Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

[Red_Rob]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

Remove either one of those things and perhaps they consider staying. But I suppose it's anecdotal. What suggests to me that it's more complicated is that 2 years ago one of the best teams in the country skated at the KC and went 17-2 in front of home fans. It's really hard to ask for much more than that during the regular season, yet tix and attendance were at an 8 year low. There has always been an over supply of seats at the Kohl for what has been realistically sustainable, IMO. Like I said, smaller arena and there was still probably a still a significant (but depleted) wait list coming into this year.

So the obvious answer to all the problems is just cough up another $100 million to build a medium-sized hockey-only arena North of the KC that we can sell beer and coca cola and hang banners in! All problems solved!

You're welcome Badger fans.

agreed, with my CIO I know there are a lot of things that came into play but those were big ones. (since we have discussed it a lot I can speak to that side better) Why should I spend the money and the time if it's not a good product? Like it or not it's an entertainment business competing for your dollar bills. Even if it's a sport you love you are going to look at it for a bit and weigh the pros & cons. if you're only getting marginal entertainment out of it for the time and effort you put forth you'll second guess it's value. And if it's easy to get seats, and good seats at that, at basically a moment's notice, why not free up some extra cash and time? you don't have to shell out $800(four seats in the instance of my CIO) plus the 'donation'

i can handle a team that loses all the games, as long as they're competitive. Sure it'll be frustrating but it'll be good entertainment. If it's a bunch of young men who just play maybe 20 minutes a night it's tough. If it's a bunch of guys who give up leads then play to not lose it's tough. What really breaks my heart is seeing no one there. Seeing the empty hallways. As with past pictures, seeing literally 16 students in the 2nd level. Even on boring hockey fridays the 2nd level used to be packed. Hearing the students, hearing the band was great. Now with students not showing up and piped in music every other stoppage the ambiance just isn't there like it used to be. I have had seats for 14 years, and it may be last, as I look at the product out on the ice and weigh the pros and cons.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

I can attest to former player disillusion to Eaves. I've heard first hand from two different guys (one played in the NHL and the other was a walk on that ended up playing a decent amount by the time he was done (neither under Eaves)). When I've interacted with both on other topics....they seem quite reasonable and not the type of guys that would expect Eaves to personally scan their tickets at the door, buy them a hot pretzel & soda out of his wallet, and escort them to their seats. When the history of your program (and the one guy certainly is) doesn't have a warm fuzzy feeling...you are going about thing the hard way. The alumni should be selling the program for you. Second hand (from someone that I trust and would definitely know based on his relationships) I've heard even recent players that played for Eaves are not advocates of the program to the degree you would expect for guys that came through, had success individually & team wise, and ended up in the NHL.

mark, do you think, or know, if they were supportive of Sauer the last few years? Just curious. Totally anecdotal, but I talked to two of Eaves former stars this summer that I pretty much coincidentally have known since they were kids and like all of us, they were concerned about the program, but were really very supportive of Eaves. But, of course, he was their coach and they won with him, so it's hard to say how meaningful that was.

agreed, with my CIO I know there are a lot of things that came into play but those were big ones. (since we have discussed it a lot I can speak to that side better) Why should I spend the money and the time if it's not a good product? Like it or not it's an entertainment business competing for your dollar bills. Even if it's a sport you love you are going to look at it for a bit and weigh the pros & cons. if you're only getting marginal entertainment out of it for the time and effort you put forth you'll second guess it's value. And if it's easy to get seats, and good seats at that, at basically a moment's notice, why not free up some extra cash and time? you don't have to shell out $800(four seats in the instance of my CIO) plus the 'donation'

i can handle a team that loses all the games, as long as they're competitive. Sure it'll be frustrating but it'll be good entertainment. If it's a bunch of young men who just play maybe 20 minutes a night it's tough. If it's a bunch of guys who give up leads then play to not lose it's tough. What really breaks my heart is seeing no one there. Seeing the empty hallways. As with past pictures, seeing literally 16 students in the 2nd level. Even on boring hockey fridays the 2nd level used to be packed. Hearing the students, hearing the band was great. Now with students not showing up and piped in music every other stoppage the ambiance just isn't there like it used to be. I have had seats for 14 years, and it may be last, as I look at the product out on the ice and weigh the pros and cons.

