LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

[Laker54]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

First congratulations to the Falcons.

IT’S TIME.

I’m sitting here at the end of the season watching the Lakers barely get a home series for the playoffs and once again at the bottom of the conference; then watching an early exit in the post season. While two of the perennial basement dwellers, Western Michigan and Bowling Green, improving their respective programs by making coaching changes in the last 3 years (Western twice). This is new territory for Michigan, MSU and Northern each will likely improve their standings in their new conferences next year.

Putting 5 million dollars into renovations to the arena and getting more money into the program is fantastic! All parties who worked on this should be commended. However, I have a question for AD Dunbar: what is LSSU willing do to improve itself in standings going into a new conference. Money is always key, but she has ignored a glaring problem for too long, as I said after the Miami game they should be embarrassed by their performance and they should be embarrassed by their performance, again, this past weekend.

You can have the finest arena in the conference and new monies for the program; but if you have a coach who is not capable of putting together a winning season you will have WASTED the $5 million renovation and the new money coming into the program. I agree the talent has improved on the team; but the record has not improved. If changes are not made to improve the product on the ice, everyone’s hard work to improve the program will have been wasted.

A winning record put seats in the seats of the newly renovated Taffy Arena thus bringing more money to the program, which will enable LSSU to attract additional better recruits. Generally when schools have a winning sports program enrollment goes up. I have no reason to think this could not happen at LSSU.

I am a Laker fan through and through and have contributed in my own way over the last several years and would like to see the Taffy full of fans watching an exciting team capable of winning more than half of its games. Look what happen to Bowling Green’s crowds with just a winning second half of the season.

LSSU cannot wait to get into a conference where team records are worse than LSSU’s and say ‘Hey Look At Us We Really Have Improved’. I believe in loyalty but: It’s time – AD Dunbar needs to step up and make a coaching change to take the program to the next level after the CCHA Tourney. Jim Roque’s coaching ability will not improve any because he has a newly renovated Taffey Arena. Do you want a beautifully renovated building, with 1700-2000 (or less) watching a losing program? Or make a change and put some excitement back in the program? Wouldn’t it be nice to see 2,500 – 3,000 for a game and maybe that special night when it is sold out?

Sorry about being so windy but; if AD Dunbar is unwilling to step up then President McClain needs to step in and make a change in both positions. Again, if changes are not made to improve the on ice product everyone’s hard work to improve the program will have been wasted. I will keep going to the games because I am a Laker fan but: What a terrible- terrible shame it would be to waste all the work to improve the program; then leave a loosing coach in his program!

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

The Norris project is on hold and may never even happen. I heard that on the Laker show a few weeks ago.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

The Norris project is on hold and may never even happen. I heard that on the Laker show a few weeks ago.

Why would they tell everyone the money is there and everything was approved by the university and than tell us maybe not ?

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

I don't know for sure the facts.

3dog if your around could you shed a little light on the situation?

 

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

Why would they tell everyone the money is there and everything was approved by the university and than tell us maybe not ?

Maybe the crappy economy (don't believe the news media that it's good)has affected the donor company and need to make cuts.

For those who want Roque fired, what current coach or assistant coach out there would you hire?

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

When is ground breaking?

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

When is the ground breaking?

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

Thank you for your reply. The last two years it was supposed to start literally a week after the last hockey game.

 

[AnchorsAway]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

What a pathetic way to end the season, others have mentioned that based on the preseason projections by the "experts" that the Lakers held serve as to how their season was supposed to pan out. To that I would agree but I am disappointed on how we "got there". A team that halfway through the season showed that they had the potential to play to a level much higher than their preseason ranking, shouldn't have had the second half collapse that they did and that is more telling in my opinion than the fact that when the dust cleared they finished where they were "supposed to". I am not under the illusion that Roque's job is in any way in any trouble but it is interesting to wonder at what point Roque's long line of slack will indeed run out, because as time goes on, the standard supply of excuses will begin to run out.....

