Best Moments of 2007-2008

Ah yes... the misery that is offseason. It continues on. So I thought I would reminisce on the awesome moments of the past season. Here are my picks for the best games of the season.

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WHAT: Minnesota State Mavericks @ Home
WHEN: 19-20 October 2007
WHY: This marked our first sweep of the season, and our ONLY sweep against a WCHA team. This game put our record at 3-1 for the season, making it look very promising.

It isn't all too often when Husky fans are rewarded with a sweep... And this was one of those rare moments... making it worthy of being on this list.

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WHAT: Michigan Tech Huskies @ Wisconsin Badgers
WHEN: Friday 2 November 2007
WHY: Eh? Why not! It's always great to get a win in the Kohl Center. This one was especially sweet. You see, we came out playing like absolute garbage. We were getting outshot pretty badly and we weren't playing like we should've been.

About an hour away in the children's hospital in Milwaukee, Coach Russell's son, Ben, lay very ill, listening to the game on the radio. Besides health, Ben is hoping that his father's team can get a win for him against the Badgers.

Wisconsin scores a goal and things seem out of control. If Michigan Tech doesn't change the way they play, the game could be over. Here's where I come and save the day.

I made three large signs that say "WIN IT FOR BEN." I made three because I knew the Kohl Center staff would try to take them away. So I am sitting behind Connelly, UW's goaltender. I hold one of my signs up and I KNOW the guys can see it. They can read it. Starting on the next play, it seemed like a different team to me. They completely took over the game and made it theirs. They scored an extra attacker and power play goal before the first period's end (both courtesy of Captain Kerr). Early in the 2nd, Tech strikes again. Geoff Kinrade skates around a bunch of guys in red with a feed from Michael-Lee Teslak and puts yet another away on a 4-on-3.

By this time, the Kohl Center staff was going crazy trying to take away my signs. They managed to get one, but that was it.

I should also mention that I turned down a FREE trip to Vegas AND a free show at Michigan Tech of one of my favorite bands, Mustard Plug. Was it worth it though? Probably not. Oh well. :)

The final of this game was 4-2, with a W in the win column of the Huskies.

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WHAT: Michigan Tech Huskies @ Minnesota Golden Gophers
WHEN: Friday 30 November 2007
WHY: An OT win over the Gophers IN the Mariucci. Need I really say more than that? No, but you know I'm going to.

This game was certainly something special. After one period, we were down 2-0. Boosh's all-time favorite, Ryan Flynn scored a goal. It was a real bummer.

The second period came around though and Michigan Tech came out firing. We outshot the Gophers 15-6 that period... and cut their lead in half.

With less than 6 minutes left in regulation, freshman Deron Cousens scored his first collegiate goal. And what a great time it came at! That goal was enough to push this one into OT.

In the extra session, Tech had control of the puck. Gagne was at the blueline, going to shoot it into the zone. He aimed it toward Kangas. Clearly, it was not meant to be a shot. When the puck left his stick, NO ONE in the building thought anything of it. This is including Alex Gagne.

The person in the building that REALLY wasn't thinking anything about it was Alex Kangas. Somehow he just let the puck go right past him and into the net. Victory for the Huskies.

It was definitely a crappy goal, but I'll take it. Whether it was a good goal or a crappy goal like that one in OT, the feeling is pretty identical. OT victories in the Mooch are always great.

And as a side note, I surrendered my FRONT AND CENTER ticket to They Might Be Giants in Houghton to make this series. Was that worth it? BARELY. But only because TMBG are soon coming to the Cities and I'll have another chance to see them. :)

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WHAT: Michigan Tech Huskies @ North Dakota Fighting Sioux
WHEN: Saturday 15 March 2008, First Round WCHA Playoffs, Game 2
WHY: What an absolute roller coaster that series was! On Friday, we didn't manage one stinkin' shot on goal during the first period. After that, we cheered for every shot on goal we had. At least we had something to cheer about since we didn't score a goal on Friday.

Now Saturday...! As usual, the game starts out all UND. After two periods, Michigan Tech finds them going into the last period with a two goal deficit of what could and probably will be their last game of the 2007-2008 season.

