LSSU Lakers 2014-15

[Bill]

I am really curious how many players will be brought in next season with only 3 guys leaving. Seems Whitten has 6 or 7 players recruited for the coming season.

My best guess at this point is that we'll see the following new guys next season:

Cuglietta (F)
Nellis (F)
Torrel (F)
Hayes (F)
Henke (F)
McArdle (D)
Kossoff (G)

And there possibly may be more. A lot depends upon whether everyone returns next season. If one or more guys didn't come back, that will obviously effect who else we might see next season

I think Headrick is a maybe/maybe not. If he doesn't come in next season, he'll be here the following season. I think the coaches would like to see him go play in the USHL for a season (or even the NAHL, say with the Eagles) prior to suiting up for the Lakers, especially since he had to have shoulder surgery and missed most of this season. But he could be here next season. We'll see.

I think Henke is probably a recruited walk-on. He played at Maine for a season and then went back to Juniors.


Edit: I just saw that we have a new recruit (Jake Hand) and he's a 94 birth date so he will be coming in next season.
http://www.chilliwackchiefs.net/lea...ID=19000&playerID=1068804&teamID=408657&pos=F

 

[Bill]

Spending the money is at the discretion of the AD, not the coach. So both Roque and Whitten have had very little say in it.

Roque himself said the recruiting budget increased the last couple of years. He stated that on the Laker Hockey Show while he was still coach.

 

[DopeyBaker]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

It seems that recruiting became worse once Laprade became an assistant, as far as offense goes.

The offense has been bad for decades now. The scoring actually went up a little the 3 seasons when Laprade was the assistant.

Year Goals Conf. Rank
00-01 1.89 12th/12 teams
01-02 1.36 12th/12
02-03 1.43 12th/12
03-04 2.14 11th/12
04-05 2.29 11th/12
05-06 2.68 8th/12
06-07 2.32 11th/12
07-08 2.32 9th/12
08-09 2.61 6th/12
09-10 2.36 9th/12
10-11 2.11 9th/12
11-12 2.53 7th/12
12-13 2.26 9th/12
13-14 2.50 8th/10
14-15 1.67 9th/10

 

[Laker Hockey Fanatic]

Roque himself said the recruiting budget increased the last couple of years. He stated that on the Laker Hockey Show while he was still coach.

You sure do hate Roque, don't you? Hummmmmm wonder why that is?!

 

[Laker Hockey Fanatic]

Roque himself said the recruiting budget increased the last couple of years. He stated that on the Laker Hockey Show while he was still coach.

Was NOT Back to the Attack money ... but I think you know this! Do you remember another thing Roque said? They didn't recruit in the USHL because Lake State couldn't afford the expensive flights to get recruits into Chippewa County Airport.

 

[Laker Hockey Fanatic]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

Interesting factoid ... the players are moving off campus next year. And it was Whitten's decision. Let's see ... don't think that's going to end well. Anyone care to spin this one?!

 

[Lakers-88-92-94]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

Edit: I just saw that we have a new recruit (Jake Hand) and he's a 94 birth date so he will be coming in next season.
http://www.chilliwackchiefs.net/lea...ID=19000&playerID=1068804&teamID=408657&pos=F

Jake Hand seems to be scoring at will in the BCHL, which is a high scoring league anyways, but this is a big get and could be one of those guys 3-4 years down the road that could be a difference maker for our club. 6-3 195 is great size and should be a dominant net front presence. I also like the 8 PP goals he has so far this year. We can definitely use some big guys up front that will tip the puck or slam home rebounds. I'm really excited for this guy and Nellis as well as Cuglietta.
It may take these guys a little while to adjust and reestablish that scoring touch once they make the leap but this is some really good talent that the coaching staff is bringing in. Team that with a young but improving D-core, we could see some leaps as soon as next year! Look at NMU and Bemidji, both teams with young talent that are helping to drive them to relatively successful seasons. I think we'll see quite a few more wins next year and maybe finish anywhere between 5th-8th.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

Jake Hand seems to be scoring at will in the BCHL, which is a high scoring league anyways, but this is a big get and could be one of those guys 3-4 years down the road that could be a difference maker for our club. 6-3 195 is great size and should be a dominant net front presence. I also like the 8 PP goals he has so far this year. We can definitely use some big guys up front that will tip the puck or slam home rebounds. I'm really excited for this guy and Nellis as well as Cuglietta.
It may take these guys a little while to adjust and reestablish that scoring touch once they make the leap but this is some really good talent that the coaching staff is bringing in. Team that with a young but improving D-core, we could see some leaps as soon as next year! Look at NMU and Bemidji, both teams with young talent that are helping to drive them to relatively successful seasons. I think we'll see quite a few more wins next year and maybe finish anywhere between 5th-8th.

No question that the Lakers recruiting focus for the Junior ranks is now the BCHL and USHL. The coaches seem to be hitting both of those leagues pretty hard. Not that other leagues are being ignored. We have some commits from a couple of the Ontario leagues as well.

 

[jnacc]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

No question that the Lakers recruiting focus for the Junior ranks is now the BCHL and USHL. The coaches seem to be hitting both of those leagues pretty hard. Not that other leagues are being ignored. We have some commits from a couple of the Ontario leagues as well.

Yes, its nice to have a coaching staff with the proper connections to these two leagues....leagues where the bulk of college talent comes from. I've long argued that leagues in Ontario were watered down and no longer had the talent to justify time and resources spent on them and while the NAHL remains a quality league, it seems that league provides more of your depth style players rather than your offensive catalysts.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

Yes, its nice to have a coaching staff with the proper connections to these two leagues....leagues where the bulk of college talent comes from. I've long argued that leagues in Ontario were watered down and no longer had the talent to justify time and resources spent on them and while the NAHL remains a quality league, it seems that league provides more of your depth style players rather than your offensive catalysts.

