Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

[Broseph Stalin]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

I went to both games for the first time in quite a few years. So many things have changed that it's almost an unrecognizable experience in the arena. The video board is the biggest change. They're probably still learning the ropes and figuring out how to best integrate the technology into the game but it was pretty much awesome and I'm hard to please. The students were fun to watch. They really deserve a lot of credit for making the place come alive. They take everything right up to the limit of being inappropriate and then they stop. Of course the band is as top notch as ever and I'd not want to trade them for any other. I felt bad for Bemidji but if it's between them having a sad bus ride and me having a sad 12 hour car ride I'll give them the kleenex. As far as the hockey it wasn't bad. Maybe a little ugly at times but a win is a win and if they can't do anything else I'd just like them to win. It was good to be back in the house that Mitch Lake built. I asked my wife what she thought and she said, "this place is ****ing nuts!" : )

 

[The Rube]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

I went to both games for the first time in quite a few years. So many things have changed that it's almost an unrecognizable experience in the arena. The video board is the biggest change. They're probably still learning the ropes and figuring out how to best integrate the technology into the game but it was pretty much awesome and I'm hard to please. The students were fun to watch. They really deserve a lot of credit for making the place come alive. They take everything right up to the limit of being inappropriate and then they stop. Of course the band is as top notch as ever and I'd not want to trade them for any other. I felt bad for Bemidji but if it's between them having a sad bus ride and me having a sad 12 hour car ride I'll give them the kleenex. As far as the hockey it wasn't bad. Maybe a little ugly at times but a win is a win and if they can't do anything else I'd just like them to win. It was good to be back in the house that Mitch Lake built. I asked my wife what she thought and she said, "this place is ****ing nuts!" : )

A bunch of Twin Citians made the trip for the tUMD series, although no rookies on the trip. We loved it, no surprise. MTU does college hockey right.

 

[Broseph Stalin]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

Agreed with this while post. The biggest thing to me is that we seem to pass too much in some situations, the power play being the biggest example. We pass and pass and pass some more and end up having the pass intercepted, batted away or worse yet passing it out of the offensive zone ourselves. I know you want to get a quality shot but any shot is better than no shot or having the puck get away from us. Sometimes you just need to throw the puck on net and hope to put in a garbage goal during a scrum or get a nice deflection. So many times this weekend I saw the puck passed to no one or just not a great pass when there could have been a quality shot on the original chance. That's just my observation and I don't claim to be a hockey genius or even novice so I could be totally 100% off here but it is what I see.

Other than the 3 too many men calls this weekend I think we played fairly well and out chanced Bemidji and capitalized when it was needed. I also have to say watching these games that Steman and L'esperance are beasts, I was quite worried about losing Pietilla and Kero but if Steman and L'esperance can play at their current level and hopefully improve we will be relatively OK.

And finally, way to go Riley Sweeney, great games this weekend and a great final Winter Carnival for him.

This entire post is spot-on. I'll especially say that watching L'esperance in person made me a believer. That kid is a tank. He's just like Pietila but hopefully he'll not be such a hothead. I was also impressed with Kero. Yeah he's good but in person he really sets himself apart from most on the ice with his passing, patience, and maturity. He doesn't make mistakes. He really wears the "C" out there for a reason.

 

[bose301s]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

This season IS a success by any measure, but we all know how long we've waited for a season like this and I don't want to see it slip away like 2006-2007. This team has the chance to do more, but yes we cannot take this season for granted, it has been amazing thus far. One more win and they have the most wins in a season since MacInnes retired. That is simply amazing, I don't think most of us here really thought that was honestly possible just a few seasons ago...

If this was the 06-07 team at least one of those games would have been a loss and we would have had at least 1 loss between the UAF and UAH series of not have been swept in one of them. They were a good team but they lost games they should have won against some of the worst teams and that killed them.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

If this was the 06-07 team at least one of those games would have been a loss and we would have had at least 1 loss between the UAF and UAH series of not have been swept in one of them. They were a good team but they lost games they should have won against some of the worst teams and that killed them.

Very true but that's still probably the best team we've seen since the early '90s except maybe Olson's senior year. If the Skorwchinski/Batovanja team had played a little better, they were as good as Michigan State, and probably could have won it all if they had gotten in...

 

[bose301s]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

Very true but that's still probably the best team we've seen since the early '90s except maybe Olson's senior year. If the Skorwchinski/Batovanja team had played a little better, they were as good as Michigan State, and probably could have won it all if they had gotten in...

