Re: Michigan Tech 2013-2014: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Realignment
Did we know Heinonen had a lower body injury? I was wondering why he wasn't cracking the lineup.
With Sova out for season Mel said we have 7 healthy Dmen, is he not counting Fillion then too?
Mel Pearson show summary for 3-3:
Busy weekend, but enjoyed weekend off, watched a lot of hockey, recruiting in MN, regional games in UP too, and watched Mankato on TV, plenty of hockey watched with the wife out of town
Little surprised with UAF sweep of Ferris, we have two extremes in our league Fairbanks with the Olympic sheet, Ferris and their small building/rink
Talked about it at practice yesterday, we have to win Friday, we're putting all our energy into that game, we need to take care of business our self
Mankato 13-1 at home, we're up against it, that's why we went to MI, ND, UMD etc, we've played in tough buildings
we should be rested, we had great energy yesterday, need to maintain it for Friday
we might be only team playing a team for 1st time in last weekend, odd, but they are playing to win MacNaughton
We haven't had home ice for 21 years, should be a great hockey series
So many WCHA scenarios, we could be 3rd to 7th, there will be ties, 1 or 2 teams could go to Alaska, if we don't take care of busines, who knows where we could be going, we just need to go out and get a W Friday
For Lines:
We've got a good idea of lineup/players that will make the trip.
Kero/Petan/somebody could be Hietila, Sturos/Pietila/Johnstone, Nveille/Eick have played together
We had guys sit out against NMU that are healthy now, Jake Johnstone and Rix have played well too, we'll piece the rest together
Heinonen is getting healthy again, would've like do play him, lower body injury affected skating, out for quite a while, skating/healthy now, hard to throw him in games as they're so important
We're as healthy as we've been all year, we still have bumps/bruises, only injury we have is Sova, he'll have surgery on wrist and out for the year, decided to get it done now to pursue other things in fall, tough for senior to be done
Is this a three day tryout for some? It is, we'll watch practice and we'll have tough decisions
we're down to 7 healthy bodies on D, Davis is in mix to play
Copley coming off good NMU game, like to have goalies keep playing, worry that it's been 2 weeks since games, try to get game type situations in practice
Dirk - We played olympic sheet at NMU easier to continue now playing at Mankato? Mankato was Olympic, Hastings changed it, so now not NHL, but not quite Olympic, similar to WI size. We don't have an olympic sheet in town, like NMU can go to Lakeview to use NHL size
There's a difference in ice sheets, bigger corners with more room, changes PK, we'll make tweaks, we'll get to practice there Thur night/Fri morning
J. Johnstone in senior year, he's turned corner, out there playing, good speed and can shoot, hopefully he has best hockey still ahead of him, key guy coming into this weekend, will put pressure on Mankato Dmen with his speed, want him to shoot more
Jimmy Davis, good for him to get in NMU game, get up to hockey speed, diff. than practice, did a great job, simple game, outstanding, nice to have a guy like him we can throw in and trust, he works hard in practice
Three freshmen Dmen, they've been solid, they've all surprised Mel differently, Shane offensively led all Dmen in WCHA conference scoring, incredible, that surprises Mel
Watson plays other top lines, from day 1 has been solid
Leibinger is a tough kid, in any situations he shows up, he's just a player, always plays hard,
On Kero: he wants to get to the net, with his speed, when he's skating you know he'll have a great game, he's got a great playmaker with him in Petan
On the PP improvement:
D. Johnstone coming back brought an element we didn't have
Hanna's emergence/understanding of decisions, much more comfortable at top of PP
Sturos has become a big presence in front of net, really helped, chemistry with Petan/Pietila helped too
We've gotten right pieces to puzzle, like our PP2 unit as well, looked good in practice
Gap from Seigo to Hanna? it's gotten closer, still a bit of gap, reads/not rushing things, Shane is a competitor, he's still getting shots blocked needs to read pass/shoot better
Our PK at 81.9%:
it'll need to be better against these guys, want to be under 10%, top teams kill 90% or better, PP needs to be 20-25%
Mankato is really good on PP, 40% of goals are on the PP, need to limit penalties, only good penalties that save a goal, they get all their momentum on PP goals
Mankato is 26.3% on PP, really good, 45 PP goals
Dirk - Any meaning to goals scored in a period? We score most in 2nd, given up most in 3rd?
