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"Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

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A few observations from 10,000 feet...

A few observations from 10,000 feet...

First, my views are based on watching the Huskies since 1992 and other than 1992-93, 1995-96 and 2006-07 they've all been losing seasons. I've seen Tech play some fairly ugly hockey over the years which hit rock bottom at the end of the 20th century. Since 1998 I usually only get to see Tech play a couple games a year, but this year I've been fortunate to see three of the first few games (@ NMU, @ LSSU, Sat vs MSU) and I do see the team playing much differently than in past years.

When the team is on their game I have noticed crisper passing, more jump in their step and much better awareness around the net in the O Zone. Now unfortunately, I have not seen Tech play this way for three periods in the same game. Each game has a 10-15 minutes stretch where Tech either hit the wall, or lost focus. The top teams in the WCHA minimize or eliminate these stretches and when they get a team on the ropes, down a couple goals, they start to smell blood in the water and bury them. I almost thought Tech would do that last night. Coming off a win and then getting two quick goals they had the chance to step on Mankato's throat, but a soft SH goal quickly put MSU right back in the game and Tech had to fight it out the rest of the way. Credit Jamie for making the goal tending change at a key moment and help to stop the bleeding.

One thing I posted about last season was Tech's lack of offense. If you only score 1-2 goals per game, you have no room for error. However this season Tech has been able to put the puck in the net and several goals have been forwards pounding home wide open rebound chances from 10 feet out. Again, this is where the top teams make their killing and this is something I have not seen Tech do for many years. Add to that a good power play and you are going to at least have a chance to win games.

So regardless of how the rest of the year goes, I'm thankful to watch Tech in person two consecutive weekends and not have to see a loss. I think it also bodes well to see the players disappointed after a tie. They knew the had a chance for a sweep and let it slip away. Hopefully that will fuel them for WI. My prediction - Tech will be ranked 19th when the polls come out.
Ryan J
 
Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

just to hear the same words in the same sentence ... Tech ... ranked :)
 
Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

I'd rather we not be ranked yet. Undefeated or not, we haven't earned it, IMHO.

Russell had the right attitude when Dirk asked him about the votes we got last week, that attitude being, "Who cares?" You can bet that there was no mention of it in practice, and if for some silly reason we do slip into this week's Top 20, I'd expect that it will be minimally discussed and that the captains & coaches will keep everyone firmly grounded again and focused on the Badgers.
 
Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

FadeToBlack&Gold said:
I'd rather we not be ranked yet. Undefeated or not, we haven't earned it, IMHO.

Russell had the right attitude when Dirk asked him about the votes we got last week, that attitude being, "Who cares?" You can bet that there was no mention of it in practice, and if for some silly reason we do slip into this week's Top 20, I'd expect that it will be minimally discussed and that the captains & coaches will keep everyone firmly grounded again and focused on the Badgers.
Click to expand...
Well I know we will get at least one more vote than we did last week, and I fully expect MTU to be ranked in the USCHO poll...it is the top 20 in a sport that has less than 60 teams.

It doesn't mean anything because its so early but they do deserve it, regardless of who they played.
 
Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

Here is something familiar. Let's look back to 2007-08. We lost to NMU by one goal to start the season but beat we still beat LSSU. Then we swept Mankato at home. 3-1-0 and when the poll came out we were ranked 14th. Then we beat North Dakota and lost to them the next night. This moved us up to 13th. We kept there by beating Wisconsin and then losing to them the next night. After that we just had some random wins but mostly ties and a lot of loses to make for a bunch of 3-5 game winless streaks. The last time we were ranked that season was Jan. 7th in 18th and I don't think Tech has made the top 20 since then (correct me if I am wrong).

14th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1022/october-22,-2007/
13th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1029/october-29,-2007/
13th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1105/november-5,-2007/
18th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1112/november-12,-2007/
19th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1119/november-19,-2007/
20th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1126/november-26,-2007/
20th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1203/december-3,-2007/
Goodbye - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1210/december-10,-2007/
We made a run back to 20th after the Michigan GLI championship game that went 1-0 in 2 OTs
Then to 18th with a sweep of Mercyhurst
18th - last time ranked - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,0107/january-7,-2008/
 
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Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

if we should be so fortunate as to be ranked tomorrow, I am going to enjoy it. not getting my Frozen Four tickets yet, but its good to see us having some success. beats the alternative.
 
Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

I got an interesting e mail from an old alum in DC who saw the scores. his entire e mail,
" Are they for real"

to which I responded "yep, they are".

I am very happy with how things have gone this year. I agree they can finally find the net, but the goaltending is better than it has been in a long time as well, and the defense is too, and most importantly, the mental attitude is one of not wanting to accept losing,.... you can see it and feel it. It's like a sheep killin dog. You get a taste of winning and it's not something you want to let go of.

So I agree, I am also concerned about these long periods where we set up the opposition in our end repeatedly. We will not win a lot of games unless we fix that, but I think we will.
I put absolutely no stock in pre season polls. look at uno and try and tell me they are not a first division team for instance. So where do we fit in? well we'll see won't we, but it won't be last.
 
Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

Yager said:
Here is something familiar. Let's look back to 2007-08. We lost to NMU by one goal to start the season but beat we still beat LSSU. Then we swept Mankato at home. 3-1-0 and when the poll came out we were ranked 14th. Then we beat North Dakota and lost to them the next night. This moved us up to 13th. We kept there by beating Wisconsin and then losing to them the next night. After that we just had some random wins but mostly ties and a lot of loses to make for a bunch of 3-5 game winless streaks. The last time we were ranked that season was Jan. 7th in 18th and I don't think Tech has made the top 20 since then (correct me if I am wrong).

14th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1022/october-22,-2007/
13th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1029/october-29,-2007/
13th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1105/november-5,-2007/
18th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1112/november-12,-2007/
19th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1119/november-19,-2007/
20th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1126/november-26,-2007/
20th - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1203/december-3,-2007/
Goodbye - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,1210/december-10,-2007/
We made a run back to 20th after the Michigan GLI championship game that went 1-0 in 2 OTs
Then to 18th with a sweep of Mercyhurst
18th - last time ranked - http://www.uscho.com/rankings/d-i-mens-poll/2007-2008/poll,0107/january-7,-2008/
Click to expand...

I am fully aware of this season and these results. But I don't think I ever knew that we were actually ranked that high, or at all.

That was actually a pretty fun year now thinking back.
 
Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

The Darkness said:
I am fully aware of this season and these results. But I don't think I ever knew that we were actually ranked that high, or at all.

That was actually a pretty fun year now thinking back.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that was the year after the final five appearance and we were like a five year old with hopes and dreams when he was destined to be an alcoholic and work at Walmart his whole life. It was a good year, though. This was also the year of the great Mercyhurst trip to that shithole called Erie, PA.
 
Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

Yager said:
Yeah, that was the year after the final five appearance and we were like a five year old with hopes and dreams when he was destined to be an alcoholic and work at Walmart his whole life. It was a good year, though. This was also the year of the great Mercyhurst trip to that shithole called Erie, PA.
Click to expand...

This was also the year of the first Invasion, the year Boosh was confronted by the players from North Dakota, that truly epic GLI championship game, the year wT was told she wasn't particularly bad, the same year we got stuck in quite possibly the worse snow storm in years coming up for winter carnival. And carnival itself was pretty fun, although i don't really remember much about the hockey that weekend.

That year was kind of epic.
 
Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

The Darkness said:
This was also the year of the first Invasion, the year Boosh was confronted by the players from North Dakota, that truly epic GLI championship game, the year wT was told she wasn't particularly bad, the same year we got stuck in quite possibly the worse snow storm in years coming up for winter carnival. And carnival itself was pretty fun, although i don't really remember much about the hockey that weekend.

That year was kind of epic.
Click to expand...


That was a fun year.
 
Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

Well the USCHO Poll is out today and Michigan Tech just missed as the top "Others Receiving Votes" with 61 points.
 
Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

Nice to see the other Huskies in the WCHA off to a solid start. Hope to see it continue. Good luck against the Badgers.
 
Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

Shirtless Guy said:
Well the USCHO Poll is out today and Michigan Tech just missed as the top "Others Receiving Votes" with 61 points.
Click to expand...

With Michigan State going 1-0-1 against Maine, Notre Dame taking care of business against LSSU, and Union/CC splitting their games, I guessed last night that we would be #21. As I've made clear, I have zero problem with that.
 
Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I

So I went to the Alaska Aces game on Saturday at Sullivan, and this NPB usher comments on my Huskies jersey.

Turns out it was Dirk Hembroff's sister.
 
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