I agree there as well. That was a fun season to watch and Batty is still my favorite Tech player even of he wasn't really a terribly talented or skilled player. He was the heart and soul of that team and wasn't afraid of anyone and he had some of the nastiest hits I've ever seen anyone make.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

please remember we've sat through some very awful seasons. even Mitch's Misfits was formed in the depths of the depression. we'd have a so-so season, only to be crushed the next year. we'd win two non home ice playoff games and then get beaten in the playoffs. we regularly lost GLI, to point where there was talk of kicking us out of it. and we founded the tournament. some of the fans wanted us out of Division I. we were regularly referred to as a Bye week. one step forward, three back. their has always been a cadre of students, locals, the band, the admin and major donors who hung in there, waiting, hoping. forgive us if we celebrate excessively. if we gloat over something another team might take for granted. if we talk about riding this team to Boston. if we treasure a piece of hardware. being ranked is new to us. being considered for the NCAAs is new to us. heck, home ice is new to us. you may think we are being jerks. kindly go f' yourself. we've suffered for a long time and it feels good to stop hitting our heads against the wall.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

please remember we've sat through some very awful seasons. even Mitch's Misfits was formed in the depths of the depression. we'd have a so-so season, only to be crushed the next year. we'd win two non home ice playoff games and then get beaten in the playoffs. we regularly lost GLI, to point where there was talk of kicking us out of it. and we founded the tournament. some of the fans wanted us out of Division I. we were regularly referred to as a Bye week. one step forward, three back. their has always been a cadre of students, locals, the band, the admin and major donors who hung in there, waiting, hoping. forgive us if we celebrate excessively. if we gloat over something another team might take for granted. if we talk about riding this team to Boston. if we treasure a piece of hardware. being ranked is new to us. being considered for the NCAAs is new to us. heck, home ice is new to us. you may think we are being jerks. kindly go f' yourself. we've suffered for a long time and it feels good to stop hitting our heads against the wall.

This is the attitude I like to see. To assume greatness is funny to me, considering where you have all been for the last 20-30 years. This year is a MAJOR success, no matter how the season ends. Period.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

All these new records had me looking at old seasons, what happen in 1970 that MTU didn't make tournament? I see the WCHA tournament had an east and west regional, we're those locations predetermined? Trying to understand why the east regional wasnt in Houghton.

 

[manurespreader]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

All these new records had me looking at old seasons, what happen in 1970 that MTU didn't make tournament? I see the WCHA tournament had an east and west regional, we're those locations predetermined? Trying to understand why the east regional wasnt in Houghton.

I'm going to take a stab at this. That team was, if i'm not mistaken Gary Crosby's first year. It had a ton of talent and won a lot of games. I went down to madison for the WCHA playoffs which were 1 and done that year.

We played UND in the first game and UND was bad. I believe they were last in the league during the season. Anyway, we played poorly, and gave up some easy goals. In the third we played a lot better and one of our goals was called back for some reason which Crosby didn't like and ended up shoving the ref. Anyway, we lost by one goal and were out. Crosby was probably the best college hockey player I ever saw.

After that they changed the playoff format to more than one game.

I got the flu the second night and missed those games and then had a miserable ride back to Houghton. That was maybe the best Tech team I ever saw, aside from this one of course.

I'm not down on passing like bose is, but if they are going to pass the puck, then move it with some authority.

I think one of our problems is we get the puck back to the point, it get's moved to the weak side, and then that point man holds it for too long. In the mean time, the other team gets back in position. The whole reason it got moved in the first place was to get them out of position, so why give them time to get back in. Think ahead, and have a plan.

The game takes so much focus though, that I'm totally impressed with how well our guys do.

Oh, and I nominate Mel for President. Best coach in college hockey, hands down.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

My bracketology calculations put Tech as #2 seed in Providence, playing #3 Providence, with BU as the 1 and Quinnipiac as the 4. Lots of attendance based shuffling this week.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

My bracketology calculations put Tech as #2 seed in Providence, playing #3 Providence, with BU as the 1 and Quinnipiac as the 4. Lots of attendance based shuffling this week.

I'm willing to bet that MTU will be in Fargo or South Bend, for travel/attendance purposes. Of course, that depends on what other teams are seeded at.

 

[bose301s]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

I'm going to take a stab at this. That team was, if i'm not mistaken Gary Crosby's first year. It had a ton of talent and won a lot of games. I went down to madison for the WCHA playoffs which were 1 and done that year.

