The MCHA Thread

[AVFC]

Re: The MCHA Thread

Winning the Harris Cup this year is going to be like running buck naked through a mine field.

If MSOE and LU make it, I think the Harris Cup will be a coin flip. LU picked a bad time to throw in a clunker. They must be kicking themselves. Good on Lake though for the strong play and the W. I too am looking forward to what could be the best Harris Cup yet.

 

[MCHA GURU]

Re: The MCHA Thread

Looks like Hrkac is out ... from the CUW website.
10-109-10. Hmmm

CUW to change coach in men's hockey program

MEQUON, Wis. – Concordia University Wisconsin will have new leadership in the men's hockey program, as announced today by Director of Athletics Dr. Rob Barnhill.

“I have a great deal of respect for Tony Hrkac and the time he invested in accepting the incredibly difficult task of starting our men’s hockey program,” Barnhill said. “It has been decided that it is time to move our men’s hockey program in a new direction to achieve our competitive goals. I want to thank Tony and his staff for the program that they have built, and wish him and his family the very best moving forward.”

Hrkac recently completed his fifth season at CUW with a 10-109-10 overall record, after becoming the first head coach in program history prior to the 2007-08 season. A national search for a permanent head coach will begin immediately.

 

[hockeyrocks55]

Re: The MCHA Thread

This is kind of surprising, and kind of not form my stand point. What shocks me is that with coach Hrkac's background that he could not do better. He was a top D1 player, who played in the NHL. He should have been able to land players from the NAHL, and other top junior leagues instead of recruiting low-end junior and younger players. However, before they built the new rink, they did not have there own locker room or anything for the team. Though the new rink is not Norwich's or Middlebury's rink, it should help a lot. The new coaching staff will now have a good school and good rink to sell to prospective recruits. Another thing that I noticed, was that Coach Hrkac NEVER wore a sport coat or suit to any games. It was always just a black jacket. Just something to mention. I wonder why he did not recruit better, or what was holding the program back. In the future, with a new coaching staff, and probably new players, Concordia should be much better in the next couple of years.

If you think about it, the MCHA has top teams that do well like Adrian, MSOE, Marian, and Lawrence. Then there are Finlandia, Northland, Lake Forest, and Concordia. All 4 have noticeably been better lately, and are improving. Finlandia and Lake Forest both have top notch coaches. Lake Forest also has a beautiful new sports center, top academics, and a fixed up rink. This should allow for them to bring in top players. The same applies for Concordia with a new coach. Finlandia may struggle with recruiting because of the limited academic opportunities along with Northland, but all 4 of these schools have a lot of potential in the future. The MCHA should rise into a much beter league over the next few years.

 

[AVFC]

Re: The MCHA Thread

I have heard that Hrkac is a great guy, but I think it is clear that he wasn't right for the Concordia program for where it is at right now. I got the sense that his heart wasn't really in it after a while. I think Concordia needs to look for a good, young coach with the energy to really recruit hard. Perhaps someone from the junior ranks looking to break into college hockey?

 

[altazo]

Re: The MCHA Thread

I have heard that Hrkac is a great guy, but I think it is clear that he wasn't right for the Concordia program for where it is at right now. I got the sense that his heart wasn't really in it after a while. I think Concordia needs to look for a good, young coach with the energy to really recruit hard. Perhaps someone from the junior ranks looking to break into college hockey?

SNC associate head coach AJ Aitken has been close to getting a couple head coaching positions. I wonder if he'd be interested in this job? Concordia's program currently closely resembles the SNC program that Tim Coghlin took over and turned around in 1993. It would be cool to be able to build a program basically from the ground up (if you're the right person for the job.) Coghlin, Fogerty, and a few others have proved that it's possible...

 

[MW49]

Re: The MCHA Thread

Lake Forest also has a beautiful new sports center, top academics, and a fixed up rink.

From Forbes, June 2011 data compilation, of " America's Top Colleges (700)"-
Lawerence #63,Lake Forest #169, and MSOE #578

Lake Forest has an excellent academic standing, and that new sports center is unbelievable. It is better than some of the ones I've seen in D1 football. As for the rink, it is small. It sits maybe 500-700, but is in great shape. Well, maybe the restrooms could use a little more updating.

 

[pete99race]

Re: The MCHA Thread

From Forbes, June 2011 data compilation, of " America's Top Colleges (700)"-
Lawerence #63,Lake Forest #169, and MSOE #578

Lake Forest has an excellent academic standing, and that new sports center is unbelievable. It is better than some of the ones I've seen in D1 football. As for the rink, it is small. It sits maybe 500-700, but is in great shape. Well, maybe the restrooms could use a little more updating.

Are they still located behind the player benches??

 

[AVFC]

Re: The MCHA Thread

From Forbes, June 2011 data compilation, of " America's Top Colleges (700)"-
Lawerence #63,Lake Forest #169, and MSOE #578

Lake Forest has an excellent academic standing, and that new sports center is unbelievable. It is better than some of the ones I've seen in D1 football. As for the rink, it is small. It sits maybe 500-700, but is in great shape. Well, maybe the restrooms could use a little more updating.

I think just having an on campus rink is a huge asset in the MCHA. Aitken would be great for Concordia if he doesn't land a more high profile head coaching job this summer.

 

[MW49]

Re: The MCHA Thread

Are they still located behind the player benches??

Yes, they are still located there. However, several people I know leave the rink and walk the 100ft. over to the new Rec Center to do their business.

