LSSU Lakers 2014-15

[Laker Dude]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

Roque did the scheduling. Having Tech on the first day of practice with no scrimmage was his call so that they could play in this Florida tournament. I'm sure the WCHA has a lot of say in most of the conference scheduling in terms of when games are but I do know that at least the Tech series was Roque's call in order to fit the tournament. Not trying to stir the pot for the Roque supporters, just saying what I've heard from people in the department. As far as Thanksgiving though, not sure why we continue to get stuck with a home series for what seems like at least 4 years now.

As Perky said, the Lakers are scheduled to be in South Bend next Thanksgiving, so that will end the 4 year streak of home series over thanksgiving.

Hopefully the Lakers don't waste a 12 hour/650 mile trek to North Dakota to get shutout both times.

It seemed like a much better idea to make the trip this weekend, when I booked the air-fare back in August. At least they sell beer at the arena in North Dakota.

 

[Yooper_by_choice]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

Roque did the scheduling. Having Tech on the first day of practice with no scrimmage was his call so that they could play in this Florida tournament. I'm sure the WCHA has a lot of say in most of the conference scheduling in terms of when games are but I do know that at least the Tech series was Roque's call in order to fit the tournament.

Roque was let go before the schedule was even close to being done. Hence, hardly no home games. I believe the A.D. would truly have the last call.

 

[Lakers-88-92-94]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

Roque was let go before the schedule was even close to being done. Hence, hardly no home games. I believe the A.D. would truly have the last call.

I'm simply stating why we played Tech during the first weekend of practices and why some things are the way they are on the schedule. That Thanksgiving series is not some ploy by the AD to continually have a home series that weekend, obviously the conference made it that way. As for non conference games, those are generally booked two years in advance so you tell me why Roque was unable to lock in any home games and how that is inherently Kris Dunbar's fault coming into this year when that should have already been planned. Now, the Roque firing is gonna screw us probably for next year because we won't have solid bookings for home non-conference but the year after we should see more once Damon is able to have time to talk to other schools and figure out the scheduling. I still wouldn't expect to see the Michigans or the Minnesotas but perhaps MSU who has been down and is Whitten's alma matter and maybe other old CCHA teams like Western and/or Miami.

 

[Yooper_by_choice]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

That Thanksgiving series is not some ploy by the AD

I'm not so sure. She would hound the students and check the tickets to make sure they were in the right seats. A.K.A. the pots and pans. She made sure that the students were not a part of the game.

 

[Lakers-88-92-94]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

I'm not so sure. She would hound the students and check the tickets to make sure they were in the right seats. A.K.A. the pots and pans. She made sure that the students were not a part of the game.

Regardless, at the end of the day I'm sure she understands the decrease in revenue because of these holiday games. Also, you're a joke if you think she doesn't want students at the game, say what you will about the pots and pans incident but I'm pretty sure she had to give final approval of the building of the Laker Legion which is a great place for students to enjoy the game and get free giveaways.
I've also seen Damon stop by there prior to the game and welcome students. Sure she may have had her past bad decisions on the pots and pans guys but I think the environment is getting better for students. Also, I'm not sure if you attended PITR but those **** cowbells are still ringing in my ears, so as far as artificial noise makers, I think their annoying and pointless.

 

[Yooper_by_choice]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

Regardless, at the end of the day I'm sure she understands the decrease in revenue because of these holiday games. Also, you're a joke if you think she doesn't want students at the game, say what you will about the pots and pans incident but I'm pretty sure she had to give final approval of the building of the Laker Legion which is a great place for students to enjoy the game and get free giveaways.
I've also seen Damon stop by there prior to the game and welcome students. Sure she may have had her past bad decisions on the pots and pans guys but I think the environment is getting better for students. Also, I'm not sure if you attended PITR but those **** cowbells are still ringing in my ears, so as far as artificial noise makers, I think their annoying and pointless.

You might as well go into the Kenneth J. Shouldice Library from what I have seen at the games for students. If you think that crazy fans do not help the team. Then you must of not played competitive sports.

