What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

Shirtless Guy said:
By popular demand,* tomorrow's profile is on the last of the assistants, Gary Shuchuk. Check THG in about 7 or 8 hours...I forget what time its actually going live...*He won our twitter poll for favorite among the 4 assistant coaches of the Pearson era to replace Mel.
Click to expand...

The twitter poll surprised me
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

It won't be Pat. Too many other options that lack the baggage of the Russell years.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
It won't be Pat. Too many other options that lack the baggage of the Russell years.
Click to expand...

What really sucks is that Jamie Russell was the nicest, most genuine guy you will ever meet, but that obviously didn't translate to success on the ice.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

bose301s said:
What really sucks is that Jamie Russell was the nicest, most genuine guy you will ever meet, but that obviously didn't translate to success on the ice.
Click to expand...
Not that I don't appreciate what Mel did but let's not forget that Russell actually had a winning season in the old WCHA, something Mel didn't manage until after the reshuffling and left the cupboard pretty loaded with who was still on the team and who was lined up to come in. There is no way to compare apples to apples and Mel couldn't have really asked for a better situation.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

Shirtless Guy said:
Not that I don't appreciate what Mel did but let's not forget that Russell actually had a winning season in the old WCHA, something Mel didn't manage until after the reshuffling and left the cupboard pretty loaded with who was still on the team and who was lined up to come in. There is no way to compare apples to apples and Mel couldn't have really asked for a better situation.
Click to expand...

Good points. It's easy to sell Jamie short. He was playing in a much tougher league and Tech was a tougher sell for recruiting due to the long history of poor performance. Pearson also benefited from a deliberate decision on the part of Mroz, Sanregret and key alums to do whatever it takes to bring the program back to national relevance. Pearson consequently had a lot more resources at his disposal. Jamie also had stocked the shelves with some decent talent before he left and Pearson did not find the cupboard bare when he arrived. He came into a program that in some ways had already turned a corner and got a big morale and public image boost simply from the leadership change and Pearson's reputation. I think the leadership change was necessary in order to change the culture, but the program was definitely poised for success. I think the program now is in an even stronger position and whoever takes over from Pearson should be able to consistently finish in the top of the WCHA. I'd expect the competition for the HC job to be fierce, but I do think it will primarily attract young coaches looking to use it as a stepping stone. That's not a bad thing if it's managed correctly.
 
Last edited:
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

UpNorthHockey said:
Good points. It's easy to sell Jamie short. He was playing in a much tougher league and Tech was a tougher sell for recruiting due to the long history of poor performance. Pearson also benefited from a deliberate decision on the part of Mroz, Sanregret at key alums to do whatever it takes to bring the program back to national relevance. Pearson consequently had a lot more resources at his disposal. Jamie also had stocked the shelves with some decent talent before he left and Pearson did not find the cupboard bare when he arrived. He came into a program that in some ways had already turned a corner and got a big morale and public image boost simply from the leadership change and Pearson's reputation. I think the leadership change was necessary in order to change the culture, but the program was definitely poised for success. I think the program now is in an even stronger position and whoever takes over from Pearson should be able to consistently finish in the top of the WCHA. I'd expect the competition for the HC job to be fierce, but I do think it will primarily attract young coaches looking to use it as a stepping stone. That's not a bad thing if it's managed correctly.
Click to expand...
We've published 12 profiles and have 6 more either written or in the works for release between now and Monday. That should wrap up our profiles unless we get some news of someone getting interviewed that we were not able to predict in our first EIGHTEEN profiles. After that we'll try to spend more time on what we've heard and breaking down how the 18 "candidates" compare.
 
Last edited:
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

Shirtless Guy said:
Not that I don't appreciate what Mel did but let's not forget that Russell actually had a winning season in the old WCHA, something Mel didn't manage until after the reshuffling and left the cupboard pretty loaded with who was still on the team and who was lined up to come in. There is no way to compare apples to apples and Mel couldn't have really asked for a better situation.
Click to expand...

UpNorthHockey said:
Good points. It's easy to sell Jamie short. He was playing in a much tougher league and Tech was a tougher sell for recruiting due to the long history of poor performance. Pearson also benefited from a deliberate decision on the part of Mroz, Sanregret and key alums to do whatever it takes to bring the program back to national relevance. Pearson consequently had a lot more resources at his disposal. Jamie also had stocked the shelves with some decent talent before he left and Pearson did not find the cupboard bare when he arrived. He came into a program that in some ways had already turned a corner and got a big morale and public image boost simply from the leadership change and Pearson's reputation. I think the leadership change was necessary in order to change the culture, but the program was definitely poised for success. I think the program now is in an even stronger position and whoever takes over from Pearson should be able to consistently finish in the top of the WCHA. I'd expect the competition for the HC job to be fierce, but I do think it will primarily attract young coaches looking to use it as a stepping stone. That's not a bad thing if it's managed correctly.
Click to expand...

