Re: Michigan Tech 2013-2014: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Realignment
Anyone know what Dman didn't clear the puck for NMU's 1st PPG on Saturday, Mel was very passionate/frustrated with that.
Regarding Davis, I must not understand redshirt rules. I thought a player had to be play less than a certain percentage, but also the playing time had to be mostly in first half of season to help someone that tears an ACL and is out for season.
Mel Pearson show summary for 2-24:
Anytime you can beat NMU, it feels good, two wins feels even better
Credit to our guys for refocusing and having a great weekend
We need a game like Pheonix's on Saturday, we've run into hot goaltenders and outchanced teams, good to finally have a game where our goalie stole one for us
Good team effort, satisfying win, because of penalties, being on road, importance of points
Awful weather Friday, credit to fans for helping us to win. Building was electric between students and community, love that copper country does not let weather get in the way
We feed off of our fans, thanks to them all year for supporting us and hanging in there, Friday was a great showing of what a great hockey community it is
NMU was rocking too, 3900 people there, the rivalry will only get better playing them 4 times a year, Walt said he'd like to play 6 times if we could, Mel's not sure about that, but rivalry will get stronger
On Friday's win:
NMU scores 34 seconds in, turnover and then a bad read, we had enough people backchecking, one Dman got beat outside, let Seckle go down middle
We had a good 1st, we were ready to play, but tough to give up that goal so early, momentum shifted as period went on
D. Johnstone PPG, 1-1, David had 2 shots before that, a save and a missed net, but we kept puck in the whole time, and then good pass from Hanna, that has to be a one-timer, so important to have a good pass, Sturos great job in front of net too
1st intermission - we needed better forecheck, gave them too much time to break puck out, and changed a few things defensively
NMU up 2-1, didn't like goal, we turned puck over in neutral zone, their forward pulled up, we did not read coverage well, Tech winger got drawn in too deep, couldn't block shot
Sturos from Pietila, 2-2, great play by Blake, big goal to get us back in the game 10 seconds after NMU goal
Sturos from Pietila, 3-2, good forecheck pressure
Kero rebound goal, 4-2, Petan brought puck in while Kero drove net, Hanna coming in late good shot, Kero rebound goal
We're starting to finish around the net, we're shooting pucks quicker and getting guys to drive the net, goals are going in
Hanna PPG from Sturos & D. Johnstone, 5-2, good heads up play, all bodies were on one side, Hanna alone on other side of ice
Hanna is having unbelievable year, he leads all freshmen scorers in conference play, not just Dmen, highest scoring Dmen in conference play, quietly having a heck of a year, and he's getting better defensively
NMU 5-3, after you score, next shift is important, we were a little loose/sloppy, back to a two goal game
Hietila wrap around, 6-3, from Eick/Hanna, Hietila also quietly having a good year, not long ago Blake didn't go to Bowling Green, he didn't feel sorry for himself, he's done well, he's buying in to what we're doing, he has a chance for 10 goals
SHG for NMU, 6-4, don't want to give them any momentum for next night, had all 5 seniors on PP, we weren't aware of NMU breaking down ice, still glad seniors out there
Sturos gets hat trick, at the time thought it was a Watson goal, 7-4, unfortunate, there would've been a few hats on the ice, beatufy of hockey is there's no delay of game for hats on ice, part of tradition of hockey
Glad Reid is scoring goals, for awhile he was doing dirty work in front and not scoring
PP has been much improved, look at Reid doing the job in front of net, D. Johstone being back, Hanna understanding options, Pietila's play in corners, Petan the playmaker, it's all coming together
On Saturday's win:
Always tough on road, especially with desperate teams like UAF was, we saw it in ourselves at Bowling Green, really saw it in NMU Saturday, they came out hard.
It's different when you can practice at Olympic, it's easier to go from Olympic to NHL, they play well on that surface.