This is exactly why I really hope they can do some winning this year. If they can, perhaps someone like yourself is interested in coming back next year with some higher hopes. Perhaps you even happen to have a conversation with someone else that says, "Hey, they were pretty **** good last weekend." vs. continuing to lose. Even with axing Eaves I think there could very well be a lot of "wait and see" or worse, just completely lost interest.

 

[Almington]

Playing the role of devil's advocate for a moment...do you have any proof of any of this or is it just speculation? Is there any verified source that can say "Yes, I know for a fact that this recruit left for this reason" or "Yes, I have independently verified that this NHL club or the club's affiliates are actively moving their players away from UW"

Yeah, I know "but the writing is on the wall, you'll never get a kid who says 'I left because of the coach' and you'll never have an NHL franchise risk the PR mess of saying 'we prefer any player that we draft to leave that program ASAP' but it happens and we all know it". Blah, blah, blah. Complete speculation by people on the internet who think that they are smarter than anyone else.

You choose to make the claims, I ask that you back them up, please.

I have talked with sources who have contact with NHL clubs who have told me that the state of the UW program is of concern to teams who have Draft picks at UW. If any of them are actively trying to pull players out of UW, I do not know.

I have talked with former players who played for Eaves and are frustrated by the state of the program. The money quote: "I loved being at UW, but I'm not sure I'd go there now." I have not talked with many former Eaves players, none of who will talk bad about Eaves, but few of them say much positive. It's clear that they all have respect for him and his coaching ability, but he is an intense guy and that intensity can be double edged.

Players parents, on the other hand, love to talk and they are mixed. I will recognize that some parents have an axe to grind, but the parents have lots of waiting around time to talk and stories get told.

Very few of the players will violate the confidentiality of the locker room any what is said between player usually remains between players.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

After re-reading Andy Baggot's article, and then reading some of the posts below from people here who've either talked with ex-players or heard second-hand from friends or acquaintances who've talked with ex-players I think we've got a pretty clear picture that Mike Eaves is no longer the right man for the Wisconsin Men's Hockey coaching position. I also think we've got Kamigo's answers.

Believe it or not, and if you dig you may even find my ancient posts, I used to be an Eaves guy. From the first year (hearing about Burish, Gilbert et al standing up for Eaves after the Leavitt fiasco) through 2006 I was an Eaves guy. I mean c'mon, the UW floundered from 95-02 save for 2 seasons where Heater and Reinprecht saved Sauer's butt. However when in 2007 the team was less than inspiring and reading about his change in recruiting philosophy and then the ups and downs and ups and downs, rumors of weird behavior, being too intense (like Bobby Knight intense, not Coach K intense), ruining relationships with WI HS Coaches and parents, I jumped off the bandwagon around 09 or 2010 actually.

Think of this. You win a National Championship and then feel a need to change recruiting philosophy? What? I just.......ugh

 

[gwhinwi]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

As for me, I gave up my season tickets back after 2010. The primary reason was that I had young kids and didn't want to pay $88 for 4 tickets when I knew that I could get a 4-pack in the 3rd level for $56 for 4 tickets that would include food and a drink for my girls.

I'll be back in town for the game on Saturday night and I'm certain that's the way that I'll be getting tickets again (although it seems pretty obvious that I'll be able to move into different seats with my daughters at some point in the 2nd since no one seems to be sitting in the 3rd deck any more.)

 

[drop_the_puck]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

Solid effort by the boys against bye tonight, just couldn't climb the mountain enough for the win. Disappointing.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

As for me, I gave up my season tickets back after 2010. The primary reason was that I had young kids and didn't want to pay $88 for 4 tickets when I knew that I could get a 4-pack in the 3rd level for $56 for 4 tickets that would include food and a drink for my girls.

