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Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

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Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

manurespreader said:
This is my number 1 worry by far. I wonder since mel has left if things will actually get better on the recruiting front. Given mel being so old and all.
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What exactly is your worry? That Mel over recruited and Shawhan is kinda left with a difficult task where he currently can't offer to a defenseman that could come in before his contract is even done?
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

Shirtless Guy said:
What exactly is your worry? That Mel over recruited and Shawhan is kinda left with a difficult task where he currently can't offer to a defenseman that could come in before his contract is even done?
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No my worry is that down the line the quality of recruits will change. I hope it increases and I asked questions of the mel show, which he never answered about the quality of recruits.
I'd really like to see us start to get recruits that are highly sought after.
 
manurespreader said:
No my worry is that down the line the quality of recruits will change. I hope it increases and I asked questions of the mel show, which he never answered about the quality of recruits.
I'd really like to see us start to get recruits that are highly sought after.
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Add about 30,000 staudents, move the campus at least four hours closer to a big city, schedule Minnesota instead of Bemidji every year and award full cost of living stipends. There's a good start to getting those top 20 recruits lining up. Oh and join the Big Ten, Hockey East or the NCHC. Unfortunately most of the D-II schools face similar problems in that regard.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

davyd83 said:
Add about 30,000 staudents, move the campus at least four hours closer to a big city, schedule Minnesota instead of Bemidji every year and award full cost of living stipends. There's a good start to getting those top 20 recruits lining up. Oh and join the Big Ten, Hockey East or the NCHC. Unfortunately most of the D-II schools face similar problems in that regard.
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I don't think the big city is for everybody. In Canada they turn out many hockey players, who later go to the NHL that came from smaller towns.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

Wi.Huskies Fan said:
I don't think the big city is for everybody. In Canada they turn out many hockey players, who later go to the NHL that came from smaller towns.
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Agreed, and look at other examples UMD, Union, etc build a team and slot in for the short term players.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

Winning consistently will help but I think one thing that most of the really successful programs do is move guys on to the pros. If recruits see that on a regular basis with a team they will want to go there.
Speaking of which, are any of Techs undrafted players going to NHL camps? It's been real quiet on that front. Wonder if the camp invites fall off with Mel gone. Sounded like he helped guys over the years get opportunities.
 
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Wi.Huskies Fan said:
I don't think the big city is for everybody. In Canada they turn out many hockey players, who later go to the NHL that came from smaller towns.
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That's true. And there are a few of those who will filter down to Tech or other WCHA schools. But suppose a kid has Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota St in on him along with Tech and Ferris. Full Scholarships on the table for all. Cost of living stipends from Minnesota, ND, UW and now Minnesota St has added that to the mix as well. Now a kid looks as the level of competition. He sees five of the ten conference teams in the bottom 12 and none in the top 20. What are the chances of landing that Top 25 recruit for Ferris or Tech? How much of your recruiting resources do you allocate to chasing players you have 25% chance or less of getting? Tech offers a great education, one of the best facilities in college hockey, a terrific fan base and a beautiful natural setting among other assets. But in a majority of cases, will that be enough to draw very many of the so called "big name" recruits?
 
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davyd83 said:
That's true. And there are a few of those who will filter down to Tech or other WCHA schools. But suppose a kid has Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Minnesota St in on him along with Tech and Ferris. Full Scholarships on the table for all. Cost of living stipends from Minnesota, ND, UW and now Minnesota St has added that to the mix as well. Now a kid looks as the level of competition. He sees five of the ten conference teams in the bottom 12 and none in the top 20. What are the chances of landing that Top 25 recruit for Ferris or Tech? How much of your recruiting resources do you allocate to chasing players you have 25% chance or less of getting? Tech offers a great education, one of the best facilities in college hockey, a terrific fan base and a beautiful natural setting among other assets. But in a majority of cases, will that be enough to draw very many of the so called "big name" recruits?
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That is the trouble with society today. It's all about the "glitz". Some of these players think they know it all and are uncoachable and have the ego to prove it. Give me the "team" player any day.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

MTUHuskies said:
https://youtu.be/26mYX7mEepk

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
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Well no doubt players choose a school based on a lot more than just hockey. Even if the coaching is top notch, the facilities great, scouts close, the education excellent, etc. they still choose asu for some stupid reason, or CC, or whoever..... But my point is we have to have at least a few of these more talented guys. I think sure, all those things that have been brought up are true, but that's a copout if you ask me. I'm fine with under the radar guys, I like them, I think a lot develop to be very good, but once in a while we also need an on the radar guy.
So my concern is, we have made great strides, we're moving forward, we have brought the fans back in to the arena and downstate we fill other people's buildings, but we have to take the next step somehow. I'm sure its a gradual process. it takes further facility upgrades like the east end being re done, and it takes a lot of commitment from everyone, and money too. So let's keep the momentum going. Tech has a long history.... longer than most everyone else. Let's keep it going.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

