Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward
I get that point … but wow, that sounds a little too close for comfort to his predecessor's approach (for me anyway). These are still college-age kids, not established pros. And you see a steady stream of dialogue in the NHL between assistant coaches and players between shifts. I don't think you have to have information overload, and I understand that constant yapping can lead to some "tuning out" and possibly even mixed messages. But if you see something that's not right - or even if you see something right that you want to reinforce throughout the team - a TV timeout gives you a brief gift to say/do something. Why not use it?
Anyone who wants to take a quick trip down "Memory Lane" … I always go back to Buffalo in April 2003 when UNH was tied 1-1 with defending national champs Minnesota midway into the 3rd period, when suddenly guys like Vanek and Tallackson took over the game by force. Vanek rounded a very-overmatched Mick Mounsey first for the go-ahead goal, then Waibel wandered alone into the slot area a few minutes later for 3-1, and finally Tallackson was left unchecked at the far post for 4-1. UNH goalie Mike Ayers went ballistic, having played a tremendous game up to that point (2003 FF highlights linked below), but was hung out to dry on all 3 of those goals. He had to have been frustrated by Coach Umile's refusal to take a time out and regroup the team, if not after Vanek's goal, then certainly after the 3rd goal anyway, when the game was arguably still within UNH's reach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja7Ni6JJddQ
In-game coaching is a "thing". It might not be to the level it is in other sports (especially hoops and football), and it's more like in soccer, where there is an established flow and limited stoppage opportunities, so there's no doubt a hockey coach has to trust his guys (or gals) a little bit more to manage themselves out there. But with line changes (unlimited substitutions) you do have a chance to adjust on the fly explicitly through evolving instructions from behind the bench. To willingly ignore that is (frankly) nuts, and I'm sure MS7 understands that.
If we want someone to stand there, fold his arms, and whistle for line changes, then we already had that guy. He did pretty well, but we want this guy to go him one better. JMHO.
I get that point … but wow, that sounds a little too close for comfort to his predecessor's approach (for me anyway). These are still college-age kids, not established pros. And you see a steady stream of dialogue in the NHL between assistant coaches and players between shifts. I don't think you have to have information overload, and I understand that constant yapping can lead to some "tuning out" and possibly even mixed messages. But if you see something that's not right - or even if you see something right that you want to reinforce throughout the team - a TV timeout gives you a brief gift to say/do something. Why not use it?
Anyone who wants to take a quick trip down "Memory Lane" … I always go back to Buffalo in April 2003 when UNH was tied 1-1 with defending national champs Minnesota midway into the 3rd period, when suddenly guys like Vanek and Tallackson took over the game by force. Vanek rounded a very-overmatched Mick Mounsey first for the go-ahead goal, then Waibel wandered alone into the slot area a few minutes later for 3-1, and finally Tallackson was left unchecked at the far post for 4-1. UNH goalie Mike Ayers went ballistic, having played a tremendous game up to that point (2003 FF highlights linked below), but was hung out to dry on all 3 of those goals. He had to have been frustrated by Coach Umile's refusal to take a time out and regroup the team, if not after Vanek's goal, then certainly after the 3rd goal anyway, when the game was arguably still within UNH's reach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja7Ni6JJddQ
In-game coaching is a "thing". It might not be to the level it is in other sports (especially hoops and football), and it's more like in soccer, where there is an established flow and limited stoppage opportunities, so there's no doubt a hockey coach has to trust his guys (or gals) a little bit more to manage themselves out there. But with line changes (unlimited substitutions) you do have a chance to adjust on the fly explicitly through evolving instructions from behind the bench. To willingly ignore that is (frankly) nuts, and I'm sure MS7 understands that.
If we want someone to stand there, fold his arms, and whistle for line changes, then we already had that guy. He did pretty well, but we want this guy to go him one better. JMHO.
