Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

That's not really the point.



I think he's the guy that has most consistently shown up and done his job every single night...

Yeah, the Jim Santulli award is for the Nick Licaris, Andy Wheelers, and Aaron Bendicksons of the world more than it is for the Pavelskis, Stepans and Kerdiles' of the world.

I have a feeling that the next month will be a great one for Badger hockey.

You're sensing a 7-game postseason winning streak, eh?

I took it as he thinks your coach will get canned.

At first I thought he was just confusing gas with insane premonitions.

Could EODS be right?

What are you, high?

 

[solovsfett]

Doubt anyone trusts that kind of info to a kid. Also - could it be a violation if he knows that before the fact?

True. I'm just spitballing here. It is curious though, the timing...imo

 

[RedFreak]

People keep referring to attendance in this thread, but I ran the numbers and they've still had "reported" attendance averaging 10,886 per game throughout the season (9793 - Friday night, 12116 - Saturday night.) Of course, those aren't the people in the door, but are the actual sold tickets.

We go both Friday and Saturday night. I don't think actual attendance is anywhere close to that. Especially Friday night.

But what do I know, I'm only a ..... Well, you know the rest.

 

[srkbadger]

I unfortunately agree with you. I have a feeling assistant coaches might not escape the ax though.

Why would any coach of any quality agree to sign on to be an assistant with this mess and have his future tarnished by Eaves? I know this position would normally be coveted, but I wouldn't get within a mile of this cluster**** right now. Alvarez has to know this so I doubt this would be his course of action.

 

[gwhinwi]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Why would any coach of any quality agree to sign on to be an assistant with this mess and have his future tarnished by Eaves? I know this position would normally be coveted, but I wouldn't get within a mile of this cluster**** right now. Alvarez has to know this so I doubt this would be his course of action.

This post would seem to indicate that Alvarez has any idea how to run a hockey program, which I think everyone here would acknowledge is far from the case.

 

[srkbadger]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

This post would seem to indicate that Alvarez has any idea how to run a hockey program, which I think everyone here would acknowledge is far from the case.

The original supposition was that Eaves might not be fired, but that the assistants might be replaced. I assumed that Eaves would not do this of his own accord, but rather would be forced by powers above to do so to save himself. In the general sense, I do think Alvarez has enough staff management sense to know that no decent assistant would sign on in such a situation. I think that if there was a mandate from above for changes (and I'm not saying there will be) it would not just be new assistants, but for an entirely new staff.

 

[gwhinwi]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

The original supposition was that Eaves might not be fired, but that the assistants might be replaced. I assumed that Eaves would not do this of his own accord, but rather would be forced by powers above to do so to save himself. In the general sense, I do think Alvarez has enough staff management sense to know that no decent assistant would sign on in such a situation. I think that if there was a mandate from above for changes (and I'm not saying there will be) it would not just be new assistants, but for an entirely new staff.

I just wanted to make it clear that I wasn't thinking you to be naive, just commenting on the fact that Alvarez seems to have no interest in the program or its goings on. As I stated before, as long as there are people in the seats, there won't be a huge drive for him to make or force any changes in the program. Getting into the head of Alvarez (it's a dirty, dirty place) If you have 10,000 people paying to see a 4 win program, why change it when the coaches win-cycle would seem to indicate that this is one year of puppies crapping on the carpet.

If next years team doesn't get anywhere near .500, then they might consider a change (if attendance has dipped considerably,) but I just don't think we're going to see much happening this off season.

 

[drop_the_puck]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I just wanted to make it clear that I wasn't thinking you to be naive, just commenting on the fact that Alvarez seems to have no interest in the program or its goings on. As I stated before, as long as there are people in the seats, there won't be a huge drive for him to make or force any changes in the program. Getting into the head of Alvarez (it's a dirty, dirty place) If you have 10,000 people paying to see a 4 win program, why change it when the coaches win-cycle would seem to indicate that this is one year of puppies crapping on the carpet.

If next years team doesn't get anywhere near .500, then they might consider a change (if attendance has dipped considerably,) but I just don't think we're going to see much happening this off season.

I am terrified of this scenario, I really don't want to go another winter of Eaves hockey. Remember, no Rumpel next year, which has been about the only thing that has gotten us any wins this year. Unless the incoming goaltender is a stud right out of the gate (which he may be), we could be that same or worse next year. I'm not sure I see a big upward trend coming. Someone tell me why I'm wrong please

 

[RedFreak]

Remember, no Rumpel next year ...

I've been trying very hard to forget that.

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I am terrified of this scenario, I really don't want to go another winter of Eaves hockey. Remember, no Rumpel next year, which has been about the only thing that has gotten us any wins this year. Unless the incoming goaltender is a stud right out of the gate (which he may be), we could be that same or worse next year. I'm not sure I see a big upward trend coming. Someone tell me why I'm wrong please

I think that IS my issue with Eaves coming back is that in my gut I know next season will be a disaster because he has laid the ground work for another bad season. I'm guessing the team will score more goals, but you are right, probably will let in more goals too.

If Eaves gets canned, I can live with another bad season because it won't be fair for me to judge the new coach on what Eaves left him to work with. Though I do think the freshman class has some nice pieces for the next coach to build from.

