LSSU Lakers

[Lakerblue]

Now its off to New York and Colgate.

Colgate swept Ferris in big Rapids this past weekend, although I couldn't tell you if that an indication of Colgate's strength or Ferris' weakness in this early part of the season. Colgate had a great year last year (I thought they should have been granted an NCAA spot ahead of overrated MSU and Notre Dame), winning the ECAC regular season title. The Raiders (not the "Red" Raiders anymore . . . thanks to PC silliness) are going to be a tough tough road opener opponent. But their tight small rink is obviously exactly the kind of dimensions LSSU would favor. And LSSU has a distinct size advantage. If they can catch Colgate, they could cause some damage.

Obviously, LSSU looked like world-beaters against Toronto (15-1 . . . ). This same Toronto team lost to Michigan State 7-2 the next night.

Good defense and great goaltending are always important on the road. Colgate must be fairly confident after sweeping Ferris -- so shutting down any offensive threats early is important.

[Proud2baLaker]

if my memory serves me correctly., willie only allowed two on the night, in the second stanza he allowed one, and was later replaced by matt, who allowed three relatively quick ones late in the game.

The Official Box score says Matt only allowed one and that Willie allowed 4. I thought Matt allowed more than one too though so I dont know if the box score is wrong or if I was mistaken

[sshablak]

Lakerblue...I don't know if you have a size advantage. You better look again. Besides, Speed Kills,you can't hit what you can't catch! Gate's rink is 200x85, standard size. Haven't seen you guys since 1990(Dowd,Weight etc years).
The Youpers, is that spelled right, are great fans and treated us to a great party after winning the NCAA's in Albany. If you guys need names of places to stay or where to go in Hamilton let me know. Can't wait for our home opener! Just looked, your rink is also 200x85.

[LakerMark]

Wow, what a game. It sure was fun to watch the Lakers rack up 15 goals against Toronto. I know it was an exhibition game, but it was fun.

Besides the score, it was great to see a mature Laker team who showed confidence in their passing and puck handling. Special teams is obviously going to be an important factor with the officials calling everything, and I think going 8-12 on the PP is a good sign. Obviously, we will face much stiffer opponents down the road, but success breeds success. One can only think that the line with McJannet, Nicholson and Cheeseman is going to be the strong scoring line, (since they accounted for 6 goals), and I would think that Osman will be on the line with Booras and Restoule.

And the all sophomore line (Rainville, Campbell & Derek R. Smith) looked very solid.

Defensively, I don't know that there's a stronger pairing than Scoran and Fauci throughout the league.

No doubt the opponents will get tougher, bigger and stronger. I'm looking forward to watching the boys rise to the occasion.

Should be a good Laker Hockey Show tonight.

[Proud2baLaker]

But their tight small rink is obviously exactly the kind of dimensions LSSU would favor.

sshablak...I think he was refering to the size of the arena itself not the acutal dimensions of the ice. Taffy usually only gets about 2000 people per game whereas other arenas in the CCHA can get considerably more. So the smaller number of people at Colgate will be something they are used to I guess.

[E. Gray]

Hi Laker fans,

I'll be traveling to the Sault this weekend and staying downtown. I had hoped to catch a "live" game, but see that Lake State will be away at Colgate instead.

This will be one of my last visits to the Sault area. My father died in July and the family cottage, a few miles east of Pickford, will soon be for sale. My dad loved the U.P. even though he was not a native Yooper, and his fondest dream was to own a cabin on the St. Mary's where he could watch the shipping traffic. He enjoyed that dream for nearly 15 years; and now, we hope to let someone else live such a dream.

I'm planning on visiting campus when I arrive on Thursday, and then will be "hanging out," after working at the cottage, on Friday and Saturday nights, wherever the game is likely to be broadcast (the Palace perhaps?). I don't follow college hockey as much as I used to, but would thoroughly enjoy meeting up with other Laker fans while in town.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Gray

[Lakerblue]

I was in error -- I thought Colgate's rink size was "egg-shaped" -- meaning tighter less-than-regulation corners. That is not true, I assume?

Size advantage would be in physical size of the players -- and certainly in their aggressive checking system. I suspect Colgate will indeed be a tough team for most college teams to skate with, so I continue to assert that solid defense and good goaltending will be the Lakers' saving grace this weekend.

Also, the Lakers must stay out of the box. Sometimes -- too often in college hockey -- when a big guy hits a little guy and the little guy goes down, even if its a clean hit, a penalty is called. The Lakers must keep those sticks down, don't try to hook or hold to keep up -- but rather work hard, keep position, cut down the passing lanes.

[Lakerblue]

http://www.sooeveningnews.com/articles/2004/10/11/sports/sports20.txt


Soo Evening News article . . .

Some good information in the second half of the report.

[Gotter]

I was in error -- I thought Colgate's rink size was "egg-shaped" -- meaning tighter less-than-regulation corners. That is not true, I assume?As far as I know, the rink has regulation corners.

This will be one of my last visits to the Sault area. My father died in July and the family cottage, a few miles east of Pickford, will soon be for sale. My dad loved the U.P. even though he was not a native Yooper, and his fondest dream was to own a cabin on the St. Mary's where he could watch the shipping traffic. He enjoyed that dream for nearly 15 years; and now, we hope to let someone else live such a dream.My condolences to you and your family on the passing of your father, Elizabeth. Your description of his love for the cabin on St. Mary's was touching.

