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LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

RapidsCity said:
...and Frank left his behind the second time...and Roque left his behind...and Whitten had a Frank 2.0 like first season...Borek actually had a winning record two of his five seasons. But just like any other time in the Soo...fire the coach and it will get better. Except they've fired three, and it hasn't gotten any better. Four coaches. 19 years. The more it changes. The more it stays the same. Maybe it's more than just the name on the door of the coach's office. Hmmmmmm.....
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Borek inherited a team that still had pretty good talent. The general W-L trend while he was Laker coach was heading in the wrong direction. Yes he is regarded as a good recruiter and assistant coach, but he wasn't able to prove himself as a Div 1 head coach. The team had become very undisciplined by the time he was fired. His niche is probably as a top assistant and that's where it makes sense for him to be. When Frank was hired the second time, the team talent was pretty well depleted and it was pretty much a given that there were going to be some tough seasons ahead for the Lakers. Frank can coach. He did reinstall better discipline but we all know things didn't work out for other reasons. Roque also had a good reputation as a good recruiter and assistant coach but he too didn't prove himself as a Div 1 head coach and was given far more than enough time to try and show otherwise. If he were to return to college hockey, his niche is also probably as an assistant coach. Including Whitten in your discussion after only one season as head coach, and his first true recruiting class not even coming in until this Fall, makes no sense.
 
Bill said:
My understanding is that Morgan is a pretty good playmaker. How did he look in that respect, given that you haven't had a lot of chances to see him play.
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His speed is what creates the chances for himself and his teammates and is where he was most effective. Several times he would take a breakout pass and beat a defender cause odd man rushes. He wasn't as effective in the half ice sets.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

herbst20 said:
His speed is what creates the chances for himself and his teammates and is where he was most effective. Several times he would take a breakout pass and beat a defender cause odd man rushes. He wasn't as effective in the half ice sets.
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Thanks herbst20.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

Whitten and his coaching staff will own the responsibility from this season on. This past season was a freebie on their coaching abilities but starting this coming season, they are the owners .
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

I don't think it would be fair to judge the coaching staff on this coming season. I agree even with so many freshmen the Lakers should show improment from last year. I think Damon's 4th year should be the true telling of how he's doing. I'm pulling for him he's a good guy.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

PerkyforPrez said:
I don't think it would be fair to judge the coaching staff on this coming season. I agree even with so many freshmen the Lakers should show improment from last year. I think Damon's 4th year should be the true telling of how he's doing. I'm pulling for him he's a good guy.
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I agree, this year will still be much too early to judge the new staff. I am curious to see how some of the new recruits perform. At least they will not be playing with 5 feshman D and a freshman goalie this season to start.
 
Bill said:
Borek inherited a team that still had pretty good talent. The general W-L trend while he was Laker coach was heading in the wrong direction. Yes he is regarded as a good recruiter and assistant coach, but he wasn't able to prove himself as a Div 1 head coach. The team had become very undisciplined by the time he was fired. His niche is probably as a top assistant and that's where it makes sense for him to be. When Frank was hired the second time, the team talent was pretty well depleted and it was pretty much a given that there were going to be some tough seasons ahead for the Lakers. Frank can coach. He did reinstall better discipline but we all know things didn't work out for other reasons. Roque also had a good reputation as a good recruiter and assistant coach but he too didn't prove himself as a Div 1 head coach and was given far more than enough time to try and show otherwise. If he were to return to college hockey, his niche is also probably as an assistant coach. Including Whitten in your discussion after only one season as head coach, and his first true recruiting class not even coming in until this Fall, makes no sense.
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You get what you pay for.
 
RapidsCity said:
You get what you pay for.
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A lot of the time, yes. Sometimes you get more than you pay for, sometimes you get less. We've been fortunate enough to get very good results at times in the past despite not being able to pay a lot for it. It's not always just about the money.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

LakerBaker said:
By Year 9 we should have a good idea of what kind of coach Whitten is. He is already a master recruiter, and from what I hear, that 2022-23 class is going to the best one yet.
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Pretty funny.
We all want the program to turn around but get serious people. Your watch starts when you take over. Last year counts, next year counts on so on......

It was pointed out by many of you, and accepted by many of us, that because he was only an assistant coach, it was unfair to question why a coach would be hired that had NEVER been part of a staff that had a winning record. It was unfair to point out that at each of the schools he coached at previously they BROKE the school record for losses in a season (WSU, UAA, MTU).

