LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

[davyd83]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

Fifty-five CCHA games being shown on TV this year and the Lakers are the only team in the league not getting at least one game shown. Nothing like a slap in the face by the league.

The league doesn't select which games are televised. Fox Sports Net Detroit and the Big Ten Network do, along with the NBC and CBS Sports Networks and Comcast. LSSU doesn't visit either MSU or Michigan. When they do play those schools in the Soo, when State is in the Soo, FSN has not yet begun its CCHA broadcasts and when UM is in the Soo, FSN chose MSU-Ferris in East Lansing, a much lower production cost and the potential for a bigger audience and big factors there. When MSU is at Notre Dame, FSN doesn't broadcast that weekend, and neither Notre Dame or LSSU is in the Big Ten. Neither Network is going to televise LSSU-Ohio State, not enough audience, same with LSSU/Western, Ferris or NMU. So you get the bonus of having both Michigan and MSU in your barn one last time at the expense of not having any of them televised.

 

[Lakerblue]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

The league doesn't select which games are televised. Fox Sports Net Detroit and the Big Ten Network do, along with the NBC and CBS Sports Networks and Comcast. LSSU doesn't visit either MSU or Michigan. When they do play those schools in the Soo, when State is in the Soo, FSN has not yet begun its CCHA broadcasts and when UM is in the Soo, FSN chose MSU-Ferris in East Lansing, a much lower production cost and the potential for a bigger audience and big factors there. When MSU is at Notre Dame, FSN doesn't broadcast that weekend, and neither Notre Dame or LSSU is in the Big Ten. Neither Network is going to televise LSSU-Ohio State, not enough audience, same with LSSU/Western, Ferris or NMU. So you get the bonus of having both Michigan and MSU in your barn one last time at the expense of not having any of them televised.

Oh that silly Big Ten -- don't they just make everything so much fun for everyone? Oh well. I have said this for many years -- time for the UP to stop looking to Detroit for attention. I am hopeful that the new-WCHA will find some sort of TV deal. Who knows?

Just another reason to be our own State. The Superior TV Sports Network -- the WCHA Hockey Game of the Week. Superior HS Hockey game of the week. No more being angry at the downstate jackholes. Ahhhh -- sweet freedom.

First the CCHA. Next step: Free the UP!

Yeah -- you just saw that. I turned a simple rant about TV coverage (for which we should NOT be shocked in any way!) into a manifesto against Michigan (sucks) and in favor of Superior.

51st Statehood.

Liberty.

 

[FRICKER]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

When you wrote about hockey sense, it reminded me that we had our younger son, Matt, tested for ADD when he was in prep school in NH. He was average or slightly above average in everything
except short term memory, which was through the roof. That may explain his ability to see the ice in slo-mo and always make the right decision for the outlet pass - HUGE for a D-man. I wonder what a player or parents reaction would be if you asked to have a prospects short term memory tested before offering a scholarship. Sticky wicket????......outa-the-box Bob

 

[Lakerblue]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

When you wrote about hockey sense, it reminded me that we had our younger son, Matt, tested for ADD when he was in prep school in NH. He was average or slightly above average in everything
except short term memory, which was through the roof. That may explain his ability to see the ice in slo-mo and always make the right decision for the outlet pass - HUGE for a D-man. I wonder what a player or parents reaction would be if you asked to have a prospects short term memory tested before offering a scholarship. Sticky wicket????......outa-the-box Bob

Fricker, you know -- the way prosepcts are poked and prodded by the NHL Central Scouting, and the teams, can your out-of-the-box suggestion be far off? AS you well know, some players don't have to be the fastest skater or have the hardest shot or be the biggest on the ice, as long as they can see the play and the ice developing in front of them (e.g, some people who fit this would be oh, you know, Gretzky, Lidstrom). That was my opinion watching the LSSU teams of the past two years -- there was a team-wide improvement in reading the play. A large reduction in passes being intercepted, for instance. A large reduction in the aforementioned meaningless dump in (you know the kind -- dump in, and the defense dumps it right back out).

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

At least the Lakers won't have to meet any expectations being picked to finish last in the coaches poll and 10th in the media poll. Now they can just go out and play and if they win great and lose,well,they are expected to.

 

[UpNorthHockey]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

At least the Lakers won't have to meet any expectations being picked to finish last in the coaches poll and 10th in the media poll. Now they can just go out and play and if they win great and lose,well,they are expected to.