 

[Lakers-88-92-94]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

I have and still do play competitive sports, I'm just not one that thinks artificial noise makers are enjoyable. I'm more rowdy than most at sporting events but I prefer to cheer and taunt the opposing team with chants rather than cooking utensils. I'm just saying that student participation is getting better over there and that it is a foolish thought to think the AD is sitting in her office thinking of ways to schedule games when students aren't in class. It's more the WCHA's fault than anything. Get real.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

First off: some of your bitter LSSU fans may not want to hear this, but the pieces are there to be put together. Simply put, you have a lot of young kids, you have a lot of guys from last year that everyone leans on to get things done that aren't in the Soo anymore, and you have a new coach with a new style. Oh, and Ciotti has missed games, presumably due to injury. You're going to struggle. UAH just had a season like that, save that we didn't have the talent base that LSSU has in terms of returning players. It's not any fun to watch, but I doubt you'll lose 30+ games.

Whitten is doing what Pearson did his first three years - fill the pipeline with guys that can play the speed/possession scheme that you want to implement. It's a phenomenon that is not limited to hockey. In fact, I think D1 football tends to be even more ruthless. At least new hockey coaches rarely make cuts to the rosters they inherit (and if they do, it's typically just one or two players).

If you want to call that stockpiling, then I guess you're out of touch with college sports.

I am coming into this thread very late, but I did want to point this. UAH did cut players (either five or six) last season. Now, it's bitten us as we had three kids who couldn't get past the NCAA barriers to entry and are either back in juniors (Smits, Salerno) or in school but not playing (Poulsen), but we pretty well had to do it. I saw someone mentioning Anzalone doing this his second time around, so I'm guessing that you have familiarity with it. I don't watch enough LSSU games to know if this should happen, but I wasn't really surprised by any of the UAH cuts.

GFM

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

First off: some of your bitter LSSU fans may not want to hear this, but the pieces are there to be put together. Simply put, you have a lot of young kids, you have a lot of guys from last year that everyone leans on to get things done that aren't in the Soo anymore, and you have a new coach with a new style. Oh, and Ciotti has missed games, presumably due to injury. You're going to struggle. UAH just had a season like that, save that we didn't have the talent base that LSSU has in terms of returning players. It's not any fun to watch, but I doubt you'll lose 30+ games.



I am coming into this thread very late, but I did want to point this. UAH did cut players (either five or six) last season. Now, it's bitten us as we had three kids who couldn't get past the NCAA barriers to entry and are either back in juniors (Smits, Salerno) or in school but not playing (Poulsen), but we pretty well had to do it. I saw someone mentioning Anzalone doing this his second time around, so I'm guessing that you have familiarity with it. I don't watch enough LSSU games to know if this should happen, but I wasn't really surprised by any of the UAH cuts.

GFM

Geof,

There are a small number of fans, who despite what they may claim, are still having trouble getting over the firing of Jim Roque and/or the hiring of Damon Whitten.

As far as scheduling goes, I've heard both Damon Whitten and Jim Roque say that scheduling is generally done a couple of years out. That doesn't mean finalized. Some tweaking of the schedule is often required each off-season (as Lakers-88-92-94 indicated was done for this season), but for the most part the schedule is pretty much set a year or two out.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

As far as scheduling goes, I've heard both Damon Whitten and Jim Roque say that scheduling is generally done a couple of years out. That doesn't mean finalized. Some tweaking of the schedule is often required each off-season (as Lakers-88-92-94 indicated was done for this season), but for the most part the schedule is pretty much set a year or two out.

This is true. We pretty much know who we're playing next year. The league figures out conference dates around the web of contracts that we all have to play non-conference tilts (see the UAH-NMU series from four weeks ago; it's been there for three years). Things do happen — see UAH having to shed all of its D-I dates for 2012-13 when, well, it didn't look like we'd be playing hockey. That created a ripple all around the landscape, but by the time that things had settled a few weeks later, only Mankato hadn't filled their date. Everyone always has some flexibility, but you generally know years in advance who's coming. Shoot, we had Denver coming to UAH in 12-13, but Gwoz leaving the Pios ended any chance of that happening, as Gavin Morgan's pull probably doesn't extend past his alumni donations.