Begin third period. Things were started off right. Less than a minute and a half in, the Huskies score a PPG. Tech plays hard in the last period. But again, they find themselves in trouble. There's less than a minute left in the game, they're on the penalty kill, and the faceoff is in their defensive zone. This faceoff could be their last of the season.

The Sioux fans bring out their keys. There are keys ringing EVERYWHERE throughout the Ralph... a common tradition when the Sioux are going to sweep. *jingle jingle jingle*

Here's where crazy stuff starts happening. Tech wins the faceoff. Shorthanded, they take the puck down into the offensive end. The seconds are ticking down... 10...9... Somehow, and I still to this day do now know how... Shelast gets the puck past Lammy... with a mere 5.5 seconds left in what should've been the rest of their season.

The game was tied. With 5.5 seconds left, there was another period of hockey on the way. The keys were no where to be seen or heard.

When that puck crossed the goal line, it was the most amazing feeling. My team's hockey season was allowed to carry on for just a bit longer. Sigh. And apparently I was crying tears of joy or something. Apparently it was on the jumbotron and apparently it was broadcast across Grand Forks and wherever else the Fighting Sioux Sports Network comes in. Lovely.

So the extra session starts. And less than two minutes later... the extra session ends. I can't even remember the play that led up to the OT goal. I can't even remember the OT goal itself. But we won. Michigan Tech had come back to score 3 unanswered to win in Grand Forks and extend their hockey season for at least one more day.

Sadly, the next day didn't bring us the results we had hoped for... but we were SO CLOSE. After the loss, it was fun leaving Grand Forks around midnight and driving straight to Houghton... missing all Monday classes. Ah, good times.

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WHAT: Michigan Tech Huskies vs. Michigan State Spartans
WHEN: Friday 28 December 2007 at the GLI
WHY: You'd think the that the first win in some eight or so years would be the entire reason why. Well, it's not. Reason enough, yes, but there is more. Being that this is MY blog and I hate Michigan State with a passion... This is the perfect #1 moment from last season.

The Huskies played a COMPLETE game. The power play was 100% (yay for 1 out of 1!). Goaltending was solid... and the results were everything I have always hoped for.

This was the win that felt the best. Tech got to be in the championship game for the first time in YEARS. Not only that, MSU was forced to play in the consolation game the next night, where they were dominated by a very good Providence College team.

And Tech's championship game... Probably our best game of the season. We lost it by an inch to the right, unfortunately... but it was still a fantastic game.

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And there you have it... the moments from the past season that I regard as the best. As always, your comments are welcome and encouraged.

Hell, why not.

Yes, I know I haven't updated in a while. Being offseason and all, there's obviously not much to say. I'll just leave you with one thought:

It's Out...

Michigan Tech Huskies 08-09 Schedule


What I Like About This Schedule

*The National Development Team will come to town for an exhibition game in October. I like this mostly because it is something new.

*North Dakota at the GLI - this is no doubt going to be the best/toughest holiday tournament in the country this season.

*CC for Carnival - we've done well against them lately, but mostly I'm just happy they scheduled someone different.

*Only two games against SCSU, and they won't be in our barn, so I won't have to watch us extend that losing streak.


What I Don't Like About This Schedule

*Sans the exhibition game against a TBD Canadian school, we start the season on the road. Then, we go to Colorado to open up WCHA play. At high altitude. On Olympic ice. Boo.

*We don't get back-to-back home weekends until the end of the season - even then, they are separated by a weekend in-between.

*They scheduled the road series against Wisconsin and Minnesota on back-to-back weekends. I was planning to make both. Yikes.

*Duluth the weekend before finals. Curse you, whoever scheduled that.

MAKE IT COUNT

Wow, yet another rollercoaster of a game. But this time, the rollercoaster went up. And this time, that's where it stayed.

BOX SCORE

With 10 seconds left in regulation, I thought that there were 10 seconds left in my fifth and final season of MTU hockey as a student. With 5.5 seconds left and as I watched the goal slowly cross the goal line... ... ... I can't even finish that sentence. I don't even know what to say.

I think with this entry, I'm just going to tell it like it is.