The OJHL in particular was too watered down. I haven't kept track of the change in number of teams, but to their credit they have dropped several teams over the past 5 years or so.

 

[davyd83]

Yes, its nice to have a coaching staff with the proper connections to these two leagues....leagues where the bulk of college talent comes from. I've long argued that leagues in Ontario were watered down and no longer had the talent to justify time and resources spent on them and while the NAHL remains a quality league, it seems that league provides more of your depth style players rather than your offensive catalysts.

the NAHL is viable as a source as long as the kids you go there for are the ones you can still moves up to the USHL, BCJHL or Manitoba or Alberta for a year after the NAHL. Most of those who are aging out of the NAHL are, as you said, depth players.

 

[jnacc]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

the NAHL is viable as a source as long as the kids you go there for are the ones you can still moves up to the USHL, BCJHL or Manitoba or Alberta for a year after the NAHL. Most of those who are aging out of the NAHL are, as you said, depth players.

Oh don't misunderstand me, the NAHL is still a very good league (Big Eagles fan here) and I would rank it higher than Manitoba and Alberta but it's just that the absolute best college bound talent rests in the USHL while the BCHL seems to continue to churn out good offensive players. No doubt that the Laker staff should continue to keep close tabs on the NAHL.

the OJHL in particular was too watered down. I haven't kept track of the change in number of teams, but to their credit they have dropped several teams over the past 5 years or so.

Yeah the OJHL has contracted to around 22 teams, they once had 34 or 35 and the weaker teams in that league could have been soundly beaten by a good AAA midget squad..they were that bad. The league is somewhat more competitive now but it still really isn't producing that much in the way of D-1 talent and it would rank near the bottom in terms of spending recruiting dollars or time.

 

[jsmithe]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

I am not a very knowledgable person when it comes to recruiting, so the various league names I see and hear tossed about don't really register. Would there be a consensus as to whether certain leagues are better at turning out NCAA caliber players than others?

 

[QUAlum2004]

I am not a very knowledgable person when it comes to recruiting, so the various league names I see and hear tossed about don't really register. Would there be a consensus as to whether certain leagues are better at turning out NCAA caliber players than others?

The best players play in the USHL while I rank the BCHL 2nd behind. Then it's probably the NAHL/AJHL followed by every other league. If you want talent recruit the USHL and BCHL heavily but start recruiting these kids when they are playing in U16 programs.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

I am not a very knowledgable person when it comes to recruiting, so the various league names I see and hear tossed about don't really register. Would there be a consensus as to whether certain leagues are better at turning out NCAA caliber players than others?

Tops overall is the USHL. Tops in Canada is the BCHL.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

I am sure the lakers tried their best tonight . Problem is the team has just about zero talent and all you can hope for is they give their best no matter how little it may be and the question is,did they give their all tonight at Northern ? Also it is 5 to nothing in the third period . The Lakers have a backup goalie who has seen next to nothing playing time all season. Was the number two goalie sick or hurt ? If he was not sick or hurt , why the hell don't they give him some ice time. The game was over . It was a shutout and still no back up goalie getting some ice time . COACHING STAFF.SHOW SOME CLASS AND GIVE THE BACK UP SOME ICE TIME.

 

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

I am sure the lakers tried their best tonight . Problem is the team has just about zero talent and all you can hope for is they give their best no matter how little it may be and the question is,did they give their all tonight at Northern ? Also it is 5 to nothing in the third period . The Lakers have a backup goalie who has seen next to nothing playing time all season. Was the number two goalie sick or hurt ? If he was not sick or hurt , why the hell don't they give him some ice time. The game was over . It was a shutout and still no back up goalie getting some ice time . COACHING STAFF.SHOW SOME CLASS AND GIVE THE BACK UP SOME ICE TIME.

Gordie was left hung out to dry on a few of the goals. One of NMU's goals was tipped in too. Wasn't his fault tonight and not his fault the offense can't do squat. Lakers need to be more aggressive around the opposition's net (crashing the net) and do a better job of screening goalies.

EDIT: UAA loses again. I believe we can clinch a playoff spot with a tie and a UAA loss coming up. But if we play like we did tonight, I'm not counting on that to happen.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

Our newest recruit, Jake Hand, had 2 goals and was the first star of the game last night for Chilliwack.

We'll likely see Jason Bird and Jayson Angus in the lineup for the Lakers tonight. Damon wasn't very happy with the team's play last night.

 

[RapidsCity]

I am sure the lakers tried their best tonight . Problem is the team has just about zero talent and all you can hope for is they give their best no matter how little it may be and the question is,did they give their all tonight at Northern ? Also it is 5 to nothing in the third period . The Lakers have a backup goalie who has seen next to nothing playing time all season. Was the number two goalie sick or hurt ? If he was not sick or hurt , why the hell don't they give him some ice time. The game was over . It was a shutout and still no back up goalie getting some ice time . COACHING STAFF.SHOW SOME CLASS AND GIVE THE BACK UP SOME ICE TIME.

It's quite possible that this guy began the season as the 4th goalie for a reason. Maybe the coach was not wanting to risk 5-0 becoming 7 or 8-0. It was an ugly game.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

It's quite possible that this guy began the season as the 4th goalie for a reason. Maybe the coach was not wanting to risk 5-0 becoming 7 or 8-0. It was an ugly game.

Whitten himself said in an interview with Crawford that he would like to get the back up goalie some ice time but that every game was important and Defiel was playing well and they needed the wins. Last night there was no win even if Northern had sat their goalie out for the entire third period.