WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

I think Gudmanson deserves a shot to play both games in a series. I haven't been very impressed with Bennett so far and Goody is now up to a 93.4% save percentage. He now leads the WCHA with a 1.3883 GAA. I know he hasn't gotten many chances because the D has done so well, but he's made higher quality saves than Bennett has, and he hasn't given up many softies if any. The current platoon seems to be working so this might be a case where if it isn't broken don't fix, but I'd consider giving Goody a Friday night game soon, and go from there, but I doubt it will happen because it seems that Eaves thinks that Bennett is the better goalie.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

WJC, meaningless...

I try to be supportive of fellow posters that support my team, but VW, you keep saying some interesting things.

I actually tried to find TV listings already. All I can find is TSN so far. This is some of the best hockey you will ever see. Can't wait!

Certainly better than our silly little holiday tourney.

Canada, Sweden, Russia and the rest don't see it as meaningless and I guarantee you that our players don't either.

 

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

Its meaningless to me because I'm a Badger fan. I'm not an international junior hockey fan.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

Its meaningless to me because I'm a Badger fan. I'm not an international junior hockey fan.

You didn't say that it was meaningless to you. You declared it meaningless, meaning that it was just some exhibition, and therefore is meaningless to all.

Not an international junior hockey fan? How about an American? Are you that? These guys are representing us all and especially everyone who's involved in USA hockey at any level. These are the guys who have gone from their local youth programs all the way to representing our country.

As a Badger hockey fan, you should be aware of UW's ongoing relationship with USA Hockey and specifically the NTDP. Many players and Coach Eaves have taken part in various international tourneys and like others have said, it only raises our profile and that of the WCHA, who usually sends the bulk of the players involved.

I'm more than happy to lend three of our players to the cause.

Man, I wish they wouldn't interrupt my Blackhawks' season with that meaningless Olympic exhibition!

 

[bucky15]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

You didn't say that it was meaningless to you. You declared it meaningless, meaning that it was just some exhibition, and therefore is meaningless to all.

Not an international junior hockey fan? How about an American? Are you that? These guys are representing us all and especially everyone who's involved in USA hockey at any level. These are the guys who have gone from their local youth programs all the way to representing our country.

As a Badger hockey fan, you should be aware of UW's ongoing relationship with USA Hockey and specifically the NTDP. Many players and Coach Eaves have taken part in various international tourneys and like others have said, it only raises our profile and that of the WCHA, who usually sends the bulk of the players involved.

I'm more than happy to lend three of our players to the cause.

Man, I wish they wouldn't interrupt my Blackhawks' season with that meaningless Olympic exhibition!

Agree 100%. It is a huge measuring stick for USA hockey and to have maybe 3 Badgers a part of that is pretty cool.

 

[RedFreak]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

Hi guys, friendly Red Wings fan here ..... Just curious, how is Brendan Smith's defense looking this year? And what's your overall take on him at this point?

Obviously he's scoring a ton of points. His aim and speed on the slap shot is stellar. But I can only characterize his defense as below average. I watched him carefully this weekend. He'll do things like dig the puck out from along the boards in the defensive zone and just throw it up ice, without paying attention to who's standing there, whether it be his guy or an opposing player. It's like he doesn't think 3 seconds down the road. People are saying his defense has improved. I haven't seen it yet. I listened to his interview after the game Saturday night and he says he's working on it. I wish him all the best in that regard. If he can improve his defense he could be a super star.

 

[bucky15]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

Obviously he's scoring a ton of points. His aim and speed on the slap shot is stellar. But I can only characterize his defense as below average. I watched him carefully this weekend. He'll do things like dig the puck out from along the boards in the defensive zone and just throw it up ice, without paying attention to who's standing there, whether it be his guy or an opposing player. It's like he doesn't think 3 seconds down the road. People are saying his defense has improved. I haven't seen it yet. I listened to his interview after the game Saturday night and he says he's working on it. I wish him all the best in that regard. If he can improve his defense he could be a super star.

Yeap, he has the talent to be something special in the NHL.

 

[TUSCHWI]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

WJC, meaningless...

