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

[bose301s]

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

Dirk is the best in the business, I love him. Remember how Bruce Martyn's voice would shift about 3 octaves whenever the Wings scored? Same kind of excitement.

Ken Kal gets pretty excited too.

 

[HuskyNation]

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

I'm good with it, dude. Never had a problem with it. Just poking fun.

It shows you care and want the team to perform at its best all the time. I love where your enthusiasm is at, we still have to work to get to where your expectations seem to be at.

 

[eye4talent]

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

I just save my money and listen to Dirk's call. The game as he describes it is much more exciting than the real thing. Highlights are free the next morning.

I do the same thing. Tune into Dirk and watch highlights next morning.

 

[geezer]

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

Hope I'm not ruining it for anyone

Naw, it's the perfect place for unvarnished opinions regarding the hockey game.

 

[manurespreader]

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

You know I grew up listening to Fred Cusick. There was no TV of Bruins games then, you had to listen. So I got to where I would pace back and forth in my mom's kitchen while listening to them lose. At that time, There was nothing I wanted to be more than a hockey player.( You can't imagine the hype that accompanied a kid named Bobby Orr when he came up to the Bruins from the Oshawa Generals.)

I also spent a lot of time listening to Ned Martin, Bruce Martyn, ( who is a Tech grad btw) Johnny Most, Dan Daniels, of course Ernie Harwell, and I love Ken Kal too I think he's great.

Anyway, guys that are great broadcasters give you the names, not just " oh the right wing ..." Dirk does that, he even gets in names like Prapavessis. So I know who it is with the puck. Second they give you a flavor of the game. Dirk does that. Third, they are objective, Dirk is that for sure. Forth, they can analyze things too. Dirk does that. So he gets my vote.

Just go listen to some of the other guys doing college hockey now. Those guys from Minnesota are miserable homers. The guy from Michigan is a nice guy, but he can't pronounce names, John Buccigras is just not that good. I like the guys from Bemidji, they do a good job, but The only guy in Dirks league is Gary Thorne.( Who I wish they would bring back for the playoff games.

Anyway all this is just my two cents.

 

[John J. MacInnes]

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

I also spent a lot of time listening to Ned Martin, Bruce Martyn, ( who is a Tech grad btw) Johnny Most, Dan Daniels, of course Ernie Harwell, and I love Ken Kal too I think he's great.

Just a "Tech"nicality, but Bruce Martyn actually went to the branch campus is Sault Ste. Marie - which became LSSC Soo Tech, then LSSC, and eventually Lake Superior State University. So I guess each school could claim him as an alumnus.

I've worked with Dirk off and on for more than two decades, and it's always enjoyable. He's just as good alone as he is with an analyst, and that is a rare quality in a broadcaster. Nice to see him getting the appreciation for his work.

 

[lawdoggies]

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

Dirk . . . gets my vote.

I've got to agree. I'm always amazed at the little details Dirk sees from 'up there' and how he works it seamlessly into his play by play. He sees things that a lot of others don't catch until they see the replay. And as to the modulation of his voice, to me it seems to perfectly mirror the intensity - or lack thereof - of the action on the ice. I don't feel like I miss anything listening to him . . . and if I'm streaming a game I'll sync his play by play.

 

[eye4talent]

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

IMO, the best play by play announcers in hockey are Pat Foley and John Wiedeman. Both broadcast for the Chicago Blackhawks, Foley used to do more radio and now does TV mainly. Wiedeman does the radio broadcasts. Tune him in sometime. guy is unreal. Bruce Martin was really good too. I'm a Wings fan who grew up listening to Bruce Martin and when they weren't on, turned the dial to 780 AM out of Chicago for Foley's call of the Hawks.

 

[Seawolf Fan]

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

You know I grew up listening to Fred Cusick. There was no TV of Bruins games then, you had to listen. So I got to where I would pace back and forth in my mom's kitchen while listening to them lose. At that time, There was nothing I wanted to be more than a hockey player.( You can't imagine the hype that accompanied a kid named Bobby Orr when he came up to the Bruins from the Oshawa Generals.)

I also spent a lot of time listening to Ned Martin, Bruce Martyn, ( who is a Tech grad btw) Johnny Most, Dan Daniels, of course Ernie Harwell, and I love Ken Kal too I think he's great.

Anyway, guys that are great broadcasters give you the names, not just " oh the right wing ..." Dirk does that, he even gets in names like Prapavessis. So I know who it is with the puck. Second they give you a flavor of the game. Dirk does that. Third, they are objective, Dirk is that for sure. Forth, they can analyze things too. Dirk does that. So he gets my vote.

