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LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

LSSULaker889294 said:
That is alarming. Really makes me angry that the Evening news is neglecting this issue.
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The Evening News has been totally lame on the issue. I think there have been two generic articles about the conference changes, all with the byline "staff report," with only brief mention of the LSSU situation, and a non informative sentence fragment quote from Mrs. Dunbar. For crissakes show a little initiative and arrange a couple of interviews with meaningful questions asked. I agree interest in Laker hockey is not universal in the Sault, but something on the front page other than some kid jamming a hotdog in his mouth, or grown men dressed as women, complete with fake breasts, driving garden tractors in a parade, would be a welcome change. Just so no one takes offence, the kid in question is not even a local resident. The picture is yet another generic piece of purchased media. Strangely, I'm attracted to the men.
 
Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Neil Diamond said:
1) The Fairbanks situation is untenable over the long haul. No program can afford both its travel costs, plus pick up the tab of other teams' travel costs, and survive.

Correct. Even though Alaska is awash in oil money, UAF representatives try regularly to negotiate their way out of this committment. I'd imagine this conference reallignment will be seen by them as another opportunity for changing this arrangement.
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Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Has anyone been trying to email or talk to Kris Dunbar?

Anyways here are the distances in hours from the Sault to the teams listed below according to MapQuest.
New CCHA:
Ferris State- 4 hours
Bowling Green- 6.25 hours
Mercyhurst-9.5 hours
Niagra- 9.75 hours
Robert Morris- 9.25 hours
Canisus- 10 hours
Alabama Huntsville- 14.5 hours


New WCHA:
NMU- 3.25 hours
Tech- 5.25 hours
Bemidji- 11 hours
St. Cloud- 10.75 hours
Minnesota State- 11.25 hours

Either way, there will be long bus trips. The WCHA would be better for traveling but not by too much.
 
Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Of course UAF would prefer to pay less, who wouldn't? But there's a bit of a difference between trying to negotiate a better deal for yourself, and being unable to sustain that "long term," whatever that means.
 
Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

AKJD said:
Of course UAF would prefer to pay less, who wouldn't? But there's a bit of a difference between trying to negotiate a better deal for yourself, and being unable to sustain that "long term," whatever that means.
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"Long term" means over a long time.

I think you learn that by the 300-level classes. Maybe 200-level.
 
Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

EupNews said:
LSSU Board meeting today, hockey not to be on agenda (according to what's been published). Scott will be there anyways for any news.

http://eupnews.com/2011/07/lssu-board-of-trustees-meets-friday-morning/
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It should be on the agenda. Dunbar should be there to discuss what is proactively being done to get LSSU into the WCHA. The WCHA schools ultimately will decide whether we get in, but the AD needs to be taking steps to try and make that happen.
 
Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

DB Cooper said:
Three reasons:
1988
1992
1994

Wait, I've got another - the giant Taffy Abel cookies.

Actually, I think the arena itself is a nice asset. The tradition, however distant and fading, is still an asset. I have been pleasantly suprised in my travels, at the recognition and respect of the Laker brand.

I like some of the other posts as well.

I like WMU. I used to live in Kzoo. However, I am not convinced they enjoy the semi elite status some would like to give them. They caught lightning in a bottle for one year, and unfortunately for them, and college hockey, Blashill is gone. I have heard there is a "committment" to success by the administration. Really? Give me numbers. They did come up with money to try to keep Blashill, but where are they now? The arena is soviet style and they don't draw well. Their web site smacks of desperation.

I think Alaska has a first rate coach. I have heard they have a dedicated fan base, but I don't think the attendance numbers support that.

I don't think any of the three teams enjoy a strong advantage for WCHA admission. Time for bribes.
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Last Year's Attendance: Alaska Fairbanks 3069, LSSU 2314
 
Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Neil Diamond said:
(1) Fairbanks has been doing it since it joined the CCHA. It hasn't been a problem yet. Why would it be now?

Because I said it is not viable long-term, Now is not "long-term"

Don't the last 18 years qualify as "long term?"

(2) That distance to Alaska is alot when going to Anchorage from the Minnesota schools, but when only flying to Anchorage, it's no worse than the bus trip from St Cloud to Michigan Tech. I've made enough of those trips. From NMU they are usually leave on Wednesday, back Sunday, even with a Green Bay bus trip included.

Which is still longer than going to LSSU

The trip to Alaska is longer for Tech and NMU, but not necessarily for the Minnesota schools. And you don't get two exempt games for going to the Soo.


If the Soo is the best hockey market, why do they only average less than 80 % of what NMU does and are only up about 10 % over Tech, despite the much larger market than both? Likely because the Canadian Soo really couldn't care less about college hockey. Not many Canadians are crossing the bridge to watch the Lakers unless they have family in the game. And that is unlikely to change.


Geez, for a "devil's advocate", you sure get heated. If I didn't know better, I'd say you're more an NMU fan looking to rub crap in our face than a "devil's advocate". But that wouldn't be nice of me. :)

The Canadian Soo will follow college hockey if there is a winning program. That much was proven in the past. Just because they aren't following it today in the numbers they did in the past does not mean it's a market to be written off.

