Re: Michigan Tech 2012-13 Season II - Beware of Huskies in the Spoiler Role...
Mel Pearson show summary for 3-4:
We might know about playoffs after Friday, but it likely wont be until the last game is played Saturday night, makes for an exciting finish
Nice to be at home last weekend of season, look at CC, at Houghton and they know they'll be on the road for playoffs, we'll be at home for a good week of practice then head out on the playoffs
On implications of split at SCSU:
We could be going back to SCSU for playoffs, we talked about that, we'll be going somewhere, maybe SCSU, to be able to compete/have a good weekend is big for what we'll have to do for playoffs
We should gain some confidence knowing we can play in a place like St. CLoud, until you've done something, you don't really know you can do it
SCSU is 4 lines deep, and it's an experienced 4 lines, they've won a lot of hockey games, there's a reason they're in 1st place
On Friday:
came out of gates really well, until we took a penalty, we were better team, Furne Grade A chance off crossbar and post, not sure how it doesn't go in
LeBlanc scores, down 1-0, we took a penalty in nuetral zone, can't see it on film, may have been ticky-tack, unfortunately we put it in our net, Sweeney actually deflects it into the net
We had good chances in 2nd, even though they scored 3 goals, a couple more Grade A chances, but they go down and they score, good shot beats Pheonix high glove
Even before it was 0-3, Grodic was wide open in front of net, had a couple Grade A chances, didn't capitalize, thye score a couple more, 4-0 after 2
we were pushing the pace in 3rd, wanted a good 3rd to set us up for Saturday, when you get a goal it gives the team life, we turned up the head after that 1st goal
Goridc and JJ were on the same line at that time, worked out well, liked our lines this weekend, need speed/grit/defensive responsibility, those 2 played well together, good for Milos, he played very well this weekend
A. Pietila scores to make it 2-0, Eick/Rix did good work in the corner, Rix got the puck to the net, Eick got the rebound, he showed great patience on the pass to Aaron
We talked a lot about their goaltender giving up rebound and getting to the net
We did a real good job, I like our team, our PP was 1-1, our goaltending and defense has to be better, can't give up the 5 goals
We're playing well, delayed call against SCSU, they blow the whistle, Dirk thought because SCSU touched it, but no, linesman blew whistle because he thoguht Pheonix wasn't at bench before extra player jumped on the ice, Mel was upset, never see that called, maybe once in 30 years
Tech scores PPG, D. Johnstone can shoot the puck, good pass by Seigo, big goal, 4-3 with 5 min left
Bad bounce, SCSU was going to take a shot, breaks stick, weird hop off Hyland, in front of our net and SCSU puts it in, 5-3
Pulled goalie with 3:30 left, we were playing so well, felt real confident in our guys at that point, not a lot of Grade A chances, good zone time but couldn't get to the net
Shots: Tech 45 SCSU 37
Their goals were too easy, we had to work for all our goals, need to tighten up defensively, we talked about that a lot, we played hard from the opening drop
On Saturday's win:
Big win, tired of 1998 talk remind us about it, good for our team, long streak, it's not like we beat a last place team, a 1st place team in their building
it was a continuation on Friday night, real good meeting Saturday, made a goaltending change, all played into Saturday night
28 secs in, up 1-0, Kero, 8th goal of the season, from Sweeney and Petan
Note about Blake, he was running a fever, not feeling well, dressed an extra guy for warmups, might not have played, but he did have a strong game
Similar to Friday, played well, except it when in tonight, took a penalty, bad penalty called, big guy (JJ) against a smaller guy, but JJ comes out of the box and scores, 2-0
JJ's got a terrific shot, goalie had no chance, he's playing with confidence
Sweeney 32 seconds later, Dirk didn't realize he hadn't scored a goal, he walks between top of circles and fires it, heck of a shot
D. Johnstone in 2nd, to make it 4-0, Gordic is skating well, seperated SCSU guy from the puck, not a lot going on in 2nd, we got the critical goal, SCSU goalie change after that
Petan scores in 3rd, Kero got the puck to the front of the net, we work on faceoff plays, doesn't always work, a lot has to work for it work out in a game
