Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

[giwan]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

food for thought is that it's possible a future "new wcha" school will never make it there if the NCHC decides to invite another school in by 2013

not fair starting a rumor during the off season on the internet just to make others anxious, plus it would be a bottom feeder

 

[redwing61]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

I was just watching this interview with Tony Esposito, wherein he insinuates that he was hurt by Bill Wirtz's lack of recognition for past Blackhawks, and it made me wonder what kind of relationship, if any, he has with Michigan Tech these days. We inducted him into our Hall of Fame in 1991...has he been back since? (Did he even come back for that?)

Relevant quote from Tony: "The mindset was different before. It wasn't about anything to do with past players or any kind of a culture or heritage. It was about the now player and the future player. I think that you have to cultivate the team over the long haul, from the past to present and the future, to build a tradition."

I think the first order of business once we get that new scoreboard ought to be bringing Tony in for a nice video tribute and number retirement ceremony.

 

[davyd83]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

I was just watching this interview with Tony Esposito, wherein he insinuates that he was hurt by Bill Wirtz's lack of recognition for past Blackhawks, and it made me wonder what kind of relationship, if any, he has with Michigan Tech these days. We inducted him into our Hall of Fame in 1991...has he been back since? (Did he even come back for that?)

Relevant quote from Tony: "The mindset was different before. It wasn't about anything to do with past players or any kind of a culture or heritage. It was about the now player and the future player. I think that you have to cultivate the team over the long haul, from the past to present and the future, to build a tradition."

I think the first order of business once we get that new scoreboard ought to be bringing Tony in for a nice video tribute and number retirement ceremony.

He has been back and has even played in alumni games, although, to my knowledge, it's been quite some time.

 

[huskyfan]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

we stopped in to see the concrete pour. (more fun than watching paint dry, but just barely) I was surprised how labor intensive it was. guess I visualized a truck dumping and a Zamboni smoothing it out. it was a pretty neat process.

John MacInnes' son Scott has been elected president of Blue Line Club.

fund raising for the scoreboard and a few smaller things on Mel's wish list continue.

great deal of community excitement building for the hockey season.

but, let's wait and have summer first!!

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

fund raising for the scoreboard and a few smaller things on Mel's wish list continue.

I think Pearson mentioned some improvements to the weight room a few weeks back.

As for Tony O, I was under the impression that he hasn't had any contact with the program since the Watters years.

The NCHC has publicly indicated that they are happy with 8 teams, but if they were to invite anyone else, Bowling Green would be my guess. They are fully D1, have 18,000 students, and give Miami and Western another bus trip.

 

[manurespreader]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

I think Pearson mentioned some improvements to the weight room a few weeks back.

As for Tony O, I was under the impression that he hasn't had any contact with the program since the Watters years.

The NCHC has publicly indicated that they are happy with 8 teams, but if they were to invite anyone else, Bowling Green would be my guess. They are fully D1, have 18,000 students, and give Miami and Western another bus trip.

I would agree BGSU is it and they have been lobbying or at least were lobbying last year to get into the nchc, so it makes sense. The nchc might do it just out of spite as an odd number would be harder to deal with.

I find the idea that notre dame might go there fairly self serving on their part as well. I bet we know a lot more on a day or two after the meetings are over.

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

I don't see the NCHC adding anyone simply 'out of spite'. Recall that the WCHA told Ferris and LSSU to make arena improvements as part of their admission to the conference, but did not ask BGSU to do the same. Obviously that was political, because Bowling Green is the WCHA's last hold on a seat at the "full D1 table". If Bowling Green were to bolt, I'm sure the NCHC would make a guarantee of facilities upgrades part of the admission requirements, just as they did with Western.

Still, for the time being, I see the NCHC sticking with 8 teams.

 

[JOHN SCOTT ROCKS]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

The NCHC has publicly indicated that they are happy with 8 teams, but if they were to invite anyone else, Bowling Green would be my guess. They are fully D1, have 18,000 students, and give Miami and Western another bus trip.

it may make sense to add two new teams if they were going to add; who knows if mankato gets turned around they would be a good geographic fit and i'm sure they would go if invited

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

fund raising for the scoreboard and a few smaller things on Mel's wish list continue.

I'm suprised that nothing publicly has been requested. I guess Mel is just going after big chunk donors privately?

I think the first order of business once we get that new scoreboard ought to be bringing Tony in for a nice video tribute and number retirement ceremony.

MTU tends to be pretty traditional when it comes to jersey numbers, and unlike pro teams they have rarely let a player wear a number higher than 35. So retiring a number or numbers would be significant.

I would like to see some numbers in the rafters of the Mac, and there are some players that are deserving. However, I would prefer that Tech have "honored" numbers rather than retiring them similar to what is done by the Maple Leafs. If you want the players to wear low numbers, you don't want to end up like the Canadiens who have more than HALF of the numbers under 33 retired.

Ryan J

 

[manurespreader]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

Regarding the nchc and wcha, I think the first few years will be fairly tenuous, but as teams get used to the changes and as the find out that it is not the end of the world attendance wise I think things will be more stable. I think right now there is a fair amount of angst about a number of issues, most revolving around money.
Everyone is worried about the travel but this can be solved with some creative thinking. Really.

