Re: "Next Year" Begins Now: Michigan Tech 2010-11 Season Thread Part I
I am expecting good things from the Huskies early this season. The majority of the team already has some game experience under their belt, though that was a while ago. Even as the freshmen get up to speed, I think that having the Europe trip will carry a little advantage for the Huskies through the first two or three weeks of the season.
Hopefully this hockey season is successful for the team, but if not, at least you will soon be able to buy alcohol on Sunday mornings in Michigan. That way the drowning of sorrows can continue all the way through the weekend, even if you run out late Saturday night. This is definitely a law that Michigan Tech supports.
(Though, don't get me started on how it is an infringement of commerce that the sale of a legal substance is restricted at any time. And I don't even drink anymore...)
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It is imperative for this team to get off to a good start this year, especially with our core returning players having 5 games played and adjustments to they system already being in place with game experience. If you look at our one successful season in the last decade and the other year in which we made it past 10 wins in the last 13 years, you see a common thread. The 2006 season, where we finished above .500 and made it to the Xcel, we started the season rolling to a 5-1 record. The next season, where we won 14 games, we started 5-2.
In all other years, we were below .500 after seven games. Most years, we continued the lose well through Christmas, and in some years, never really put together two consecutive games.
It will be interesting to see if Tech can pull some early momentum this year and ride it for a while. Looking at our first five games, we have a chance. The biggest challenge, at least from preseason perceptions, is Northern, and they are predicted as middle of the pack in the CCHA. Lake Superior is Lake Superior, and thus predicted to finish 10th in their league. Minnesota State at home is a great way to get into WCHA play, and they are not predicted that far above our basement perch.
It gets tougher after that, and so early success is key. Tech needs to be no worse than 3-2 after 5 games. Do that and you are already more than halfway to last year's win total. A good start renders last year just a bad memory, especially Tech's current 9 game losing streak.
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I want to quickly rant about something else before I post this and go to bed. I think it is absolutely ridiculous that Tech charges full price for an exhibition game that means absolutely nothing. Win or lose? So what. The stats? Never happened. I realize that the revenue from hockey is needed to pay the bills for the team and for other sports at The Institution, but it seems like a money-grab. But I am not surprised, this coming from a school that charges $7.00 per game for a sport that other schools have free admittance to (looking at Women's Soccer).
The Tech athletic marketing "geniuses" aren't even offering any packages for the game that I can see (you know, something like "Buy a football ticket and receive the exhibition hockey ticket half price" or "Buy an adult ticket, get a kids ticket free").
Charging full price for exhibition games is ridiculous. If it wasn't all about the money, you would see The Institution try to reach out and build the fan base in the exhibition game through reduced price tickets, and hope to hook in a few extra fans when the real games start and try to build support in the community that has been lacking in the dark ages since the last NCAA appearance.
But oh well, love the team and hate the system. That is how it always goes.
