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LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
- Thread starter LSSULaker889294
- Start date
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
Thank you to everyone who attended last night's Blueliner Hockey Banquet. It was great to see so many Laker Hockey fans in one room helping to celebrate the careers of our seniors. They will be greatly missed. Special thanks to Paul VanWagoner for hosting the event!
-Craig
Thank you to everyone who attended last night's Blueliner Hockey Banquet. It was great to see so many Laker Hockey fans in one room helping to celebrate the careers of our seniors. They will be greatly missed. Special thanks to Paul VanWagoner for hosting the event!
-Craig
michiganmidge
Veteran
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
Not very well attended. The majority of those in attendance were players and their families. A handful of blueliners. No faculty or staff, who usually come to this event. No AD. No coach(s). Less than 100 people total.
Aside from what was in the press release, how did the Blueliners banquet go?
Not very well attended. The majority of those in attendance were players and their families. A handful of blueliners. No faculty or staff, who usually come to this event. No AD. No coach(s). Less than 100 people total.
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
I suspect that Whitten and Dunbar were down in Naples. There is a hockey coaches convention going on down there this week, and I think there was also a WCHA meeting going on there. LSSU press release indicated Tim Christian and Doug Laprade were at the BlueLiners banquet.Not very well attended. The majority of those in attendance were players and their families. A handful of blueliners. No faculty or staff, who usually come to this event. No AD. No coach(s). Less than 100 people total.
DopeyBaker
Registered User
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
Were you there? I know of coaches, faculty and staff that were in attendance. Why would you make all of these thing up?
Not very well attended. The majority of those in attendance were players and their families. A handful of blueliners. No faculty or staff, who usually come to this event. No AD. No coach(s). Less than 100 people total.
Were you there? I know of coaches, faculty and staff that were in attendance. Why would you make all of these thing up?
AnchorsAway
Registered User
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
Dopey I woundn't believe anything midge says anymore, he/she has lost all credibility in my eyes and remains fixated on the JR departure...just another of the many trolls that we have had too many of lately!
Were you there? I know of coaches, faculty and staff that were in attendance. Why would you make all of these thing up?
Dopey I woundn't believe anything midge says anymore, he/she has lost all credibility in my eyes and remains fixated on the JR departure...just another of the many trolls that we have had too many of lately!
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
At least Pink Pony was suspended by the Board, although I'm not sure for how long.Dopey I wouldn't believe anything midge says anymore, he/she has lost all credibility in my eyes and remains fixated on the JR departure...just another of the many trolls that we have had too many of lately!
PerkyforPrez
Registered User
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
I didn't go to it this year because of other obligations but I heard it was very nice.
I didn't go to it this year because of other obligations but I heard it was very nice.
PerkyforPrez
Registered User
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
Bill, have you heard anything on the recruiting lately. It will be interesting to see the pipeline opened to the USHL.
Bill, have you heard anything on the recruiting lately. It will be interesting to see the pipeline opened to the USHL.
PaulVanWagoner
New member
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
Well I would say this is Highly False. Coach Laprade, Coach Christian were there ... I sat with members of the Faculty, and there were lots of professors there. At least 50 blue liners, and the only player to not have someone there was Campbell (Understandable). There were Moms, Dads, Aunts, Uncles, Brothers, Sisters, and even some cousins of seniors. Guess the rule here is if you don't know make it up, and it will become fact. Craig... Thank you for the kind words. To the Seniors Thank you for your four years. To the haters... Blow it out your......Not very well attended. The majority of those in attendance were players and their families. A handful of blueliners. No faculty or staff, who usually come to this event. No AD. No coach(s). Less than 100 people total.
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
I don't know what Whitten's philosophy on roster size is, but we lost 9 guys and so far have 4 recruits and 1 transfer lined up for next season, so there obviously is still work to do. I imagine Whitten will be more actively involved with recruiting for next season when he gets back from the coaches convention. No doubt he's already been making some phone calls.
Only the press release that indicated the verbal commitments we received after the Fall signing period followed up and signed/submitted their LOIs, which means none of them bailed with the coaching change. And none of the earlier signings bailed either. Once Roque was fired, I think that pretty much put recruiting on hold until a new coach was named. The exception to that may have been that Christian and/or Laprade may have followed up with our recruits to make sure they still wanted to come to LSSU.Bill, have you heard anything on the recruiting lately. It will be interesting to see the pipeline opened to the USHL.
