LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

Every year we have some very good recruits coming in and every year we are at the bottom . But Notre Dame has a bunch of NHL recruits and they did nothing this year. I do think Whitten and his coaching staff have been selling Lake State and the future of hockey at the university . It seems the coaching staff is selling a level of excitement about the direction of the team that is grabbing the interest of some very good Junior players who want to be part of the rebuilding process .

I can't argue with you on any of your points but one of the differences from the last few seasons is where the recruits are coming from. How many years have loyal Laker fans like us wanted to see recruiting in the USHL or the BCHL and AJHL ? True this last season was very hard to get through for fans and I'm sure players but I'm not feeling as low at this time as I have the last 4 or 5 seasons. Heck I'm not really low at all the Future is looking bright for Laker Hockey. Next year will be better then the next then the next.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

Anthony Nellis with a goal and an assist tonight in a Pembroke 3-2 OT win against Brockville.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

I would like to find out how many colleges went after this Nellis. The way he seems to be scoring makes me wonder if he is this good . Why Lake State over all the power house schools in the nation ?

 

[geezer]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

I would like to find out how many colleges went after this Nellis. The way he seems to be scoring makes me wonder if he is this good . Why Lake State over all the power house schools in the nation ?

Many schools have certain academic standards
I'm kidding, the kid's a genius for all I know.

In truth, Coach Whitten spent several years building relationships in the BCHL etc. that seem to be bearing fruit now that he has his own program to run.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

I would like to find out how many colleges went after this Nellis. The way he seems to be scoring makes me wonder if he is this good . Why Lake State over all the power house schools in the nation ?

Nellis played for Sherbrooke in the Quebec Junior A Hockey League (QJAHL) up until this past season. That league isn't scouted very heavily by college scouts and thus doesn't get much NCAA exposure. I think his goal was to get an NCAA Div 1 scholarship so he moved to the CCHL (Pembroke) for more exposure this season, his last of Junior eligibility. I think Pete Aubry probably saw him play in an early season CCHL Showcase event, liked him a lot, then Metro and Whitten also watched him play as a cross check. We got on him early once he was playing in the CCHL and he committed to us.

I think the CCHL has been producing more Div 1 players the past 5 or 10 years. It's mostly scouted by Eastern schools, but we've been getting some guys from there also and I know Ferris has too. And UAH's goalie Guerriero came out of the CCHL.

 

[blackswampboy]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

I think the CCHL has been producing more Div 1 players the past 5 or 10 years. It's mostly scouted by Eastern schools, but we've been getting some guys from there also and I know Ferris has too. And UAH's goalie Guerriero came out of the CCHL.

BG has four guys from the CCHL.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

What is the math with recruits coming in next year, and positions available? I'm curious to how many cuts Whitten is going to be making. My count is 9 incoming players, with 3 seniors, makes for an interesting situation. I'm not as smart as many on here (see below) but that makes for potentially five or six cuts and players heading home.

Bill with your vast knowledge of all things recruiting, can you add your insight into this matter, and interject? I'm sure you will correct me if I am mistaken sir.

I don't think any of us know for sure how many new guys we'll have next season. It's been discussed before. You're welcome to go back and read it if you care to you. Keep in mind that the Lakers also lost Kevin Aldridge. I think most of us are aware that there will likely be a few guys not coming back next season,

 

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

If the Lakers and the Badgers played in a best of three series this season, I think the Lakers could actually beat them. What a sorry season for Wisconsin.

 

[Laker Hockey Fanatic]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

Thanks for the info Bill, I forgot about Aldridge leaving. I think there will be at least 6 players cut by Whitten, looking at it from a pure numbers perspective.

Question I have for those close to the team and some of the players is this, after one year, has Whitten earned the respect in the locker room and with his players? Has he earned respect in the community as a whole? I think these are valid questions for any coach coming in, or in general.

The body count is at 5 so far. 3 scholarship athletes have been cut and 2 walk-ons.

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

Where has LakerBlue been ?

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

No, just trying to pose some questions, as a Laker Hockey fan, regarding players that might not be back next season, for whatever reason, and their and others feelings about this coach and the respect he may or may not be garnering, on a forum discussing all things, Laker hockey.

I think they are very valid questions, and not answering them may be as telling as if people did.

Why didn't you post any similar concerns when Roque was coach? He cut players.

 

[Bill]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

I've been a member of this forum for a matter of weeks Bill, so that would not be possible, or irrelevant for the current discussion on the 2015-16 off-season.

You seem to be close to the team, and have all the answers, can you answer the question I posed above? Has Whitten in this past year earned the respect of his players or the community as a whole?

