Re: LSSU Hockey 2011-2012
In my personal preseason prediction, I thought to myself: The Lakers can be a good team (as can any hockey team) if they get great goaltending and timely goalscoring. They don't have to win 5-0. (Although I sure do love a good blowout). I remember the jokes about Frank's teams in the late 80's -- get a one goal lead in the first and start dumping the puck. Pop in an early goal, and make the other team work 180 feet on every shift. By the 3rd period, the other teams were gassed, and the Lakers would pot another goal to win 2-0, or 3-2. I am very happy to see Roque and his coaching staff having success. not just because it means my Lakers are having success (although that is a big part of it). Love him or hate him, Roque loves LSSU hockey.
I think that if he can show some success, and combine that success with his passion for LSSU out onto the recruiting paths, it can really benefit LSSU.
Sometimes, maybe, it takes time.
What do these numbers mean:
10, 20, 16, 18, 16?
Those are the numbers of losses Frank's teams suffered while he was building the program int eh 1980s. (Note, the 10 losses were for a partial year, his first, when the team went 5-10). The fifth year, they won the NCAA Championship.
14, 19, 20, 20, 18, 17?
Those are the number of losses Roque's team suffered. They aren't similar, and they are totally different hockey eras. Totally different coaches. And I don't care about who was fired, and why. My only point is -- sometimes building can take some time, and some luck. Maybe this is the season the Lakers get some luck, a bounce goes their way instead of against them? Maybe a stray shot from the point finds it way through traffic and into the net, whereas in years past it would have been blocked. Maybe a defenseman randomly in the 2nd period of a road game in Miami turns left instead of right, and spots out of the corner of his eye a winger who is just open for a moment -- and the defenseman hits that winger with a perfect pass in stride and the Lakers get a two-on-one and score. Nothing specific you can put a finger on -- just a slight turn of luck to go along with the hard work and dedication and passion and desire to win. A little puck-luck. Maybe they got some last night. All I know is that the Lakers are 6-1, including 3-0 on the road. And its been a darned LONG time since I was this excited for the opening of the season. When was the last time the Lakers were in first place for the opening of deer season?
