This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
I went to the Annual WAHA meeting yesterday in Wausau. Don Granato was the guest speaker. It was a great talk, you can really see the passion that he has for hockey when he speaks. Some notes that I took away (in a very random order):
- He talked about how they have two first rounders right now (Frederic and Kunin), the goal is to have 10 of them at Wisconsin at a time.
- Tony, Don, and Mark had been talking for years about coaching together. But they thought it would be in the NHL.
- Don said that he questioned how much Barry and the AD cared about hockey. Even when the team made money, it was such a small percentage compared to Football and Basketball.
- Once Barry offered Tony the job, it was a 5 minute conversation with Don and Mark, they said Yes that quickly.
- A lot of college hockey coaches are now intimidated by what Wisconsin has.
- Tony was going to speak instead of Don, but Don wouldn't let him. He had to be in Michigan for the World Junior Summer Showcase
- He talked about how his US NTDP U18s came to Madison and beat the Badgers with 7 or 8 17 year olds. The Badgers should never lose to high schoolers.
- All of their recent recruits (12?) had their foot in the door at MN, Boston, UND, etc. Some de-committed. He said that they respected the Verbal commitments, and only talked to kids after they de-committed.
- They are very happy with the incoming recruits, but they don't want to wait 3 years to start winning.
- He talked about changing the attitude of the players (12 wins in the last two years will defeat a team).
- He mentioned another recruit that will be announced next week. Said he played for him at US NTDP, and is another de-committment.
- He talked about recruiting philosophy. They try to challenge the kids. They want to find kids that have the same goals as the coaching staff (hard work, intelligence, desire to win, etc). If they don't share those goals, then there is another school for them.... like MN, ND, etc!
Overall a really good talk. He also had an hour session about player development on the world stage. He used a lot of Auston Mathews clips in that presentation
I went to the Annual WAHA meeting yesterday in Wausau. Don Granato was the guest speaker. It was a great talk, you can really see the passion that he has for hockey when he speaks. Some notes that I took away (in a very random order):
- He talked about how they have two first rounders right now (Frederic and Kunin), the goal is to have 10 of them at Wisconsin at a time.
- Tony, Don, and Mark had been talking for years about coaching together. But they thought it would be in the NHL.
- Don said that he questioned how much Barry and the AD cared about hockey. Even when the team made money, it was such a small percentage compared to Football and Basketball.
- Once Barry offered Tony the job, it was a 5 minute conversation with Don and Mark, they said Yes that quickly.
- A lot of college hockey coaches are now intimidated by what Wisconsin has.
- Tony was going to speak instead of Don, but Don wouldn't let him. He had to be in Michigan for the World Junior Summer Showcase
- He talked about how his US NTDP U18s came to Madison and beat the Badgers with 7 or 8 17 year olds. The Badgers should never lose to high schoolers.
- All of their recent recruits (12?) had their foot in the door at MN, Boston, UND, etc. Some de-committed. He said that they respected the Verbal commitments, and only talked to kids after they de-committed.
- They are very happy with the incoming recruits, but they don't want to wait 3 years to start winning.
- He talked about changing the attitude of the players (12 wins in the last two years will defeat a team).
- He mentioned another recruit that will be announced next week. Said he played for him at US NTDP, and is another de-committment.
- He talked about recruiting philosophy. They try to challenge the kids. They want to find kids that have the same goals as the coaching staff (hard work, intelligence, desire to win, etc). If they don't share those goals, then there is another school for them.... like MN, ND, etc!
Overall a really good talk. He also had an hour session about player development on the world stage. He used a lot of Auston Mathews clips in that presentation