After that first goal, I figured it would be the same old, same old story like most times we play UND... especially in the Ralph. The first goal was a complete disappointment. There's no question that Michael-Lee should have had that one. But feces happens sometimes.

Despite being down 1-0 early (as usual), Michigan Tech was dominating play. UND started to take over. This is yet another common occurrence with this Huskies team: no matter how good they're dominating, when they don't get results, the other team just starts taking over.

The Sioux took what was once ours, the first period, and made it theirs.

The second period was fairly even, but again, the Sioux were able to capitalize and the Huskies were not. UND's Brad Miller had one hell of a game. I'm not sure where that came from, as he rarely does anything on most nights.

Tech scored early in the third on a powerplay goal. It was a KKK goal... Kerr from Kinrade and Kattelus.

As the clock was winding down, I think reality was starting to set in. IF THEY DON'T WIN, THEY ARE DONE.

With less than two minutes to go, Tech was called for a penalty. This is the point where many teams wave the white flag and just bend over for the other team. However, following that penalty, from puck drop until the end of regulation, they played with the most determination I've seen from this team all season long. They immediately took control of the puck and played Keep Away with the Sioux. The Huskies took the puck down the ice. Michael-Lee Teslak raced to the bench so an extra Husky skater could take the ice. With about 10 seconds left, the puck was in the corner near the Sioux net. I fully expected the worse... no goal. However, what happened next is the reason why I am a hockey fan. Those miracles, those unlikely turn of events... Somehow, the puck made its way to the front of the Sioux net. It sat in the crease for what seemed like an eternity until assistant captain Tyler Shelast poked it past the goal line.

We were supposed to be 5.5 seconds from the end of our season. Six seniors were to be on the ice in their Husky jerseys for the last time. However, they weren't ready to be done.

The feelings felt when the tying goal happened are in no way describable. But like I said, things like that are a huge reason why I am a hockey fan--a Michigan Tech Hockey fan.

On a side note, I'd just like to call attention to a post in the SiouxSports forum by northfieldsioux22. CLICK HERE and check out post 172. Good job, dude. Way to jump the gun there. :)

In the overtime period, the Sioux get called for an early penalty. Tech once again takes control of the situation. It didn't take long for them to do what they needed to do. Shelast puts away his second of the game, along with the help of Kinrade and Rouleau.

This series is NOT over yet!

Congratulations to Shirtless Guy for getting to take his shirt off in yet another arena. And how that girl in the picture is smiling and not puking is beyond me...

Sunday night either marks the beginning or the end. If Michigan Tech can play with that determination and urgency, they may be able to join their band at the Final Five. Otherwise, they will sit back as their bands racks up more Final Five experience than they have. The choice is theirs.

I would like to thank the Sioux fans for their hospitality, as always; especially those who kept asking us during the game how it felt to be watching our last game of the season. To those people, I'd like to say: "AWESOME! Thanks." Sometimes, karma works like it's supposed to.

= = = = =

A SIDENOTE: To those Husky parents and Sioux fans whom I told that UAA won, I received false information via a text message. I was later texted that CSTV had lied and UAA was only up and did not win, sadly. I apologize to those of you who I "lied" to. I was upset to find out the truth too, believe me.

Three More Periods of Scoreless Husky Hockey in the REA

ZERO shots on goal in the first period. WHAT THE HELL.

I think there was a solid 8 minutes or so of good Husky hockey played during that game. Unfortunately, eight minutes is not enough... especially when playing one of the best teams in the nation.

I really don't have much to say about this game. It was a typical MTU-UND game played in REA: The Sioux score lots of goals; the Huskies do not.

Dear Michigan Tech Huskies: Unless you want your season to end tomorrow, it's time to really GET SERIOUS about this whole hockey business. We need nine straight games and they start TOMORROW.

While it is no secret that my favorite Husky is Geoff Kinrade, it's time for me to again sing his praises. Geoff had 5 of our 14 SOG for the night. He continues to make smart plays, log a TON of ice time, and be a solid guy in our lineup. The rest of the Huskies could really learn a thing or two from him. There were not very many strong points in MTU's game last night, but Geoff was certainly one of them. Keep it up, Geoff... and the rest of the Huskies: get your asses in gear.