I don't know what Whitten's philosophy on roster size is, but we lost 9 guys and so far have 4 recruits and 1 transfer lined up for next season, so there obviously is still work to do. I imagine Whitten will be more actively involved with recruiting for next season when he gets back from the coaches convention. No doubt he's already been making some phone calls.
RapidsCity
New member
Well I would say this is Highly False. Coach Laprade, Coach Christian were there ... I sat with members of the Faculty, and there were lots of professors there. At least 50 blue liners, and the only player to not have someone there was Campbell (Understandable). There were Moms, Dads, Aunts, Uncles, Brothers, Sisters, and even some cousins of seniors. Guess the rule here is if you don't know make it up, and it will become fact. Craig... Thank you for the kind words. To the Seniors Thank you for your four years. To the haters... Blow it out your......
How dare you confuse the issue with fact.
AnchorsAway
Registered User
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
I can't speak for anyone else but I highly appreciate the recent postings from both Mr. Krouth and Mr. VanWagoner, thank for offering reliable information on topics that many of us would be unable to otherwise verify/confirm.
I can't speak for anyone else but I highly appreciate the recent postings from both Mr. Krouth and Mr. VanWagoner, thank for offering reliable information on topics that many of us would be unable to otherwise verify/confirm.
RapidsCity
New member
Tony is done. A new Pres is on the way, or did you miss that?What I was getting at is far bigger than Dunbar. You need to hunt bigger game than here. Set you sights on McLain. Either hold his feet to the fire about improving all things LSSU, ranging from hockey, academics, and that all important enrollment numbers. Or get him booted and replaced with somebody who is going to get shibby done. You put a shibby kicker in charge of LSSU, a lot of good things will happen that will have long term success for LSSU.
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
Hear,hear.I can't speak for anyone else but I highly appreciate the recent postings from both Mr. Krouth and Mr. VanWagoner, thank for offering reliable information on topics that many of us would be unable to otherwise verify/confirm.
michiganmidge
Veteran
Dopey I woundn't believe anything midge says anymore, he/she has lost all credibility in my eyes and remains fixated on the JR departure...just another of the many trolls that we have had too many of lately!
Say what you will! The banquet was NOT what it's been in years past - THAT is fact! And it seems that no one has reported the fact that every single player, except one, thanked Jim Roque for everything he did for them as their coach!! How 'bout them apples?!!!
Say what you will! The banquet was NOT what it's been in years past - THAT is fact! And it seems that no one has reported the fact that every single player, except one, thanked Jim Roque for everything he did for them as their coach!! How 'bout them apples?!!!
A great crowd. I was there. Great energy. Everyone is excited for the fresh start. Nobody slamming roque, and the players showing great class.
Whitten may or may not win. But I am excited for a fresh start.
michiganmidge
Veteran
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
This is an open forum, where everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Unfortunately, anyone who doesn’t share YOUR opinion gets labeled a troll. It is no secret that I think the AD made a big mistake in getting rid of Roque. While at Lake State, he fulfilled the most important aspect of his job – his players did well in the classroom, got good grades, were respectful and respected, and graduated on time. They are student athletes and this is the overall goal. Roque also had a great eye for talent. He recruited and developed many quality players during his tenure. Most recently were Lain and Czuczman – who both finished school and graduated in 3 years – and went on to sign pro contracts. The unfortunate part of the equation is that Roque was not supported by his AD. He did not get the things from her that he needed in order to finish above .500. He was limited in budget; limited in personnel (did not have 2 full time assistants or video guy); limited in marketing and promotion (there was nothing impactful done); basically limited in resources – all of which the AD could have supported him with. She chose not to. She chose not to go to bat for Roque. These were all aspects of her job that she SHOULD have done, but chose not to.
So you may be asking yourself just what DID she do. As a season ticket holder, I have seen some of the things she did do. She targeted and policed the student section because she didn’t like their cheers. She took away the inflatable sticks that students were using to make noise. She stood over the student section and took photos of individuals whose behavior she did not like. She kicked out students who showed up with pots and pans to make noise to support their team. She dismantled the ‘Blue Crew’ by killing their attempt to cheer for and support their team because she didn’t like how these college students chose to cheer. All of this seems ridiculous, but it’s true! I ask you, what other AD in the WCHA does this?!