"we can't attract quality talent": the Lakers have been placing more players in the pros (even some leaving early) in the past handful of years than for most of the previous decade.
"We play in a league with too many big money programs": We are switching into a league that is as balanced financially and as far as prestige as we can ever hope to be in.
"We have subpar facilities": When the Norris Center Project finishes we will have some of the top facilities in the Midwest and will be at the top of our new league.
"We don't have the money": To go hand in hand with the Norris Center project there has been a sizable markup in the fundraising efforts for the program.

Roque has been in this program for over two decades and has been the head man for nearly a decade, he has gotten an ample amount of time to prove he can do the job, his teams should not be getting beat by a ten goal margin in the last two deciding games of a playoff series against a pretty evenly matched opponent on home ice, there is no excuse for that. I have had varying opinions on how much of LSSU's shortcomings are really JR's "fault" over the years, but things like this past weekend are indefensible. I am extremely interested to see how we all feel a year from now, to see how much the league change really alters the prism through which we view the state of our program.

 

[DB Cooper]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

What a pathetic way to end the season, others have mentioned that based on the preseason projections by the "experts" that the Lakers held serve as to how their season was supposed to pan out. To that I would agree but I am disappointed on how we "got there". A team that halfway through the season showed that they had the potential to play to a level much higher than their preseason ranking, shouldn't have had the second half collapse that they did and that is more telling in my opinion than the fact that when the dust cleared they finished where they were "supposed to". I am not under the illusion that Roque's job is in any way in any trouble but it is interesting to wonder at what point Roque's long line of slack will indeed run out, because as time goes on, the standard supply of excuses will begin to run out.....

"we can't attract quality talent": the Lakers have been placing more players in the pros (even some leaving early) in the past handful of years than for most of the previous decade.
"We play in a league with too many big money programs": We are switching into a league that is as balanced financially and as far as prestige as we can ever hope to be in.
"We have subpar facilities": When the Norris Center Project finishes we will have some of the top facilities in the Midwest and will be at the top of our new league.
"We don't have the money": To go hand in hand with the Norris Center project there has been a sizable markup in the fundraising efforts for the program.

Roque has been in this program for over two decades and has been the head man for nearly a decade, he has gotten an ample amount of time to prove he can do the job, his teams should not be getting beat by a ten goal margin in the last two deciding games of a playoff series against a pretty evenly matched opponent on home ice, there is no excuse for that. I have had varying opinions on how much of LSSU's shortcomings are really JR's "fault" over the years, but things like this past weekend are indefensible. I am extremely interested to see how we all feel a year from now, to see how much the league change really alters the prism through which we view the state of our program.

You're right on . I posted at some point in the past that I felt it was only fair to provide the coaching staff with everything they needed to win, and then evaluate their performance. I know many of the assets are not yet in place, but I don't think LSSU can afford to wait. Good coaches get consistent, high level effort, regardless of the facilities or funding. In general Laker players get worse with time in the program, and the teams gets worse relative to the opposition as seasons progress. Make no mistake about it - that is the result of inadequate coaching. Let's face it, no well coached team turns in a performance like that.

I don't buy the argument that the Lakers over-achieved because the media picked them lower in the preseason polls than they actually finished. We routinely complain the media and coaches only pick based on the reputations of the programs (which is true), but now we are going to use their prediction as accurately reflecting where the teams should have finished?

Lastly, I think anyone who believe the WCHA will be easier for the Lakers is mistaken. This league will have teams that are coached by people with a record of high achievement. Honestly consider which of the programs has a coach you would not prefer to the current Laker staff.

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Plain and simple: The Lakers cannot afford to change coaches. First, they would have to buy out Coach Roque's current contract (about $170,000ish if 2 years remain, more if it was a 5 year) and then go after a new coach for most likely more money than is currently paid. We can keep discussing this, but it is not going to happen. Lake State has allocated all of the money to the hockey program it is going to for now. If it's the same in 2 years, bye bye coach Roque. But for now we will keep the status quo.

This is a website for us to cheer, comment our opinions. You have let your opinion known and I respect it.

Three or four years ago a few of the Laker fans on here posted it was time for him to go. One poster commented that if Roque were to be let go at the time it would set the hockey program back five years. Not to long after that Western replaced Culhane with Blashill and in his very first and only season he turned Western from a perennial doormat in the league to a legitimate power. He did this with mostly same team that Culhane had the year before.

