NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

[davyd83]

Another topic of discussion that has been talked about is why doesn't UWGB have a NCAA D1 Men's Hockey program and play at The Resch Center.... It would seem they would be able to have a good fan base with the successes of St. Norbert D3 Hockey & Green Bay Gamblers Junior Hockey.... You would think UWGB could sustain a viable D1 Hockey program with all the hockey fans in the GB area plus they would have natural regional rivalries with Wisconsin, NMU, MTU, LSSU, Mankato, Minnesota, St. Cloud, UMD, Bemidji State, etc, etc, etc....

But is there enough of a hockey market left to support it with the Gamblers & St Norbert already there? Plus the company that owns the Gamblers runs the Resch. Not sure they'd welcome that competition for the fan ticket dollars and sponsorship dollars.

About a decade or so ago, there were some serious talks about adding D-1 hockey at UWGB, but a new President came in and those ideas went by the wayside. Another fact to deal with is that it's unlikely that UW-Madison would welcome another D-1 team to the UW System.

 

[DonorRoomDrinker]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

A similar discussion has been going on in GB for years as to why UWGB doesn't have a NCAA D1 Football team.... It's too bad that UWGB doesn't have a NCAA D1 Hockey team as it would be a good regional fit with the Minnesota & U.P. schools being close by and there would seem to be enough of a fan base (250,000 people in the Fox Valley area) to support a D1 Hockey program.... If Marquette, Houghton & Sault Ste. Marie can support D1 Hockey teams you would think UWGB would be able to do the same.... I'd like to see UWGB start up a D1 Hockey program, join the WCHA and play the U.P. schools....

 

[davyd83]

A similar discussion has been going on in GB for years as to why UWGB doesn't have a NCAA D1 Football team.... It's too bad that UWGB doesn't have a NCAA D1 Hockey team as it would be a good regional fit with the Minnesota & U.P. schools being close by and there would seem to be enough of a fan base (250,000 people in the Fox Valley area) to support a D1 Hockey program.... If Marquette, Houghton & Sault Ste. Marie can support D1 Hockey teams you would think UWGB would be able to do the same.... I'd like to see UWGB start up a D1 Hockey program, join the WCHA and play the U.P. schools....

Why would PMI, which runs the Resch Center & owns the Gamblers invite more competition. As for the whole Fox Valley market, neither the Gamblers nor the Blizzard draw much from Appleton & Oshkosh and the Timber Rattlers don't get a lot from Green Bay. Anchorage is a comparable market and very hockey centric. Look at what the Aces draw vs the Seawolves. Check Huntsville and the Havoc and UAH. Toledo is Bowling Green's Appleton, and not many BG ticket buyers make the 25 minute drive.

Now add trying to get reasonably priced hotel rooms for the visiting teams near the Resch on a Packer weekend. The Gamblers do all they can to avoid home weekends when the Packers are at Lambeau, which would mean UWGB would get stuck with a lot of Packer weekend where getting a block of 15-17 hotel rooms in a decent place at a decent rate is difficult. You'll get a good Thursday night rate, but the Friday rate doubles and the Saturday rate nearly triples if UAH, UAF or UAA were to fly out if GB

 

[DonorRoomDrinker]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

Who knows what will happen???? Maybe we'll see a UWGB D1 Hockey team playing in GB in 10 years and NMU playing them every year in a home & away series.... I for one would like to see this happen as it would be a great new rivalry for NMU and close by.... Let's just hope that it happens down the road and we see the UWGB Phoenix playing NCAA D1 Hockey games against NMU at The Berry.... Stranger things have happened!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[MOJO]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

10 years out is a long time. Who the hell knows what the college hockey landscape will be like. If the status quo remains, it is likely to see teams fold under budget pressures, attendance woes, and weak conference affiliations. Many of these things are already being seen in places like NMU and LSSU alone. Not to mention sub-standard results on the ice.

This was yet another disappointing season in Marquette. I guess, we fans, have come to expect such results because of the lack of funding, our propensity for injuries, conditioning and untimely penalties. ;(

 

[DonorRoomDrinker]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

I would happy just to see NMU win 20 games every year again and be in the running for an NCAA post-season bid instead of going home early every year like it's been lately....

Walt Kyle's 14-year NMU Hockey Season Coaching Records
2015-16 (15-16-7)
2014-15 (14-18-6)
2013-14 (15-21-2)
2012-13 (15-19-4)
2011-12 (17-14-6)
2010-11 (15-19-5)
2009-10 (20-13-8) - NCAA bid
2008-09 (19-17-5)
2007-08 (20-20-4)
2006-07 (15-25-2)
2005-06 (22-16-2)
2004-05 (22-11-7)
2003-04 (21-16-4)
2002-03 (22-17-2)

 

[RapidsCity]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

10 years out is a long time. Who the hell knows what the college hockey landscape will be like. If the status quo remains, it is likely to see teams fold under budget pressures, attendance woes, and weak conference affiliations. Many of these things are already being seen in places like NMU and LSSU alone. Not to mention sub-standard results on the ice.

