LSSU Lakers

[Lakerblue]

I suspect the Wings will not be hurting too much for too long. And I don't expect the Wings to bottom-out like the Lakers have.

The Lakers -- because of school size, location, and reputation -- could not afford a few down years. Once the upper-classmen opted to leave rather than play for Borek, the program was decapitated. The team is just now, this upcoming season, fielding a large junior class (and still a scant amount of seniors). The recruiting under Borek was either very good but with terrible coaching, or very average with less-than-great coaching. The result was, as we know, a program lacking players of either guts or substantial ability. Anzalone, as we know, basically didn't like anything he saw and dumped -- or chased off -- a large portion of the soon-to-be upperclassmen, in essance decapitating the team again for the second time in five years. Perhaps a rash mistake because the team really struggled the past few years. Now Frank's line-up and roster are taking shape, and his game-plan appears to be taking root. Now the important key element to Anzlone Laker Hockey -- experience -- will start to unfold. We talk so often about the Lakers of old having two slow years, and then suddenly popping in 10-15-20 goals. That sort of experience and upper-classmen leadership will allow the team to start climbing the ladder -- regardless of percieved talent or lack thereof.

The Wings, in contrast, are simply able to reload. I doubt we'll see any significant change to the NHL-NHLPA structure -- instead i expect a Pirique (sp?) victory for the fans on the same level as baseball. Some inequities will be addressed, but the basic money structure will change little. And winning teams and well-run organizations find ways to win, regardless of the structure of the league. Ergo, see the Yankees, the LA Lakers, the Denver Broncos . . . they don't win it all every year, but every year they are in the hunt. Players come and go,and yet these teams still manage to retain their stars, to get the best young talent, the best free agents, the best role-players, the best scouts . . .

The Wings have been hockey's best run organization since Jimmy D took over the helm. Jimmy D is still running the team (Holland still must pass all contracts through Jimmy D for final approval). Can they win with Lewis? I don;t know -- Lewis seems more akin to Bryan Murray than Scotty Bowman, and that doesn't bode well. But they will be running for the Cup again next year.

I expect the Wings will win another Cup within the next two years. I equally expect the Lakers to be climbing faster than we might have expected, based upon experience alone.

[Mogerfan]

Originally posted by Lakerblue
The recruiting under Borek was either very good but with terrible coaching, or very average with less-than-great coaching. The result was, as we know, a program lacking players of either guts or substantial ability.

I was talking with a guy this weekend who played for Borek at Colby. He said Borek was a phenomenal recruiter. Year after year the team seemed to be led by freshman. Then when they got to be upper classmen, new guys would come in and outplay them.

To me that sounds like a coaching issue. Sure, it's great to have some good freshman, but if your team is led year after year by young guys, then its probably because players aren't getting any better once they are there. Who knows? The guy I was talking to quit the team as a Jr because all the playing time was going to freshman, so maybe he was just resentful of that.

[Laker Hockey]

Lakerblue, that is the best post about the state of Laker Hockey that I have seen since the old board.

I do have to disagree with you on the future of the NHL collective bargaining agreement. I think there is a good chance that there is going to be a long lockout. Hopefully the mistake that baseball made with their joke of a salary tax won’t be copied by the NHL. The salary structure has killed baseball in a large percentage of the country. A hard cap might be the best thing for the NHL, even it hurts the Red Wings. But the Wings will still find ways to win regardless.

[Lakerblue]

Slight deviation from LSSU hockey (sorry, slow work day).

I made my comments about the NHL-NHLPA situation because I really think the owners are playing a game to wrestle some control from the Union -- much like baseball was able to get the Union to budge slowly toward salary tax and increased (although laughably minimal) profit sharing. Why do I think this?

Because Gary Bettman still has a job, and there are no signs he is under any pressure from the ownership.

If the owners are losing money so horribly -- "bleeding money like a sliced pig" is how one well-spoken owner put it; if the league salary and free agent structure is so out-of-whack; and if the TV contracts are such a looming disaster -- if all of this is true as the owners say, then why is the man in charge of the whole operation not under any accute heat?

What CEO of any major corporation can oversee his chief operating units (in this case the teams) allegedly lose millions per year, every year -- and not be called into question?

The answer, of course in my mind, is that the Owners are not losing money, but rather they are not making as much as they would like. Sound familiar? Sound like Baseball a few years ago? So they put limits on free-agency, force bigger teams to pay a tax, bascially rearranging the furniture. But with one important proviso: they got the Union to budge, ever so slightly.

I seriously doubt there will be a protracted stoppage unless both sides are as enormously stupid as some say. I could be wrong, but think the financial state of hockey is not anywhere as serious as we are being led to believe.

[jnacc]

Originally posted by Lakerblue
Slight deviation from LSSU hockey (sorry, slow work day).

I made my comments about the NHL-NHLPA situation because I really think the owners are playing a game to wrestle some control from the Union -- much like baseball was able to get the Union to budge slowly toward salary tax and increased (although laughably minimal) profit sharing. Why do I think this?

Because Gary Bettman still has a job, and there are no signs he is under any pressure from the ownership.