I'm a bit surprised to see LSSU picked so low, particularly by the coaches. On paper, LSSU should be a lot stronger this year than NMU. I think they're making too much of the loss of Jean, Haines, Cassiani and Trotman. Although that's a huge turnover in talent, McParland and Campbell should put up big numbers this year, Lain, Ciotti and Czuczman will improve and Vernace seems like a great recruit that will contribute right away.....not to mention Kapalka returning. Unless there are injuries to key players, I think this is a middle tier, not bottom tier team.

 

[davyd83]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

I'm a bit surprised to see LSSU picked so low, particularly by the coaches. On paper, LSSU should be a lot stronger this year than NMU. I think they're making too much of the loss of Jean, Haines, Cassiani and Trotman. Although that's a huge turnover in talent, McParland and Campbell should put up big numbers this year, Lain, Ciotti and Czuczman will improve and Vernace seems like a great recruit that will contribute right away.....not to mention Kapalka returning. Unless there are injuries to key players, I think this is a middle tier, not bottom tier team.

NMU returns its top 7 d-men and a goalie whose numbers topped Kapalka's (2.67 v 2.22 GAA, .928 vs .916 save %. As for LSSU, I would think that McParland and Campbell should move into that 30+ point range and that Lane and Ciotti must get into the 25 point range and get Czuczman at 20+ and they could be a surprise team.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

I think we know why Lake State wasn't picked for a TV game of the week . Basically two last place picks doesn't generate interest.

 

[davyd83]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

I think we know why Lake State wasn't picked for a TV game of the week. Basically two last place picks doesn't generate interest.

The schedules were made well before the polls were out. More likely because they don't play at Michigan or at MSU and because none of their other matchups would generate enough audience to justify the broadcasts. No one's coming to Marquette to broadcast this year. NMU only get one on FSN and BTN because they play at State.

 

[DopeyBaker]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

I think we know why Lake State wasn't picked for a TV game of the week . Basically two last place picks doesn't generate interest.

I think most people follow college hockey teams based on ties to a university more than polls. I would watch the Lakers on TV regardless of their pick by media members. I'm not going to watch a MSU vs. Ferris game no matter where those two teams are picked by coaches. LSSU has the smallest following simply because it has the smallest alumni base and is located in a low-populated region.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

The schedules were made well before the polls were out. More likely because they don't play at Michigan or at MSU and because none of their other matchups would generate enough audience to justify the broadcasts. No one's coming to Marquette to broadcast this year. NMU only get one on FSN and BTN because they play at State.

Agreed. NMU and LSSU and MTU rarely get a TV game unless they are playing at UM, MSU, Minnesota or the like (I'm not counting the GLI).

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

It is a bit of a let down to see the team in the rankings last season to be picked to finish last by the coaches this year. Makes you wonder if the recruits coming in are even highly thought of by other teams and if the coaches of those teams just don't see either enough good players for Lake State or just don't think much of the coaching staff and program.

 

[davyd83]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

With all due respect to the coaches, I wouldn't wipe my rear end with the paper those polls are written on. Pre-season polls mean nothing to me, as its all one giant guessing game. No one really knows what everyone has until about the Christmas break. Heck, NMU always stinks until about New Years Day, then Walt Kyle works his voodoo magic and turns them into a contender come playoff time.

One of the great CCHA myths.

 

[DM2SM]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

This can only help us. Monardo, McParland, Lain and Campbell are all top level forwards and our goaltending will bye time for our defense to catch up. Coach Roque thinks we have a top five team. I have no reason to question him.

 

[Lakerblue]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

It is a bit of a let down to see the team in the rankings last season to be picked to finish last by the coaches this year. Makes you wonder if the recruits coming in are even highly thought of by other teams and if the coaches of those teams just don't see either enough good players for Lake State or just don't think much of the coaching staff and program.

Diamonds in the rough. Lord knows we could use a few.

 

[Neil Diamond]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

Diamonds in the rough. Lord knows we could use a few.

I'll do whatever needs to be done to help the team

 

[AnchorsAway]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

NMU returns its top 7 d-men and a goalie whose numbers topped Kapalka's (2.67 v 2.22 GAA, .928 vs .916 save %. As for LSSU, I would think that McParland and Campbell should move into that 30+ point range and that Lane and Ciotti must get into the 25 point range and get Czuczman at 20+ and they could be a surprise team.