This was yet another disappointing season in Marquette. I guess, we fans, have come to expect such results because of the lack of funding, our propensity for injuries, conditioning and untimely penalties. ;(

Here at LSSU, we've been funding our program at the bottom of the barrel for years. And guess where we've been finishing for years? We haven't seen the upper half of the league standings in over 20 years. We've gone from Borek to Anzalone to Roque to Whitten. Different names. Same results. I don't think that all of these coaches were bad. I don't think Frank was a much worse coach the second time around. But the fact that he had a lesser budget the second time around than he did 15 years earlier may have had an effect on the ability to recruit. Consider yourself lucky when compared to us.

 

[MOJO]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

The mood in Marquette isn't one of luck. It is sad what has happened at Lake State, what happened at MTU for 3 decades, and now what is happening at NMU. Unfortunately, the imbalance in college hockey doesn't appear to be changing and funding bases are shrinking in our communities. That being said, the same results keep happening in Marquette and when removing Walt Kyle's first 4 seasons from his record it reveals, a whopping 3 above .500 winning seasons over the last 10.

Fans are fleeing the turnstiles and have many other entertainment options in Marquette. Grumblings around the community are many and I'll leave it at the style of play. Getting outshot by almost 10 SOG a game and the idea of quality shots over quantity hasn't worked. In many eyes it has made the games as dull as watching paint dry. Why not open it up and create the excitement people are craving?

Thank heavens NMU finds goaltenders who like seeing lots of rubber and thrive in the environment...or else we would be looking up at LSSU.

 

[aparch]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

The new logos are coming soon...
http://www.thenorthwindonline.com/university-to-release-new-logos/

After more than a year of consulting amongst NMU staff members, students and athletic department, the university plans to unveil new academic and athletics logos on April 6. The academic tree-and-wave logo and the athletic Wildcat head will be removed from all displays across the university come fall.

“The trees and waves were dated and focused too much on location rather than proud academics. That warranted the change, and even though it could be difficult at times, it was well-needed.”

With the athletic logo, the Wildcat will be rebranded with less details, and is inspired by a real breed of cat, as opposed to a generic Wildcat.

“We have worked with a number of schools that have Wildcat mascots, and the nice thing about the nickname is it gives you latitude,” Rickabaugh said. “A Wildcat can be anything from a bobcat to a cougar, and we focused on a design to a more realistic cat. At NMU, there has always been a decision to make the cat more of a cougar-mountain lion, and I think it’s a great decision.”

The athletic logo change will lead to a change in uniforms for many of the teams as well.

Could it be similar to the old Minor League Baseball Kane County Cougars logo?
<img src=http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_2284000/ff_2284672_full.jpg&w=296&q=80>
http://images.footballfanatics.com/...mages/_2284000/ff_2284672_full.jpg&w=296&q=80

 

[dankthetank]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

The new logos are coming soon...
http://www.thenorthwindonline.com/university-to-release-new-logos/




Could it be similar to the old Minor League Baseball Kane County Cougars logo?
<img src=http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_2284000/ff_2284672_full.jpg&w=296&q=80>
http://images.footballfanatics.com/...mages/_2284000/ff_2284672_full.jpg&w=296&q=80

I'm willing to bet we get something closer to Abilene Christian University's Willie the Wildcat, seeing as it's the same graphics company doing the work.
http://blogs.acu.edu/acutoday/2013/02/15/after-16-years-there%E2%80%99s-a-new-cat-in-town/

 

[DonorRoomDrinker]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

Ferris State 2 Mankato 1 (Final) - Ferris State wins the WCHA Playoffs & advances to the NCAA D1 Men's Hockey Final 16.... Ferris State has a (19-14-6) record.... NMU had a (15-11-6) record before they collapsed in their final 6 games going (0-5-1), finishing the season at (15-16-7) and out of the WCHA Playoffs....

 

[DonorRoomDrinker]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

The 2015-16 NMU Hockey team averaged 2100 attendance for 17 home games at The Berry Events Center in Marquette this season....

 

[giwan]

The 2015-16 NMU Hockey team averaged 2100 attendance for 17 home games at The Berry Events Center in Marquette this season....

What were beer sales?

 

[noremorse1]

What were beer sales?

I know they sold a ton of beer at the MTU game. Prices were reasonable. $3 for a 16 ounce domestic and $4 for a 12 ounce Michigan craft beer. We discovered, however, that they were using 16 ounce Bell's Two Hearted cans and quickly switched to those. Lines were too long so I only had 1 per period.