I actually tried to find TV listings already. All I can find is TSN so far. This is some of the best hockey you will ever see. Can't wait!

Canada, Sweden, Russia and the rest don't see it as meaningless and I guarantee you that our players don't either.

Agreed. WJC is great hockey and fun to watch. I don't remember what network showed last years games...may have been NHL Network.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

Maybe that's just me being selfish, though.

I tend to agree with you in that it generally hurt's UW's chances to win those games they are absent from. One could say it has cost UW a ncaa spot with loses they may not have had otherwise with those lads in the cardinal and white. It's more important to me UW wins games than it is USA Hockey wins games. I understand the big picture in recruiting and player development that UW has to let them go, the loses when they are gone just make me upset. Especailly when you look at how they have struggled in the Showdown with the missing players. It really torques me to see any visiting team hoist the shwodown trophy.

The only saving grace is this year UW has enough talent on the roster that it should not affect them that severly.

However, it is not a meaningless tourney, there is national prestige at stake and that is neat to see how it plays out. We are from the land of the Free and the home of the Brave.

Other thoughts...

I'd like to see Goody get a full weekend against the Sue. Bennett seems a tad mechanical out there, Goody looks more natural. And Bennett lost to this really, really aweful rodent team, and looked bad in doing it.

That Tech team is bad, I hope the boys don't get over-confident and lay an egg against the Sue. It was too easy.

 

[RedFreak]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

My suggestion for the WJC/Showdown conflict is to stop playing the Showdown. I have Fri and Sat Tx. I rarely miss a home hockey game, yet I routinely skip the Showdown. There's just too much going on at the holidays, the students are off campus, and it conflicts with the WJC. Just get rid of it.

 

[blockski]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

My suggestion for the WJC/Showdown conflict is to stop playing the Showdown. I have Fri and Sat Tx. I rarely miss a home hockey game, yet I routinely skip the Showdown. There's just too much going on at the holidays, the students are off campus, and it conflicts with the WJC. Just get rid of it.

Done and done.

It's all but certain this will be the final year UW stages the Badger Showdown holiday tournament. What began in 1989 as a high-risk endeavor and evolved into a wildly popular attraction at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee is seen as a scheduling headache and a costly investment at the Kohl Center.

 

[uwbadgers14]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

You didn't say that it was meaningless to you. You declared it meaningless, meaning that it was just some exhibition, and therefore is meaningless to all.

Not an international junior hockey fan? How about an American? Are you that? These guys are representing us all and especially everyone who's involved in USA hockey at any level. These are the guys who have gone from their local youth programs all the way to representing our country.

As a Badger hockey fan, you should be aware of UW's ongoing relationship with USA Hockey and specifically the NTDP. Many players and Coach Eaves have taken part in various international tourneys and like others have said, it only raises our profile and that of the WCHA, who usually sends the bulk of the players involved.

I'm more than happy to lend three of our players to the cause.

Man, I wish they wouldn't interrupt my Blackhawks' season with that meaningless Olympic exhibition!

Owned... Lets not forget Eaves has coached the US to world Junior Gold so thats another connection to this program that USA hockey has.

One other thing to keep in mind is I remember Cody Goloubef being the only College guy on canada last year, thats a lot of exposure to UW in that tournament when it say's U. of Wisconsin in the program when that event is held in Canada. Same for Kyle Turris. Its opens up maybe another option for kids to look into in canada. They think, they could still get a good education and be a part of that tournament if they come here, or any other college for that matter. Its just great for the sport of college hockey. We won't have any players on canada this year however but it is likely we will again in the future.

 

[MadCityRich]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

I think Gudmanson deserves a shot to play both games in a series. I haven't been very impressed with Bennett so far and Goody is now up to a 93.4% save percentage. He now leads the WCHA with a 1.3883 GAA. I know he hasn't gotten many chances because the D has done so well, but he's made higher quality saves than Bennett has, and he hasn't given up many softies if any. The current platoon seems to be working so this might be a case where if it isn't broken don't fix, but I'd consider giving Goody a Friday night game soon, and go from there, but I doubt it will happen because it seems that Eaves thinks that Bennett is the better goalie.

