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WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conference

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  • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

    Originally posted by Lost_Husky View Post
    Oh yes, we talk SO much about the great careers of Brett Olsen, David Johnstone, Jordan Baker, and Ryan Furne with Josh Robinson in net. In fairness he did have the Blake and Tanner class coming in. (From what I heard even a trained money could have landed Blake and Tanner at MTU as they had strong ties to MTU.)

    Compare that to Chris Conner, Colin Murphy, Brett Engelhardt,... with Cam Ellsworth in net.

    Just because most of us don't like Marv, current coach of the skunk bears, doesn't mean we can deny the job he did at Tech.

    Joe walked into a much better situation than both. Granted Beef left a hole in net, the on ice leaders left, had several "no touchy no touchy" players, several holes on D, and he had to clean up the recruit list, but that is not that bad. Overall we had a good team and solid recruits and were in a much better position than we had been at in years. Joe and staff did a hell of a job. I give them a lot of credit.
    Its nice to discount recruits, but a trained monkey could have gotten Dwight Helminen to come to MTU and yet Watters failed to do that...so there is still plenty of value in getting commitments from players they were supposed. Regardless of what you think of Russell as a coach, the team he left for Mel was ready to succeed, Mel could not have asked for a better situation to walk into especially considering where the team had been recently. It was a decent roster with 3 great incoming forwards in Johnstone, Kero and Pietila, plus Khaira committed for the following year (by Russell).
    Michigan Tech Legend, Founder of Mitch's Misfits, Co-Founder of Tech Hockey Guide, and Creator/Host of the Chasing MacNaughton Podcast covering MTU Hockey and the WCHA.

    Sports Allegiance: NFL: GB MLB: MIL NHL: MIN CB: UW CF: UW CH: MTU FIFA: USA MLS: MIN EPL: Everton

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    • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

      Originally posted by DrunkTrainPolka View Post
      based on what i know about the PWR and am learning, there seems to me that you could run some monte carlo type simulations and figure out what the best opportunity is... even if that means within the conference.

      while 'a win' really solves the problem, there may be some strategy to be be had via some kind of mathematical model... hmmm... me like!
      It's something I might tackle given some time, but time is precious right now.

      GFM
      Geof F. Morris
      UAH BSE MAE 2002
      UAHHockey.com

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      • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

        Originally posted by Shirtless Guy View Post
        Its nice to discount recruits, but a trained monkey could have gotten Dwight Helminen to come to MTU and yet Watters failed to do that...so there is still plenty of value in getting commitments from players they were supposed. Regardless of what you think of Russell as a coach, the team he left for Mel was ready to succeed, Mel could not have asked for a better situation to walk into especially considering where the team had been recently. It was a decent roster with 3 great incoming forwards in Johnstone, Kero and Pietila, plus Khaira committed for the following year (by Russell).
        What happened that all of a sudden Russell had such a good class to hand over to Mel?

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        • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

          Originally posted by giwan View Post
          What happened that all of a sudden Russell had such a good class to hand over to Mel?
          I would like to think it was the removal of the 1970s color scheme from the rink.
          Russell recruited the talent AND ripped the seats out with his own two hands.
          He was a very hands on coach for Tech, and pretty handy with a socket wrench as well.
          Ryan

          Preserving Michigan Tech's Hockey History
          https://www.johnsonsjerseys.net
          Originally posted by geezer
          Tech has the best of everything, even the best jersey nerd.
          Originally posted by manurespreader
          ...I really enjoyed listening to Ryan Johnson. He sounded intelligent.

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          • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

            Originally posted by giwan View Post
            What happened that all of a sudden Russell had such a good class to hand over to Mel?
            Russell struggled to recruit depth and develop players. He never really struggled to recruit skilled players.
            Michigan Tech Legend, Founder of Mitch's Misfits, Co-Founder of Tech Hockey Guide, and Creator/Host of the Chasing MacNaughton Podcast covering MTU Hockey and the WCHA.

            Sports Allegiance: NFL: GB MLB: MIL NHL: MIN CB: UW CF: UW CH: MTU FIFA: USA MLS: MIN EPL: Everton

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            • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

              Originally posted by Lost_Husky View Post
              Oh yes, we talk SO much about the great careers of Brett Olsen, David Johnstone, Jordan Baker, and Ryan Furne with Josh Robinson in net. In fairness he did have the Blake and Tanner class coming in. (From what I heard even a trained money could have landed Blake and Tanner at MTU as they had strong ties to MTU.)

              Compare that to Chris Conner, Colin Murphy, Brett Engelhardt,... with Cam Ellsworth in net.

              Just because most of us don't like Marv, current coach of the skunk bears, doesn't mean we can deny the job he did at Tech.