Like There Is No Tomorrow (or Just for Now)

*Warning: The following post contains clichés. Not only does it include clichés, it includes desperation and the fading hope of a college hockey fan. With that being said, there is no telling the way the post will come across, but understand it is what it is.

This is it. Thirty-six games in the books. We've had some good moments, and we've had some bad moments. We've gotten bounce that went in our direction, and we've gotten bounces that have destroyed us. We've played smart, and we have made some stupid mistakes. There's been times were we've felt and played like we couldn't be beat, and there's been some times were I'm sure any pee-wee team off the streets could have blown us out of the building. Well right now none of that matters. Those last thirty-six games mean nothing, we can just call those practice. We can write those down as us figuring out us, what works, what doesn't, what we can take and what we can give.

Now matters, this moment, this second, this team, this game. Don't worry about yesterday and don't worry about tomorrow, neither matters, today matters. We can't change what we did yesterday, and tomorrow only depends on today, today matters. So tonight when you take the ice, as long as we're playing whenever you take the ice, play like there is not tomorrow, because there might not be. Every game might be your last game, so play like you don't want it to be. I don't mind if you take risk and make mistakes, but do it big, mess up trying to make a big hit, mess up trying to change the game, but make sure when you skate off the ice you skate off knowing that at that moment you gave it everything you had.

Other teams may look at you and see weaknesses, they may see a fragile team this has given up and is just waiting for someone to put their season away. Honestly if any of you see that when you look into the mirrors, please don't take the ice tonight. Instead when you look in the mirror I want you to see yourself for what you are, desperate and capable of anything.

No matter what remember this, this moment matters. There may not be a tomorrow but there will always be a now, live in the now, play in the now, compete in the now. So when you go out there, make the most of all of your nows, because at the end of the day that all that matters, now. Now is the time to get this done, now is the time to prove to ourselves that we can do this, now is the time to be who we know we our. Nothing else matters but now. There is no tomorrow, there is no next game, there is no next time. There is only now, so I am asking you and I am telling you, go play, go compete, go live, go give everything you have, go be now.

Weekend in Mankato - Recap

Could've been worse... Could've been better... I thought the team played fairly well on both nights. The defense was slightly lacking on Friday though. I definitely can't place the blame on Teslak for all of those five goals. With John Schwarz being out with an injury this past weekend, it definitely hurt the team.

On Friday, the team got an early power play. The way they were moving that puck around, actually taking shots, and maintaining control of the puck was fantastic. Even though nothing came of it, it was great to see a much improved-looking power play.

Unfortunately, during one of our power plays, the Mavericks were able to bury it in our net. That concluding the first period. Tech came out strong, played hard, and nothing came of it.

During the second period, the Huskies kind of lost control of the game. The Mavericks buried four more goals. After they scored their second of the game, Malcom Gwilliam (assisted by MeanEgirl favorite Geoff Kinrade and Pete Rouleau), were able to put one away for the Huskies. That was closest that our comeback attempt came, however. Shortly after our goal, Mick Berge scored two goals for the Mavs.

Not much else happened for the rest of the game. With around 5:00 left, Mark Malekoff scored one for the Huskies. Too little, too late, however. Also, Rob Nolan came in during the 3rd period to finish off the game. He played very well and didn't let anything by him.

All in all, that game was a very clean game that was fun to watch.

Saturday night was senior night for the Mavericks. I guess the Huskies, and especially Geoff Kinrade, were out to spoil that for them though.

The Huskies took first blood less than six minutes into the game. Eric Kattelus, with a little help from Foote and Kinrade, were able to bring some Husky cheer. The Tech fans in attendance, myself included, were barely able to finish all of our cheering for that goal. When we got to "Do it again! Do it again! We liked it! We liked it!", the Huskies (Gagne (Shelast, Vlaisavljevich)) indeed did it again, right after we said it. Now that's the way to start a game.

During the second period, power play extraordinaire and MeanEgirl favorite Geoff Kinrade had a really nice shot on the man-advantage that would later become the game winner. :)

Luckily, the Huskies didn't completely choke away the lead and the game, though it came so close... Tech needs to work on holding a lead a little better...

