Re: Michigan Tech Offseason Thread
THe Final Mel Pearson show summary of the year:
On DU game/Final Five:
The DU game showed how far we've come on the year, starting the season down 3-0 AIC and then playing in this game against a top 10 team, we went toe to toe with them
Played a great 1st period, maybe as good as a period as we've had all year
Mel stayed at the final five for a few more games and walking around it was great to hear from people that they're happy to see Tech back being competative and relavant
Dirk felt it was a great hockey game, happy to see a faster/more contact game on an NHL size sheet, after watching 4 straight games on an olympic sheet
DU's goal, bang bang play, we lost some coverage, we got caught playing man on man, and one guy wasn't covered
On Pietila goal, he does that in practice all the time, great pass by Fillion, he's come a long way, great vision, especially considering he's only played half the year
DU outshot us 16-6 in 2nd, but attempted shots fairly even, we just have to put the puck on net, #1 point during 2nd intermission
Furne in a good position, great shot for 2-1 lead
We have a 3x1 rush, Mel watched it yesterday, great opportunity, good shot by Kero, B. Pietila/Gordic going after the puck, DU just flips puck back up middle and back the other way and DU scores
Who would've thought a year ago that we'd be in final five playing a great game with DU
OT SOG DU 3 Tech 1 - Dman gets part of a stick on the puck on pass to Zucker, Zucker all alone gets the goal
Overall - SOG 40-29, we had 17 missed shots, they had 8, told the players they have nothign to hang their heads about, they laid it on the line on against a very good hockey team
We've come a long way, back on the way to bringing the program back to respectability
Maybe Robinson's best game of the year, he had a great year, Shields did a great job with him - 15 wins
Olson leads team in points - 30, 6 guys over 20 points
The seniors:
It was fun to be around them, they lead this team, seniors have to have their best year in their careers to have success, and they did
We'll expect this years juniors to do the same next year
Seniors moving on:
There's a lot of opportunities to play so many leagues/teams - told them as a group and some individualy to not rush into anything, think about school first, don't throw away a class or two for a 10 game tryout contract
They'll have opportunities, Brett has been to some development camps, there's been interest in all our seniors, if something doesn't happen until next fall that should be fine, don't need to jump at first opportunity
They're all student athletes - they'll all graduate
We all think we'll play hockey for along time, but it will come to an end and you want an education, that's why you go to school, if you didn't want school you'd go Major-Junior route
Mel said a short summary of each senior
On 3rd goaltender, Dirk - ever had problems when 3rd goalie thinks they should be playing? - you can, need to have right kid in that role, Corson handled himself well, great guy
At least 4 new players next year:
CJ Eick - Green Bay clinched a playoff birth, CJ has played a lof of hockey for a good team that expects to win each night, he'll add speed, maybe fastest skater, 3rd/4th line and PK, energy guy, we'll push him to get more points than he did this year
Phoenix Copley - Des Moines USHL, got traded, they've given him the ball, heated playoff battle with 9 games to go, played a lot of hockey, very athletic, bigger goalie, like his raw skills, fun guy to work with for Shields, he'll push Genoe
Jujhar Kuhar - finished in top 10 in scoring, highly skilled, still growing, offensive flare down the road, hard for freshman to jump in, he'll be very good before he's done, some good freshman forwards to be added to this years good freshman
Alex Petan - also top 10 in scoring, skilled, speed, handles the puck well
We have 2 or 3 others guys coming that we can't talk about yet because they haven't signed, probably have a 7 to 8 man class next year
Quesitons:
What was the highest and lowest point of the season?
Our 5-0 winnning at UMD was high, but sweeping CC in Colorado was pretty good, that OT goal on Saturday night and the guys excitement was the high point.
Dirk - the OT goal in MN was a big moment this year too.
Low point - last game against DU, hadn't lost in OT yet this year, felt confident, played a good game and the season ending made it low, the GLI was a disapointment too, and losing at Winter Carnival. NMU games were disapointing too, didn't play well. Overall the last game, DU was the low point.
Dirk - Would it be easier to walk away from DU game if we were outplayd and lost 4-1? Losing is losing, when you play well, it's suger coated a bit, but still leaves a sour taste. Not playing up to potential would leave a worse taste.
Dirk - Pressing need in offseason? - strength mostly and speed and endurance. Hopefully everyone is in Houghton and working out off the ice 5 days a week. The expectations and the bar will be higher, we wont sneak up on anyone. Mental toughness can come along with good spring/summer workouts. Watching UND/Minn game saw the intensity/emotion and how haard you have to compete in a game like that. We have some guys need to pick up the pace, workon skating this summer because of our uptempo style.
Will we ever see a team from Ann Arbor come up to Houghton? - yes, can't go into details right now, Mel has been told that the likelihood of that happening is pretty good.
NCAA tournament, Mel's predictions -
Northeast - like BC
West is tough - UND
Northeast - Union
Midwest that Tech is hosting, interesting to see the crowds they get no local teams, should be some good hockey though - Michigan
The Hobey - Hunwick has had a great year, Alex Smith has also had a great year
We're not too far away form getting in that tournament, it's a body of work, non-conference games are huge, we're knocking on the door, we're pleased but not satisfied
We had tremendous support in St. Paul, walking around, Mel stayed after for meeting and recruiting, a lot of really happy people not only our fans but of other teams too of Tech's success
thanks to our fans, it means a lot to our players
We'll put a lot of work in recruiting and in our team to get better
Dirk - How will not having ice this summer affect our team? Wont affect our team. Some people will go home and have ice, strength and condition is huge and don't need ice for that.
Our exit meetings are this week, we'll talk about each individual needs to do to get better and what they did well. Wnat to challenge our team and individuals.
Dirk is ready for next year already. Mel watched hockey yesterday, haven't had a day of no hockey yet, it's a passion not a job.