Heated? Not at all. I would love to see LSSU in the WCHA. Would love the 3 way UP rivalry. However, these are some of the arguments that LSSU has to overcome if it looks toward the WCHA. However, what I would like to see and what I do see and hear are two very different things. Rub crap in the face? Not a chance. I've been through situations where a franchise was in danger of shutting down. Seen them from being on the side of the team that was in danger and watched it as friends went through it with other teams. It's not pleasant at all. In my opinion, it would be a horrible thing if LSSU were unable to sustain D-I hockey. In my perfect hockey world, we'd combine the early 80's when Tech and NMU played in the same Frozen Four, and the mid 90s when the trophy spent alot of time in the UP, 3 times in the Soo and once in Marquette.

Sorry, you lose this one. Lake State can draw from Soo, Ontario. NMU can draw from...Harvey. :)
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NMU probably draws more from Harvey than LSSU draws from the Canadian Soo.
 
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Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

EupNews said:
follow it online at http://www.eupnews.com - we will cover anything we can and already have posted a few editorials on the subject.

http://eupnews.com/2011/07/nmu-to-join-the-wcha-in-2013-14/
http://eupnews.com/2011/07/deep-thoughts-summer-2011-hockey-edition/
:eek:

EupNews always trys to have new hockey news - summer in/out.

Take care!
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Thanks for the link

Scott Nason is good on the radio and in print. He has a natural enthusiasm, and isn't afraid to take a chance. I'd like to see him get an interview with Mrs. Dunbar regarding the current LSSU strategy.
 
Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

I believe the University and the Athletics Department have simply done a terrible job promoting the school and the program. I mean just a really, really poor job.

The institutional rot within the CCHA offices was allowed to fester for too many years, and LSSU's leadership did not feel obliged, or interested, in addressing or correcting the perception that LSSU and the other GLIAC D-I Hockey schools were nothing more than a drain on the CCHA's coffers.

Say what you will about Frank, but at least in the 1980's Frank had a real vision for the hockey program -- and he sold that vision to the school, the town, the students, and the players. In those days, he was a single-minded man on a mission. Did he alientate some "power brokers" in the Soo? Oh yeah -- and he didn't care. He was not going to appease the "high school basketball" zealots who dislike hockey at any level, and were particularly resentful of COLLEGE hockey, played by non-Soo kids. Jeff Jackson took this to another level, spreading this vision outward from the UP to the rest of the college hockey world. And he worked hard, I promise you, hammering the administration and the students into supporting this program.

I don't want this to be a "slam the coach" matter, so I am not going to drop LSSU's current poor situation on Jim Roques lap. The administration on the Hill has been horrible in promoting the school, or taking action to promote the hockey program -- as the school's flagship team and the school's best and (really) only athletics-based major recruiting tool. The hockey staff have been far too willing to cede higher ground to NMU and CCHA offices.

Western has horse-dung facilities compared to LSSU. But they are putting together promotional web pages.

NMU is attacking the WCHA, attempting to sell themselves as best they can. LSSU doesn't appear to have even held a meeting to discuss any future plans. "Lets just sit back and play Robert Morris?" really?

Tech wears its pride on its sleeve. It hasn't had more than a handful of winning seasons in the past 25 years. They don't care. The leadership at Tech KNOW where they stand in college hockey -- they have a great stadium, tradition, funding, support, and facilities. Tech is presently placing itself at the forefront of the WCHA.

LSSU has a great tradition, an amazing building, excellent facilities, dedicated alumni, (the best uniforms in college hockey this side of the Fighting Sioux). Its absurd to me that the coach and the administration are not screaming at the top of their lungs about the quality of this program. Why is LSSU not asserting a leadership position? Why would LSSU try to cut a deal with Ferris and BGSU when they could be arguing their own merits and their own quality?

Why should LSSU have to go hat-in-hand to freaking Mankato or SCSU? What have those programs ever achieved?

Why is LSSU not pushing for a sit-down with NMU, Tech, and the Alaska schools and forcing the college hockey universe to revolve around them? Why is LSSU so willing to accept to middling Minnesota school's opnions? Why is LSSU seeking to retreat to quasi-D-II status with AHA schools?
 
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Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Thank you EupNews for the scoop. I hope the article is right and we will have it all worked out in the next 30 days.
 
Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

davyd83 said:
NMU probably draws more from Harvey than LSSU draws from the Canadian Soo.
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They had about 500 people on the televised Friday playoff game against Ohio State and from what I have been told maybe about 200 more the next night. That is people in the seats, not the official attendance figure. I believe there might have been pictures posted showing the 3500 empty seats.

The Truth Is Out There....
 
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Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

Northern didn't have very many more announced then we did. I was at the Lakers games and that false picture that you posted of some empty stands that you tried to say was the Taffy takes away any chance that you will be taken seriouse on this site ever again. So go ahead and gloat it falls on deaf ears you clown.
 
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Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2011-12

PerkyforPrez said:
Northern didn't have very many more announced then we did. I was at the Lakers games and that false picture that you posted of some empty stands that you tried to say was the Taffy takes away any chance that you will be taken seriouse on this site again. So go ahaid and gloat it falls on deaf ears you clown.
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He was taken seriously???

The NMU playoff attendance was brutal. 1200, 1400 and 1000 announced.
 
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