I'll be back in town for the game on Saturday night and I'm certain that's the way that I'll be getting tickets again (although it seems pretty obvious that I'll be able to move into different seats with my daughters at some point in the 2nd since no one seems to be sitting in the 3rd deck any more.)

On a totally unrelated note, on the UW women's recruiting page, can you add Mauermann to next year and Pettet to the next? I think you forgot about Johnson being there next year, but you may have fixed that already. Thanks.

On the men's side, IF Eaves/Strand/Bittner turn the thing around, the anti-Eaves fans better put there personal dislike of Eaves aside and re-embrace the program. It's all about the logo and not the coach. I'm a little bipolar on Eaves, but he should be given credit for improving the coaches and changing the system, 2 things fans were railing for (including me). I really don't care who the coaches are, JUST WIN.

 

[Red_Rob]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

On a totally unrelated note, on the UW women's recruiting page, can you add Mauermann to next year and Pettet to the next? I think you forgot about Johnson being there next year, but you may have fixed that already. Thanks.

On the men's side, IF Eaves/Strand/Bittner turn the thing around, the anti-Eaves fans better put there personal dislike of Eaves aside and re-embrace the program. It's all about the logo and not the coach. I'm a little bipolar on Eaves, but he should be given credit for improving the coaches and changing the system, 2 things fans were railing for (including me). I really don't care who the coaches are, JUST WIN.

i have never cared for eaves. But when he has success I just swallow it and keep tight lipped. That is one of the reasons the 4 year cycle drives me nuts...he's doing bad maybe a change...he's doing bad....oh crap he saved himself.

I want to give strand/bittner a chance, I wish they had come in under better circumstances. If they can pull it off, great, I will be quiet for a while, until the next two down years of the Eaves 4 year cycle.

 

[gwhinwi]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

On a totally unrelated note, on the UW women's recruiting page, can you add Mauermann to next year and Pettet to the next? I think you forgot about Johnson being there next year, but you may have fixed that already. Thanks.

I've added those. I hadn't seen either of those signings and somehow completely missed Johnson being on the roster for next year. All are corrected. Thanks for the heads up. 2017-18 class is full now.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

On a totally unrelated note, on the UW women's recruiting page, can you add Mauermann to next year and Pettet to the next? I think you forgot about Johnson being there next year, but you may have fixed that already. Thanks.

On the men's side, IF Eaves/Strand/Bittner turn the thing around, the anti-Eaves fans better put there personal dislike of Eaves aside and re-embrace the program. It's all about the logo and not the coach. I'm a little bipolar on Eaves, but he should be given credit for improving the coaches and changing the system, 2 things fans were railing for (including me). I really don't care who the coaches are, JUST WIN.

I would say the stigma is too great. The perception is reality. If they win 15-16 games this year and win 20+ the following year the stigma surrounding Eaves will still be there. It's very much like Bobby Knight. After the honeymoon period people just get sick of the rhetoric (or in this case metaphors) and they want a great coach who doesn't have the stigma/baggage etc.

tDon doesn't have that baggage, Jerry York doesn't, the Blaiser doesn't, Jeff Jackson doesn't, Berenson I'm fairly certain doesn't have that baggage and there are a ton of young coaches out there who don't carry that negative perception w/them everywhere.

If it's a matter of winning every 2 years with a megalomaniac/narcissist coach with some batittude, then suffering through 2 **** years, or winning 3 of 4 years or getting strings of 5, 6, gasp 7! consecutive years of 20+ wins and NCAA appearances and wins with a new coach with no baggage the choice for me is easy.

 

[MadCityRich]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

I know this belongs on the other side of the tracks, but huge congratulations to women's goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens - and team mates. She now has 8 consecutive shut outs and holds the NCAA record with 500:50 consecutive scoreless minutes. That's pretty good.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

I've added those. I hadn't seen either of those signings and somehow completely missed Johnson being on the roster for next year. All are corrected. Thanks for the heads up. 2017-18 class is full now.

