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Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

bigblue_dl said:
Teams with these weekends available, and openings left in their schedule: (bolded for teams we might actually see)
October 30-31:
RPI
Union
Click to expand...

I doubt you're going to see RPI or Union, as they will probably use this week for their in-conference home/home. They have done this in the past couple years or so (two of the last three), and I don't see too many other openings, unless they decide to split the series, which they haven't done since 09-10.
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

manurespreader said:
I would be against going to Notre Dame for games.It's still a far piece to go, The refereeing is terrible and ND get's a big advantage. They beat Providence there mid winter this last season, when they didn't deserve to, in large part because they got calls made against PC and not against them.So, no 1 for 1, no game if you ask me.

I'll take a big team any time compared to that., Unless it is in fact at Green Bay or some neutral site. I'd even do a 1 for 1 with Clarkson. Even if it is far. You could fly into either Albany or Burlington VT. I'd rather do the 1 for 1 games with the ECAC than with HE or the NCHC anyway. We used to fly twice per year or more in the old WCHA, Denver, CC, and Alaska, so flying to Alaska and one other time is not the end of the world.
I did notice no bye after the alaska trip this year.

And BB, Michigan state is actually not too bad. Though we might see them three times. I believe they beat minnesota this last season.

I thought UND was talking about getting a game, but I guess they want a 1 for 0 or something.
Click to expand...
Agreed on Notre Dame. At the Resch Center, with WCHA refs would be fine, other than that, screw em.

I would definitely like a 1 for 1 with an ECAC team. Clarkson would be fine, RPI would be better. Based on comments from mel during his radio show this season, this seem like it would be further down the road, unfortunately.

In any given year, our non conference schedule should look like:

8 total games (10 in years we go to Alaska twice)
2 GLI
2 In-state non-conference (Michigan, Michigan State, Western Michigan) alternating home and away
2 Other NCHC or B16 team (UMD, Wisconsin, MN, UND, SCSU, etc.)
2 ECAC, Atlantic Hockey or Hockey East teams
ABSOLUTELY NO NON-CONFERENCE GAMES AGAINST CONFERENCE OPPONENTS

In any given year, 1 of those series has to be in Houghton, with every other year, 2 out of 3 being in Houghton.

For years when we go to Alaska 2 times, I would add another series with an in-state team, or a nearby NCHC/B16 team. In those years, 2 non conference series MUST be in Houghton.

Plan it so in years when we play Michigan in the first game of the GLI, we don't play a series against them, same with Michigan State. If you play Michigan in the first game, schedule Michigan State in a non-conference game, or the other way around.
Last year we had:

2 GLI (Michigan in the first game)
2 Michigan @ home
2 @ Wisconsin
2 UMD @ home

The only issue I have with this schedule, is I'd rather have played Michigan State in the first game of the GLI, but overall, not much to complain about. (no one expected Wisconsin to be historically bad)

This year, we have:

2 GLI (Michigan State in first game)
2 Michigan State
2 ???????
1 ???????
1 Extra exhibition against a Canadian school.

Disappointing to say the least.
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

I agree that it is unlikely that next year's NC schedule will live up to what we played this year. However I feel that our conference schedule has increased in difficulty. I think BGSU and UAF will be top teams in the league this year and we have four games against each. I also expect that MSU will compete for a top three spot despite key losses to their roster. If these teams are top 16 teams, then assuming Tech can win some of those games you see the same thing happening to the Huskies that happened to NCHC teams this past year - you stay high in the pairwise just based on your conference games. We're giving up a second pair of games against UAH and UAA so if you assume those two will be bottom half teams then that is also increasing your strength of schedule.

Now that we've had MSU and Mich up to Houghton, I see no reason to keep scheduling them for a separate weekend series as long as we are in the GLI. There are plenty of other great teams to schedule and we'll get those two teams every couple years just out of blind luck in the GLI. If they want to keep a local feel then play a series with Western, but they've been in the GLI so much recently I really don't care to play them either. Duluth, MN, WI or maybe even Miami are nearly as close and would be more interesting games. On the years we play @ UAF and @ UAA invite an AH team to Houghton just for something different. With almost 60 NCAA D-I teams, I'm sure there are at least 20 we haven't played in a decade (if ever).

Ryan J
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

I hope that some of y'all will make the trip to Huntsville in November!

GFM
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

JohnsonsJerseys said:
I agree that it is unlikely that next year's NC schedule will live up to what we played this year. However I feel that our conference schedule has increased in difficulty. I think BGSU and UAF will be top teams in the league this year and we have four games against each. I also expect that MSU will compete for a top three spot despite key losses to their roster. If these teams are top 16 teams, then assuming Tech can win some of those games you see the same thing happening to the Huskies that happened to NCHC teams this past year - you stay high in the pairwise just based on your conference games. We're giving up a second pair of games against UAH and UAA so if you assume those two will be bottom half teams then that is also increasing your strength of schedule.

Now that we've had MSU and Mich up to Houghton, I see no reason to keep scheduling them for a separate weekend series as long as we are in the GLI. There are plenty of other great teams to schedule and we'll get those two teams every couple years just out of blind luck in the GLI. If they want to keep a local feel then play a series with Western, but they've been in the GLI so much recently I really don't care to play them either. Duluth, MN, WI or maybe even Miami are nearly as close and would be more interesting games. On the years we play @ UAF and @ UAA invite an AH team to Houghton just for something different. With almost 60 NCAA D-I teams, I'm sure there are at least 20 we haven't played in a decade (if ever).

Ryan J
Click to expand...
Now it[s payback time on those two for one deals with Michigan and State. Don't hold your breath on Miami making the trip to the UP any time soon. One future series you have is a non conference series with LSSU next year. It's set up so that the three UP schools will all play four times a year. I do believe Wisconsin also owes you one. Great season for you last year and it looks like Tech will contend again.
 