If the owners are losing money so horribly -- "bleeding money like a sliced pig" is how one well-spoken owner put it; if the league salary and free agent structure is so out-of-whack; and if the TV contracts are such a looming disaster -- if all of this is true as the owners say, then why is the man in charge of the whole operation not under any accute heat?

What CEO of any major corporation can oversee his chief operating units (in this case the teams) allegedly lose millions per year, every year -- and not be called into question?

The answer, of course in my mind, is that the Owners are not losing money, but rather they are not making as much as they would like. Sound familiar? Sound like Baseball a few years ago? So they put limits on free-agency, force bigger teams to pay a tax, bascially rearranging the furniture. But with one important proviso: they got the Union to budge, ever so slightly.

I seriously doubt there will be a protracted stoppage unless both sides are as enormously stupid as some say. I could be wrong, but think the financial state of hockey is not anywhere as serious as we are being led to believe.

I wish that it was exactly as you said but unfortunatly I fear it is as the owners are making it out to be. Two teams have already emerged from creditor protection, twelve teams are claiming that they are hanging by a thread and big pocketed owners like Pete Karmonos are saying that if there is no salary cap he is gone. The value of NHL franchises have plumeted, attendance is at best stagnant in the best of places and down in the rest of places while national T.V. rating have fallen through the floor. Latest news is that ESPN will carry NHL games next year but less of them and only on their ESPN 2 station.

My money is on a protracted lockout and a new NHL emerging with a cap and a vastly reduced payroll.

[Mogerfan]

Well, look's like we've exhausted all everyone knows about next years recruits, so what the heck, I'll talk about the 2005 freshman class.

Reading the Heisenberg site, LSSU is one of only three CCHA teams that doesn't already have three or four players lined up for 2005. I wonder if they are having trouble recruiting, if they have a different strategy, or if they are just being more tight lipped about perspective recruits than other schools. I guess I am more suprised that so many schools already have that many players lined up than I am suprised that the Lakers don't, so I'm not concerned, just curious.

On a non-Laker note. Jnacc posted on another thread that they are replacing the Soo Memorial Gardens in Soo Ontario. That's kind of a shame. I remember my high-school sweetie and I sneaking in there in the second period of the '93 Memorial Cup final game against Peterborough. What a great place to watch a game! (except that you usually have a sore butt after because of the narrow benches). Anyway, I'd highly encourage anyone in the Soo to get over and see a Greyhound game at the Gardens before they replace it.

GO LAKERS!!!

(GO HOUNDS!)

[Bill]

Could be that the majority of the recruits you see at the 2005 site are "verbal" commitments to their respective schools. I do think the Lakers are being tight lipped about the players they are trying to recruit, especially until they actually "sign them" and not just have a verbal committment. I also think the Lakers try to find diamonds in the rough, and these aren't the type of guys that someone else gets a commitment from early on.

[Mogerfan]

Originally posted by Bill
I also think the Lakers try to find diamonds in the rough, and these aren't the type of guys that someone else gets a commitment from early on.

Yeah, I was thinking that the kind of guys Frank looks for probably aren't going to attract a lot of attention early in the recruiting process.

I got my "game worn" Laker jersery in the mail yesterday. I called the school and ordered by mail when I saw they were having a sale for old equipment. It's AWESOME, worth every penny. It is a #21 jersey with "Lane" on the back. I can't say I remember him very well, but I think I've seen him play, so he must have been there around 96-98 before I left the Soo (for the second time).

[NMU DOC]

Originally posted by Lakerblue
I suspect the Wings will not be hurting too much for too long. And I don't expect the Wings to bottom-out like the Lakers have.

The Lakers -- because of school size, location, and reputation -- could not afford a few down years. Once the upper-classmen opted to leave rather than play for Borek, the program was decapitated. The team is just now, this upcoming season, fielding a large junior class (and still a scant amount of seniors). The recruiting under Borek was either very good but with terrible coaching, or very average with less-than-great coaching. The result was, as we know, a program lacking players of either guts or substantial ability. Anzalone, as we know, basically didn't like anything he saw and dumped -- or chased off -- a large portion of the soon-to-be upperclassmen, in essance decapitating the team again for the second time in five years. Perhaps a rash mistake because the team really struggled the past few years. Now Frank's line-up and roster are taking shape, and his game-plan appears to be taking root. Now the important key element to Anzlone Laker Hockey -- experience -- will start to unfold. We talk so often about the Lakers of old having two slow years, and then suddenly popping in 10-15-20 goals. That sort of experience and upper-classmen leadership will allow the team to start climbing the ladder -- regardless of percieved talent or lack thereof.

The Wings, in contrast, are simply able to reload. I doubt we'll see any significant change to the NHL-NHLPA structure -- instead i expect a Pirique (sp?) victory for the fans on the same level as baseball. Some inequities will be addressed, but the basic money structure will change little. And winning teams and well-run organizations find ways to win, regardless of the structure of the league. Ergo, see the Yankees, the LA Lakers, the Denver Broncos . . . they don't win it all every year, but every year they are in the hunt. Players come and go,and yet these teams still manage to retain their stars, to get the best young talent, the best free agents, the best role-players, the best scouts . . .