My gut also tells me that Eaves getting canned is far from a done deal. I said this before, but he should step up and resign after this weekend. If he doesn't get fired and sticks around for more pitiful efforts in the coming years his legacy in UW lore will be tarnished. Now he can still save face and we will remember 2006 and 2010 and forgot about the mess he left, we won't forget but the hostility toward him will be greatly dampened.

 

[KaMiGo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I am terrified of this scenario, I really don't want to go another winter of Eaves hockey. Remember, no Rumpel next year, which has been about the only thing that has gotten us any wins this year. Unless the incoming goaltender is a stud right out of the gate (which he may be), we could be that same or worse next year. I'm not sure I see a big upward trend coming. Someone tell me why I'm wrong please

I think that the incoming guy compares very favorably to Rumpel.

Rumpel is 6'3" and 190 lbs
Opilka is 6'1" and 192 lbs

Rumpel's last year before UW in the BCHL had him at 27-12-3 with 2.53 GAA and .911 Save %
Opilka's year with the US team has him at 22-5-0 with 2.88 GAA and .881 Save %

I can't speak to the level of competition in the BCHL vs what team USA plays, and how that might skew their numbers. But I think that Opilka has every chance to come in and put up numbers like Rumpel's first year with a .500 record or better with a under 2.5 GAA and a .920 or better Save%.

Returning almost all of your D should help too. I think that the only one we are going to be without next year is Drake.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Mike Eaves just sent this letter to Badgers fans in an email, apologizing for Gary Shuchuk's comments from last week. <a href="http://t.co/UGzOwWQHyK">pic.twitter.com/UGzOwWQHyK</a></p>— Tony Jovenitti (@jovenitti) <a href="https://twitter.com/jovenitti/status/576116472369569792">March 12, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Anyone else get this? I didn't, so I'm not sure if it just went to season ticket holders?

 

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Based on the letter I just got in my email from coach eaves and the athletic department, eaves isn't resigning, and the assistants aren't going anywhere. Also it would appear that with this letter that the athletic dept isn't making changes. This is the worst possible news. I can't figure out how to copy from my tablet and post it here but I will keep trying.

Never mind Andy just posted it....

Season ticket holder and I got it.....

 

[Almington]

Based on the letter I just got in my email from coach eaves and the athletic department, eaves isn't resigning, and the assistants aren't going anywhere. Also it would appear that with this letter that the athletic dept isn't making changes. This is the worst possible news. I can't figure out how to copy from my tablet and post it here but I will keep trying.

Never mind Andy just posted it....

Season ticket holder and I got it.....

this is how I read the message from Eaves:
Dear Idiot;

Thank you for your concern regarding the Men's Hockey Team. You have no idea what you are talking about, a few loses are no big deal, and no changes will be made. Now if you would kindly shut up we would appreciate it.

On Wisconsin,
Mike Eaves

Head Coach Men's Hockey.

 

[Badger Booster]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Probably only season ticket holders as I have bought single game seats (plus season tix for women's hockey) and didn't get this letter.

I don't see this as necessarily any indication of what might happen with the staff. First off, why would Eaves resign? Unless he felt there was no way to ever repair the situation and/or had another job lined up, I don't see him ever stepping down 100% voluntarily.

Secondly, if Alvarez and the associate AD in charge of hockey want to make a change, this letter won't have any impact on that.

I see this as a letter from a coach who is acknowledging a terrible season and also apologizing for Coach Shuchuk's comments about the fans. I just don't read much more into it than that.

 

[WiscDC]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Probably only season ticket holders as I have bought single game seats (plus season tix for women's hockey) and didn't get this letter.

I don't see this as necessarily any indication of what might happen with the staff. First off, why would Eaves resign? Unless he felt there was no way to ever repair the situation and/or had another job lined up, I don't see him ever stepping down 100% voluntarily.

Secondly, if Alvarez and the associate AD in charge of hockey want to make a change, this letter won't have any impact on that.

I see this as a letter from a coach who is acknowledging a terrible season and also apologizing for Coach Shuchuk's comments about the fans. I just don't read much more into it than that.

I think I agree with this. (By the way, I didn't get the letter, but I have other student friends who did.) It's pretty generic, just like all the stuff we get towards the end of better years (blah blah blah, keep working hard, blah blah blah, high hopes, blah blah blah, Big Ten tournament in [that year's host city], blah blah blah, thank you fans, keep supporting us). In this case, they couldn't say much in the way of positive things, but at least it's something.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I see this as a letter from a coach who is acknowledging a terrible season and also apologizing for Coach Shuchuk's comments about the fans. I just don't read much more into it than that.

Exactly. Let's take it at face value. Even if he was going to make changes with the staff he wouldn't announce it at this point in the season, he'd wait till the dust settles in the spring.

 

[TUSCHWI]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Anyone else get this? I didn't, so I'm not sure if it just went to season ticket holders?

I didn't. I share season tickets with a friend and her family owns them. But I do contribute to the program directly through the Barry Alvarez Extortion, err...I mean Badger Fund each year. It would have been nice to get this to anyone who has supported and supports the program.

 

[TUSCHWI]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Is tonight's game on TV? I thought I heard it was on locally in Madison on Fox 47. But I'm not seeing that. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

LOL

Was gonna say "Who approved those shorts?" for the hoops team but I see that Michigan has the same.

Godawful.


Nicely done B1G.