Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

[BII]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

The pep band returns on Friday! This is starting to look like a college hockey team for the first time in many years. GO BRONCOS.

http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=205082473

 

[BII]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

The student section does a great job but the other half of the arena doesn't/can't join in ("What are they saying?"). Perhaps the band can get the whole arena involved. It is nice to join the rest of the DI hockey programs with a pep band. They will probably have some rough edges until they get the hang of it but hopefully they will improve as the season progresses. Maybe we can start to build some traditions and school pride.

 

[BII]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

Now that it is once more fun to go to Lawson Arena to watch hockey, the arena's deficiencies are becoming glaringly apparent. Fighting through the bottlenecks to get to your seat, go to the restroom, or find nourishment can be quite an adventure. The press box is tiny and cramped. Trying to watch a game from a wheelchair is a challenge as best. Some money has been spent on the arena over the years but most of it has gone into the locker room areas. If you forget the chair back/loft fiasco, not much has been done to attract fans. Every area of the fan's portion of the arena is inadequate. The parking and traffic plan around the arena is very frustrating-- I spent a half an hour in the parking lot just waiting to move at all after the last game. Now that we are now attracting good players to WMU I wonder when we are going to put some effort into attracting fans.

 

[bronconick]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

I always park in the lot across the bridge and drive out past University Arena. Takes like 3 minutes. They need another exit on the side with Lawson to make getting out of their easier.

 

[BII]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

I always park in the lot across the bridge and drive out past University Arena. Takes like 3 minutes. They need another exit on the side with Lawson to make getting out of their easier.

Smart move. What's that like when Miller is getting out at the same time?

 

[bronconick]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

Smart move. What's that like when Miller is getting out at the same time?

Still not horrible if you're going right out of the lot toward the arena. Most of the Miller people go and try to get on Howard and make it a giant cluster**** and you have a cop waving people through the 4 way stop at the bridge for about 2 hours.

The biggest annoyance I'll get is someone hell-bent on turning left in that scenario. You'll sit for 5 minutes behind them.

 

[BII]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

Still not horrible if you're going right out of the lot toward the arena. Most of the Miller people go and try to get on Howard and make it a giant cluster**** and you have a cop waving people through the 4 way stop at the bridge for about 2 hours.

The biggest annoyance I'll get is someone hell-bent on turning left in that scenario. You'll sit for 5 minutes behind them.

The frustrating thing for me is that I park in the Gary Fund lot. This is a “reward” for donating money to the athletic department. We are always the last ones that they let out. Not much incentive to donate. There needs to be another way to exit and some consideration for those that support the program.

But all the frustrations are minor compared to the joy of seeing real hockey again. Maybe the answer is to stop donating and park in a different lot.

 

[BII]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

Three points behind fourth place Ferris but we have 4 games in hand. But we are only two points ahead of eighth place Alaska with 2 games in hand. Very tight race and 6 points are definitely needed this weekend.

 

[BII]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

Another hard fought game that was much closer than the 5-2 score suggests. Western moves back into a tie for 4th with Ferris and the Broncos have 3 games in hand. DeKeyser got a misconduct. Not sure if he'll play tomorrow. Pep band did a good job. Fun game to watch. We need three more points this weekend.

 

[BII]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

Oh. And a big thank you to WMU for doing something about the parking problem. WMU is working to make things better.

 

[BII]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

Oh. And a big thank you to WMU for doing something about the parking problem. WMU is working to make things better.

It is still hard to believe the difference between this season and the decade of mediocrity before.

 

[BII]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

Western wins 6-1. Easiest game of the year. Longest unbeaten streak in the nation. GO BRONCOS.

 

[bronconick]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

So, that was a complete 180 from the last few years of this series. Western looked dominant, and Northern looked like a bunch of dirty, highly penalized thugs. Apparently the Ludwig family is cursed to be on such a team.

 

[BII]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

So, that was a complete 180 from the last few years of this series. Western looked dominant, and Northern looked like a bunch of dirty, highly penalized thugs. Apparently the Ludwig family is cursed to be on such a team.

LOL. Very true.

 

[BadgerAlum@WMU]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

Is it time for us to thumb our nose at all the pundits who picked WMU to finish last or second-to-last in the CCHA this year? Or are we still sitting on our hands waiting to see what happens?

 

[bronconick]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

Is it time for us to thumb our nose at all the pundits who picked WMU to finish last or second-to-last in the CCHA this year? Or are we still sitting on our hands waiting to see what happens?

I'm not going to say much. My hope for this season was to get into 8th place for a first round home series and top half of the league next year.

Color me pleasantly surprised.

 

[aparch]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

So, that was a complete 180 from the last few years of this series. Western looked dominant, and Northern looked like a bunch of dirty, highly penalized thugs. Apparently the Ludwig family is cursed to be on such a team.

Every mental mistake the 'Cats had was capitalized on by the Broncos. Clearing attempt whiffed and WMU pokes in a shot through traffic that the 'Cat player couldn't find. NMU players with their heads in the ceiling losing pucks to pick-pocketing Broncos. Fernandez trips over the blueline in the defensive end to give a Bronco a breakaway. Gron coming off to line change during a Bronco rush because "I couldn't find the puck..." (saw him mouth that one to Walt as he skated to the bench).

Every time a Wildcat checked out mentally on their shift, a Bronco was right there to make them pay.
But... when the 'Cats had it together (first period Saturday especially), they looked like the better team. Sadly for the 'Cats, being the better team happened less times for them than WMU.

What was up with the linesman molesting Cherniwchan in the third period? I know Chewy got a little testy with a Bronco while being escorted, but the linesman shoved Chewy in the box and made him lose his balance.

Congrats to the Bronco's for finally turning the corner to becoming a better team with Culhane's departure. And it was odd to see John Markell in the building too (and earning a paycheck from an NHL team )

 

[BII]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

Western has been playing this style all season and as the season progresses they just keep getting better at it. The constant pressure leads to turnovers and they jump on the opportunities when they come up. When you consistently play 60 minutes of hockey you won't always look like the better team but when the final horn blows it is the scoreboard that counts. It just keeps getting better.

 

[bronconick]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

6 points the last two weeks. Disappointing tie with BG, and a T/L to Miami. If they can manage another 4 points in the last 4 games, I think they'll manage to keep 4th place, but 6 points and a 2-2 split would be ideal.

For an idea of what might be important at Yost this weekend

Powerplays the last three weekends

Michigan (2-3-0) - 0 for 21
Western Michigan (3-1-2) - 2 for 33

 

[Bronco]

Re: Western Michigan Hockey 2010-11: Maybe it was all a dream.

6 points the last two weeks. Disappointing tie with BG, and a T/L to Miami. If they can manage another 4 points in the last 4 games, I think they'll manage to keep 4th place, but 6 points and a 2-2 split would be ideal.

For an idea of what might be important at Yost this weekend

Powerplays the last three weekends

Michigan (2-3-0) - 0 for 21
Western Michigan (3-1-2) - 2 for 33

It's nice playing at the end of the season with some kind of expectations. Very refreshing. I think WMU will be more likely to get some points of the Irish than they would at Yost. But what do I know.