Re: Michigan Tech 2013-2014: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Realignment
Mel Pearson show summary for 12-16:
Love it up here, one of reasons Mel came back, enjoy the area/people, snow doesn't bother Mel, wishes he could enjoy it more, no rink yet this year at the house
Moved to MN in Grade 7, lived across road from outdoor rink, at night after dinner/homework, head to rink for 2-3 hours a night, MN doesn't get snow, so outdoor rinks perfect
Asked one of our players if he's every skated outdoors, no, found it odd in a way, at some point think everyone has played/skated outdoors, GLI will be a unique experience
Last night, Mel was on live Comerica webcam, 2 zambonies out there, getting excited
On the weekend:
Disapointed in results, can't keep saying that, but we are, wanted more, at least 2 or 3 would've put ourselves in a good position, we're not in a bad position
Our last 3/4 games are as well as we've played, #1 creating scoring opportunites #2 liming opponents scoring chances, yes gave up 7 goals, but some of them Friday not Grade A chances
Bowling Green only outshot 2 times into the weekend, have played Ferris, Mankato, LSSU, we had more shots on goal then their attempted shots, may not see that again this year
We're generating a lot, stingy defensively, gave up 2 goals until crunch time, disapoitned we didn't get point for how well/hard we're playing, hang Mel's hat on the effort, if we continue that, points will come
Tied for 5th WCHA, 2 points out of 3rd, games in hand, 2 points are big, that's why Mel is so upset after Saturday
On Friday, 3-2 loss:
1st period, even, some grade A chances Eick, Furne, 2x1s, Petan cross bar, solid period, then they score on a wrist shot, Pheonix stops that 8 out of 10 times
Furne goal from Sturos/Baltus, those freshmen have played well, Mel's excited for them, they started slow, now they're staple in the lineup, play them against other temas top lines, Sturos/Rix/Baltus, they're smart kids, trust them defensively
From that point on we carried play, needed next goal, but BG goal, long shot, Pheonix got part of it, but goal, Pheonix has 1 save on 2 shots in 2nd
Downer after 2nd, we had dominated, attempted shots 31-10 that period, but losing
BG goal early 3rd, bad goal, shot from inside blueline, Dman could've played it better
Petan goal late 3rd after faceoff, play worked as planned, good job Kero/Pietila, Petan wide open
PP looked good, wish we weren't going into break, PP is getting better, getting cohesiveness on both units, 33% on the weekend
Sturos/Hanna both had 5 SOG, Sturos a few Grade A chances, Hanna has some confidence, almost too much, but confidence is good, rookie Dmen have a shot at being WCHA ballot for rookie team
Leibinger got hurt Friday, stinger, tried a few shifts, held him out Sat for precautionary
On Saturday 4-4 tie:
Result was tough, we ha a real good start to the 1st, but again down early on BG PP, even period, liked our start, real good job on faceoffs, much better than Friday
Pietila ties it 1-1, PPG, good for Blake, he's been pressing, another reason wish we don't want a week off, he had a good week of practice
Neville in 2nd, 2-1 Tech, breakaway, and delayed penalty so going on PP, really good rule and can really swing a game, nice job by Watson on stretch pass, good transition game/breakouts, these Freshmen Dmen doing well, they're battle tested
Neville battled, kept skating, good shot and hit the net, we've missed the net a lot, is Neville most all around player? He's physical, good on faceoffs, kill penalties, distribute puck well, plays the game right, Freshmen center hardest to come in an play
3-1 after Hietila redirect off Kero shot, nice play, goalie struggling to see where puck is, good wrist shot, got Hietila's stick, took advantage of delayed penalty on Neville goal
BG scores, 3-2, weak backhand, Pheonix save, but got rebound, Pheonix off angle, Dman should've come to shooter, we didn't communicate well, so Dman read it as 2x1 and stayed in middle, bad goal should've been tighter defensively
Kero makes it 4-2, 50/50 puck, Kero beats BG to the puck
Murphy for BG, 4-3 big rebound, we had 2 guys cheating defensively
Williamson 4-4, Dirk - not sure how penalty not called, tough play
Mel - yesterday just showed team the 4 BG goals, we learned from it, as showed 4th goal, Neville pointed out tripping, told Mike he's right but we have to play/manage the situation, could've done some things to prevent goal
Mel called league official, there were actually 2 trips, but the change of possesion leading to a scoring opp. have to call it, our players almost has puck, then BG blatantly trips Hanna, Hanna would've had the puck
Our players put so much time/effort into it, the situation was not good, both refs said they didn't see it but the pucks right there, tell Mel you blew it, we're all human/make mistakes
We still had an opportunity to win the game, 1 min in 3rd and OT, have to refocus, but we lost focus and struggled in OT, we were deflated.