Awesome - Thanks.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

Saw Jefferson Dahl and his Idaho Steelheads drop a pair over the weekend to the Florida Everblades. Dahl is leading the Steelheads with 6g 5a in 14 GP. Here's a quick list of some other recent Badgers playing in the minors and Europe and how their seasons have started off:


Player ----------- Team -------- GP G A Pts PIM +/-

John Mitchell - South Carolina Stingrays -- 10 4 4 8 13 3

Michael Davies - Hamburg FreezersDEL --17 1 5 6 2 -3

Jordy Murray - Langnau Swiss-A -- 14 0 1 1 8 -1

Sean Dolan - Lausitzer FoxesDEL-2 -- 16 4 5 9 26 -2

John Ramage - Lake Erie Monsters -- 6 0 0 0 2 2

Frankie Simonelli - Providence Bruins -- 3 0 0 0 2 -1

Michael Mersch - Ontario Reign -- 12 6 2 8 6 3

*Joe Faust - Adirondack Thunder -- 10 0 4 4 6 -1

Brad Navin - Atlanta Gladiators -- 7 2 1 3 0 1

Jefferson Dahl - Idaho Steelheads -- 14 6 5 11 14 -4

Tyler Barnes - Missouri Mavericks -- 13 6 7 13 10 5

Joe LaBate - Utica Comets -- 10 0 2 2 11 -3

Nic Kerdiles - San Diego Gulls -- 13 3 1 4 8 -6

Mark Zengerle - Grand Rapids Griffins -- 10 0 2 2 4 -9

Brendan Woods - Charlotte Checkers -- 14 3 1 4 17 3


* Edit: I just noticed Joe Faust was recalled back to the AHL Albany Devils yesterday.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

Good news for Badgers in Canada. TSN will carry 8 Badger games on their NCAA hockey schedule this year. Badgers first appearance will be Saturday night vs DU.

Just going by the seating chart, it looks hopeful that Saturday's game will have a decent crowd. Get you tix while you still can!

 

[gwhinwi]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

Just going by the seating chart, it looks hopeful that Saturday's game will have a decent crowd. Get you tix while you still can!

Um, gotta figure that this is sarcasm. I saw a lot of seats in the 100's and 200's and almost every seat in the 300's. Doesn't phase me either way. I'll be there with my girls on Saturday night and then going to try to make it to the Women's game on Sunday as well.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

Um, gotta figure that this is sarcasm. I saw a lot of seats in the 100's and 200's and almost every seat in the 300's. Doesn't phase me either way. I'll be there with my girls on Saturday night and then going to try to make it to the Women's game on Sunday as well.

If you want to say "hey" to me at the gal's game Sunday, we sit right behind the opposing team's bench right on the glass. I will be wearing a women's home jersey and my felmet sitting with my daughter, son and maybe others. We may get there a tad later than normal, hopefully I'll get my usual spot.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

Cameron Hughes "doubtful" according to Eaves today. Bad news for Badgers there, but at least they've had time to practice more different combinations with the bye, rather than just play the whole game short handed like Saturday at Sue. I'd love to see a print out of all the F combos that hit the ice in that game.

Still disappointing, as that line was really starting to look good together.

 

[Innova]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

Others receiving votes: Miami 50, Penn State 36, Robert Morris 25, Massachusetts 24, Rensselaer 21, Minnesota State 20, Alaska-Anchorage 4, Wisconsin 2, Minnesota 1.

Suck it.

 

[gwhinwi]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey XXXIV: A Season without Chuck

One of those voters took a slug of paint thinner and decided, "You know what? Wisconsin REALLY IS the 19th best program in college hockey right now, and F' it, Minnesota is #20." Then he passed out in a pool of his own vomit, as most hockey sports writers have been known to do on a late Sunday evening.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

One of those voters took a slug of paint thinner and decided, "You know what? Wisconsin REALLY IS the 19th best program in college hockey right now, and F' it, Minnesota is #20." Then he passed out in a pool of his own vomit, as most hockey sports writers have been known to do on a late Sunday evening.

It's the only logical explanation.