Re: Michigan Tech 2013-2014: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Realignment
Mel Pearson show summary for 12-3:
10-11 day trip is a long trip, good to be home
The 2 UAF wins made it an easier trip home
Glad we did it back to back, had option of 2 seperate trips to AK, but glad we made the right decision
On Friday UAA:
Wanted more than 1 point at UAA, every point is imporant
knew we'd be sluggish Friday, due to travel and olympic sheet, body clock is off, shaky 1st period, got behind by a few, tough to do that and come back to win
UAA unbeaten at home, so a tough team to play at their place
PK not good that weekend, over pursuing the puck, leaving guys open
Didn't like the penalties that were called in 1st, Blake had good check/arms down, refs looking for penalties to call, but need to kill those
UAA was 3/10 on PP for weekend, way to many PP goals let up
Better 2nd, skated better, we missed the net a lot trying to pick corners, got used to olympic sheet more
Kero PP goal, good hard wrist shot
All set to pull goalie, UAA scores could've done better with puck management, tried to do too much trying to beat a guy 1x1 at blueline, Lose 3-1
Just didn't have our best game, weren't moving our feet well enough on olympic sheet
One positive, really limited UAA scoring opportunities
Didn't finish some of our chances, example: it was 2-1, Blake had a great SH chance, but big time UAA save
On Saturday UAA:
Furne scores from Neville, Gould with the breakout pass, Neville passed at right spot before top of circle, great shot by Furne
UAA PP goal, no chance for Pheonix, left their guy all alone
Kero 5x3 goal, rebound after Petan shot, big goal
UAA ties it, 2-2, PP goal, need to kill a penalty in 3rd, different in a team in top of standings or not, Mel more concerned about when PP Killed or PP goal scored, in 3rd is big
Blown coverage again, over purused, Dman snuck in from blueline, held on until Pheonix made first move
We played well after that, 2-2 tie, doing a good job on PK, but need to get better winning special teams battle on the road
On UAF:
Hard fought series, first time we outshot an opponent in both games, feel a lot better about your team after wins
Thought satying up there, getting adjusted to time and practicing on olympic sheet all week
Reed McDonald, Tech alum, Eagle River, AK, manages a rink, fortunate to hook up with him, they were great, keeeping our gear etc, big help
A lot of guys played well in Fairbanks, we played with more energy
On Friday:
UAF scores 1:17
Tyler Morley good hockey player, had an official to Tech, thought we'd get him, but may have not come here because he would've been behind JJ, went to UAF, also his brother was offered by UAF
They put pressure on us, good skating team, one of better ones in WCHA
We didn't seem to make or receive crisp passes in 1st
Hanna, 1-1 in 2nd, he shoots the puck high, so has missed some nets, but play started with faceoff win, Neville, big goal
Petan goal, 2-1, 7th of season, goalie had no chance, good back pressure forced turnover, in danger zone,(between top of circle/blueline), Petan all alone, played with confidence after that
Petan goal from Eick, made some line changes into weekend, Eick/Neville/Petan, a good move, Eick beat UAF to negate icing, great play to Petan
UAF goal, 3-2, Tech turnover, little sloppy, Pheonix made save, they went to the net hard, bumped Pheonix a little more than Mel preferred all weekend, goals counts after review
Shots 9-9 in 3rd, no goals, no penalties, this is where all early road games @ UMD, MI in tight games helped, saw our composure the whole weekend in UAF, very solid 3rd
PK better, changed some things, philosophy on how we kill penalties, their PP is talented,
On Saturday:
Outshot by UAF 15-9 in 1st, UAF came out with more jump, they had lost 3 in a row, 2 close games with Ferris
We made unforced errors, a little casual, need better puck management
They were throwing everything on net and crashing net on Pheonix, Phoenix held his ground well
Hanna, PP goal, they took late 1st period penalty, talked about it in 1st intermission, controlled puck well on PP all weekend, Hanna changed shooting lane and it helped
Hanna's had plenty of opportunities, starting to go in now, he's getting confidence, lookout, he's a good offensive player
Tough spot in 2nd, Kero backchecking, lifted UAF stick, called for penalty, shortly after that, Blake hits a guy, Mel's opinion it was from the side, didn't hit from behind, but forceful hit, strong kid, boarding but 5 min major
Mel upset, prior to that, they run Pheonix to back of net, inconsistency by refs gets to Mel, have to protect goaltenders, Blake hits UAF, UAF guys stays down, 3 trainers run over to UAF guy
Mel tells players if you're hurt, stay down, but if you aren't you better get over to bench or into the play, don't like to see players laying down, putting on a production, UAF guys was back on PP within a minute, puts refs in a tough situation
we don't play a ton of agmes, so Blake getting tossed is that much more of a big deal, great composure by our team
Kero SHG, out of penalty box, huge goal, good awareness, his speed kicked in
commend our PKers, we had 4:30 of killing a penalty, UAF didn't have one Grade A chance, Eick assist, perfect timing deflecting the puck
They had one Grade A chance after pulling goalie, Phenoix with save, 2 outstanding games for him, great ovation for Pheonix from crowd
Questions for Mel, they were running out of time so it went pretty quickly:
Many teams have done away from goal judges and relied on refs, what's Mels' opinion?
Yes, happy with it, you can use video review. No need for goal judge, for the most part happy with it.
Can Mel talk about incoming freshmen class?
We have all NLIs in. We'll talk about it next Monday when we have more time. We'll have a release this week about signed NLIs.
Regarding freshmen on the team now. How do you feel they are doing?
For the most part doing well. 3 freshemen Dmen outstanding. 12th in country in GAA. It surprises Mel, they've learend by playing.
Any impact on community having local players on the team?
It does have an impact, and it should. The area should be proud of Tanner and Blake. It's good, encourages players that they can play here. We want the best local players that can play D1 to stay here.
Sova, how has he beend doing playing a few games?
He struggled the fist night in UAA. He played Saturday UAF, looked really good.
How is the health defensviely?
Davis/Fillion both skated yesterday. Their conditioning is a ways away.
D. Johnstone is day to day. We played without him for weeks, we miss him but he's got to get healthy and ready to go. He's huge, with JJ gone and D. Johnstone out, both are a huge for this team.
All in all our team has played well.
Mel - Shout out to Scott Yager and young men that went to AK for the week. Also to those that turned out at AK alumni gatherings.
Good trip, we had a moose camp out at our hotel in Anchorage. Some of it'll be on the In the Crease episode this week.
Bemidji this weekend. They're a tough team to play against. They had a tough non-conference schedule as well. They skate well, under handle the puck, different style. Concered about jet leg, usually get a bye after AK, but we don't after 4 games.
4 upcoming home games, we can have success going into winter break. Tied for 5th, have some games in hand, need to make hay.
We need our fans to come out. Mel knows there's HS hockey, but need our fans to energize us with a little lift to get through weekend. We have to take advantage now, UAF is over, need to win these home games.
We have 2 games in hand on Bemidji, need to be ready to go. Tied with BG, but have games in hand. We can be in a good spot. Last year at this time we had only won 4 wins, we won 6 so far this year.