As a Laker hockey fan I would like to know which players won't be coming back next season? And yes Bill, Roque, Anzalone, Borek, Jackson, and all before have cut players.

For a matter of weeks under this user name, yes, but I doubt there are many Lakers fans that frequent this forum who don't think you've been on here under prior user name(s).

I follow recruiting pretty closely but I don't live near the Soo and don't know any players or what the community's perception of Damon is. Most fans on here are happy with him and willing to give him a chance. A better time to ask that question is after he's been coach a few years. One season of being a head coach is not much to go on.

 

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

The body count is at 5 so far. 3 scholarship athletes have been cut and 2 walk-ons.

I see you are spewing your hate towards Damon and Laker Hockey on twitter again.

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

I will ask that question when it's that time, but it's not a few years, and it's not the last nine years, its 2015 off-season, as the thread says.

When a question is posed on who might be the players being cut, because of all the new recruits and the pure numbers of it, or if the coach has earned respect from his players and the community is posed, instead of making all sorts of crazy theories or connections to whom is asking the question, can anyone actually answer the questions?

I agree Bill, one year isn't a lot to go on, but you still have to acknowledge it, and the things going on with the program.

Laker fans have been starving for a winning team for years. No matter what the threads name is it's still ok to talk about general Laker Hockey topics.

This has been a very difficult season for all involved from fans to players and everyone in between and quite a few fans saw that coming. I think Damon is a good man and his job is tough and I think if you get to know him you'll find he's passionate and very likeable. I do respect him but I do feel for the players that were brought in with a coach that does not get retained so a new coach comes in that implements a system and buckles down on strength and conditioning. When the players get his system down and he gets more of his recruits in and the better results come he will be fine.

 

[sm2pk]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

This year was a freebie for Whitten . Next year the clock starts and time will be the judge .

 

[PerkyforPrez]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

This year was a freebie for Whitten . Next year the clock starts and time will be the judge .

I guess that's what I was trying to get at.

 

[LSSULaker889294]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

This year was a freebie for Whitten . Next year the clock starts and time will be the judge .

I doubt it will take just two years for Damon to fix Jim Roque's big mess that he left behind. It took Mel four years to build Tech into the great team they are today.

 

[coachlakerbakerfan]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

No, just trying to pose some questions, as a Laker Hockey fan, regarding players that might not be back next season, for whatever reason, and their and others feelings about this coach and the respect he may or may not be garnering, on a forum discussing all things, Laker hockey.

I think they are very valid questions, and not answering them may be as telling as if people did.

I do apologize. I can't figure out how I got the two of you confused.

Listen, Eddie ... I have only one screen name. Up until I created this account, I would only troll the board as a guest. That was until someone started taking pot shots at my Twitter account, compelling me to defend myself.

I'm not going to get into a ****ing match with "Bill" (or as I call him, Al) over this. I tell it like it is on my Twitter account. Maybe people need to develop thicker skin if they're going to play a D1 sport. Fans are supportive AND critical of their team when it's called for. I'm not going to sensor myself and poop out rainbows and unicorns when the team isn't producing. I like W's. Plain and simple.

I'm glad you don't expect us to share ALL your opinions, wouldn't think you would be that arrogant. As a Laker fan, I have higher expectations in my team. Leading the nation in losses isn't one of those. Uncalled for to point that out and what their performance is on the ice under this coach? You can't be serious??? This is Divison I athletics grow some thicker skin.
I already did, I'm a Laker fan who expects better, don't peg me into the groups that you like to create for those that don't aspouse to your agenda, or even dare to disagree with the all knowing Bill on the USCHO board.

 

[Dougie G]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

It seems it was a throw away year for The Lakers. Seems some players may have gotten thrown away in the process.Only time will tell tough for players brought in from previous coach I'm sure.

 

[Seawolf Fan]

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

Outsider trolling.
IMHO it doesn't matter what the old coach did or didn't do. That's the past and can't be changed. It is what it is.
New coach comes in and wants what he thinks will make the team successful.
That would be to whatever his expectations are for physical fitness.
Play whichever way he wants you to play.
The guys he brings in he thinks will be up to his expectations.
If you are a team veteran you either are better than what coach brings in or you're cut.
Put the players you think will bring you success over several years on the ice.
These aren't Mites and everybody gets a trophy.
Coach either reaches a certain level of success or he's out of a job.
For the time he had between his hiring and season start and the players he had to work with it would appear that he did a pretty good job.
A throw away year?
Not the way I see it.