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Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

eye4talent said:
Mel didn't recruit him. Mikesch and Russell did. Same with B. Pietila and D. Johnstone. Mel deserves credit for developing these guys, but they were recruited by the previous regime.
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I thought that I recalled there being some debate as to whether or not he would go the college or CHL route even after Mel showed up. I guess my bigger point was that it doesn't seem to have caught the current staff off-guard.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

oldish husky said:
I thought that I recalled there being some debate as to whether or not he would go the college or CHL route even after Mel showed up. I guess my bigger point was that it doesn't seem to have caught the current staff off-guard.
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i'm guessing Mel is used to early departures after spending two decades in Ann Arbor. i'm curious to see who's going to replace Shields and work with the goalies.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

eye4talent said:
i'm guessing Mel is used to early departures after spending two decades in Ann Arbor. i'm curious to see who's going to replace Shields and work with the goalies.
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At this point, I'm starting to wonder if we will roll without a goalie coach this season, if Mel can't land the guy he wants.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

Dieter Kochan is working up in Calumet still...
 
Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

Kochan is old news. Mel has indicated before that he prefers to leave goalie coaching to dedicated goalie coaches, but if he can't find the right guy, who knows?
 
Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

Plenty of info from Stephen Anderson today.

Here's his article on incoming freshmen Cliff Watson.

http://www.mininggazette.com/page/c...ee-Watson-falls-into-Tech-s-lap.html?nav=5009

Also in the article: Sova had surgery a week ago and it's a 2 month recovery time. So it sounds like mid October.
And Fillion is questionable to be back this year.

Justin Fillion is a question mark after the coaching staff addressed some team issues with him. The ball is in Fillion's court about returning.
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Also from Stephen via twitter:
Pearson on Sova (surgery a week ago, out 2 months from then) "Rather have surger at the start of the summer, not the end, but they wanted to give it a chance to heal and it just wasn't healing. Tough for Dan, and tough for us."

Khaira departure caught Mel off-guard. No convo from JJ, his family or Edmonton. MacTavish called and made it clear he hadn't reached out.

MP: Advisor "pushed" JJ a bit. EDM was willing to sign. All of a sudden there's no discussion and it's done. Disappointing.

MP: " I just feel (Khaira) could have used 1 or 2 more yeras; I think Edmonton does too, but it's tough." Both like his mtuhky devolpment.

MP: Everett "benefits from (getting Khaira) greatly, but they weren't pursuing him or really bothering him."

MP: "I told (EDM GM) Craig MacTavish you have a great young man there (Khaira), can't say anything negative about him."
 
Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

I don't view the potential loss of Fillion as all that big, with Sweeney, Hanna, and Hyland already set to fill the offensive d-man spots. Fillion came in halfway through his freshman year and looked like he was going to explode as a sophomore, but then it never happened and he rode the pine. Adding a guy like Watson that understands the importance of being a shutdown d-man and is excited to play the role should help. We can certainly use a few guys that are willing to hang back and not be overly flashy with the puck, which we're hopefully going to get with Watson and Leibinger over the next couple of years.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

So with all the recent updates Baltus and Heinonen will get more ice time at center.

Can this lineup win the WCHA? Yes!!

Pietila Kero Petan
D. Johnstone Baltus J.Johnstone
Furne Heinonen Gould
Eick Rix Sturos
Vallis Holmberg Hietila
Neville Anderson

Sova out for 2 months

Hanna Sweeney
Watson Hyland
Stebner Leibinger
Fillion Davis
Sova

Copley
Phillips
Wintjes
 
Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

3rd or 4th place. It's a good set of players, but I just don't buy into the consistency of this defense or goaltending quite yet.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
3rd or 4th place. It's a good set of players, but I just don't buy into the consistency of this defense or goaltending quite yet.
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Goaltending is the concern. How much did Shields help out mentally.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

From his twitter, Tech picked up a commitment from Mason Blacklock, forward in the BCHL, for Vernon Vipers.

@masonblacklock: Excited to announce I've committed to play for Michigan Tech University next season! Thanks to everyone who made this dream of mine possible.
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Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

mtu_huskies said:
From his twitter, Tech picked up a commitment from Mason Blacklock, forward in the BCHL, for Vernon Vipers.
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Well, his other twitter contributions certainly show questionable judgment...
 
Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

Michigan Tech vs Northern Michigan with nWCHA points up for grabs... 60 days from today!

Ryan J
 
Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
3rd or 4th place. It's a good set of players, but I just don't buy into the consistency of this defense or goaltending quite yet.
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I agree about the consistency issue, but I'm not sure any of the other WCHA teams are significantly stronger. I think Tech could take it all if everything falls into place, but I'd be happy with a 2nd or 3rd place finish.
Interesting that Mel sees Watson as the most ready (moreso than Hanna). Also interesting (but not completely surprising) that JJ didn't discuss the move. Sounds like it may have been an impulse decision, but I do understand his desire to play more games, as it's a big factor in development. Lastly, I'm a bit surprised by the Fillion news. I wonder if "team issues" is simply code for "you're gonna have to re-earn a lineup spot" or if it's something more serious.
 
Re: Michigan Tech Offseason I - New teams, new scoreboard, new goals... bring it on!

UpNorthHockey said:
I agree about the consistency issue, but I'm not sure any of the other WCHA teams are significantly stronger. I think Tech could take it all if everything falls into place, but I'd be happy with a 2nd or 3rd place finish.
Interesting that Mel sees Watson as the most ready (moreso than Hanna). Also interesting (but not completely surprising) that JJ didn't discuss the move. Sounds like it may have been an impulse decision, but I do understand his desire to play more games, as it's a big factor in development. Lastly, I'm a bit surprised by the Fillion news. I wonder if "team issues" is simply code for "you're gonna have to re-earn a lineup spot" or if it's something more serious.
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Technically, they all have to re-earn their spot at the start of the year. ;)

Fillion only played in five games after Dec 1st last season. I don't recall him getting injured, I think he was simply outplayed by Hyland and others. Maybe he copped an attitude about it, who knows?
 
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