SCSU goal, wrap-around, Phillips might not have realized what was happening, there was a delayed penalty, some may have thought the play was blown dead, tough goal to give up, he had played so well
Another SCSU goal disallowed with 57 sec left, only have overhead to look at, not sure it was even on video, they all got together and made the no-goal call
Tech wins 5-1, Shots SCSU 37 Tech 27, Tech PP 0-2 SCSU PP 0-7 , Phillips gets his first career win, fun in locker room presenting him with the puck, credit to him, hasn't started since December, tough physically and mentaly, goaltender competition now, which is good
Big ticket deal, $10 for adult tickets for Friday and Saturday, $5 for youth for the CC games
You'll se a great weekend of hockey, they play an entertaining style, we do too, prices are exceptional about 50% off
On CC:
They're led by Ryland Schwartz, very good hockey players, wasn't sure he'd be back, another senior that's come back and done a good job, they're creative offensively, fans are in for an exciting weekend of hockey
They're top 5 in the country on offense, they'll come after you, it could be high scoring, we'll try to shut them down, we're top 20 in offense, we've been playing well and put up some goals, fans will see exciting hockey
it's a great deal, pay tribute to our seniors, they had a few lean years, would like to send them off with a big crowd
Dirk: Is getting GAA down a goal for the rest of this season? Have to get GAA down. Told our guys to look at the scores, how many teams gave up 5 goals and won, there was 1. We wont outscore our mistakes, that's our goal, Sat was a good step forward, against NMU was good, need to be consistent. Part is goaltending, part is defensmen limitng mistakes, part is forwards helping out.
Questions,
dj@themix93.com
If we play at Anchorage and Fairbanks, do we get 4 extra games?
Yes you do, we've got a great schedule, we've got 2 contracts on my desk, 3rd is on its way, 4th will be done after season. One of those teams will come to Tech next year, we get the extra games and we'll use them.
Dirk, where is the league schedule at?
League schedule is done, we know our home and away days, non-conference games are also done. Want to wait for contracts, once we get them done, it'll be up to Suzanne to realease the schedule. Anchorage/Fairbanks are still back to back during Thanksgaving, wont miss a week of school.
Thoughts on Ron ROlston/Sabres - good for him, recruited him and coached him at Tech. He's done a good job, real good college coach, when he was at Ann Arbor saw him quite a bit. He'll do a good job, good hockey mind, pays atention to detail, a real studnet of the game.
Do you see him as an NHL head coach? Yes, he understand the game, even keel guy, good communication skills. Obviously, more succes he had/team the better off he'll be.
Senior banquet, noon Sunday after CC series, MUB Ballroom, reservations taken through 5PM Thursdar: (Dirk didn'st say how to make reservations)
if you have any interest, fun event some posters for signing, hear from seniors and they'll talk about their careers
An opportunity to celebrate our seniors, always a couple good stories from seniors
Scoreboard going in this summer:
Thanks to Suzanne Sanregret for all she's done to start the project, the Opies/Farells/Rockwells, we had key people come forward all through private donations, our supporters/alumni have come through
It'll enhance the game night experience, we'll use it for commencment/high school games
It'll help make te Mac the best facility in the new WCHA, it'll help with recruiting as well
Pregame, Dirk asked Bob Motzko about their facility upgrades, he made a comment that they went to Tech and looked at what Tech was doing with their keeping their older building modern with upgrades:
Mel - THe day to day people have done a good job with the Mac. The people that oversee the day to day operations, and Suzanne and the Opies that have done so much in that building to keep it modern, it helps recruiting, once we get the fans back on a regular basis it'll be great.
Dirk jokingly, who starts in net coach? We've got three that can play, they've all won, defer to Steve Shields, we've got competition, nice to see Jamie step up and show his teammates he can stepup and compete.
Looking forward to the games, come out support our seniors.