Sturos with 4th goal of weekend, from Pietila, Mel will ask Blake if he knew Sturos was going to the net or did he just throw it at the net, if he knew Reid was there it'd be a big time play, huge goal
NMU ties it at 1, PPG, good job on the PK mostly, goal was caused by turnover, our Dman has puck, should just flip it off glass, but he decides to go up middle into an NMU player, many other options our Dman can do there, we should understand that at this point in season, have to manage the game
Need 4 things on road, goaltending, can't take unnecessary penalties, need to limit turnovers/manage the puck, take care of scoring opportunities we get, that situation we did not manage the puck
Holmberg goal, 2-1, big goal, we had killed a few penalties, good play by Hietila
NMU goal 2-2, good job on PK, but they get a point shot, we have 2 Dmen in front of net, NMU guys gets rebound, our Dman should've seen puck and taken a body
Kero PPG, 3-2, huge goal, good feed from Petan, Kero drove to far post, Petan looked like he'd shoot, but threw it across to Kero
We played from ahead pretty much the whole game, doing that one the road helps so much
Kero takes a hit, he's okay, 5 min major on NMU, there had been high hits all game, concerned with high hits
5 min major with 7 mins left in game, we had chances
Pietila and D. Johstone in box for misconducts, rest of guys hung on, we have to be careful, things wont go our way, we have lead, have to keep composure
D. Johnstone gets tackeled on our PP, he gets talking a bit, ref gives him 10, J. Johnstone goes to net, stops in crease, NMU guy bumps J. Johnstone into goalie, 1 ref points to circle for faceoff, ref on blueline comes in with a penalty for Jake
Then ref gives Pietila 10, and Mel gets a bench minor for clapping, never seen that, credit to our team, now we feel sense of urgency, we played last few minutes like our seasons on the line, got through it
Shots 39-21, shout out to our PKers, all did fantastic, we blocked shots, clear puck etc
Questions for Mel:
How and when are goalies instructed to leave the net?
Dirk noted - Pheonix did struggle a little bit out of the net on Saturday.
It's a goaltenders read on situation, can he get the puck, we leave it up to the player. If opposing player looks like they'll get to puck first, then goalie goes out to handle the puck.
We work on it twice a week with goaltenders, it can be like having 3 Dmen when goalie playing puck.
Your roster is larger than a lot of teams, why do you keep so many players when it seem impossible to play them all?
We have 29, most teams have 27/28, we're not far off. The perfect number is about 26, no lower than that.
One thing we did as a staff when we got here, we wanted to try to give everyone an opportunity to stay on the team. At the same time we felt we wanted to upgrade roster, so roster is a bit bigger.
Like it in practice, can do more drills in practice, but it can be tough on game night. Sitting basically 9 guys, can be tough with morale. With injuries, we've gotten everyone in the game.
Are all players on scholarship, and can scholarship $ increase/decrease?
We have 18 scholarships among 29 players, it's been split up every which way. Some are recruited walk ons, some on full scholarship. Player scholly can increase/decrease, decrease has to be a good reason, academic/in trouble with law, that's good to protect student athlete. We can add money, we've done that for players that earned it.
We've seen players that are healthy scratch to PP players, is this a motivational move?
No, we don't play head games. We have to find a role for every player. If a player doesn't have a role, they sit on bench. Certain guys we have to find players on PP. Holmberg goes from not playing, he's on PP 2 unit, he's been there before.
We keep more guys involved on PP in practice. Baltus plays and then he's on PP because he's done it in practice. Not motivational.
Outside of penalty, how did Davis do, what grade would you give him?
Jimmy gets A+++, got thrown in, hasn't played regular season game all year. We threw him in to most important game this year. Credit to Muckalt/Whitten, they said we have to play him, he did a great job. In practice everyday, he's one of hardest workers, never complains or takes a day off. Never gets discouraged, credit to Jimmy.
After game we present a team puck to whoever biggest contribution, whoever had it previous game does presentation. Sturos gave it to Holmberg, he had a big goal, Holmberg, said hold on and gave it to David, talked about Jimmy showing up everyday, working hard, our team loves Jimmy Davis, good for him. He has a redshirt year available, so he could have a couple years left.
With biggest weekend in decades coming up is bye week a concern?
Yes it's a concern, want to handle free time properly. We have to stay sharp. Fine line between too much rest and too much work.
Main thing today as coaching staff is planning next 2 weeks, to give team max rest to have energy to lay it all out at Mankato. We've been here before, we have an idea how to handle it.
On WCHA scenarios:
Alone in 3rd with 28 points. We are in a good situation. We were a few weeks ago too though, so need to be focused.
We are fighting for home ice, it'll go down to the last weekend.
Not sure last time we had home ice, maybe only 4 home ice situations since John was the coach here. Our guys have done a good job, they'll be anxious to play.
Mankato has only lost 1 game at home.
There will be a Mel P show next Monday. 1 win will put us on edge of home ice. Have to focus on Friday game against MSU.
Thanks to misfits/band we had about 60 greet us on way to bus after NMU game. Our team appreciated it, thanks to fans/listeners.
It's a addiction we all have. They learn to cope 