 

[DonorRoomDrinker]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

2015-16 NMU Hockey D1 Defensemen vs 2015-16 St. Norbert Hockey D3 Defensemen

2015-16 St. NORBERT HOCKEY D3 DEFENSEMEN

Chris Rygus (Soph) - 6'4" 230lbs - Mississauga, ON

Tyler Andrews (Frosh) - 6'2" 215lbs - Anchorage, AK

Clay Van Diest (Frosh) - 6'1" 210lbs - Helena, MT

Alfred Johansson (Soph) - 6'1" 205lbs - Stockholm, Sweden

Blake Thompson (Junior) - 6'1" 200lbs - Listowel, ON

Sean Campbell (Soph) - 6'1" 190lbs - Holt, MI

Nick LeSage (Frosh) - 6'0" 190lbs - Green Bay, WI

Lane Valimont (Frosh) - 6'0" 180lbs - Whitefish Bay, WI

2015-16 NMU HOCKEY D1 DEFENSEMEN

Connor Frantti (Frosh) - 6'6" 205lbs - Spring Grove, IL

Zach Urban (Soph) - 6'3" 205lbs - Penticton, BC

James Vermeulen ( Frosh) - 6'2" 190lbs - Stony Plain, AB

Ryan Trenz (Senior) - 5'11" 190lbs - St. Louis, MO

Barrett Kaib (Senior) - 5'10" 185lbs - Pittsburg, PA

Jordan Klimek (Soph) - 5'11" 175lbs - Langley, BC

Ryan Black (Frosh) - 5'9" 170lbs - Stillwater, MN

Jesse Junttila (Frosh) - 5'9" 170lbs - Calumet, MI

Brock Maschmeyer (Junior) - 5'7" 170lbs - Bruderheim, AB

 

[aparch]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

Not sure what difference an inch and a half average would have made.

19 goals, 46 assists, 162 PIM on a team that scored 4.42 Goals/GM on 35 SOG/GM or
14 goals, 41 assists, 169 PIM on a team that scored 2.34 Goals/GM on 25 SOG/GM

If five goals, five assists, seven less penalty minutes, and being an inch and-a-half taller is really the key missing that this NMU team needed, then God help all of us.

This was a .500 team, with .500 stats, that wound up .500(ish). It's really a shame that for being 10-4-3 at home, no one in MQT cared about this team.

 

[gfmorris]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

Not sure what difference an inch and a half average would have made.

19 goals, 46 assists, 162 PIM on a team that scored 4.42 Goals/GM on 35 SOG/GM or
14 goals, 41 assists, 169 PIM on a team that scored 2.34 Goals/GM on 25 SOG/GM

If five goals, five assists, seven less penalty minutes, and being an inch and-a-half taller is really the key missing that this NMU team needed, then God help all of us.

This was a .500 team, with .500 stats, that wound up .500(ish). It's really a shame that for being 10-4-3 at home, no one in MQT cared about this team.

This sounds like UAH from 2000-2006 or so. We would kill it at home, be .500 on the road, and fade in the postseason, which meant that we didn't make the postseason when we had some decent teams.

GFM

 

[aparch]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

Per Heisenberg's Recruit Tracker, here's who's coming to town next year:

Demico Hannoun-RW 1/28/2016 Penticton (BCHL) 6' 185 10/04/95
Luke Voltin-LW 1/28/2016 Penticton (BCHL) 5'11 180 04/13/95
Darien Craighead-RW 8/17/2015 Chilliwack (BCHL) 6'1 170 03/07/97
Luke Jaycox-LD 5/21/2015 Lincoln (USHL) 6'2 183 08/19/97
Collin Peters-RW 12/24/2013 Sioux Falls (USHL) 6'0 160 02/05/97
Brett Heikkila-F 4/10/2011 NM Wilderness (NAHL) 5'9 170 02/11/95


I got to watch Jaycox and Peters play Saturday night. Jaycox has a great sense about him on the blueline, just needs to learn to use his frame. Peters has a wicked quick shot from in close. Had a beauty of a PP goal.

 

[John J. MacInnes]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

Per Heisenberg's Recruit Tracker, here's who's coming to town next year:

Demico Hannoun-RW 1/28/2016 Penticton (BCHL) 6' 185 10/04/95
Luke Voltin-LW 1/28/2016 Penticton (BCHL) 5'11 180 04/13/95
Darien Craighead-RW 8/17/2015 Chilliwack (BCHL) 6'1 170 03/07/97
Luke Jaycox-LD 5/21/2015 Lincoln (USHL) 6'2 183 08/19/97
Collin Peters-RW 12/24/2013 Sioux Falls (USHL) 6'0 160 02/05/97
Brett Heikkila-F 4/10/2011 NM Wilderness (NAHL) 5'9 170 02/11/95


I got to watch Jaycox and Peters play Saturday night. Jaycox has a great sense about him on the blueline, just needs to learn to use his frame. Peters has a wicked quick shot from in close. Had a beauty of a PP goal.

Was Demico Hannoun originally committed to Tech? That name has a very familiar sound to it.

 

[Bill]

Re: NMU Wildcats 2015-2016 Season Thread

Was Demico Hannoun originally committed to Tech? That name has a very familiar sound to it.

Yes.