I agree that LSSU can't afford to fire him while owing him a large amount of money. I am not saying or hoping to make a change for the sake of making a change but when the time comes that they do their due diligence and make a change for the better. Other teams seemed to have bettered their program with a new coach why can't LSSU.

 

[jnacc]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

Plain and simple: The Lakers cannot afford to change coaches. First, they would have to buy out Coach Roque's current contract (about $170,000ish if 2 years remain, more if it was a 5 year) and then go after a new coach for most likely more money than is currently paid. We can keep discussing this, but it is not going to happen. Lake State has allocated all of the money to the hockey program it is going to for now. If it's the same in 2 years, bye bye coach Roque. But for now we will keep the status quo.

If I remember correctly, Roque was on a one year contract extension that is up this spring, so yes the school could afford a new coach. He's had ample opportunity to prove his worth, and unless you believe that one appearance to the JLA and a 6th place as a high water mark over the past 8 seasons is worthy of a renewal then your expectations for the program are non-existent. The majority of the fans I have talked to think that it is time for a much needed change. Many, however, believe the A.D. to be inept (not really my opinion but that is what many in the community are saying) and as having to close a relationship with Roque. One thing is for certain, though, a lot of people are completely turned off by the program and (the scariest part in my opinion) no longer really give a rats *** what happens with Lake State hockey....that is the worst place to be when counting on rebuilding your program with the fan base and community at large.

 

[Red Robin]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

It was a good season. LSSU continues to make positive strides

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

In the circles that I have been around the A.D. is not highly thought of. I have no problem with her.

I noticed a lot of people myself with the whole don't give a rats *** as well. It's a shame.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

Lake State hockey is like being at the library . I have never been in a hockey stadium that is so quiet in my life . I think the deadness of the team carries right into the stands.

The second half of the season was a massive disaster and losing to Alabama Huntsville in the first half should have been a warning what this team was capable of falling down to. What's even more trouble lurking on the horizon is that next season the huge majority of this team that collasped will be back and that doesn't bode well for a winning season . Next seasons team looks very weak already . As the saying goes....you can't fire the team and that means someone else has to be canned and we all know who that has to be .

 

[FRICKER]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

blackswampboy.........WOW, Walker Arena - I skated in the old barn in the mid-60's. I also played against Rich Umile at old Snively Arena the year before UNH went D1. Great old barns- great memories.

 

[aparch]

Not to long after that Western replaced Culhane with Blashill and in his very first and only season he turned Western from a perennial doormat in the league to a legitimate power. He did this with mostly same team that Culhane had the year before.

WMU also pays a metric sh*t ton better than schools like LSSU, NMU, FSU.

Tech, who has been much worse for longer also had to allocate more money to hiring away Mel Pearson.

I'm familiar most with NMU, but I would think the local sponsorship is pretty well tapped. There aren't too many more sponsors (if any) to shake money from.

 

[klbaum1077]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

I want the next Andy Murray or Mel Pearson to come to Lake State as much as anyone in here. I just don't think everyone on here understands how tight money is in the hockey program, and at Lake State. In order to invest $150,000/year in a guy, LSSU will need to get that amount back plus some. Lake State is a University first and diverting funds to hockey means education doesn't get that. Packing the Taffy to capacity will not make up that difference. If somebody wants to give the money to go out and get an Andy Murray-type guy, I'm all for it. Change today! But that won't happen. So I sit and wait, eagerly anticipating next season, with the hope that either Coach Roque or someone else leads us to the promise land that is another NCAA Championship.

In the end, I paid $12 Sunday to watch the Lakers get blown away 7-0. And if I could, I'd watch it all over again. Why? Ask a Lion's fan. They know what I'm talking about

I hear you on that Ohio state let Markell stay about 2 years to long because they didnt want to pay him to sit at home. I am also a Lions fan and come back each week for the punishment they have given me.

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

Lion's fan here as well.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey 2012-2013, Part 2

Lion's fan here as well.

and sometimes fans have to show their disgust with a program and boycott or at least voice their opposition with what is going on. If you are paying to get into an event,you have a right to demand a decent product . You also have a right as a fan to stop going if the product they are giving you becomes subpar.