It can and it can't, UAH we gave up a couple late goals, not that concerned, probably need to break it down more on situation
At Mankato we need to get off to a good start, they are a good starting team, we haven't scored as many in 1st, need to get to 2nd period
Dirk - their crowd is more impressive because it's city rink, unlike UAA atmosphere. They get it rocking in there.
It would be good to take crowd out of it early
Will the last win at NMU be a blueprint? Hope not, some of the things like goaltending, taking care of scoring chances were good. Way too many turnovers though.
We brought our Dmen in to watch 1st period breakouts, so they could see turnover, decisions with puck/communication. Did they read situation correctly? Educate the players. We did good things, but learn from experience, did Dmen look over should going back for puck etc.
Our best players have to show up and outplay their best players. It's a challenge for our players, they'll accept it and it'll be a fun weekend of hockey. Spoil their MacNaughton cup chances.
On their forecheck: They'll bring 1 guy hard, 2nd guy will read, aggressive 1-2-2, our goaltender can handle pucks, we've worked on that a lot, like a 3rd Dman, that'll relieve a lot of pressure.
On PK, they've given up some SHGs, hoping this isn't penalty filled
Like our depth against their depth, good matchup for us, their PP is better, we have guys that can get it done. Our scoring has been in 2nd half of season, we've played much better, comparable 2nd halfs between teams
We have access to every Mankato game, in WCHA each team has to put up all home games, we watched against Bemidji their last home series
We break down video mostly for the coaches, show players a limited amount of Mankato, because it's more about what we do, it helps coaches structure practice
We do show players, for example Baltus, defensively he was watching the puck a bit, so can watch video to learn
Questions for Mel, dj@themix93.,com:
Petan seemed to benefit from Neville's grid/speed, and is missing it now that he's not on that line?
Always evaluating our lines, earlier, Petan was with Neville/Eick, ahd speed/grit. Good line, we wont be putting Neville back on wing, too valuable in middle facoeffs etc.
Like to have chemistry on the line, speed and awareness, grit, scoring, Johnstone/Pietila/Sturos works because of that.
Want one of Sturos on every line. He can finish, good defensively. Thought about moving Reid off that line. Pietila/Johsntone upperclassman that can lead whoever is put with them.
Really miss JJ. Him with Kero/Petan would've been great. We had depth/players that can play. We're never going to stay the same, always trying to get better.
Line combos can tire out. Energy maybe not there. Tweaking lines can give renewed energy.
Of those that have signed LOI, which guys hit campus next year?
That's TBD. If had to say for sure, L'Esperance hopefully has a long playoff run in USHL, Steman is a Neville type player, just saw him, had a real good weeked.
Blacklock had injuries after great start. Expect him here
Gillies, expect him here.
Birks will be Dman coming in, along with Schuldt, now in NAHL. There's a few others that will probably be here.
Dirk follow up - Are you like an owner watching his best players at Sochi, when you see injury of a recruit?
Evan Anderson is another guy that'll be here, had some concussion issues.
Blacklock has missed hockey, need to be sure he's ready to play.
Like Jake Jackosn, injuries, slow start, had 3 points Saturday, game winner, but overall year frustrating. It's a journey, if you don't come in next year, go back and make sure you can come in and be an impact players.
Don't want a guy to come in confidence down and trying to make a lineup. Want them over ready.
Since you have a later faceoff than all but 1 game, will players be scoreboard watching?
No, players need to be dialed in and focused. Coaches might be watching something on Saturday. If there was a situation we need a W, may pull goalie earlier than normal.
How much stock does Mel put into plus/minus stat?
It can be deceiving, but it usually works out at end of day. Player can be just stepping on ice and get a minus. so take it with grain of salt. But it's important.
We chart who has been on for every PPG against. If it's same people, are right guys on ice? If one guy is out way more for PPG against, is that guy in right situation?
More weight for Dman that forward for plus/minus stat? Yes, can tell if you are turning puck over etc.
How much have you used securing home ice as motivation?
Haven't talked about it much at all. UAF was a good example where we talked about home ice/3rd place more than normal. Got away from task at hand, got ahead of ourselves. Need to be in the moment.
The team reads the internet, they know. We addressed it yest. for first time in awhile. Talked about Mankato playing for 1st. We have opportunity to be 1st team in 21 years to host a playoff series.
Houghton Gremlins shoutout, saw them play Sat against Hancock, got away from Hancock in 3rd, Mel watches a lot of hockey, was in MN watching regional Wed night, watched games here Thursday, a lot of good hockey