Your arguments are all true, however I would still argue that with the talent Jamie did have on the team the results should have been better than they were, many players came in and just never seemed to develop, that to me is the biggest difference between Jamie and Mel, Mel's players had marked development from pre college to college and freshman to senior years, Jamie's didn't seem to do nearly as well in that respect. I was in school when we had the winning season under Jamie and it was awesome, but looking back on it, that was a bit of a down year for the rest of the WCHA, plus UMD and Mankato were not what they are today then, UAA was still bad. I have also heard some arguments that that season had lot to do with the on ice leadership, namely Mike Batovanja. Also, we seemed to have an oddly high injury rate under Jamie, I know this past season was bad for injuries, but I just remember almost every year being that bad injury wise under Jamie, to the point of taking club team members on road trips once or twice.

I still like a respect Jamie and knew he loved what he was doing and loved being at Tech, but it was a very low point in the programs history.
 
Last edited:
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

bose301s said:
Your arguments are all true, however I would still argue that with the talent Jamie did have on the team the results should have been better than they were, many players came in and just never seemed to develop, that to me is the biggest difference between Jamie and Mel, Mel's players had marked development from pre college to college and freshman to senior years, Jamie's didn't seem to do nearly as well in that respect. I was in school when we had the winning season under Jamie and it was awesome, but looking back on it, that was a bit of a down year for the rest of the WCHA, plus UMD and Mankato were not what they are today then, UAA was still bad. I have also heard some arguments that that season had lot to do with the on ice leadership, namely Mike Batovanja. Also, we seemed to have an oddly high injury rate under Jamie, I know this past season was bad for injuries, but I just remember almost every year being that bad injury wise under Jamie, to the point of taking club team members on road trips once or twice.

I still like a respect Jamie and knew he loved what he was doing and loved being at Tech, but it was a very low point in the programs history.
Click to expand...
I just think the low points were Watters and Sertich. If MTU had made similar support decisions in 2003 as they did in 2011, things would be very different right now.

I'm not sure who to blame for all the injuries but it certainly was a terrible run when it comes to those.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

I read a comment that the GLI might be played in January this year, WTH, we are a bit busy in Vegas after all.......

As host, sorry not going to happen.....
 
Last edited:
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

I don't want to ruffle any feathers, but the reality was the players did not respect Russell and wouldn't play for him. that's why they didn't win and that's why they didn't develop. The whole tenor of the organization changed the day Pearson walked in the door. There was tremendous emphasis on getting better every day, as well as a lot of other things that got the players' respect.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

I have been reading your possible coaching profiles and I feel that there is no way that Chris Bergeron would leave Bowling Green for Tech. His children are comfortably in their school and I don't see him uprooting his family for a lateral move within the conference that are in similar places in their team's development.
 
manurespreader said:
I don't want to ruffle any feathers, but the reality was the players did not respect Russell and wouldn't play for him. that's why they didn't win and that's why they didn't develop. The whole tenor of the organization changed the day Pearson walked in the door. There was tremendous emphasis on getting better every day, as well as a lot of other things that got the players' respect.
Click to expand...

I spoke with people with ties to the program under Jamie.
They said he really wasn't a player's coach.
That changed when Mel took over. He had more of an open door policy. Hopefully the administration takes that into account with the new coaching search. The lines of communication must be kept open with the players.
 
Last edited:
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

Huskiefan906 said:
I read a comment that the GLI might be played in January this year, WTH, we are a bit busy in Vegas after all.......

As host, sorry not going to happen.....
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, the Pistons' decision to move in down there means they/the NBA now get scheduling priority over all other events except the Wings. Just one of several reasons why I wish they had stayed put at the Palace.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

manurespreader said:
I don't want to ruffle any feathers, but the reality was the players did not respect Russell and wouldn't play for him. that's why they didn't win and that's why they didn't develop. The whole tenor of the organization changed the day Pearson walked in the door. There was tremendous emphasis on getting better every day, as well as a lot of other things that got the players' respect.
Click to expand...
There is little doubt that a change was needed when it happened bc of what you said above and bc it helped put the new coach in a great position to start strong. I'll stop talking about it now.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

Hockey John said:
I have been reading your possible coaching profiles and I feel that there is no way that Chris Bergeron would leave Bowling Green for Tech. His children are comfortably in their school and I don't see him uprooting his family for a lateral move within the conference that are in similar places in their team's development.
Click to expand...

When you write 18 pieces about possible candidates, you write about some unlikely options. :)

GFM
 
Shirtless Guy said:
I just think the low points were Watters and Sertich. If MTU had made similar support decisions in 2003 as they did in 2011, things would be very different right now.

I'm not sure who to blame for all the injuries but it certainly was a terrible run when it comes to those.
Click to expand...

You're right on. In Russell's final years, the team got crushed by injuries to its best players. The program was also not even as close to being funded at the level it is now, especially in the recruiting department. Ask Jamie or Sert or Bob or Herb or Watters where their recruiting expenditures stood in the league.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

Hockey John said:
I have been reading your possible coaching profiles and I feel that there is no way that Chris Bergeron would leave Bowling Green for Tech. His children are comfortably in their school and I don't see him uprooting his family for a lateral move within the conference that are in similar places in their team's development.
Click to expand...

I think we're all pretty much in agreement with you, it's purely speculative. A good story for getting some extra clicks. ;)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top