While your stats are correct, you forgot to mention that the goalie that put up those better numbers than KK did so in a time share, when he got plenty of rest splitting the games with another netminder. KK has been the bell cow of the LSSU net for the past two years now, he has played over twice as many minutes as Coreau over the same time period and over that stretch the two goalies have identical .920 save percentages while KK has a better GAA (KK 2.52 Coreau 2.74). Being the undisputed number 1 goalie takes a strong mental and physical commitment, one that KK has shown he can manage since he arrived at Lake State, Coreau is tackling this burden for the first time, so time will tell.

You also note that NMU returns its top 7 defenseman; LSSU lost only 4 (granted they were all key) players from last years roster and we have a roster littered with players who have won playoff series in consecutive years for the first time in a generation, while NMU (who also lost some of their best players from last year) have a locker room full of guys who have gotten tossed out of the playoffs by the worst team in the league two years in a row.

All in all preseason rankings don't amount to a hill of beans as many others have noted already, and don't get me wrong, I don't mean to dog on NMU but my point is that we're in the same boat as far as attrition is concerned and the Lakers in my opinion have better program "mojo" going for them at this point in time, not to mention a seasoned goalie who can steal a game and has experience as a clear number 1 guy, while NMU does not

 

[RealLaker94]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

The pre-season polls are meaningless, but at the same time, the Lakers have done nothing in the last decade to make either the coaches or media think of them as anything but a low tier team. They have shown many flashes of 'goodness', not 'greatness', but haven't crashed that barrier yet like Western and Ferris have. Even the Bulldogs aren't getting a lot of respect for a team that was competing for a National Championship a few months ago. College hockey is great, and their is potential for many teams to have great seasons, and this same conversation is being heard in BG, Alaska, and Northern. Next season, every team in every new conference will be optimistic that they'll be the best team and go on to glory in the NCAA's.
As far as TV goes, the FSN Detroit coverage is a joke, and it has been since the PASS days. It's just something that we've learned to live with. I doubt the WCHA will get any TV deal, but their best bet to have their own 'channel' available for online media and smart devices like the Roku/smart Blu Ray and TV's and things like that. I have a channel on my Roku where I can watch every USHL game but there is a fee, and I'd be more apt to watch a game on my big screen tv than a computer. It would be similar to the online ppv they have now, but have it available for other outlets. I'm sure WCHA fans would even pay a monthly or season fee.

 

[davyd83]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

While your stats are correct, you forgot to mention that the goalie that put up those better numbers than KK did so in a time share, when he got plenty of rest splitting the games with another netminder. KK has been the bell cow of the LSSU net for the past two years now, he has played over twice as many minutes as Coreau over the same time period and over that stretch the two goalies have identical .920 save percentages while KK has a better GAA (KK 2.52 Coreau 2.74). Being the undisputed number 1 goalie takes a strong mental and physical commitment, one that KK has shown he can manage since he arrived at Lake State, Coreau is tackling this burden for the first time, so time will tell.

You also note that NMU returns its top 7 defenseman; LSSU lost only 4 (granted they were all key) players from last years roster and we have a roster littered with players who have won playoff series in consecutive years for the first time in a generation, while NMU (who also lost some of their best players from last year) have a locker room full of guys who have gotten tossed out of the playoffs by the worst team in the league two years in a row.

All in all preseason rankings don't amount to a hill of beans as many others have noted already, and don't get me wrong, I don't mean to dog on NMU but my point is that we're in the same boat as far as attrition is concerned and the Lakers in my opinion have better program "mojo" going for them at this point in time, not to mention a seasoned goalie who can steal a game and has experience as a clear number 1 guy, while NMU does not

Kapalka is certainly a seasoned goalie who has shown the ability to carry the team. And will have to do it again this year. Like I said, I think LSSU could be that surprise team this year. Maybe not a team to get in to the Top 5 and a first round bye, but I definitely think they have the potential to be several wins (and slots) higher than the polls indicate.

 

[DopeyBaker]

Re: LSSU Hockey 2012-2013

You people up there are really knowledgeable. I wish I was that smart. I can't wait to get out my pom pons and cheer on Coach Roque and the guys this season. Despite all the vitriol, I love all the youpers up there and that wonderful village you call the Sue.

The Truth Is Out There....
TBA

I love the enthusiasm. Looking forward to a home game this weekend.