manurespreader said:
Well no doubt players choose a school based on a lot more than just hockey. Even if the coaching is top notch, the facilities great, scouts close, the education excellent, etc. they still choose asu for some stupid reason, or CC, or whoever..... But my point is we have to have at least a few of these more talented guys. I think sure, all those things that have been brought up are true, but that's a copout if you ask me. I'm fine with under the radar guys, I like them, I think a lot develop to be very good, but once in a while we also need an on the radar guy.
So my concern is, we have made great strides, we're moving forward, we have brought the fans back in to the arena and downstate we fill other people's buildings, but we have to take the next step somehow. I'm sure its a gradual process. it takes further facility upgrades like the east end being re done, and it takes a lot of commitment from everyone, and money too. So let's keep the momentum going. Tech has a long history.... longer than most everyone else. Let's keep it going.
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Unless we are filling those proposed extra seats that does not matter. Now if you fill them because you can drop the price a bit but still gain more $$$ great. I think facilities are not that high on the list for a recruit.

It is a process for sure, if any of you remember a mel interview where he said some recruits would not even answer the phone or listen to him when things got started. Meaning that just his name mel brought nothing to the table.

We give mel a lot of credit for recruiting and maybe he deserves most but wasn't Joe the MAIN recruiter? Anyone have insight here?
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

giwan said:
Unless we are filling those proposed extra seats that does not matter. Now if you fill them because you can drop the price a bit but still gain more $$$ great. I think facilities are not that high on the list for a recruit.

It is a process for sure, if any of you remember a mel interview where he said some recruits would not even answer the phone or listen to him when things got started. Meaning that just his name mel brought nothing to the table.

We give mel a lot of credit for recruiting and maybe he deserves most but wasn't Joe the MAIN recruiter? Anyone have insight here?
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Even if Joe was the MAIN recruiter, will he still be with the added duties of HC?

I would think having NHL connections and moving players to the next level (preferably after a full 4 years) is what a lot of recruits notice.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

MTUHuskies said:
Even if Joe was the MAIN recruiter, will he still be with the added duties of HC? I would think having NHL connections and moving players to the next level (preferably after a full 4 years) is what a lot of recruits notice. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
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You would think Joe would not have that extra time as HC but that also means mel didn't.

I agree recruits want to see a HC that can develop a team and players to get a shot at the next level. Though in reality most will not.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

davyd83 said:
Add about 30,000 staudents, move the campus at least four hours closer to a big city, schedule Minnesota instead of Bemidji every year and award full cost of living stipends. There's a good start to getting those top 20 recruits lining up. Oh and join the Big Ten, Hockey East or the NCHC. Unfortunately most of the D-II schools face similar problems in that regard.
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Lake Superior State won two national championships not long ago so you can argue that coaching up players is more important than recruiting. Especially when top rated recruits are one and done like Angus Redmond. Certainly being a hockey player at a football school is not all that. I remember reading an article in the Ann Arbor News back when UofM won their last national championship. The prof was handing back tests and when he got to one of the hockey players, he said, "Congratulations." Most of the other students in the class had no idea what was up. And if facilities where most important, North Dakota would win the NC every year...
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

I think we can all be disappointed that the staff isn't what we might have hoped for back when Mel left, but at the same time be really impressed with the combination of Joe Shawhan, Chris Brooks, and Dallas Steward. You've got a wealth of experience and multiple titles between them on their resumes from Shawhan's success under Pearson to Brooks' D3 title along with making the D3 tournament 4 straight years and Steward's two Clark Cups (USHL Titles) in the last 3 seasons. There is a ton to like about this staff not to mention their varying backgrounds. I look forward to seeing what this team can do on their leadership.

THG's article on Brooks: http://techhockeyguide.com/news/2017/6/25/ncaa-champion-completes-shawhans-staff
 
Shirtless Guy said:
I think we can all be disappointed that the staff isn't what we might have hoped for back when Mel left, but at the same time be really impressed with the combination of Joe Shawhan, Chris Brooks, and Dallas Steward. You've got a wealth of experience and multiple titles between them on their resumes from Shawhan's success under Pearson to Brooks' D3 title along with making the D3 tournament 4 straight years and Steward's two Clark Cups (USHL Titles) in the last 3 seasons. There is a ton to like about this staff not to mention their varying backgrounds. I look forward to seeing what this team can do on their leadership.

THG's article on Brooks: http://techhockeyguide.com/news/2017/6/25/ncaa-champion-completes-shawhans-staff
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Nothing to be disappointed with here. Those are two excellent choices. Both are pretty good guys as well who will be good fits in Houghton. I don't think you can really differentiate a #2 & #1. They both have very complimentary strengths and I think Brooks experience recruiting at the D-1 level is a big plus.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Off-season Revised - Onward and Upward

davyd83 said:
Nothing to be disappointed with here. Those are two excellent choices. Both are pretty good guys as well who will be good fits in Houghton. I don't think you can really differentiate a #2 & #1. They both have very complimentary strengths and I think Brooks experience recruiting at the D-1 level is a big plus.
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The only thing I am "disappointed" with is that there wasn't any way to get Ellsworth on the staff, but I am not disappointed in who is on the staff at all.
 
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