              Joe walked into a much better situation than both. Granted Beef left a hole in net, the on ice leaders left, had several "no touchy no touchy" players, several holes on D, and he had to clean up the recruit list, but that is not that bad. Overall we had a good team and solid recruits and were in a much better position than we had been at in years. Joe and staff did a hell of a job. I give them a lot of credit.
              The core of the team that finally broke through, hit #1 in the polls, got to the NCAAs, was absolutely put together by Jamie Russell. Nearly all of the key players were Russell players/recruits. To ignore, or discount that shows how ignorant you are on the subject.
              Having a clear conscience just means you have a bad memory or you had a boring weekend.

              RIP - Kirby

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              • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

                Originally posted by JohnsonsJerseys View Post
                I would like to think it was the removal of the 1970s color scheme from the rink.
                Russell recruited the talent AND ripped the seats out with his own two hands.
                He was a very hands on coach for Tech, and pretty handy with a socket wrench as well.
                Ryan
                Really is a great barn isn't it

                Again any updates going on with or around the rink? Besides the football stadium?
                Last edited by giwan; 06-07-2018, 03:34 PM.

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                • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

                  Originally posted by Shirtless Guy View Post
                  Russell struggled to recruit depth and develop players. He never really struggled to recruit skilled players.
                  That's what I thought, good to get confirmation. Russell played a much more defensive style.

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                  • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

                    Originally posted by giwan View Post
                    That's what I thought, good to get confirmation. Russell played a much more defensive style.
                    At the end, the players didn't like Russell and wouldn't play hard for him. bottom line. Hard to win games that way.
                    MTU: Three time NCAA champions.

                    It never get's easier, you just go faster. -Greg Lemond

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                    • Originally posted by manurespreader View Post
                      At the end, the players didn't like Russell and wouldn't play hard for him. bottom line. Hard to win games that way.
                      He also had a team with a ton of injuries to some of its best players. It took Mel until his 4th year to have a winning season, about the time the new recruiting budget began to pay dividends. Not many could have won on a consistent basis with what Russell (or Sertich, Watters, Brown, Mancini or Boxer) had to work with.
                      Last edited by davyd83; 06-08-2018, 10:45 AM.
                      "The use of common sense and logic will not be tolerated and may result in fine and/or suspension."- Western Professional Hockey League By-laws. 1999-2000.

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                      • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

                        Originally posted by bigblue_dl View Post
                        The core of the team that finally broke through, hit #1 in the polls, got to the NCAAs, was absolutely put together by Jamie Russell. Nearly all of the key players were Russell players/recruits. To ignore, or discount that shows how ignorant you are on the subject.
                        IMO they walked into similar situations. Merv "looks" like he walked into a better situation because #1 players stayed, #2 they improved, #3 they earned their accolades (#1 in the polls, NCAA birth) in the nWCHA. I like the nWCHA, but one has to recognize the nWCHA is a step down in strength of schedule.

                        Yes Mel was able to produce a 5th place finish in the oWCHA and earned coach of the year. IMO, he had to actually coach to make that happen.

                        Two perception things, #1 Russel walked into a Tech team that was showing some signs of life, relative. Sertich retired. He wasn't fired or resigned. Tech wasn't in last place in the WCHA. #2 As an external fan who didn't live on message boards, that last year with Russell and the problematic coaching search, felt like the life was sucked out of the program. Again, it is a perception thing.

                        The point, no matter how good the situation could or could not appear, work has to be done in order to succeed.
                        Last edited by Lost_Husky; 06-08-2018, 11:29 AM.

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                        • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

                          Originally posted by davyd83 View Post
                          He also had a team with a ton of injuries to some of its best players. It took Mel until his 4th year to have a winning season, about the time the new recruiting budget began to pay dividends. Not many could have won on a consistent basis with what Russell (or Sertich, Watters, Brown, Mancini or Boxer) had to work with.
                          Excuses.
                          "The top three worst things I've seen in hockey? The invention of the trap. The invention of the morning skate. And the invention of the extremely ugly uniform."

                          —Brett Hull

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                          • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

                            Originally posted by Shirtless Guy View Post
                            that is just plain false
                            Russell left Marc a team that was ready to succeed from day one. Me couldn’t really have asked for a bette situation to take over, especially compared to Joe.

                            I wouldn't call taking over a team who won, 6, 5, and 4 games the 3 seasons prior to his arrival a "better" situation. Tech was arguably the worst program in D1 hockey when Mel took over.
                            "The top three worst things I've seen in hockey? The invention of the trap. The invention of the morning skate. And the invention of the extremely ugly uniform."

                            —Brett Hull

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                            • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

                              ****uggggghhhhh****

                              Russell had potential, but due to circumstances he flamed out. Can we just agree on that?

                              Mel had his share of help, but did drag the program out of the cellar and into a level of respectability not seen since MacInnes.

                              Joe did his best after the chaos of last summer, and the mid-season struggles. I won't say he set a new bar for expectations, but he definitely exceeded them for a first-year coach.

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                              • Re: WCHA 2018 Off-Season: Nobody's Walking Out On This Old-Fashioned Hockey Conferenc

                                http://www.wcha.com/men/pres1718/201806/jun11flo.php

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