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LSSU Lakers Hockey: 2017-18

Deman said:
Considering there are guys that come in as 21 year old freshman, it's not surprising that there may be a one or two in the bunch. And that's their decision, they're adults.

And I did say rumors. I do not know first hand, since I'm not affiliated with the team, and while you generally wouldn't want to deal with that on your team, as long as they go out onto the ice and perform, then that's what matters in the here and now, though I would hope the team would do whatever it needed to do to get the guy help instead of wasting his future potential.
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That’s fair and thanks for expanding on that.

There are several rumors about Whitten’s coaching style, mind games and treatment of his players, that are certainly out there as well, but no first hand account as I, like yourself, have no affiliation with the team.

The results on and off the ice after 3 1/2 and the progress of this team under him, speak for themselves.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers Hockey: 2017-18

Truth Serum said:
That’s fair and thanks for expanding on that.

There are several rumors about Whitten’s coaching style, mind games and treatment of his players, that are certainly out there as well, but no first hand account as I, like yourself, have no affiliation with the team.

The results on and off the ice after 3 1/2 and the progress of this team under him, speak for themselves.
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Let's be honest. Rich Metro wants that job.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers Hockey: 2017-18

eye4talent said:
Let's be honest. Rich Metro wants that job.
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That's a whole other discussion. Whitten was the first time the Lakers had a HC that wasn't from Anzalone's coaching tree, and we're where we're at now. However, you look at the post-Jackson years, there's a whole lot of mediocrity there too. (I suppose you could say he's part of Mason's tree, not sure if they really tie together or not offhand)

So the question becomes: Do we hire from within, like we have in the past - in which case Rich would likely be a leading candidate. Or do you hire externally again, hoping for a better initial result?

To be honest, I'm not sure which direction I would take at this point.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers Hockey: 2017-18

Deman said:
That's a whole other discussion. Whitten was the first time the Lakers had a HC that wasn't from Anzalone's coaching tree, and we're where we're at now. However, you look at the post-Jackson years, there's a whole lot of mediocrity there too. (I suppose you could say he's part of Mason's tree, not sure if they really tie together or not offhand)

So the question becomes: Do we hire from within, like we have in the past - in which case Rich would likely be a leading candidate. Or do you hire externally again, hoping for a better initial result?

To be honest, I'm not sure which direction I would take at this point.
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When that inevitable time comes, replacing Whitten and how the school conducts the new hiring process, will tell a lot about the future of the program, and which direction the new AD wants to go.

I wouldn't think they would form another "committee" with a former coach as the kingpin, and that selection not exactly working out very well.
 
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Deman said:
That's a whole other discussion. Whitten was the first time the Lakers had a HC that wasn't from Anzalone's coaching tree, and we're where we're at now. However, you look at the post-Jackson years, there's a whole lot of mediocrity there too. (I suppose you could say he's part of Mason's tree, not sure if they really tie together or not offhand)

So the question becomes: Do we hire from within, like we have in the past - in which case Rich would likely be a leading candidate. Or do you hire externally again, hoping for a better initial result?

To be honest, I'm not sure which direction I would take at this point.
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But I thought everything would get better if we just fired Roque...or Frank...or Borek. This is just like the Anchorage crowd the is screaming for Matt Thomas’ head. And Shyak before him...and Dean Talafous...
Tech is leaps and bounds above us and they think they’re having a lousy year. Minnesota St & Bowling Green are once again at the top of the league. Anchorage & LSSU are once again not in a battle for the top seed or home ice. They’re trying to catch Huntsville just to make the playoffs. What do those top programs do that the bottom teams don’t?
 
Re: LSSU Lakers Hockey: 2017-18

RapidsCity said:
But I thought everything would get better if we just fired Roque...or Frank...or Borek. This is just like the Anchorage crowd the is screaming for Matt Thomas’ head. And Shyak before him...and Dean Talafous...
Tech is leaps and bounds above us and they think they’re having a lousy year. Minnesota St & Bowling Green are once again at the top of the league. Anchorage & LSSU are once again not in a battle for the top seed or home ice. They’re trying to catch Huntsville just to make the playoffs. What do those top programs do that the bottom teams don’t?
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If we could answer that question, we wouldn't be looking up at 57 other teams right now.

I'm sure a lot of it comes to funding. Both UAA and LSSU aren't doing well financially. Fairbanks isn't doing well either, but I think they funnel more money to that program than they do UAA's. The only way to fix that is to increase enrollment, really. Sure, filling Abel Arena would help, and should be the end goal, but the school needs to do something to get students interested in coming up here.

Regardless of all that, whomever is coaching next season is going to have to reach out into the community as quickly as they can to try and get the fans hyped up for next season. Radio, paper, doesn't matter. If Whitten gets an extension, he best get ahead of the way this season went - as full transparency as they can. A new coach will have to try to smooth things over, and explain how they plan to get us 1) back to where we were (i.e middle-bottom of the pack in the playoffs) and 2) Even better than before.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers Hockey: 2017-18

Back to the games at hand, the Lakers pretty much have to sweep Ferris this weekend to maintain any hope of making the playoffs. Even then they would still be a point out of the playoff race and would still probably have to put together some type of winning/unbeaten streak of several games to stay in the hunt.
 
Re: LSSU Lakers Hockey: 2017-18

I am willing to see Whitten get more time but the coaching staff needs to take a hard look at themselves and ask if they are improving or teaching the players a system they are comfortable in and if not, set up a new game plan .
 
Re: LSSU Lakers Hockey: 2017-18

I have to give the coaching staff a high five. Somehow you manged to put one horrible team out on the ice. Are you thinking play offs or hoping you don't finish in 10th place ?
 
Re: LSSU Lakers Hockey: 2017-18

The Lakers are a weak heartless team. I'm dead against Whitten getting any kind of contract extension.
 
PerkyforPrez said:
The Lakers are a weak heartless team. I'm dead against Whitten getting any kind of contract extension.
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At the end of the season Whitten needs to be let go. Simply put he has lost this team and they won’t play for him. He never had the pedigree or resume to get the job in the first place, IMHO, and that statement gets more and more validated each season and game.
 
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Truth Serum said:
At the end of the season Whitten needs to be let go. Simply put he has lost this team and they won’t play for him. He never had the pedigree or resume to get the job in the first place, IMHO, and that statement gets more and more validated each season and game.
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We got what we paid for. Lowest or second lowest paid staff in the league. Looking back on it, the previous coach may actually have over achieved. But it was just a few years ago that the same comments were being made about him. The team doesn’t want to play for him. They’ve quit. Etc. Etc. Etc. And the same was said about Frank. And the same stuff was said around town about Scott. Lake Superior State University. Where Sixth Place is a Dream.
 
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