Re: Michigan Tech 2013-2014: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Realignment
Mel Pearson show for 10-21-13:
Damon is in for Mel, Mel is driving back but will be at Coaches Night Out tonight at the Mine Shaft 6PM, all fall sport coaches there.
On weekened and schedule:
Notre Dame will be one of best teams we see all year.
Coach told guys it's Oct 20, it's not about now, we'll grow get better and develop. We have a few months to reach our goals. We have areas to improve, but it's about the future and the schedule will test us and we've learned form these games.
We went toe to toe with a great team, 5x5 yesterday we feel we were a better team.
Damon's thoughts On officiating:
Don't like to get too worked up about it, but it's tough. Don't know what's being called.
Vallis is a penalty, John's shot on Vallis would be a suspension in NHL. Frustrating, emotions get the best of you.
Talking to NHL scouts postgame, they've never seen a game like that in their life, amazed at poor officiating. If that's how it'll be called different between leagues, will have to think about that during scheduling.
It was ticky tak, for example good play by Sweeney, but call interference, didn't call same minutes later on Notre Dame. Some of faceoff interference or stick peanlties happen all the time.
That's being said we have to be better. Neville it's a hard play, but should be 2 min at most.
Eick doesn't say much, plays hard, but that shows frustrating when he got 10 min misconduct.
On Friday:
Good 1st period, no flow with penalties, knew it would be difficult with their defense, weathered a good storm with 1st period
ND up 1-0 then goal taken away, Blake great play, net drive, got it to squeak through pads, but they say whistle blew alrady, should've been 1-1
Russo PP goal make it 2-0, knew their PP would be good, senior are poised and skilled, need to do a better job blocking shots on PK, shots 14-12 after 1 in favor of ND
Eick SHG, amazing speed, great shot, we're a pressure unit on PK, create chances short handed
Furne goal, 2-2, great goal, hard shot by Furne
ND threw pucks on Copley from mid ice a lot, not sure if it was by design, boards are unique there, dead, maybe that plays into it
Copley is dialed in, playing his best hockey, his hands have been good
Stebner almost goal early in 3rd, Hanna with a great play, ND may have gotten a stick on the shot
ND GWG, TJ Tynonen, great player, hobey candidate, gave him too much room, a few small mistakes on this play, we have to have better habits away from puck
Shots 43-24 Notre Dame, PP: Tech 1-5, ND 1-10
On Sunday:
different to have afternoon game, Muckalt and Whitten left Saturday watching games, so missed some meetings, different meal/sleep patterns
Hannistrosa one of best USHL players last year, one of top freshmen, 5x3 PP goal, interference call on Petan, no chance for Jamie Phillips
ND Early 2nd period goal, they were cycling, point shot, Jamie couldn't see it
Heinonen scored right after that, Blake HIetila with the assist, great weekend for him, should've had goal Friday too, Tyler goal scorer
Tyler/Blake weren't playing together to start, with Vallis out and PKs, lines jumbled
They might play together some more, liked Vallis/Neville/Hietila they were good against UMD, Heinonen on there with Vallis gone, maybe chemistry with those 2
Petan, 1st goal, maybe gripping stick, Dirk - he's having some tough personal things going on too, Damon - he's a marked man after last year, needs to play solid everywhere else, offense will come after that
Great play by Pietila, knew where Petan was, Phillips gets an assist as well
ND 2 PP goals, 4-2, momentum taken away by penalties, charging back with 2 goals, better 5x5, then penalties start again
ND goal was tough, 5-2, not a great goal, Jamie a little deep, maybe want it back
Heinonen gets 2nd of game from Hietila, Leibinger great breakout play, little nagging injury, but playing through it and doing well
Final 7-3, PP: Tech 0-8, ND 4-13, have to spend a lot of time on special teams, PP have to get it figured out, PK good job coming into Sunday, a little setback
Seigo was huge, still trying to replace him, Walker putting pressure on himself maybe, Seigo ran a D1 PP for 4 years, a lot of knowledge, we lack some experience on PP quaterback, may need to simplify it
On other WHCA teams:
tought 1st weekend for WCHA, most were on road excpet UAA
Better this weekend with more home WCHA games, want a strong non-conference record
LSSU, scoring goals, dangerous team
UAA: lose Western, beat Denver, it's a little misleading, they're exempt from national start date, so a few weeks earlier than everyone else for practice, they should be ahead of teams
NMU split with UNO: solid team, 3 of top 5 scorers are defensemen, splitting goaltenders
Mankato: Sweep UCONN, they'll be fine, Hastings also had HOckey East ref comments after Providence weekend
UAF: haven't seen them much for a few years, sounds like they've opened it up form old defensive ways
On NMU home/home:
It's a rivalry, it'll be about competing, we'll try to use our speed to get after their defensemen, will make adjustment to big sheet Friday
Need traffic in front of the net
Questions for Damon:
What do we need to do keep players in the game with all the penalties and game misconducts?
Can't put yourself in some of those sutation to allow refs to make those calls. if you're taking a penalty it should be to save a goal or playign strong. The amount this weekend is unique, some frustration. A bit of a pass this weekend because it was out of control. No question we have to be more disciplined. Coaches need to do better to make sure players are disciplined.
Has our PK changed at all form last year?
Personal wise a bit. Some system changes due to ice size. We were plus 1 going into Sunday, after 2 SHG, changed after Sunday. Have gotten odd man rushes on PK.
In Damon's experience, has conference relingment affected recruiting kids to Houghton?
Not really, happy with recruits. Pretty good list out there. We're patient right now, going after highend, impactful guys. We're battling big programs for recruits. Coach Pearson is great to have here after what the crediability he's built downstate. We need to win more too for kids to see that.
Did Damon have any player ammenities at MSU that he'd like to see at Tech?
There might be 1. Blown away by Tech and what administration provides. Damon was at Waynes state, so has seen a lot of GLIAC schools, our department does a great job compared to other GLIAC schools.
The one item Damon wants to see is right before he graduated, MSU got money from NHL guys, they had nice cold tub installed. Training room could use an update, maybe just need more. Maybe weight room improvements. Tehc ahs good facilites, at MSU had to put sweatpants on after practice and leave ice rink to go weight room by football facilities.
Can Damon talk about play of freshmen D?
Staff impressed, they've all exceeded expectation. D is toughest to come into and make D1 transition.
Thought Cliff might be most ready after 100+ games in USHL. He's played well.
Leibinger, best defensemen at offensive blue line. On Stats came out of Sunday officially +3, changed it to +2 as one was a line change, still good for 7-3 loss.
Hanna, had his best game Sunday. Not afraid to put him out against anybody. Have put a freshmen with upperclassmen with each pairing, didn't worry about matchups too much.
Dirk - All freshmen 19 years old, they're really playing well. Agrees Sunday was Hanna's best.
Upperclassmen D have done a good job helping freshmen.
Injuries:
Fillion and Davis a long ways off. Sova we'll know more today on his status, want him back/healthy. Hopefully soon.
D. Johnstone - we'll know more today. Brian Brewster does a great job. There was a chance David could play last weekend, could be close this weekend.
Tanner Kero - great skater, back side pressure, logging a lot of minutes 5x5, pp, pk
Jake Johnstone: coachs felt he was one of our best Friday, played with speed, getting 5x5 and PP opportunities
Neville has been very solid, exceeded expecations, strong kid, mean streak to him, we trust him, reliable, solid defensviely
Freshmen getting in, maybe in long run it'll pay off, nice to get almost whole lineup in games, some guys have responded very well, others will take time to get up to speed
Hope to get fans out Saturday, had a good exhibition crowd, we'll be a good team, come out to the game