That's why you are where you are and not coaching. You don't **** with what got you there...you even said it yourself..."if it isn't broken...". It's working very well currently, I'd keep it up. Bennett started a Saturday night a few weeks ago...remember the result? Also, calling the WJC meaningless is just plain arrogant and actually ignorant. The WORLD Junior Championships is just that. Not the NCAA Championship, not the memorial Cup, and not a Euro championship, whatever that is.

If you win, you are supposedly the best IN THE WORLD.

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

That's why you are where you are and not coaching. You don't **** with what got you there...you even said it yourself..."if it isn't broken...". It's working very well currently, I'd keep it up. Bennett started a Saturday night a few weeks ago...remember the result? Also, calling the WJC meaningless is just plain arrogant and actually ignorant. The WORLD Junior Championships is just that. Not the NCAA Championship, not the memorial Cup, and not a Euro championship, whatever that is.

If you win, you are supposedly the best IN THE WORLD.

I agree, Eaves would be a fool to stop the rotation, unless one goalie starts to just dominate (Elliott style) or really tanks. I never played hockey, but a co-worker who coaches and I were discussing how it causes the team to learn two goalies. They both do different things, have different strengths and weaknesses. To me that seems an advantage to have two very good goalies who can both bring a good effort. Goody has really improved from last season.

Also, I think Cody Goloubef wouldn't agree w/ you VarsityWI, I'm guessing he's quite proud of his WJC Gold from last season.

 

[MadCityRich]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

I agree, Eaves would be a fool to stop the rotation, unless one goalie starts to just dominate (Elliott style) or really tanks. I never played hockey, but a co-worker who coaches and I were discussing how it causes the team to learn two goalies. They both do different things, have different strengths and weaknesses. To me that seems an advantage to have two very good goalies who can both bring a good effort. Goody has really improved from last season.

Also, I think Cody Goloubef wouldn't agree w/ you VarsityWI, I'm guessing he's quite proud of his WJC Gold from last season.

Good points. An example of differences; Goody is a solid square-to-the-shooter guy would doesn't roam often. The DotA knows he won't wander like Bennett, so they go help out. Bennett seems to move around more. We all know how he likes to handle the puck (which a few times stopped my heart). When he picks up the puck and looks up, the DotA heads up ice and looks for a pass.
Some 'tenders are amazingly strong and can saucer at least 100 feet, (and a lot farther it there wasn't off sides) even with that awkward stick and some can't even hit the blue line.

 

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

Maybe I was wrong about the WJC. I'll tune in in a few weeks to give it a chance. I'm still not thrilled about losing 3 key players, though.

 

[Almington]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

Maybe I was wrong about the WJC. I'll tune in in a few weeks to give it a chance. I'm still not thrilled about losing 3 key players, though.

No team is happy to lose key players for games, but the long term advantages outweigh the short term costs.

 

[badgerhawk]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

I tend to agree with you in that it generally hurt's UW's chances to win those games they are absent from. One could say it has cost UW a ncaa spot with loses they may not have had otherwise with those lads in the cardinal and white. It's more important to me UW wins games than it is USA Hockey wins games. I understand the big picture in recruiting and player development that UW has to let them go, the loses when they are gone just make me upset. Especailly when you look at how they have struggled in the Showdown with the missing players. It really torques me to see any visiting team hoist the shwodown trophy.

One could say that. ( not saying you are saying this, you know what I'm saying) There were about 10 other games they blew a lead in that cost them the spot as well. It takes more than these two games to knock a team from the NCAA's.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

One could say that. ( not saying you are saying this, you know what I'm saying) There were about 10 other games they blew a lead in that cost them the spot as well. It takes more than these two games to knock a team from the NCAA's.

I was thinking the same thing. A solution is to not be in such a precarious position in the pairwise at the end of the season.

 

[RedFreak]

Re: WISCONSIN HOCKEY 09-10 - Climbing The Mountain (7th Edition?)

A solution is to not be in such a precarious position in the pairwise at the end of the season.

Yep.