Then there’s the ticket office. The stories are numerous. For those of you who aren’t aware, the AD oversees the ticket office and the activities of the ticket office. One such story involves a Laker fan who attempted to come in and buy tickets on a Tuesday. The ticket office was not open and this fan saw the AD in the hallway, so she told the AD that she wanted to buy tickets. The AD said the office manager is off today, sorry, but you can come back tomorrow. The fan comes back the next day and the office manager is still not there and the office is closed again with a sign that it will be open at 2pm. This fan made two trips to the Norris Center attempting to buy tickets and got no tickets. The person who is responsible for the activities of the ticket office does not even know how to go in there and sell a ticket, and to top it off, acted aloof like she really didn’t care. That’s because she doesn’t! Someone tried to give the university money and was turned away twice!
The college now has a bright, shiny new hockey coach. And I wish him well. But, given the track record of the AD, I’m not holding my breath. She’s spent a lot of time micromanaging things that are ridiculous; can’t even perform the simplest functions of the ticket office; and more importantly didn’t provide the resources needed for ANY coach to be successful. I’ve only cited a few details regarding the efforts (or lack thereof) of the AD – there are many more. I am a season ticket holder, and I see this stuff all the time. I find it most difficult to believe that any other AD from any other school is performing the functions of their job in the same way the AD at Lake State is doing hers. If the Lakers don’t have the winning season you all crave going forward, look no further than the AD. It’s time for a change!
Dopey I woundn't believe anything midge says anymore, he/she has lost all credibility in my eyes and remains fixated on the JR departure...just another of the many trolls that we have had too many of lately!
This is an open forum, where everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Unfortunately, anyone who doesn’t share YOUR opinion gets labeled a troll. It is no secret that I think the AD made a big mistake in getting rid of Roque. While at Lake State, he fulfilled the most important aspect of his job – his players did well in the classroom, got good grades, were respectful and respected, and graduated on time. They are student athletes and this is the overall goal. Roque also had a great eye for talent. He recruited and developed many quality players during his tenure. Most recently were Lain and Czuczman – who both finished school and graduated in 3 years – and went on to sign pro contracts. The unfortunate part of the equation is that Roque was not supported by his AD. He did not get the things from her that he needed in order to finish above .500. He was limited in budget; limited in personnel (did not have 2 full time assistants or video guy); limited in marketing and promotion (there was nothing impactful done); basically limited in resources – all of which the AD could have supported him with. She chose not to. She chose not to go to bat for Roque. These were all aspects of her job that she SHOULD have done, but chose not to.
So you may be asking yourself just what DID she do. As a season ticket holder, I have seen some of the things she did do. She targeted and policed the student section because she didn’t like their cheers. She took away the inflatable sticks that students were using to make noise. She stood over the student section and took photos of individuals whose behavior she did not like. She kicked out students who showed up with pots and pans to make noise to support their team. She dismantled the ‘Blue Crew’ by killing their attempt to cheer for and support their team because she didn’t like how these college students chose to cheer. All of this seems ridiculous, but it’s true! I ask you, what other AD in the WCHA does this?!
Then there’s the ticket office. The stories are numerous. For those of you who aren’t aware, the AD oversees the ticket office and the activities of the ticket office. One such story involves a Laker fan who attempted to come in and buy tickets on a Tuesday. The ticket office was not open and this fan saw the AD in the hallway, so she told the AD that she wanted to buy tickets. The AD said the office manager is off today, sorry, but you can come back tomorrow. The fan comes back the next day and the office manager is still not there and the office is closed again with a sign that it will be open at 2pm. This fan made two trips to the Norris Center attempting to buy tickets and got no tickets. The person who is responsible for the activities of the ticket office does not even know how to go in there and sell a ticket, and to top it off, acted aloof like she really didn’t care. That’s because she doesn’t! Someone tried to give the university money and was turned away twice!
The college now has a bright, shiny new hockey coach. And I wish him well. But, given the track record of the AD, I’m not holding my breath. She’s spent a lot of time micromanaging things that are ridiculous; can’t even perform the simplest functions of the ticket office; and more importantly didn’t provide the resources needed for ANY coach to be successful. I’ve only cited a few details regarding the efforts (or lack thereof) of the AD – there are many more. I am a season ticket holder, and I see this stuff all the time. I find it most difficult to believe that any other AD from any other school is performing the functions of their job in the same way the AD at Lake State is doing hers. If the Lakers don’t have the winning season you all crave going forward, look no further than the AD. It’s time for a change!
AnchorsAway
Registered User
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
Midge, I never said anybody wasn't entitled to their opinion, I dropped the "troll" because you are claiming information that is not true as fact (regarding the Blueliners banquet) and remain fixated on defending the merits of Jim Roque, have you been as prolifically ridiculous as Pink Pony? No, so in that sense I apologize for calling you a troll.