We played UND in the first game and UND was bad. I believe they were last in the league during the season. Anyway, we played poorly, and gave up some easy goals. In the third we played a lot better and one of our goals was called back for some reason which Crosby didn't like and ended up shoving the ref. Anyway, we lost by one goal and were out. Crosby was probably the best college hockey player I ever saw.

After that they changed the playoff format to more than one game.

I got the flu the second night and missed those games and then had a miserable ride back to Houghton. That was maybe the best Tech team I ever saw, aside from this one of course.

I'm not down on passing like bose is, but if they are going to pass the puck, then move it with some authority.

I think one of our problems is we get the puck back to the point, it get's moved to the weak side, and then that point man holds it for too long. In the mean time, the other team gets back in position. The whole reason it got moved in the first place was to get them out of position, so why give them time to get back in. Think ahead, and have a plan.

The game takes so much focus though, that I'm totally impressed with how well our guys do.

Oh, and I nominate Mel for President. Best coach in college hockey, hands down.

I'm not necessarily down on passing, we just don't do it will currently, I think your assessment there is dead on really and was part of what I was trying to say too.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

I'm willing to bet that MTU will be in Fargo or South Bend, for travel/attendance purposes. Of course, that depends on what other teams are seeded at.

To be fair to the committee, what evidence do they have that MTU will draw for a regional in Fargo or South Bend?

 

[The Rube]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

To be fair to the committee, what evidence do they have that MTU will draw for a regional in Fargo or South Bend?

I'm leaning more towards proximity, however a case COULD be made for the fanbase if the committee knows anything about the Misfits. Am I giving too much credit to said fanbase? Possibly.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

I'm willing to bet that MTU will be in Fargo or South Bend, for travel/attendance purposes. Of course, that depends on what other teams are seeded at.

I doubt it. Tech will end where they fall based on where other teams are placed. No reason to put anyone in Fargo for attendance reasons, good attendance is guaranteed to be good due to UND. Shorter travel may get teams shifted to Fargo, though.

Tech in South Bend isn't a home run either, they'd fall behind Miami, BGSU, Duluth, Michigan and Minnesota for preference to have in South Bend, and all of those teams seem likely to end up ranked similar to Tech. Because of this, I think South Bend is the least likely landing spot for Tech. It'll be East or Fargo.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

I doubt it. Tech will end where they fall based on where other teams are placed. No reason to put anyone in Fargo for attendance reasons, good attendance is guaranteed to be good due to UND. Shorter travel may get teams shifted to Fargo, though.

Tech in South Bend isn't a home run either, they'd fall behind Miami, BGSU, Duluth, Michigan and Minnesota for preference to have in South Bend, and all of those teams seem likely to end up ranked similar to Tech. Because of this, I think South Bend is the least likely landing spot for Tech. It'll be East or Fargo.

If the NCAA has a chance to send MN to Fargo, they'll do it. And, unfairly, tUMD also. That would leave MIA and BGSU and MI. Depending on seeding (haven't looked up MIA/BG), I could see a "great lakes" style regional at South Bend. Honestly, it's all a crapshoot this early anyway. MN moved up 6 spots and not b/c of their win last night. Need to wait another 2-3 weeks, to settle the volatility.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

If the NCAA has a chance to send MN to Fargo, they'll do it. And, unfairly, tUMD also. That would leave MIA and BGSU and MI. Depending on seeding (haven't looked up MIA/BG), I could see a "great lakes" style regional at South Bend. Honestly, it's all a crapshoot this early anyway. MN moved up 6 spots and not b/c of their win last night. Need to wait another 2-3 weeks, to settle the volatility.

To be honest I really don't care where MN goes.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

To be honest I really don't care where MN goes.

Of course you don't.

However, given proximity (travel) and the conference splits, where MN goes (or where Kato/tUMD go) could affect where MTU goes. That whole "western hockey" thing.

 

[manurespreader]

Re: Michigan Tech, best season in 30 years, part two!

I agree that they will try to get minnesota based teams to Fargo. As far as UMTC, they better hope Harvard, Yale, St Lawrence, Vermont all keep losing. I was impressed with how they played this weekend though.

A split with michigan leaves them at 17 or 18. They need to get to 13 to be safe, and if Northeastern wins the Beanpot that's another team to worry about.And if they do go to Fargo it's most likely as a 3 or 4 seed.

For us, both Providence and Q pac play much like Ferris, defensive and counter attack, but with more snipers than Ferris has at the moment.