LSSU Laker Hockey

[THE OHIO STATE]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

GOOD LUCK to the lakers and fans. Enjoy your freshman Goalie as he has a bright future in the net. Thanks to you guys , I now get to dust off my golf clubs. " EH. "

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

I heard that Northern had less then 1500 last night also.

The attendance on the ccha site was 1434 last night for Northern. I think it's crazy the crouds that these two schools drew for a home playoff series. LSSU was 2500 for both nights combined.

 

[Buck LeVasseur]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

I almost forgot one comment. I was helping CBS sports and had some students helping. Students could come back on Friday. The CBS crew was like amazed that no one came or showed up for the game. The students I did listen too didn't say anything about the coaches. Their only comment was I am ashamed to call myself a Laker tonight in reference to their fellow students pride especially on a TV night. Also no way was there 1000 people there and less if you didn't count the LSSU, CBS and CCHA officials. CBS was discussing how they couldn't pan the rink it was so empty and commented several times how their estimate was under a 1000. That picture on this thread might not be Abel but it was the same difference.

The team hasn't given the students at school something to be proud of. The past three years (not counting this year) the Lakers have a combined 36-58-19 record and have finished no higher than 10th. The seniors at LSSU came in to witness three straight 10th place finishes and subsequent first round exits. Not many fans have pride in that. The team has been downright terrible during your traditional student's tenure at the school. Why come back early when they have yet to win a playoff series in their time at LSSU and were coming off an embarrassment the weekend before. I choose to stay back at home for an extra couple of days, I listened to the games rather than attending, I guess that makes me one of the people who ashame you.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

Sure the attendance was disappointing, but it was Spring Break week, the Soo isn't that big of a city to draw from, they were competing with the Eagles for fans on Friday, and the reality is that the Lakers haven't had a winning season for four years. First round CCHA series will continue to have problems drawing fans in the Soo (and Marquette for that matter) as long as they coincide with Spring Break. Face it, most students aren't going to come back from Spring Break early to watch hockey, even when their school has a good team. The best way to put more fans in the stands, all things considered, is to win more games.

 

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

Lakers head to Notre Dame for the 2nd round.

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

The Eagles did not draw much friday.

 

[AnchorsAway]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

....And down go the Wildcats in stunning fashion to BG, Lake State is the last U.P. team alive in postseason hockey!

 

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

Barely over 1,000 showed up at the NMU tonight. Very alarming.

I beleive this is the first time ever we play Notre Dame in a best of three series. For Notre Dame, it's their last hockey games ever at the Joyce Center so they will probably play with extra motivation

K2 will have to stand on his head for the Lakers to upset Notre Dame much like Jakaitis did against Miami four years ago and Schofield has to be Mr. Cluch more than ever.

 

[AnchorsAway]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

Barely over 1,000 showed up at the NMU tonight. Very alarming.

I beleive this is the first time ever we play Notre Dame in a best of three series. For Notre Dame, it's their last hockey games ever at the Joyce Center so they will probably play with extra motivation

K2 will have to stand on his head for the Lakers to upset Notre Dame much like Jakaitis did against Miami four years ago and Schofield has to be Mr. Cluch more than ever.

I agree wholeheartedly, at this point in the season we cant hope for our second tier scorers to carry us through, it's up to our offensive leaders like Schofiled, Monardo, Acton, and Trotman from the back end to show up for us....It's certainly going to take a lot for us to have a chance but i'd much rather play ND than Michigan..(No offense ND fans lol)

 

[Truth Squad]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

I almost forgot one comment. I was helping CBS sports and had some students helping. Students could come back on Friday. The CBS crew was like amazed that no one came or showed up for the game. The students I did listen too didn't say anything about the coaches. Their only comment was I am ashamed to call myself a Laker tonight in reference to their fellow students pride especially on a TV night. Also no way was there 1000 people there and less if you didn't count the LSSU, CBS and CCHA officials. CBS was discussing how they couldn't pan the rink it was so empty and commented several times how their estimate was under a 1000. That picture on this thread might not be Abel but it was the same difference.

It looked like it was more like 500, and sounds like Saturday wasn't much better, probably more like 800. I would question the attendance count, at least judging by the pictures on Friday.

This administration has once again done enough to warrant another year, probably four. I know you people on here are thrilled.