Just go listen to some of the other guys doing college hockey now. Those guys from Minnesota are miserable homers. The guy from Michigan is a nice guy, but he can't pronounce names, John Buccigras is just not that good. I like the guys from Bemidji, they do a good job, but The only guy in Dirks league is Gary Thorne.( Who I wish they would bring back for the playoff games.

Anyway all this is just my two cents.

Substitute UAA 650 AM Kurt Haider for Dirk in the quote below and then add that he's a real class act.

Anyway, guys that are great broadcasters give you the names, not just " oh the right wing ..." Dirk does that, he even gets in names like Prapavessis. So I know who it is with the puck. Second they give you a flavor of the game. Dirk does that. Third, they are objective, Dirk is that for sure. Forth, they can analyze things too. Dirk does that.

Not taking anything away from anyone mentioned in your post. Just sayin that if you've heard Kurt he would be added to your list.
And I'm not saying this as a homer.

 

[aparch]

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

IMO, the best play by play announcers in hockey are Pat Foley and John Wiedeman. Both broadcast for the Chicago Blackhawks, Foley used to do more radio and now does mainly TV. Wiedeman does the radio broadcasts. Tune him in sometime. guy is unreal. Bruce Martin was really good too. I'm a Wings fan who grew up listening to Bruce Martin and when they weren't on, turned the dial to 780 AM out of Chicago for Foley's call of the Hawks.

Foley's become a caricature of himself since returning to the 'Hawks in 2009.

During Dollar Bill's last stand around 2005-06, he gave the heave-ho to a lot of front office talent. The Chicago Wolves snapped him up to call the games for them (as the Wolves have long been the home of Dollar Bill cast-offs (Wayne Messmer, Billy Gardner, etc)). He called the Wolves for two years and by the 2008 Calder Cup Championship, Foley had a Ken Kal type enthusiasm when goaltenders would make a save.
"a big save by Pavelec" would get smeared into "BHHIIIIIIGGGGGGHHHSSSHHHHAAAAVVVEEE by PAAHHHHVVVVLLLEEEKKKKK." (Fans seriously thought he was going to have a stroke on air. Or had one already.)

After calling the Wolves 2008 Calder Cup win, Foley was then hired back by the Blackhawks after Rocky started extending the olive branch to some of the recent cast-offs.

And since he's been paired with Eddie Olczyk, he's become, like I said, a caricature of himself. Over exaggerated play calling. The beating of dead jokes (I swear if I hear tree-turdy-tree-anna-turd or similar again, it will be too soon).

I understand chemistry between PxP and Color guys are needed, absolutely, but it seems like Olczyk just brings the common denominator down to "licking lead paint products" levels.


I do have to say, my favorite pun/gag from Foley was this pre-game exchange during a Wolves road game in Philly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMP4tiXD4vU

 

[eye4talent]

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

Foley's become a caricature of himself since returning to the 'Hawks in 2009.

During Dollar Bill's last stand around 2005-06, he gave the heave-ho to a lot of front office talent. The Chicago Wolves snapped him up to call the games for them (as the Wolves have long been the home of Dollar Bill cast-offs (Wayne Messmer, Billy Gardner, etc)). He called the Wolves for two years and by the 2008 Calder Cup Championship, Foley had a Ken Kal type enthusiasm when goaltenders would make a save.
"a big save by Pavelec" would get smeared into "BHHIIIIIIGGGGGGHHHSSSHHHHAAAAVVVEEE by PAAHHHHVVVVLLLEEEKKKKK." (Fans seriously thought he was going to have a stroke on air. Or had one already.)

After calling the Wolves 2008 Calder Cup win, Foley was then hired back by the Blackhawks after Rocky started extending the olive branch to some of the recent cast-offs.

And since he's been paired with Eddie Olczyk, he's become, like I said, a caricature of himself. Over exaggerated play calling. The beating of dead jokes (I swear if I hear tree-turdy-tree-anna-turd or similar again, it will be too soon).

I understand chemistry between PxP and Color guys are needed, absolutely, but it seems like Olczyk just brings the common denominator down to "licking lead paint products" levels.


I do have to say, my favorite pun/gag from Foley was this pre-game exchange during a Wolves road game in Philly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMP4tiXD4vU

used to love hearing Foley call a big save by Belfour back in the day. ha. nothing like it.

Eddie O is a good color man.