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Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

Disappointing that we're burning a non-conference game with an exhibition game.

Also interesting to note the Mariucci classic wasn't even close to being a possibility with the GLI/Mariucci Classic actually overlapping on 12/30.
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

davyd83 said:
Now it[s payback time on those two for one deals with Michigan and State. Don't hold your breath on Miami making the trip to the UP any time soon. One future series you have is a non conference series with LSSU next year. It's set up so that the three UP schools will all play four times a year. I do believe Wisconsin also owes you one. Great season for you last year and it looks like Tech will contend again.
Click to expand...

Which is complete BULL****. Non-conference games vs. conference opponents just makes us look like a Mickey Mouse conference. It is a step firmly in the wrong direction for all schools involved, and for the conference as a whole.

This needs to be improved, and it is true that 2 for 1's is part of the problem. No more 2 for 1's. 1 for none pay games may work, in certain years, where we have other home non-conference games. If we can't get even agreements with teams nearby, go to the ECAC, the non-Ivies always need more games.
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

You realize this works both ways, right? The ECAC is basically a bus league. They may not want to travel to WCHA schools, or they may often get better deals from B1G, HEA and NCHC schools that are much easier to travel to, and (let's be honest) are more likely to be marquee opponents for their fans.

All we can do is play the best schedule we can. Mel or not, you can't expect Tech to be playing a "sexy" OOC schedule every year.
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
You realize this works both ways, right? The ECAC is basically a bus league. They may not want to travel to WCHA schools, or they may often get better deals from B1G, HEA and NCHC schools that are much easier to travel to, and (let's be honest) are more likely to be marquee opponents for their fans.

All we can do is play the best schedule we can. Mel or not, you can't expect Tech to be playing a "sexy" OOC schedule every year.
Click to expand...

Not long ago we had a 1 for 1 with St. Lawrence. Which should be evidence enough to show that there are opportunities out there. Do we need one every year? No. Every few years? Should be easily do-able.
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
You realize this works both ways, right? The ECAC is basically a bus league. They may not want to travel to WCHA schools, or they may often get better deals from B1G, HEA and NCHC schools that are much easier to travel to, and (let's be honest) are more likely to be marquee opponents for their fans.

All we can do is play the best schedule we can. Mel or not, you can't expect Tech to be playing a "sexy" OOC schedule every year.
Click to expand...
In the 90s and early 2000s we regularly had a NC series with an ECAC team so I call BS.
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

Season tickets are on sale. Renewed @ center ice, 7 rows up for $199. Bless Tech ... great deal!
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

Also. 3 home games before New Year? :rolleyes:

Edit: sorry, its actually 5, not great, but much better than 3
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
You realize this works both ways, right? The ECAC is basically a bus league. They may not want to travel to WCHA schools, or they may often get better deals from B1G, HEA and NCHC schools that are much easier to travel to, and (let's be honest) are more likely to be marquee opponents for their fans.

All we can do is play the best schedule we can. Mel or not, you can't expect Tech to be playing a "sexy" OOC schedule every year.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Despite what some on this forum think, Michigan Tech is not a marquee draw. One good season in the last 30 will do that to a program. The OOC schedule has been really good the last few years so i'm not complaining.
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

For those who follow recruiting, 2 of Tech's future recruits drafted so far in today's USHL entry draft.

Tristan Rostagno to Sioux Falls in the 4th round
Chris Gerrie to Green Bay in the 8th round

http://ushl.rinknetcloud.com/
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

bigblue_dl said:
Which is complete BULL****. Non-conference games vs. conference opponents just makes us look like a Mickey Mouse conference. It is a step firmly in the wrong direction for all schools involved, and for the conference as a whole.

This needs to be improved, and it is true that 2 for 1's is part of the problem. No more 2 for 1's. 1 for none pay games may work, in certain years, where we have other home non-conference games. If we can't get even agreements with teams nearby, go to the ECAC, the non-Ivies always need more games.
Click to expand...

The non-ivies needing games was more of an issue 5-6 years ago, when everyone else had 6-8 NC games compared to our 12. With other leagues increasing their NC presence, we don't really have too much of an issue any longer. We'd certainly welcome you guys as an opponent, though; I seem to recall a petition to have us play. ;)

Would the WCHA have a "sexier non-conference schedule" if they were do something similar to the NCHC and go to 24 conference games? Or is travel truly the long pole in the tent?
 
Re: Michigan Tech 2015 off-season I: Building on what we've learned...

FlagDUDE08 said:
The non-ivies needing games was more of an issue 5-6 years ago, when everyone else had 6-8 NC games compared to our 12. With other leagues increasing their NC presence, we don't really have too much of an issue any longer. We'd certainly welcome you guys as an opponent, though; I seem to recall a petition to have us play. ;)

Would the WCHA have a "sexier non-conference schedule" if they were do something similar to the NCHC and go to 24 conference games? Or is travel truly the long pole in the tent?
Click to expand...

WCHA teams are finding it hard enough to fill 6-10 non conference games with a decent number of home games. Dropping to 24 conference games would likely cost each team at least one home series a year. Travel is a concern when, in some years, you're paying for two flights to Alaska and one to Huntsville. In the New England leagues, there is a lot of travel that is five hours or less on a bus. From the geographical midpoint of the WCHA (NMU), you have 3 flights (UAA, UAF, UAH), 7 1/2 hours bus to Bemidji, 9 1/2 to Mankato and 9 to Bowling Green along with 2 & 3 hour runs to Michigan Tech and LSSU. Travel budgets are stretched and are definitely a concern.
 
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