Now then, to the matter of your post: I do not disagree with much of what you are saying, I have been critical of Dunbar in the past, just not as far as the coaching search was concerned, because i do believe she did a fine job, and I said as much. I do believe the entirety of both the game day, and the day-to-day operations of the hockey program deserves a face lift. The student section and game day atmosphere should not be nearly contained as it is, especially when the attendance figures have been as low as they have been, anything promoting more of a home-ice atmosphere no matter how creative or silly (I.E. pots and pans) should be allowed if not promoted, as long as it is within reason, and I believe the examples you gave certainly are.
As far as the ticket office is concerned, if even any part of the stories you mentioned are true then this needs serious attention, especially with the aforementioned attendance woes LSSU has dealt with in the past. I am not saying the ticket office specifically should be staffed every day of the week, because that is not feasible, however there absolutely should be somewhere on campus that tickets can be purchased during business hours every day of the work week...we need as many people in the seats as possible!
I am in lockstep with you when it comes to the job Jim Roque did in making sure the players on the team were thriving in their studies, and I might add, acting with class off the ice. Many of Roque's players didn't just graduate, they graduated with honors, and that is to be applauded, because you are correct, after all these are STUDENT-athletes. During my times at LSSU I got to see many of the Lakers up close in off-ice situations and the vast majority exhibited very acceptable conduct, with a few exceptions, but that is to be expected from any group of 18-24 year olds...the important part is that those bad apples were the exceptions and not the rule, and in that respect i feel the culture of conduct displayed by Roque's Lakers was indeed a positive one.
Not to belabor the point anymore than it already has been, because it is clear you and I will never agree on whether Roque deserved to be fired; but your complement of Roque regarding his ability to recruit quality talent is precisely why I felt he shouldn't be retained. It was abundantly clear that the level of talent that Roque recruited to LSSU markedly improved as he progressed through his tenure, going from a situation where our first line players would be 3rd or 4th liners on most teams, to a situation where we were seeing multiple Lakers sign high level pro contracts, some even before they fulfilled their eligibility, and for that Roque again should be commended. His Achilles heel was being able to get more out of that improved talent. 5 of Roque's last 6 seasons LSSU finished with a sub .500 record (and they year they finished over, it was only by a game) despite that marked increase in talent. I know that you contend that Roque wasn't successful because he did not receive adequate support from the school and AD and I believe that is true...but only to a point. In my opinion he had enough of a jump in talent that he should have been able to produce much more discernible improvement on the ice than he did. Saying that success is so dependent on the amount of support the coach receives from the AD that it renders a large level of talent improvement on the ice inconsequential to the team's success is a notion that I simply don't believe is the truth.
This is an open forum, where everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Unfortunately, anyone who doesn’t share YOUR opinion gets labeled a troll. It is no secret that I think the AD made a big mistake in getting rid of Roque. While at Lake State, he fulfilled the most important aspect of his job – his players did well in the classroom, got good grades, were respectful and respected, and graduated on time. They are student athletes and this is the overall goal. Roque also had a great eye for talent. He recruited and developed many quality players during his tenure. Most recently were Lain and Czuczman – who both finished school and graduated in 3 years – and went on to sign pro contracts. The unfortunate part of the equation is that Roque was not supported by his AD. He did not get the things from her that he needed in order to finish above .500. He was limited in budget; limited in personnel (did not have 2 full time assistants or video guy); limited in marketing and promotion (there was nothing impactful done); basically limited in resources – all of which the AD could have supported him with. She chose not to. She chose not to go to bat for Roque. These were all aspects of her job that she SHOULD have done, but chose not to.
So you may be asking yourself just what DID she do. As a season ticket holder, I have seen some of the things she did do. She targeted and policed the student section because she didn’t like their cheers. She took away the inflatable sticks that students were using to make noise. She stood over the student section and took photos of individuals whose behavior she did not like. She kicked out students who showed up with pots and pans to make noise to support their team. She dismantled the ‘Blue Crew’ by killing their attempt to cheer for and support their team because she didn’t like how these college students chose to cheer. All of this seems ridiculous, but it’s true! I ask you, what other AD in the WCHA does this?!