 

[aparch]

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

Oh, I just remembered the most epic Pat Foley rant ever:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iviLY1RvNc

Foley reads the riot act about Alexander Karpovtsev.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

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

What's the normal age for commitments, I am not too up to speed on how it works.

it really depends, 16 and younger is less common because it requires the play to contact the school first.

Looking at Heisenberg's list for 2015 and beyond recruits, there are 735 committed recruits that lists a players birthday and commitment date. The average age is 17 but the most common is 16 at time of commitment, with the range going from 13 (Oliver Wahlstrom - Maine) to 21 (Vince Pedrie - Penn State).

Age--Count
13---1
14---12
15---78
16---194
17---172
18---138
19---96
20---43
21---1

EDIT: By comparison under Pearson, here is the breakdown

15-1
16-5
17-13
18-10
19-10
20-3
21-1

Average 17.8

 

[bose301s]

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

Looking at Heisenberg's list for 2015 and beyond recruits, there are 735 committed recruits that lists a players birthday and commitment date. The average age is 17 but the most common is 16 at time of commitment, with the range going from 13 (Oliver Wahlstrom - Maine) to 21 (Vince Pedrie - Penn State).

Age--Count
13---1
14---12
15---78
16---194
17---172
18---138
19---96
20---43
21---1

EDIT: By comparison under Pearson, here is the breakdown

15-1
16-5
17-13
18-10
19-10
20-3
21-1

Average 17.8

13 and 14 are insane IMO, just too young, you don't know how they'll develop and grow but if coaches want to risk it more power to them.

I also vote for Dirk as best college announcer I've heard by far and up there with any pro announcer. I also love when Brent Peterson is on for color commentary, he tells it like it is and doesn't hold back, on Friday when we were looking bad he didn't sugarcoat it which I appreciated, but he also acknowledged how talented this team is and that they still had the ability to come back. To me there's no better combo anywhere than Dirk and Brent and that's college and pro's all included.

Finally, does anyone know if there will be a Blueline Luncheon the Friday of Winter Carnival? I will be up there for the first time since graduating in 2010 and would love to go to it if they're having one.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

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

13 and 14 are insane IMO, just too young, you don't know how they'll develop and grow but if coaches want to risk it more power to them.

Interesting to note that the teams that have commitments from 13 and 14 yos are Boston College (2), Denver, Maine, Michigan (2), Michigan State, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Northeastern (2), Notre Dame, Yale. Most of those are pretty high profile teams...

 

[Bill]

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

Interesting to note that the teams that have commitments from 13 and 14 yos are Boston College (2), Denver, Maine, Michigan (2), Michigan State, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Northeastern (2), Notre Dame, Yale. Most of those are pretty high profile teams...

Makes sense. The younger the kid, the more likely they are to be more familiar with and want to go to high profile teams

 

[aparch]

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

Interesting to note that the teams that have commitments from 13 and 14 yos are Boston College (2), Denver, Maine, Michigan (2), Michigan State, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Northeastern (2), Notre Dame, Yale. Most of those are pretty high profile teams...

Also, those schools are potentially competing for those kids against CHL programs. Also, until they sign the national letter of intent, they're still free reign to court (unless you abide by that unwritten gentleman's agreement which, those schools listed above with commitments from 13 and 14 YO's don't).

 

[Seawolf Fan]

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

It's a 2 way street isn't it?
Kid can change his mind prior to signing LOI and Coach can change his mind.
Or maybe it'll be a different Coach by then.
And maybe the kid goes CHL or......who knows??????

 

[aparch]

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

It's a 2 way street isn't it?
Kid can change his mind prior to signing LOI and Coach can change his mind.
Or maybe it'll be a different Coach by then.
And maybe the kid goes CHL or......who knows??????

Yep, it's pretty wide open until NLI. And even then I'm sure MTU has had commitments bail weeks before school starts.

(Northern had that happen a few years ago, kid was all set to attend NMU, cleared the Clearinghouse, but chose the CHL at the last minute.)

 

[Shirtless Guy]

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

Yep, it's pretty wide open until NLI. And even then I'm sure MTU has had commitments bail weeks before school starts.

(Northern had that happen a few years ago, kid was all set to attend NMU, cleared the Clearinghouse, but chose the CHL at the last minute.)

I looked back 2 years to see how the 14/15 yo recruits panned out...list includes Jack Eichel (BU), Ryan Fitzgerald (BC), Dylan Larkin (Mich), JT Compher (Mich), Nick Schmaltz (UND), Vince Hinostroza (ND), Morgan Zulinick (UW)...and then there is Levi Erkkila (NMU)...what happen to him?