And for the record, Geoff Kinrade was the first star of the game on Saturday night. :)

A special thanks goes out to the Minnesota Golden Gophers for losing yet another game on Saturday night, which cost us a trip to Denver. Now, thanks to the Gophers not doing their part, we have to go to Grand Forks for the first round of playoffs. Ugh.

Let's hope for a repeat of the events of two Decembers ago......

Huskies Pep Band to Make THIRD Appearance at the Final Five!

The WCHA just can't get enough of the Huskies Pep Band! And who could blame them?

This year will mark the third time in three years that the Huskies Pep Band has been invited by the WCHA to act as the official or host band to the WCHA/Red Baron Final Five.

Sadly though, St. Patrick's Day does not fall during the same time as the Final Five, so there will be no HPB appearance in St. Paul's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Now that our band has made the tournament, hopefully our Huskies do too!

Thanks Seniors

So last night I was all set to make my first post for THB. I sat down and realized I had multiple potential topics. These were my options:

1. I could talk about the exciting weekend of hockey we got from the Huskies, in spite of only coming away with a split. Reasonable enough, so see below.

2. I could talk about what a horrible job Campion did on Saturday, letting things get out of hand, and seemingly trying to hand Denver the game in the third period with a string of shitty calls. In spite of it though, we still won that game and as bad as the officiating regularly is in the WCHA, I try not to whine about it much, because it's like beating a dead horse.

3. I could rant about the woman I was seated close to, who objected to my friend and I singing the 'Refs' and 'Sex' verses of No Beer because, "there are children around" and pointedly suggested that if we wanted to use 'that language' (oh no! They said 'sex'!) we should go join the Misfits or the band. However, I will post my thoughts on that over at the tSBFitW blog and try to maintain at least a shred of journalistic integrity here at THB.

4. I could simply thank our seniors for their four years of dedication to Tech hockey. This was my best idea, so I will run with that in a bit.

First, about the games. Both of them were very entertaining and the Huskies played well, which made their inability to finish several scoring chances on Friday very frustrating. Both goaltenders had good weekends, with Teslak and Mannino coming up big many times, and getting lucky a few times. Tech's defense played very well, particularly on Saturday when they successfully killed off a DU 6-on-3 advantage for the final minute and a half of regulation to hang on for the win. Additionally, Kinrade had a beauty of a GWG and the Huskies worked hard to generate chances all night.

I'd like to thank our senior class for really leading the way this season, even if things didn't turn out quite as we had hoped. We had a solid start and still came away with more than ten wins (plus, the season isn't quite over yet!). We also gave ourselves plenty of chances to win games, and even though we couldn't finish many of them, that still says a lot about how far the program has come under Jamie. They are in a position to win almost every night; now it's just a matter of finding the right balance between hard-hitting grinders and soft-handed snipers, and getting them enough playing experience to put the Huskies back on top.

These seniors have helped put Tech hockey back on the map and given the program some positive media coverage these past two seasons. While we may be still be referred to as 'upstart Michigan Tech' (and rightfully so), it's a heck of a lot better than being called the 'perennial doormats' of the league, and you can bet that plenty of opposing coaches have been circling their games against MTU this season and making sure they are well-prepared for us.

So now, looking to salvage some pride and finish potentially as high as 8th, the Huskies turn towards their final regular season series at Mankato. The Mavericks have been playing much better hockey in the second-half of the season and are definitely not the team that we swept in Houghton back in October. I look forward to reading about the results of these games next Sunday night, as I won't be traveling to Mankato, nor will I able to listen in either night. I just hope for a couple of good road games to close out the season and then we'll see who Tech will be paying a visit to for the WCHA first-round, and whether or not I should start looking forward to summer.

The Hockey Gods are A-Holes

Another hockey game, another disappointment.

During the first period on Saturday night in the National Hockey Center, it was ALL Michigan Tech. Everything was looking so great... pretty passes, definite opportunity and chances for scoring, keeping it in the SCSU zone.... Michigan Tech outplayed the &$#% out of St. Cloud State. It was one of the best periods I've seen from them this season.

