who was the last high profile player from metro Detroit to choose Lake State?
15-20 years ago, seeing Brian Rolston and Doug Weight skate around in warmups at Yost made the opponent nervous before a game.

Seems like LSSU's best hope of late is to ride a late blooming goalie. Otherwise, I'd expect Lake to battle for the 9th spot in the CCHA with BG and Western.
 
Re: Laker Hockey 2009-10

I am as disapointed as anyone with the Lakers finish and on the surface the 10th place finish and first round exit make this look like just like the last few years in the Soo but i believe there were some small steps forward for the program this season:

For starters, this team played with more heart than in years past, i can recall numerous times this season when the Lakers got down early and battled back to win or at the very least made a game of it, whereas teams from the last few years just rolled over. The Notre Dame weekend where we lost 6-1 friday then came back on Saturday to win in a shootout is a prime example.

There were some notable individual accomplishments, Rick Schofield was among the leaders in the Perani Cup standings throughout the season, BMW made Sportscenter's top plays and several Lakers earned CCHA weekly awards. Also Power, Trotman and recruit Colin Campbell all made appearances on the NHL Central Scouting Service's Draft List.

The Lakers also played in two of the most exciting games I've seen in awhile, the Notre Dame shootout win and the thrilling comeback victory over Ferris State where the Lakers had 2 goals in the final minutes

The Lakers also proved they are capable of going toe to toe with the top competition in the country, 60% of the Lakers 15 victories this season came against teams currently in the PWR's top 25

The Lakers also regained the Cappo Cup and secured a very solid recruiting class headlined by the aforementioned Campbell

These are relatively small accomplishments in the grand scheme of things, but are nontheless accomplishments that the Lakers have not achieved in the past few years...

As far as the comments about coaching goes, I will never be first in line to join the Jim Roque fan club but I do agree that the money issue plays a bigger role in hampering the success of the program rather than the coaching...This is extremely wishful thinking but wouldn't it be something if in a couple years when the Norris project is finished and if the Lakers should continue to underachieve and Roque is let go, a recently retired (and possibly bored?) Doug Weight decides to give coaching at his alma mater a try? There's no guarantee that he'd be a good coach because some former players are and some aren't but boy, between a new training center and athletic facilities and the Lakers most famous and successful alum behind the bench go a long way towards raising the profile of this program in the landscape of college hockey?
 
Re: Laker Hockey 2009-10

Hey Laker fans -- Just thought I'd post some information from the last Laker hockey show of the season.

Coach said some things about the guys:

Gysbers - Signed or is going to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Mahoney Wilson - Going to have surgery around April on his hip.

Nehring - Might need possible hernia surgery (same thing Acton had last year).

Schofield - Invited to Chicago Blackhawk's summer camp.

Hopefully, I correctly remembered all the information since the show's been over for awhile.

Looking forward to next season! Believe in Blue!
 
Re: Laker Hockey 2009-10

lakers1 said:
Hey Laker fans -- Just thought I'd post some information from the last Laker hockey show of the season.

Coach said some things about the guys:

Gysbers - Signed or is going to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Mahoney Wilson - Going to have surgery around April on his hip.

Nehring - Might need possible hernia surgery (same thing Acton had last year).

Schofield - Invited to Chicago Blackhawk's summer camp.

Hopefully, I correctly remembered all the information since the show's been over for awhile.

Looking forward to next season! Believe in Blue!
Click to expand...

Thank you lakers1. Hopefully they'll be streaming the show again by next season.
 
Re: Laker Hockey 2009-10

alnike said:
Who was the last high profile player from metro Detroit to choose Lake State?
15-20 years ago, seeing Brian Rolston and Doug Weight skate around in warmups at Yost made the opponent nervous before a game.

Seems like LSSU's best hope of late is to ride a late blooming goalie. Otherwise, I'd expect Lake to battle for the 9th spot in the CCHA with BG and Western.
Click to expand...

Rolston was highly sought after, especially by MSU. Obviously, his brother's presence as a coach at LSSU was a factor. Doug Weight, on the other hand, was not recruited by anyone, if I remember correctly.
 
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