I still hope that y'all will be watching TV again in the second week of March.

GFM

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

Geof,

There are a small number of fans, who despite what they may claim, are still having trouble getting over the firing of Jim Roque and/or the hiring of Damon Whitten.

As far as scheduling goes, I've heard both Damon Whitten and Jim Roque say that scheduling is generally done a couple of years out. That doesn't mean finalized. Some tweaking of the schedule is often required each off-season (as Lakers-88-92-94 indicated was done for this season), but for the most part the schedule is pretty much set a year or two out.

I agree this is true. The only tinkering that Damon did was move up the home series against Tech to free up the weekend to go down to South Bend. The Wcha sets the dates for the conference games.

 

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

It's safe to say the schedule this year sucks ***. I sure hope it's A LOT better next year.

 

[CKrouth]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

Damon Whitten told us at the Blueliner Board meeting that he wanted everyone to realize the WCHA prepares the conference schedule and gives it to each member school. Each University basically has very little control in determining who and when they play when it comes to conference schedule. The only way changes can be made is by switching at the Annual Meeting, but both coaches need to have similar off weeks and it is very difficult to do that. Also, most teams have non-conference games booked out multiple years so basically a new coach coming in is relying on what the old coach set up for at least a couple years out. Jim Roque made similar comments in the past about non-conference games being worked out several years in advance.

 

[Laker Dude]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

Damon Whitten told us at the Blueliner Board meeting that he wanted everyone to realize the WCHA prepares the conference schedule and gives it to each member school. Each University basically has very little control in determining who and when they play when it comes to conference schedule. The only way changes can be made is by switching at the Annual Meeting, but both coaches need to have similar off weeks and it is very difficult to do that. Also, most teams have non-conference games booked out multiple years so basically a new coach coming in is relying on what the old coach set up for at least a couple years out. Jim Roque made similar comments in the past about non-conference games being worked out several years in advance.

I believe Roque said that each team only gets to protect 1 weekend when it comes to conference scheduling.

 

[lakersparty]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

I just saw that Campus Den now has an LSSU section online: http://www.campusden.com/lssu-lakers.html

Passing it along because it's pretty hard to find gear for those of us outside of the Sault. With the USCHO shop no longer offering as much, it's nice to have another option other than only the LSSU bookstore.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

I just saw that Campus Den now has an LSSU section online: http://www.campusden.com/lssu-lakers.html

Passing it along because it's pretty hard to find gear for those of us outside of the Sault. With the USCHO shop no longer offering as much, it's nice to have another option other than only the LSSU bookstore.

Thanks lakersparty. I'll have to check out the Lakers gear.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

I just saw that Campus Den now has an LSSU section online: http://www.campusden.com/lssu-lakers.html

Passing it along because it's pretty hard to find gear for those of us outside of the Sault. With the USCHO shop no longer offering as much, it's nice to have another option other than only the LSSU bookstore.

Wow, the WCHA store has just three items at the time of this post: http://wchamen.teamfanshop.com/COLLEGE_Lake_Superior_State_Lakers

Considering that it doesn't take a lot of design time to produce the kinds of items that, say, UAH has up ...

GFM

 

[lakersparty]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

Wow, the WCHA store has just three items at the time of this post: http://wchamen.teamfanshop.com/COLLEGE_Lake_Superior_State_Lakers

Considering that it doesn't take a lot of design time to produce the kinds of items that, say, UAH has up ...

GFM

Yeah, I think most of the online stores (USCHO, WCHA shop, etc) are run by Fanatics.com now and the Lakers selection is pretty bare. The USCHO shop used to have some decent shirts for LSSU before Fanatics took it over. I wish somebody would make throwback national champions shirts. I'd buy a bunch of them.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

It was a fun game at 3-0,4-1 but the fun soon went away and got just to hard to listen to.

 

[Seawolf Fan]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2014-15

It was a fun game at 3-0,4-1 but the fun soon went away and got just to hard to listen to.

IMHO at this point I have to think Whitten is doing a heck of a lot more with that team then any of the Laker coaches in recent memory would have been able to do.
Please refer back to "IMHO".