Well people, that resume' now includes a head coaching position and it is entirely fair to hold him accountable for guiding the Laker team that broke the LSSU record for most losses in a season (28). This was in the new WCHA. Not the old CCHA playing UM, ND, MU, MSU etc.
The results have not changed but the job title has.

Yes we have a ton of recruits committed to execute the "magic system" down the road. There is hope.

This is not a Coach Whitton bash. I think one poster had it right. Regardless of what evolves with our program I don't falt the coaches. I see them being exactly what they were before they were hired. Results are results.

The falt points directly at the administration of the athletic program. Not for lack of funding as my understanding is that Coach Whitten is the highest paid coach in LSSU history and that the assistant coaching salaries are at an all time high as well. The falt is in the lack of knowledge and respect in administering and providing leadership and proper guidance for their only Division I sport.
 
Bill said:
A lot of the time, yes. Sometimes you get more than you pay for, sometimes you get less. We've been fortunate enough to get very good results at times in the past despite not being able to pay a lot for it. It's not always just about the money.
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Seriously.... It's about the money. The sooner whitten makes a good impression the sooner he will get a higher pay check and get the hell out of dodge. Gotta say I give him credit for having the balls to commit a kid that his step father was the coach of. Yes let's blame the administration for that decision. It's as if he's trying to make a mockery of this program. LSsu be proactive and launch your search for the next coach! Don't settle like you did a year ago.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

DM2SM said:
This was in the new WCHA. Not the old CCHA playing UM, ND, MU, MSU etc.
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New WCHA is a really good league and will be again this year. Two teams in the NCAA tourney last year with BGSU missing by 0.0001 of a point. I don't recall any of the teams you listed from the old CCHA being relevant the last 3 or 4 years in terms of NCAA post season play.

Laker fans still reliving the glory days of 30 years ago. This is yet another rebuilding project so you have to be patient. Losing wears on one's patience. Trust me, i'm a Tech fan. Damon may/may not be the right man. Only time will tell. From what I've seen, the recruiting seems to be trending upwards. Will that translate to improvement? Guess we'll find out soon enough
 
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InterestedLakerFan said:
Seriously.... It's about the money. The sooner whitten makes a good impression the sooner he will get a higher pay check and get the hell out of dodge. Gotta say I give him credit for having the balls to commit a kid that his step father was the coach of. Yes let's blame the administration for that decision. It's as if he's trying to make a mockery of this program. LSsu be proactive and launch your search for the next coach! Don't settle like you did a year ago.
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Perhaps you should wait and see what kind of player he will be for the Lakers before making off the wall comments like that. So what if he played for Whitten's stepfather a couple of seasons ago at Brighton HS. He's played the past couple of seasons for Little Caesars AAA team and wound up the team's leading scorer this past season. He's fast as herbst20 has indicated from seeing him at the Cedar Rapids camp so it looks like he fits Damon's uptempo style well. He's certainly a very good player at the AAA midget level he has been playing the past couple of seasons, From your post, it doesn't look like you made any effort to even determine how good of a player he is. It doesn't appear that you even care. All you seem to be interested in is bashing Damon Whitten.
 
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Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

I got a call from Ryan Renz thanking me for being a season ticket holder this past season. He says there will be a ticket renewal coming up in the next few weeks and there will be an early bird special as well. This is pretty cool and a great idea from Damon to try and drum up support.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2015 off-season thread

Bill said:
Perhaps you should wait and see what kind of player he will be for the Lakers before making off the wall comments like that. So what if he played for Whitten's stepfather a couple of seasons ago at Brighton HS. He's played the past couple of seasons for Little Caesars AAA team and wound up the team's leading scorer this past season. He's fast as herbst20 has indicated from seeing him at the Cedar Rapids camp so it looks like he fits Damon's uptempo style well. He's certainly a very good player at the AAA midget level he has been playing the past couple of seasons, From your post, it doesn't look like you made any effort to even determine how good of a player he is. It doesn't appear that you even care. All you seem to be interested in is bashing Damon Whitten.
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I believe most the Laker fans on here have been good about the coaches we have seen come and go with this team. No one called for Borek or Anzalone or Roque to be let go until we all had seen at least four years or more of their coaching and we knew it was time for a change. I think with Whitten, most will also give him at least four years or more before we reach a decision on his coaching and recruiting abilities.
 
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