 

[snc1]

From Forbes, June 2011 data compilation, of " America's Top Colleges (700)"-
Lawerence #63,Lake Forest #169, and MSOE #578

Lake Forest has an excellent academic standing, and that new sports center is unbelievable. It is better than some of the ones I've seen in D1 football. As for the rink, it is small. It sits maybe 500-700, but is in great shape. Well, maybe the restrooms could use a little more updating.

How are the concessions? Last time I was there they had two things; plain M+Ms and peanut M+M's.

 

[hockeyrocks55]

Re: The MCHA Thread

I go to a lot of LFC games. Rink wise, they have fixed it up noticeably over the past few years. However, it still needs a lot of work. It is clean and all, but could use some upgrading. Something I feel they need to change is the paint, it is all white. It would look really nice if they painted some red/black around the rink, kind of like Adrian. Also, Concordia could have a lot of potential within the next couple of years. However, it was nice to hear about their new rink, but there is a large difference from what the rink could have been, to what it actually is. It is still not a very nice college rink.

 

[pete99race]

Re: The MCHA Thread

I go to a lot of LFC games. Rink wise, they have fixed it up noticeably over the past few years. However, it still needs a lot of work. It is clean and all, but could use some upgrading. Something I feel they need to change is the paint, it is all white. It would look really nice if they painted some red/black around the rink, kind of like Adrian. Also, Concordia could have a lot of potential within the next couple of years. However, it was nice to hear about their new rink, but there is a large difference from what the rink could have been, to what it actually is. It is still not a very nice college rink.

Have you seen their new ice sheet? Much nicer than the older sheet.

 

[NorthernLite]

Re: The MCHA Thread

The Harris Cup field is set. Looking forward to some great hockey at Arrington.

Semi-finals :
Lawrence vs. Adrian
MSOE vs. Marian

 

[AVFC]

Re: The MCHA Thread

The Harris Cup field is set. Looking forward to some great hockey at Arrington.

Semi-finals :
Lawrence vs. Adrian
MSOE vs. Marian

I was thinking that after this season, I doubt we will see the top four teams at the Harris Cup on a consistent basis. MSOE and LU both had their hands full with Lake and Finlandia in their second games. The later two teams are only going to get better next year and the year after.

 

[MW49]

Re: The MCHA Thread

I was thinking that after this season, I doubt we will see the top four teams at the Harris Cup on a consistent basis. MSOE and LU both had their hands full with Lake and Finlandia in their second games. The later two teams are only going to get better next year and the year after.

True! However, both MSOE and LU were right there 'til the end of the season battling for the Division titles that give them an automatic pass to the Harris Cup. Adrian and Marian could have been in the same trap. In fact, Finlandia beat Marian 3 weeks ago in Fond du Lac. In 2010 LFC did pull off the upset of MSOE in a similar scenario. MSOE beat LFC handily five times in the regular season ( one of those games was an NC game) only to get bounced out on home ice in a mini game.

Add to that, Northland. If Hewko didn't break his leg at Adrian in week #1 the Lumberjacks could have been in front of Finlandia. Hewko would of been a proven dynamic to add to that duo of McIntosh and Wright.

All in all, The top four will reload for next year and LFC, Finlandia, and Northland will close the gap. Those division titles will become evermore cherished as to avoid those "trap play-ins", because a bounce here or there and MSOE and LU would be meeting on the golf course rather than playing at the Arrington.

BTW, I didn't forget that Concordia (WI) is still in the MCHA.

 

[AVFC]

Re: The MCHA Thread

True! However, both MSOE and LU were right there 'til the end of the season battling for the Division titles that give them an automatic pass to the Harris Cup. Adrian and Marian could have been in the same trap. In fact, Finlandia beat Marian 3 weeks ago in Fond du Lac. In 2010 LFC did pull off the upset of MSOE in a similar scenario. MSOE beat LFC handily five times in the regular season ( one of those games was an NC game) only to get bounced out on home ice in a mini game.

Add to that, Northland. If Hewko didn't break his leg at Adrian in week #1 the Lumberjacks could have been in front of Finlandia. Hewko would of been a proven dynamic to add to that duo of McIntosh and Wright.

All in all, The top four will reload for next year and LFC, Finlandia, and Northland will close the gap. Those division titles will become evermore cherished as to avoid those "trap play-ins", because a bounce here or there and MSOE and LU would be meeting on the golf course rather than playing at the Arrington.

BTW, I didn't forget that Concordia (WI) is still in the MCHA.

Hey, Concordia just took the first step to getting much better. If they get on the search, they could still get some useful recruits in for next season.

 

[MW49]

Re: The MCHA Thread

Hey, Concordia just took the first step to getting much better. If they get on the search, they could still get some useful recruits in for next season.

Perhaps you are correct! However, despite some brilliant moments in net by Lehr, and a few of their forwards' play, they just lack depth and focus. I picked them to come in 7th ahead of LFC and they just never got better,which seems to be their MO as history shows us. They'll need a bunch more than a new skipper, a few recruits, and a new rink.

Now, LFC was a horse of a different color. They lost their #1 goalie for the first half of the season, their top scorer transferred out, and their top Dman went back to Canada. They had a new coach and a boat load of rookies that made a quick study. By season's end they became a competitve unit with some bite. Their tomorrows look bright.

I just don't see Concordia (WI) being relevant in the near future. I would like to see it, but...

 

[altazo]

Re: The MCHA Thread

The right coach can turn around the attitude of a program real quick.

 

[AVFC]

Re: The MCHA Thread

The right coach can turn around the attitude of a program real quick.

I agree. Anyways, one way or another, Concordia could not get better without the coaching change. It at least shows a desire on the part of the school to improve the program.

 

[MCHA GURU]

Re: The MCHA Thread

Guesses on Player of the Year?

No one really stuck out enough to me ... wide open field IMO.