Re: Michigan Tech 2012-13 Season II - Beware of Huskies in the Spoiler Role...
Mel Pearson show summary for 3-11:
All schools closed, Mel was a little late, so Dirk went through Friday goals on his own
Tech will be at UND this weekend: 8:37, 8:07 and if necessary 8:07
Mel on Friday:
Nervous all game, got the lead, but had opportunities to put some distance between Tech and CC, but with 1 goal lead never felt comfortable
We had some chances, but Howe played very well, he was the key to CC all weekend
How gave up some rebounds, we had talkeda bout that, we got too tight to the net, he kicks them well out, we changed some things Sat to not drive the post as hard
We were shooting smart, far side pad so it could bounce out
Had a 5x3 PP Friday - too deliberate with the puck, typically defense doesn't move much, we kind of stood with it, need to move puck crisply, haven't practiced 5x3 much, haven't had one for a long time
Dirk - Changes to the PP, maybe Blake more in the middle? Mel - we did tweak it, we'll continue to it, want 2 diff looks, trying to throw PKers off, with all the film, other temas have seen our PP
On Saturday:
CC scores first too bad, the longer they go without scoring the more frustrated they get, CC got right buy our guy, CC guy just one-timed the puck, good goal
CC scores next 2 in 2nd period, one goal was mishap behind the net, early in the week decided to play both goalies, to get both in the games, ready for playoffs, tough goal to giveup, can't give gimmes
We held their top guys in-check for the post part, their 3/4th line did the damage for the most part
we played ourselves into a position to win both games
They scored 9 secs into a PP, have to win faceoffs, good shot by CC, hits two of our guys and goes in
Petan blast from the point to make it 3-1, top shelf
We had generated some good scoring opportunities, back in 1st we had first 4/5 Grade A chances, have to finish
Gordic to make it 3-2, Gordice playing so well
CC makes it 4-3, key to the game, we had all the momentum and played well, miscue/bad bounce, we had control/Defensemen made a pass that CC got, they got it to the slot, Rapussi, going down as he shoots
Outshot them 22-9 in 2nd, we were playing well, we continued to put pressure on, out players played hard/played to win
Kero 54 secs into 3rd makes it 4-3, CC didn't take Kero out of the play after his shot, huge goal
From that point, we pushed the pace, we took some penaltyes that kept us from gaining more momentum
On Blake's boarding call: talked to ref, felt it was a vicous hit, both guys are racing for the puck, it wasn't an illegal hit, however, becuase of velocity and where it occured, caused refs to call it, not from behind, not charging, CC guy reched for the puck, put himself in bad position
Pulled goalie, had one chance, but didn't get enough pucks to the net
We had 82 attempted shots to CC 37, Final Shots 49-24
Rix line minus 2, they were out for CC 1st goal, didn't do a good job in the corner, out sticks should've been on the puck so they can't pass, 2nd breakdown they watch the CC guy go right buy them, also out for Pheonix mishap goal
Have to all be plus players in a game
On the 2013-14 WCHA schedule:
Good tough schedule, exciting, some fresh teams
Some teams on the rise too, Bowling Green one their playoff seires last weekend, some good young talent, they made it to the CCHA final 4 last few years
MInnesota State up and coming, interesting to have both Alaska schools too
Great schedule, coupled with our non-conference schedule, maybe the best of any team in our league or college hockey, will be an exciting schedule to play
Tech/NMU games - WCHA says both games at same site for a weekend - will they be home and home? Probably will, Walk and Mel have to work that out. We've talked about doing that to break it up for our fans. It'll be a great rivalry. The points will be important.
They will be the first league games of our season next year.
Nov 1/2 and 8/9 games should be scheduled, wont be a bye, THe 8/9 weekend shoudl be at home - contract done for that a Big 10 team
Very challenging schedule, but very exciting, we want to play the best, in non-conference we're making the commitment to play the best teams we can and travel to some tough venues
That's the only way your team gets better, it'll be difficult but fun
On the Alaska trip: UAA before Thanksgiving and Fairbanks after, good to play all 4 games in one trip, save some money for us, we'd be at Tech for Thanksgiving anyway
Any talk about Fairbanks being on Thursday/Friday? Yes there's some talk about that, Fairbanks coach and Mel are talking about it, Maybe even Wed/Friday, they want the mid week game and then just after Thanksgiving.
Hopefully we can do that.
Dirk - Alabama-Huntsville for Carinval Mel - haven't looked at the schedule that closely yet. THey'll do a good job, their coach has been around, he'll do a good job.
No questions for Mel -
dj@themix93.com with questions
On UND Next weekend:
They gave it to us that weekend in December, they play well, they play hard and they've got talent
Kristo, Knight, Grimaldi and Rowney, 4 guys that are just really good, they had a big weekend against us
It'll be huge challenge for us to come out of there going to the final five, they've won 9 games since christmas and we've won 8
We've been better in 2nd half, they've been playign well, it'll be a hard fought series
Their 4th line is big/strong, Hackstole gives them shifts, not sure how much they play, but with possibly 3 games in 3 night have to play all 4 lines
Mel likes our team, likes our 4 lines, any of our lines can score, good speed, playing better defensively than December, goaltending much better than back then