Then there’s the ticket office. The stories are numerous. For those of you who aren’t aware, the AD oversees the ticket office and the activities of the ticket office. One such story involves a Laker fan who attempted to come in and buy tickets on a Tuesday. The ticket office was not open and this fan saw the AD in the hallway, so she told the AD that she wanted to buy tickets. The AD said the office manager is off today, sorry, but you can come back tomorrow. The fan comes back the next day and the office manager is still not there and the office is closed again with a sign that it will be open at 2pm. This fan made two trips to the Norris Center attempting to buy tickets and got no tickets. The person who is responsible for the activities of the ticket office does not even know how to go in there and sell a ticket, and to top it off, acted aloof like she really didn’t care. That’s because she doesn’t! Someone tried to give the university money and was turned away twice!
The college now has a bright, shiny new hockey coach. And I wish him well. But, given the track record of the AD, I’m not holding my breath. She’s spent a lot of time micromanaging things that are ridiculous; can’t even perform the simplest functions of the ticket office; and more importantly didn’t provide the resources needed for ANY coach to be successful. I’ve only cited a few details regarding the efforts (or lack thereof) of the AD – there are many more. I am a season ticket holder, and I see this stuff all the time. I find it most difficult to believe that any other AD from any other school is performing the functions of their job in the same way the AD at Lake State is doing hers. If the Lakers don’t have the winning season you all crave going forward, look no further than the AD. It’s time for a change!
Midge, I never said anybody wasn't entitled to their opinion, I dropped the "troll" because you are claiming information that is not true as fact (regarding the Blueliners banquet) and remain fixated on defending the merits of Jim Roque, have you been as prolifically ridiculous as Pink Pony? No, so in that sense I apologize for calling you a troll.
Now then, to the matter of your post: I do not disagree with much of what you are saying, I have been critical of Dunbar in the past, just not as far as the coaching search was concerned, because i do believe she did a fine job, and I said as much. I do believe the entirety of both the game day, and the day-to-day operations of the hockey program deserves a face lift. The student section and game day atmosphere should not be nearly contained as it is, especially when the attendance figures have been as low as they have been, anything promoting more of a home-ice atmosphere no matter how creative or silly (I.E. pots and pans) should be allowed if not promoted, as long as it is within reason, and I believe the examples you gave certainly are.
As far as the ticket office is concerned, if even any part of the stories you mentioned are true then this needs serious attention, especially with the aforementioned attendance woes LSSU has dealt with in the past. I am not saying the ticket office specifically should be staffed every day of the week, because that is not feasible, however there absolutely should be somewhere on campus that tickets can be purchased during business hours every day of the work week...we need as many people in the seats as possible!
I am in lockstep with you when it comes to the job Jim Roque did in making sure the players on the team were thriving in their studies, and I might add, acting with class off the ice. Many of Roque's players didn't just graduate, they graduated with honors, and that is to be applauded, because you are correct, after all these are STUDENT-athletes. During my times at LSSU I got to see many of the Lakers up close in off-ice situations and the vast majority exhibited very acceptable conduct, with a few exceptions, but that is to be expected from any group of 18-24 year olds...the important part is that those bad apples were the exceptions and not the rule, and in that respect i feel the culture of conduct displayed by Roque's Lakers was indeed a positive one.
Not to belabor the point anymore than it already has been, because it is clear you and I will never agree on whether Roque deserved to be fired; but your complement of Roque regarding his ability to recruit quality talent is precisely why I felt he shouldn't be retained. It was abundantly clear that the level of talent that Roque recruited to LSSU markedly improved as he progressed through his tenure, going from a situation where our first line players would be 3rd or 4th liners on most teams, to a situation where we were seeing multiple Lakers sign high level pro contracts, some even before they fulfilled their eligibility, and for that Roque again should be commended. His Achilles heel was being able to get more out of that improved talent. 5 of Roque's last 6 seasons LSSU finished with a sub .500 record (and they year they finished over, it was only by a game) despite that marked increase in talent. I know that you contend that Roque wasn't successful because he did not receive adequate support from the school and AD and I believe that is true...but only to a point. In my opinion he had enough of a jump in talent that he should have been able to produce much more discernible improvement on the ice than he did. Saying that success is so dependent on the amount of support the coach receives from the AD that it renders a large level of talent improvement on the ice inconsequential to the team's success is a notion that I simply don't believe is the truth.
LSSULaker889294
Registered User
Re: LSSU Lakers 2014 off-season thread (part 2)
Midge, are you still going to start up the Fire Kris Dunbar page on Facebook?
Also any word on if Tim Christian will stay on? I've heard it will be a big loss if he's not retained.
Midge, are you still going to start up the Fire Kris Dunbar page on Facebook?
Also any word on if Tim Christian will stay on? I've heard it will be a big loss if he's not retained.