What was Coach Diamond saying about playoffs and attendance figures? Sounds like you need better math because almost 3700 is greater than 500 plus 800.

The Truth Is Out There...

 

[AnchorsAway]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

It looked like it was more like 500, and sounds like Saturday wasn't much better, probably more like 800. I would question the attendance count, at least judging by the pictures on Friday.

This administration has once again done enough to warrant another year, probably four. I know you people on here are thrilled.

What was Coach Diamond saying about playoffs and attendance figures? Sounds like you need better math because almost 3700 is greater than 500 plus 800.

The Truth Is Out There...

I also dont think there was 1,000 in the seats on friday but Saturday's announced attendance of around 1400 passed the eye test in my book, my friend and I estimated it around 1500 from the best we could tell during the 2nd period so when the announcement was 1400, we believed it....As I have no "Ins" with the powers that be, I cannot speak knowledgeably about the guess that this series win bought Roque more time but as i posted a week or so ago, I don't think a first round win, 2nd round loss should make a difference one way or another regarding Roque's fate, however as I said I don't know if it will...now if we can pull off the upset against ND, it would be a different story...

 

[MOJO]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

From Marquette, best of luck Lakers. Represent yourselves and the U.P. well. I'm rooting for you!

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

From Marquette, best of luck Lakers. Represent yourselves and the U.P. well. I'm rooting for you!

Thank you.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

As I have no "Ins" with the powers that be, I cannot speak knowledgeably about the guess that this series win bought Roque more time but as i posted a week or so ago, I don't think a first round win, 2nd round loss should make a difference one way or another regarding Roque's fate, however as I said I don't know if it will...now if we can pull off the upset against ND, it would be a different story...

I don't think this past weekend's series win will have any bearing on Roque's future as Lakers coach. If there is any thought of firing Roque based upon the lack of wins (i.e. progress) the past few years, this one series wouldn't (or shouldn't) affect that. The Lakers basically backed into getting home ice thanks to Ferris beating the Buckeyes the previous weekend. If the powers that be are taking into consideration how far the Lakers go in the CCHA playoffs in any deliberations of Roque's future, I think that the Lakers need to at least get to the Joe for it to benefit Roque. If the powers that be are leaning towards letting him go, that might not even be enough.

 

[Proud2baLaker]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

I don't think this past weekend's series win will have any bearing on Roque's future as Lakers coach. If there is any thought of firing Roque based upon the lack of wins (i.e. progress) the past few years, this one series wouldn't (or shouldn't) affect that. The Lakers basically backed into getting home ice thanks to Ferris beating the Buckeyes the previous weekend. If the powers that be are taking into consideration how far the Lakers go in the CCHA playoffs in any deliberations of Roque's future, I think that the Lakers need to at least get to the Joe for it to benefit Roque. If the powers that be are leaning towards letting him go, that might not even be enough.

Have to agree. Roque was given his chance but only produced a few flashes of quality during his tenure. Its time to bring in some new blood from outside. I like the idea of looking somewhere we havent yet. Maybe a junior or minor league. I also think we need to look at a younger coach who might bring in some new ideas.

If Roque returns, I wont be happy about it. But I will still support the team.

 

[AnchorsAway]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

Have to agree. Roque was given his chance but only produced a few flashes of quality during his tenure. Its time to bring in some new blood from outside. I like the idea of looking somewhere we havent yet. Maybe a junior or minor league. I also think we need to look at a younger coach who might bring in some new ideas.

If Roque returns, I wont be happy about it. But I will still support the team.

I'm right there with you, I don't want him back either but I'm going to stick by the Lakers until the very end...if/when Roque gets fired a junior coach isn't a bad idea, especially if we could possibly lure someone from the USHL...that would help recruiting and would probably be the best bet for a quick turnaround. The double edged sword of getting a coach from the USHL is that you're likely getting a great coach but...you're likely getting a great coach, i.e. he probably won't stick around for a decade, especially if he has success early on... the USHL is fertile ground for coaching as much as it is for the players, look at how much Blashill has turned around Western in just one year, if he keeps it up I'd be pretty surprised if he didn't take a "better" job whether it be hockey or the minors within the next 5 years...

