Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013
Since the subject is dragging out getting pretty unhealthy, I feel like stressing a few points, and raise a few questions you can then speculate on.
Beyond the vain debate about a "third string goalie", what is more interesting is what is going on behind the scene, and how it affects the "number of wins".
Needless to argue on the coach's ethics or class. Whether you look at player experience, referee incidents, broadcasting disputes, the answer is pretty clear.
Anyway, what matters is the 5M$, and indeed the coach should be given some credit for that; probably an excellent broker.
Maybe some people are wondering what those generous anonymous donors are expecting/getting in return, and how much they get involved in the teams/university internal affairs.
Last spring, the donor representative, who describes himself as an experienced businessman, stated on this forum that Ravn would not play this season, when Ravn had just been told by the HC that he would be challenging Kapalka the following season. It is a fact that the "donor" was much better informed.
Ruse and Manipulation have probably been helpful to get and keep the job over the years and raise the funds, but it is not a good method to develop players and inspire a team.
It is not a very efficient way to get the best out of the assistants either (they cautiously elude the question).
Ridiculing a player (especially when knowing the true story) on the radio is of course unprofessional, but ok, let's agree with lakerblue that we don't care about the person.
However, when the same uncontrollable lack of respect is shown to key players in the dressing room, the consequences are visible on the ice.
The hypothesis put by Bill is probably quite close to what happened.
Yes he was deceived, but he is not the only one. What is more intriguing is the coach's resistance to let him play a single minute despite leading players' interceding on his behalf.
Having Marble (apparently a family friend) in the picture, a constant pressure was put to make Ravn leave from the very first day.
In another attempt to discouraging him from staying, the coach even told him that he will never play for the Lakers. This just confirms that there is much more than just attitude and performance at stake.
"Numerous people" (quoting Lakers2Glory), including Bill Crawford and most players say that his attitude is impeccable, and he wouldn't hurt the team in the net. Why should he since they are pretty even in practice ? Moreover, if attitude was so important, you would see a different roster.
Where it gets pretty petty is when Mrs. Roque herself, who only knows the player through her husband, spreads slander and intimidates a faculty member who supports him. Why does she do that ?
Reading Lakers2Glory's assertions therefore make me wonder who is actually writing. At least I don't expect it to be Mr. Roque since I was myself at the Malloneys on that day. We must have met there since I was there long before and long after Ravn who only spent 10 minutes there and was definitely not drunk.
In fact, he wouldn't be so appreciated on the team if anybody had heard him running down his teamates who don't see him as a "third stringer".
Many players listen to his comments during practices and home games because they are usually positive and helpful; this can't unfortunately be said about the HC.
Actually, being rather reserved, it sounds very surprising that he may have opened up to you about his frustration, as he seldom talks about personal things.
Questioning his attitude or suggesting personal issues is just slander. The guy works late at night for his engineering program, doesn't smoke and drinks much less than the average hockey player.
It has to be recognized that, for those who are in the plans, awkward cases can be dealt with quite efficiently.
Exceptionally, if the case gets really too touchy, the player may have to leave and "give up hockey", but a clean alcohol test for a key player or the discreet handling of criminal cases is not a big deal.
However, if Ravn had any issue he would certainly have been booted already, as happened in the passed when someone was getting on the coach's nerves for whatever reason.
If you think Kapalka looked tired, just think about the other Laker goalies' development over recent years.
End of the story.