 

[bigmrg74]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

I was just watching this interview with Tony Esposito, wherein he insinuates that he was hurt by Bill Wirtz's lack of recognition for past Blackhawks, and it made me wonder what kind of relationship, if any, he has with Michigan Tech these days. We inducted him into our Hall of Fame in 1991...has he been back since? (Did he even come back for that?)

Relevant quote from Tony: "The mindset was different before. It wasn't about anything to do with past players or any kind of a culture or heritage. It was about the now player and the future player. I think that you have to cultivate the team over the long haul, from the past to present and the future, to build a tradition."

I think the first order of business once we get that new scoreboard ought to be bringing Tony in for a nice video tribute and number retirement ceremony.

Reaching out to him and to some of the old guard of Tech Hockey wouldn't be a bad move at all.

I don't see the NCHC adding anyone simply 'out of spite'. Recall that the WCHA told Ferris and LSSU to make arena improvements as part of their admission to the conference, but did not ask BGSU to do the same. Obviously that was political, because Bowling Green is the WCHA's last hold on a seat at the "full D1 table". If Bowling Green were to bolt, I'm sure the NCHC would make a guarantee of facilities upgrades part of the admission requirements, just as they did with Western.

Still, for the time being, I see the NCHC sticking with 8 teams.

Yeah, but I think the NCHC only invites BGSU only if the Irish get tired of dinking around in Hockey East and want to move west. They would have to sacrifice the Golden Calf of Football to get into the BTHC, and well, as much as it pains me to say it, I doubt that the Irish would want to hang out with a bunch of D2 schools. Not that Duluth, Denver, and Colorado College wouldn't be seen as lesser schools.

 

[redwing61]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

I would like to see some numbers in the rafters of the Mac, and there are some players that are deserving. However, I would prefer that Tech have "honored" numbers rather than retiring them similar to what is done by the Maple Leafs. If you want the players to wear low numbers, you don't want to end up like the Canadiens who have more than HALF of the numbers under 33 retired.

The bar could be set as high as necessary. Esposito was a three-time All-American; if that's the bar we might never retire another number, which would be fine. (Minnesota has retired one number; North Dakota two.) Honored numbers would be more than acceptable if we must keep our issued numbers below ~35 but still want to recognize more than a handful of players.

 

[Flashy Man]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

The bar could be set as high as necessary. Esposito was a three-time All-American; if that's the bar we might never retire another number, which would be fine. (Minnesota has retired one number; North Dakota two.) Honored numbers would be more than acceptable if we must keep our issued numbers below ~35 but still want to recognize more than a handful of players.

SG and I had a criteria a few years ago that determined this set of players.

At the time we proposed put these along the bottom fascia of the suites. SG might be able to recollect the criteria.

Also at the time, I designed these.

I haven't verified this, but seeing as though there is one banner remaining in the MacInnes, they may be replace those during this renovation.

Edit: I believe they were chosen if they were a Hobey Finalist or they were recognized multiple times for being either a 1st Team All-American or WCHA Player of the Year.

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

SG and I had a criteria a few years ago that determined this set of players.
Edit: I believe they were chosen if they were a Hobey Finalist or they were recognized multiple times for being either a 1st Team All-American or WCHA Player of the Year.

I like the names/years idea, without the numbers. Honors some of the best players, but doesn't mess with the available numbers. Being from WI I think of Lambeau Field as a similar example. I think not retiring a bunch of numbers also gives the feel that the team is more important than any individual, regardless of how successful they were.
FYI - I don't think Hobey Finalist was one of your criteria for that list, or you left off Colin Murphy. You almost have to consider their success after college as well to get an overall view of a player's greatness and what they achieved after Tech. Regardless, something like this is a total grey area - hard to pin down a solid criteria that everyone can agree on.
Ryan J

 

[manurespreader]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

Other players you might consider would be Gary Milroy, Gary Crosby, and John Grisdale. Just my two cents.
J

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

Here is the latest addition on its way to the Johnson's Jerseys collection. It has been a banner year for new additions so far (almost 40 MTU jerseys in five different styles, NCAA championship team signed stick and now this mask) and it is only June! I'll take some better photos once I have it in hand.
Preserving Michigan Tech's Hockey History!
Enjoy,
Ryan J

 

[FadeToBlack&Gold]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

Is that Coin Collecting Corson Cramer's mask?

Also, I don't think the "no numbers over 35" rule is completely etched in stone. They let Red Light Robbie wear #37 after his freshman year. He may have been an exception for some reason though.

 

[JohnsonsJerseys]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

Is that Coin Collecting Corson Cramer's mask?
Also, I don't think the "no numbers over 35" rule is completely etched in stone. They let Red Light Robbie wear #37 after his freshman year. He may have been an exception for some reason though.

I can neither confirm nor deny how exactly accurate your guess is...
Regarding the #37 - I'm still waiting for someone to come up with the answer to the trivia question why he was allowed to wear #37 during those years.
Ryan J

 

[bose301s]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

I can neither confirm nor deny how exactly accurate your guess is...
Regarding the #37 - I'm still waiting for someone to come up with the answer to the trivia question why he was allowed to wear #37 during those years.
Ryan J

Just tell us, I am quite curious and it's been a while now.

 

[3W]

Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread

I'm going to guess they ordered a 34 and sent the wrong number.