[E. Gray]

Gotter, it will be difficult to say goodbye to it. My Dad graduated from MSU but wanted one of us kids to attend Lake State, just because he loved the Sault area so much. Hopefully some other avid boatnerd will continue the watch over the junction buoy at Mud Lake.

E. Gray

[Who_is_Lake_State?]

Well my predictions for the Laker's Season was wrong, they actually won a game. And by quite a margin. But they have made a serious error, they used up all of their goals in one game. Now what do they have left, oh thats right a bunch of losing!!! I feel really bad for Toronto seeing as they lost to Lake State, man they must really suck!! But in Torontos defense, it was an exhibition game, and who cares about exhibition games, they dont mean a thing!

Oh and about the rink being "egg-shaped" who cares the rink's size and layout, the Lakers will loose on whatever the rink shape is, unless they are playing a terrible team for exhibition at home, because we all know those 100 people that were at the game made the difference!!!

Go Michigan!!!!


WE ARE LAST PLACE..... I mean LAKE STATE!!!!

[Laker Hockey Girl2]

The Official Box score says Matt only allowed one and that Willie allowed 4. I thought Matt allowed more than one too though so I dont know if the box score is wrong or if I was mistaken


Talked with Matt today, he definitely did let in 3 in a row during the blue/white game, which is what most of us fans saw. I wonder what happened with the box score. Although, it really doesn't matter since it was just an exhibition game. Looking forward to hearing a good game this weekend. Let's hope the guys can keep up with the skills we saw during the game vs. Toronto!!

[eddo]

... and about the rink being "egg-shaped" who cares the rink's size and layout, the Lakers will loose on whatever the rink shape is...

d***. i was hoping we would tight on the rink this week.

and yeah our attendence is low.. but we all know that nothing will bring fans in like a loss to northeastern.. whoever they are.

[Lakerblue]

oh Eddo -- that shot was worth a thousand words. Thank you.

I was browsing the Colgate fan's thread, and I saw that some of the locals are a little concerned about the lack of physical play from the Radiers. Not worried, mind you, but it was mentioned. The Lakers are going to have to be very careful, because the NCAA penalty crack-down is going to favor the quick teams over the big teams. And although Colgate plays a less-physical game than the Lakers and the CCHA are used to facing -- being the more agressive physical team could land them in deep PIM trouble.

[Mogerfan]

That is a tough break to lose Fauci for two weeks. You hate to have people injured during pre season exibition games. Hopefully it is a minor injury and he is back for the BG series at the latest. Sure would be nice to have him back for UM though.

GO LAKERS!!!

[Lakerblue]

http://lssulakers.collegesports.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/101204aaa.html

A quicky-look at the upcoming series.

[LakerFan24]

Who is Lake State: Dude - who ****ed in your cornflakes man? This "Mine is bigger than yours" thing you are trying to flaunt here really doesn't fly with the rest of us Laker fans. Do you really have that much time on your hands that you actually went out and registered yourself just to bash LSSU? Is that really all you have to talk about? UM has some great stuff going on down there in Ann Arbor - I mean that Northeastern game was a GREAT start to the season! So why don't you go find some Whimperines of your own and jabber on about how great you are and how everyone else is inferior to you, and we can all move on with our happy little lives, ok? Whatever made you so bitter towards LSSU anyways? Maybe you are one of the players from the Borek era that got tossed aside? Don't know, don't care. I will say that any future posts on this board will most likely be ignored by the regulars, so you're wasting your time.

As for the team, it was GREAT to see so many goals wracked up last Friday, and that Cheesman was wearing the C. The guys looked great, and I hope they carry it into this weekend and come out with a victory or two to prove that they are the real deal.

But what is the deal with Reid being thrown off the team, and now being put back on the team?? I was quite surprised to read this in the Evening News article linked futher down by Lakerblue. I am very surprised that Frank changed his mind on this one.

GO LAKERS BEAT COLGATE!
FULL STEAM AHEAD

[Lakerblue]

RE: Reid.

I'm glad he changed his mind. Don't know why, don't know how, but I suspect (just guessing) that Frank moved quickly and decisively on the issue of a drunken brawl . . . then waited until all the facts came in, waited until the situation could be sorted out, and revisited the issue.

Reid's a good kid, and hard worker. He made a mistake that I dare say he won't make again.

You know, this situation of Reid being readmitted to the team tells me something. Maybe I'm grasping at straws here, but the whole "feeling" of this year's team is different. The team appears tighter, more unified. The work ethic is now built and engrained into the upperclassmen. Maybe Frank was not so sure he wanted to be so quick to cut a player as he has been in the past . . . which tells me he is closer now than ever before to having the team he feels can do the job.

Time will tell . . .

[eddo]

Reid is my neighbor, and the incident actually happened in my living room, while i was home for the weekend.

Frank came by on the monday after, to ask questions about what happened over the weekend, and to try and figure out who really was to blame for the whole situation.

i talked to reid about it a week or so after it happened. He said that he was still doing conditioning and working out, and skating on his own time. He also said that frank would let him play, so long as he didn't have to serve any time for the charges. Since he got off on probation, he was allowed back on the team.

I think that frank figured that ryan wasn't instigating anything, but didn't want him to be practicing with the team, and building that on ice chemistry with them if we wouldn't be able to play. Its a lot easier to play without someone the whole time, than to learn to rely on them and have them disappear.

Since ryan only got probation, and would be able to play, frank took him back.

i think that is frank truely believed that ryan had instigated something, and he desrved a harsh punishment, he would have cut him for good.

just my two cents on the issue, tho

[Lakerblue]

Now THAT is quality insider information.

Thanks Eddo.