USHL coaches are the rising stars and just like the players they coach, many have NHL dreams, last year Jon Cooper went from coaching in the USHL at Green Bay to the head coach of the Norfolk Admirals, the Tampa Bay Lightning's AHL affiliate...it would be a huge boon to LSSU if they could grab one of these rising stars on their way "up" if only for a few years...again using Western as an example, say they remain a top 6 team for the next 4 years and Blashill leaves for a better job, granted they would be losing the guy that got them consistently better finishes in the standings, but on the strength of those stronger finishes they would be looking at a much larger pool of quality candidates who are willing to go there that would not have been had they remained at or near the cellar like they had been prior to Blashill..the biggest question would be how likely we are to get a quality USHL coach to come here...

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

I'm right there with you, I don't want him back either but I'm going to stick by the Lakers until the very end...if/when Roque gets fired a junior coach isn't a bad idea, especially if we could possibly lure someone from the USHL...that would help recruiting and would probably be the best bet for a quick turnaround. The double edged sword of getting a coach from the USHL is that you're likely getting a great coach but...you're likely getting a great coach, i.e. he probably won't stick around for a decade, especially if he has success early on... the USHL is fertile ground for coaching as much as it is for the players, look at how much Blashill has turned around Western in just one year, if he keeps it up I'd be pretty surprised if he didn't take a "better" job whether it be hockey or the minors within the next 5 years...

USHL coaches are the rising stars and just like the players they coach, many have NHL dreams, last year Jon Cooper went from coaching in the USHL at Green Bay to the head coach of the Norfolk Admirals, the Tampa Bay Lightning's AHL affiliate...it would be a huge boon to LSSU if they could grab one of these rising stars on their way "up" if only for a few years...again using Western as an example, say they remain a top 6 team for the next 4 years and Blashill leaves for a better job, granted they would be losing the guy that got them consistently better finishes in the standings, but on the strength of those stronger finishes they would be looking at a much larger pool of quality candidates who are willing to go there that would not have been had they remained at or near the cellar like they had been prior to Blashill..the biggest question would be how likely we are to get a quality USHL coach to come here...

As far as getting more USHL recruits goes, it's more a matter of getting the right recruits from the USHL along with good coaching. Both Western and Bowling Green have had quite a few USHL recruits on their rosters for a number of years but have still languished near the bottom of the CCHA standings. Just having USHL recruits isn't enough in and of itself to guarantee success.

 

[owslachief]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

From Marquette, best of luck Lakers. Represent yourselves and the U.P. well. I'm rooting for you!

Thank you.

I don't think this past weekend's series win will have any bearing on Roque's future as Lakers coach. If there is any thought of firing Roque based upon the lack of wins (i.e. progress) the past few years, this one series wouldn't (or shouldn't) affect that. The Lakers basically backed into getting home ice thanks to Ferris beating the Buckeyes the previous weekend. If the powers that be are taking into consideration how far the Lakers go in the CCHA playoffs in any deliberations of Roque's future, I think that the Lakers need to at least get to the Joe for it to benefit Roque. If the powers that be are leaning towards letting him go, that might not even be enough.

John Markell loves you, LSSU.

 

[MeridianStreet]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

The attendance looked to be correct from my viewpoint. I don't get too wacked out over the first round attendance. The students are gone and there are always those season tic holders who don't want to pony up for 2/3 more games. It's not only LSSU that has this problem. NMU did also. Remember a couple of years ago when we played at Western in the first round? It went three games and the total for three nights was barely 2,000.

As far as Roque leaving or staying - I see him coming back - just a hunch.

As for getting a coach from the USHL, would he be taking a pay cut to come here? A previous poster mentioned Blashill at WMU and he's making $150,000. That's over 50% more than LSSU can afford. I would bet that Bergeon at BG is about the same and the new guy at OSU is probably making more. . If there is to be a coaching change, I would bet on an assistant at another DI program. He wouldn't get much of a pay hike but would have the chance to be a head coach and run his own program. Afterall, that's the goal of most assistants.

 

[AnchorsAway]

Re: LSSU Laker Hockey

As far as getting more USHL recruits goes, it's more a matter of getting the right recruits from the USHL along with good coaching. Both Western and Bowling Green have had quite a few USHL recruits on their rosters for a number of years but have still languished near the bottom of the CCHA standings. Just having USHL recruits isn't enough in and of itself to guarantee success.

This is true Bill, Dan Barczuk proves this point in a nutshell.