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LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

Methinks it is time for the administration and the Board of Trustees to take a hard look at their hockey program, and direction that Damon Whitten is taking them. Look at how this team finished, "embarrassing themselves" this weekend, according to the legendary Voice of the Lakers, Bill Crawford. The Lakers were outworked, outmuscled, and dominated in every facet of the game, and simply gave up at the end. Effort is something that doesn't necessarily require the most talented players, or more money thrown toward recruiting and the woe is me attitude down there, when it comes to finances and how unfair it is to compete. The preparation for the playoffs is questionable under a coach that finished once again way below .500 and is now 1-6 in playoff games, not winning a playoff series.

I keep hearing about the youth factor, and how inexperienced this team is (in large part to the what would be upperclassmen from the previous coach being pushed out or not asked to come back) Not buying it. Look at Bemidji State and their young defence, they finished first. That's coaching. That's a team and players getting better when they get to a place, and a reason why some currently on the good ship Laker, might have jumped ship, or be looking at better options.

The Lake State administration needs to evaluate whether it’s willing to put the resources into competing at the Division 1 level or whether they’re just happy to be bottom dwellers in the WCHA, with enrollment dropping, and interest becoming less and less over the same old Lakers. Running a hockey team is expensive and there’s no shame in admitting they don’t have the stomach to make it an elite level program. But if they’re planning to do a “nation-wide search” for a new coach in the future, it better be more than a king pin hand picked "committee" and more thorough than just a three-hour drive up the shore to Houghton to snag somebody’s assistant, who hasn't won anywhere he has been.

With the collapse this season, and this coaches three year body of evidence at the good ship Laker, it's not "fake news" to question the hire and where this once proud program is heading. It's freedom of speech, and much like those whom might disagree, I woke up in a free country, complete with it. If you don't like it, you don't have to read it, man.
 
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Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

with attendance dropping

Got these average attendance figures right here at USCHO. You sir are spreading more fake news or should I say "very fake news".

2013-14- 1,809
2014-15- 1,897
2015-16- 1,918
2016-17- 2,145

Average attendance has gone up every year in the Whitten era.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

Kris Bindulis has signed a 3 year entry level contract with the Washington Capitals.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

Kris Bindulis has signed a 3 year entry level contract with the Washington Capitals.

I think Kris has made a mistake but money talks. That's the nature of this business in all of college hockey. Good luck to him!
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

@MarkDivver: Madison Caps '98 defenseman Cole Hults commits to @FriarsHockey. Couple of Big 10 schools in mix, too. Former Lake State recruit
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

From the Hockey Show, it sounds like we're playing in a holiday tournament in Pittsburgh next season and then in the GLI the following season. Damon said the Notre Dame tournament is going on hiatus for a couple of years.
 
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Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

I think Kris has made a mistake but money talks. That's the nature of this business in all of college hockey. Good luck to him!

I haven't kept up with the incoming recruits; how does his early departure impact the D core for next season?
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

I haven't kept up with the incoming recruits; how does his early departure impact the D core for next season?

We lose his skating ability but it doesn't impact the recruits. At the end of this season we were down to 7 D after the departure of Headrick. Now we're down to 6 D. We have 2 incoming D, Tyler Anderson from Prince George of the BCHL and Lukas Kalble from Fargo of the USHL. That brings us back to 8 which I think is the ideal number. If Bindulis had stayed, we'd be at 9 which is a little high but Damon is always saying they are looking to make the team better when they can, so having 9 D next year would have added to the competition for playing time. It wouldn't surprise me greatly if they still added another D recruit for next season, but I hope they will only do that if they can add a very talented skater at that position. As far as I know, Chatham, Wright, Renz, Roll, McArdle and Saccoman will all be back on D. The 3 young D (Pilawski, Mannara, Kyte) we have waiting in the wings for the season after next are all supposed to be excellent skaters from what I've heard.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

From the Hockey Show, it sounds like we're playing in a holiday tournament in Pittsburgh next season and then in the GLI the following season. Damon said the Notre Dame tournament is going on hiatus for a couple of years.