No one walked out of rink feeling good about the game, that's where we've made strides. A few years ago we hope for a tie/win, now we expect to win, culture has changed. Attitued is where it needs to be. We have good kids, if we continue to play like last 4 games, we'll win a lot, Scoring will come, PP coming around.
Don't like to see kids disapointed, but in situations like that, they want to do well, please fans, alumni, family etc. Culture has changed, we're in a good spot, anxious for 2nd half.
Every point is important,got 1 point moved up to tied for 5th, the way this league is tiebreakers will come into play for home ice, it'll be a great battle
At BG will be good games, they hadn't been outshot all year, we put up 40+ shot, easy to be negative, but look at the games and how well we're playing, eventually, rome wasn't built in 1 day, they're learnign how to win, seniors have been through some tough times here, can't wait for MSU at GLI
Questions for Mel:
How big of a roster are we taking to GLI?
Because it's break, we can take whole team there. All 29 players will be there. We can dress 18 skaters and 3 goalies.
Told team would like to get everyone involved in the game. Last year won 1st night, put in 4 or 5 players next night. Conditiong can become a factor with break, want everyone to experience outdoor games. But we need to put our best foot forwards.
Tough on guys that don't play. Our coaching staff trying to put best team on ice, give MTU best chance to win every night. Tough decision, some don't understand why Player A over PLayer B, but we watch every day and watch games over & over. Rate all our players.
After GLI will team come back to Houghton?
We play @ LSSU after GLI. We will not, we'll stay in Detroit, practice and attend winter classic. We'll have to practice Xmas eve, that's our gift to players, so we will take them to winter classic.
We have a handful of leftover tickets for winter classic, call Mike Stevens. $150 a piece, not cheap. Once in a lifetime event. Mike Stevens: 906-370-7717
Could Winnipeg Jets advise Jamie to go elsewhere for more playign time?
Sure Jets could do that. Depending on where they see him. Jamie wants to play. He just has to wait for his chance. We like him as a goalie.
Why'd go back to Pheonix? We challenged him after Friday, give him opp to take on that challenge. He did, played well Sat, can't fault him at all on Sat. goals.
Do you see #7 playing more minutes going forward? Sturos is passing tape to tape.
Sturos has done a good job, made great strides. Good intensity, comes to practice to get better and with somethign to prove. He's pushed and come outside comfort zone. Made good strides, getting more ice time.
We rewards our players, see things going on everyweek, rewards players doing a good job. Some players have been here for years, so have some money in the bank. Harder for young guys, need to get credit up before they get too much.
What is reasoning behing guys going from being scratches to PP?
The process isn't going from scratch to 4th line to 3rd line. Certain guys play certain roles. In practice some guys work on PP, so when in game they play PP. Neville has played every game, has a big role. So a playering coming in may play PP before Neville. A lot of time we see a guy has PP potential but not playing in games, maybe a few poor games or not great in practice.
A lot of little things.
Are some of questionable calls due to historic reputation?
I hope not. They did a prety good job this weekend, but a critical time they chose to swallow the whistle.
Do refs review game footage to review missed calls?
They're supposed to watch every game to get a feel on calls, positioning etc.
Is new WCHA a better league than expected?
No, expected it to be good because of coaching/players and the way teams work. Watched Ferris @ Michican last Wed and beat MSU this weekend, Mankato made NCAA last year. BG is an up and coing programm.
UAF has made NCAA tourney in last few years. Throw in new coaches buzz at UAA, and LSSU has good players, tied Union. Knew it'd be a goood leage, thought maybe tougher than old WCHA, may not have star power but has work ethic.
What grade do you give yourself 2.5 years into rebuilding program?
It's not for me to judge myslef. Am I satisfied? No. I've got to do better, we need to stay positive and build this program. We want to do it the right way. Envision getting to the top and staying there every year. Don't want to get there 1 time and then bang, drop off for awhile. Want to have a chance, like at MIchigan with the run of NCAA apperances.
It takes time, building recruiting relationships, starting to do that, see fruits of our labor. It's a work in progress, incomplete grade, with a lot of work to do. We'll get there. Very buillish on MTU and the future of this program.
Tell fans, thanks for support and coming out. A long time until Jan 24, hope to see a lot of people then.
NO Mel P show next week, the GLI games will be on FS Detroit.