The Wings have been hockey's best run organization since Jimmy D took over the helm. Jimmy D is still running the team (Holland still must pass all contracts through Jimmy D for final approval). Can they win with Lewis? I don;t know -- Lewis seems more akin to Bryan Murray than Scotty Bowman, and that doesn't bode well. But they will be running for the Cup again next year.

I expect the Wings will win another Cup within the next two years. I equally expect the Lakers to be climbing faster than we might have expected, based upon experience alone.


So well put!

In a couple years, we'll have to hang out at the Joe and watch our Lakers come out of the woodshed and send Michigan packing, just like old days.

Get old band geeks such as myself and Moger... (bar keep, pass me another rum and coke) and USCHO posters It'll be grand.:cool:

Pass the beer and pretzels and for God sakes... WHERE ARE ALL THE FRESHMEN GIRLS????

[Laker Hockey]

Originally posted by Mogerfan
Yeah, I was thinking that the kind of guys Frank looks for probably aren't going to attract a lot of attention early in the recruiting process.

I got my "game worn" Laker jersery in the mail yesterday. I called the school and ordered by mail when I saw they were having a sale for old equipment. It's AWSOME, worth every penny. It is a #21 jersey with "Lane" on the back. I can't say I remember him very well, but I think I've seen him play, so he must have been there around 96-98 before I left the Soo (for the second time).

Mitch Lane


GP G A PTS PIM
1992-93 Michigan Tech 32 4 2 6 8
1993-94 Michigan Tech 40 7 4 11 36
1995-96 LSSU 32 7 8 15 16
1996-97 LSSU 36 9 4 13 32

I got the old jersey of a friend that was on the team when I was at Lake State. I'm planning to frame it and put it next to the bar in my basement.

[Mogerfan]

Originally posted by Laker Hockey
Mitch Lane
GP G A PTS PIM
1992-93 Michigan Tech 32 4 2 6 8
1993-94 Michigan Tech 40 7 4 11 36
1995-96 LSSU 32 7 8 15 16
1996-97 LSSU 36 9 4 13 32



Cool thanks!
I'm glad to see he was a transfer "in." I thought he was only there a few years, and was afraid that he was one of those who transfered "out."



Doc, I was going to protest you lumping me in with the band geeks simply because I was using my marginal musical ability to get into Laker games for free. Then I remembered that at the time I was:
A. A college graduate
B. Living at home

So yeah, band geek probably works.........

[sm3pk]

Did the lakers sign a fifth recruit for next season?

[Bill]

Jeff Oke, a winger from Bowmanville (OPJHL), was the fifth guy to sign. I still wouldn't be surprised to see them sign one more guy before the season starts, if they can find someone else that interests them.

[sm3pk]

I have noticed that a couple of the players coming in our younger then whats been recruited in the past for ages of the players.

[NMU DOC]

Originally posted by Mogerfan

Doc, I was going to protest you lumping me in with the band geeks simply because I was using my marginal musical ability to get into Laker games for free. Then I remembered that at the time I was:
A. A college graduate
B. Living at home

So yeah, band geek probably works.........


Uhhh.
We all used our marginal musical abilities to get in for free!:D

Well, except me, of course.

And besides, who other than you would I have had to mix drinks for me in your trumpet case????

Besides...
If it were not for being a "band geek," do you think the incident with the women's basketball team would have taken place?



These are the things from which legends are born, my friend.

Remember...

"Johnny always says that you can just drink so much, and screw so much.":eek:

[Bill]

Originally posted by sm3pk
I have noticed that a couple of the players coming in our younger then whats been recruited in the past for ages of the players.

Yah, I've noticed that too. They are really beating the bushes. They must see enough in these guys to think they have a chance at really helping the team once they get a season or two under their belts.

[sm3pk]

Bill,you and I know Anzalone and we both know he doesnt recruit just to recruit and there has to be something he sees and knows to draft these guys. Thats why Crawford kept saying at the end of the season that the new guys coming in may not be the top of the lot but all the same,they are very good players that have been recruited for Lake State.

[Mogerfan]

It's good to see another Laker with a Stanley Cup ring. Even if he is a back up goalie.

Probably no chance of it showing up in the Soo this time though. I remember walking into the bar (I think it was called "The Rock and Roll Cafe" or something at the time) on the corner of Ashmun and Spruce and the bouncer said, "Hey come on in , We've got the Stanely Cup downstairs!" We didn't believe it, but sure enough, there it was with Paul Boyer when we got downstairs.

That ruled.

[Bill]

Unfortunately for the Lakers, John Grahame was one of the talented players that chose to leave school early during the first couple of Borek years, probably seeing where the program was heading.

[Mogerfan]

wow, I know it must be the off season when I gt excited about a new article on the Lake State website about a former Laker playing in a roller hockey tournament........


http://lssulakers.collegesports.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/060904aaa.html


Anyone know what the deal is on the LSSU main site with the pictures of the two guys suited up in Sault Steele football uniforms? I thought that was odd.