Great news regarding the GLI. Kudos to Damon for getting the Lakers back in it. I believe the last time we were in the GLI was 1999.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

A few positives from the season:

Highest goal total (103) since at least 2010-11 (2011-12 had 102).
Most points for a player (Hults, 34) since at least 2010-11 (Alex Globke had 31 in 2013-14.)
Most goals for a player (Torrel, 14) since Dominic Monardio had 20 in 2012-13.
Most double-digit goal scorers since at least 2010-11 (2011-12 had 4).
Best +/- for a player (Chatham, +8) since at least 2010-11 (Zach Sternberg was +4 in 2011-12.)
Approximately 150 more people per game than last season.

Of course there were negatives to the year as well, but it seems just too easy to forget any positives, especially if you're getting baked in a sea of negativity.

2011-12 is the farthest back I can find player stats on the school's website.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

Great news regarding the GLI. Kudos to Damon for getting the Lakers back in it. I believe the last time we were in the GLI was 1999.
Damon also said he wasn't happy with the schedule for next season in terms of scheduling dates, not content. He is hoping that dates for some games can be moved around when he's at the post-season coaches meeting in Naples.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

Methinks the entire "hiring committee" from a few years ago must be flooding this board. Larry? How is it going, man.

I would love to have my performance eval written by this group, why excel when you can be muddled in mediocrity and stick your head in the sand to the reality of your program down there.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

God forbid we look at some positives when all you're looking at are the negatives, Baker. There is plenty that needs to be fixed, but firing a coach after 3 years seems a bit rash. If nothing changes after 1, maybe 2 years, I will get on board, unless we completely tank next season.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

God forbid we look at some positives when all you're looking at are the negatives, Baker. There is plenty that needs to be fixed, but firing a coach after 3 years seems a bit rash. If nothing changes after 1, maybe 2 years, I will get on board, unless we completely tank next season.
For a bit of context, LakerBaker was trashing Damon on here by the end of Damon's first season, which was before he even had a chance to bring in his first recruiting class.
 
For a bit of context, LakerBaker was trashing Damon on here by the end of Damon's first season, which was before he even had a chance to bring in his first recruiting class.

"Bill" quit living in the past, man. For a bit of realty, Whitten has had 3 years to get his own players in, and push some players out. The results speak for themselves. I'm sure next year will be different "Bill", you have been saying that for years on here, man, and methinks you are proven wrong time and time again, chum.
 
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Re: LSSU Lakers 2017 off-season thread

For a bit of context, LakerBaker was trashing Damon on here by the end of Damon's first season, which was before he even had a chance to bring in his first recruiting class.

I had to investigate. Oh man, this guy is a hoot!

3/13/2015:

What I'm saying here is this guy didn't have a record of accomplishment on his resume, and certainly hasn't helped his situation or this team in one year with their record on the ice, and his constant complaining off it and in interviews. All one has to do is go to the podcasts of the Laker Hockey Show or listen to his interviews after the game, where he, at times sounds snide and certainly unprofessional complaining about officials.

10/4/2015:

Lots of good things to take out of the game today. I really like the speed the Lakers showed and the intensity throughout the contest. They are light years ahead of where they were last season at this time, when coach Whitten inherited a total mess.

3/14/2016:

Damon Whitten should be in line for WCHA Coach of the Year. Class act all the way, no excuses, no fear. He is steering the good ship Laker back to its glory days, after the gutting of the program with the previous coach.

1/16/2017:

The talent level has increased thanks to the recruiting efforts of Team Whitten. What you have to remember, is this is a young team and it's going to take some time to develop. The schedule has been brutal, we caught a hot Northern team at the wrong time, had some long road trips, some bad puck luck, and the recipient of some horrible officiating.

Once this team gets healthy again and gains some more experience, methinks the good ship Laker, under the watchful eye of Damon Whitten, will make a big jump in the standings and be in the running for a home playoff spot and a chance to surprise some people. If not this year than in the years to come. It takes some time, man.

3/7/2017:

Methinks it is time for the administration and the Board of Trustees to take a hard look at their hockey program, and direction that Damon Whitten is taking them....

With the collapse this season, and this coaches three year body of evidence at the good ship Laker, it's not "fake news" to question the hire and where this once proud program is heading. It's freedom of speech, and much like those whom might disagree, I woke up in a free country, complete with it. If you don't like it, you don't have to read it, man.
 
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