And then there was the St. Cloud power play. It was called with about :45 left in the period. Unfortunately, SCSU scored with only :10 left in the first period.

To outplay a team as much as we outplayed St. Cloud... and to give up a last second first period goal like that was back breaking. All the hard work put into the entire first period backfired in only a matter of seconds.

This is only one goal though. This is only one obstacle to overcome.

During the second period, it really didn't get any easier. We came out strong again. As the period progressed, St. Cloud started to take over. The SOG margin was getting closer and closer, as SCSU began to break down Michigan Tech more and more. Around the halfway mark of the second, St. Cloud struck again to break Tech's back.

Now begins the part where I'm going to make up excuses for my Huskies. They put so much out there in the first half of the game... however, no matter what they did, Jase Weslosky stood tall (something I'll never be able to do) for St. Cloud and stoned them every time. There were also many times where St. Cloud got lucky. My team was no question frustrated. They had to have been exhausted. After the lack of results they were getting after all of their efforts, they were down.

Tech had played two great periods of hockey and had nothing to show for it. Each period they had 15 SOG, many of those being GREAT opportunities to find the back of the net... yet it could not be done.

In the third period, St. Cloud took over for the majority of the time. Tech was still getting their chances... and still unable to bury any of them. With just under 5:00 minutes left, SCSU put the nail in the coffin. Tech went yet another game being shut out.

And go figure, Jase Weslosky would go on to be the WCHA Defensive Player of the Week, as so many goaltenders become the week after we play them.

I pose these questions to the hockey gods:
- WHY can't we beat SCSU? Can't do it at home, can't do it in their building... WHY.
- How is it that we can put up 5 goals on one of the best goaltenders in the nation (Bachman from CC), but most other weekends we can't get more than 1 or 2 goals per game?
- Why did you give the Michigan Tech fans so much hope at the beginning of the season for a great finish and home playoffs, and then leave us in shambles?
- Why did you make Casey Pierro-Zabotel lack anything that remotely resembles a brain?
- Why couldn't any of our four post or pipe hits at the GLI against Michigan been just 1" to the right or 1" lower?
- Why can't you see that these guys deserve better and that the Husky fans deserve better?
- Why do you hate Michigan Tech and their fans so much? :(

I know this season isn't over yet, but with the way the hockey gods are treating us, it may likely soon be.

UMD Recap, SCSU Game 1

Alright... so, I'm in the process of recruiting a new writer for the THB, but of course, no one is stepping up. My application process was simply to write something covering the UMD series, but I got nothing! Maybe I should try the new blogger WWN from this blog, that way I'd at least get more people commenting here. Oh well... the wait will continue.

So how about some much delayed coverage over the games versus UMD? it. Friday ='ed good. So much good and fun happened in this game... Let's first touch on some line change ups. Due to illness spreading around Houghton like crazy, a lot of changes were called for as the team is sadly not immune to diseases. Was this illness a blessing in disguise? Moving Alex Gagne to the first line with Tyler Shelast and Peter Rouleau was... wow. Just wow. For this game, that line's point breakdown looks something like this:

Gagne 2-1--3
Shelast 0-1--1
Rouleau 3-2--5

Not too shabby, eh? Peter Rouleau's hat trick... fantastic. He got a shorty, a PPG, and an empty netter. If it's one things I like, it's variety. I should also mention that my hat was the first on the ice. ;)

The next night wasn't as happy though. The crowd was good... I'll say that much. However, due to a poorly called CFB on Michigan Tech (which even the Duluth fans shared with me that they thought that was the poorest CFB call they'd ever seen), Tech had some problems on their hands. Of course UMD scored one goal on that major powerplay and we also lost by a mere goal. As much as I want to blame referee Anderson for that loss, Michigan Tech certainly had their opportunities, but just weren't able to finish. Bummer.

Home ice is slipping further and further away...

And now to touch on the first game of the series in St. Cloud. It was very frustrating, to say the least. Although Tech lost 4-1, in my personal opinion, the guys in black and gold didn't play that poorly! SCSU goaltender Weslosky was fantastic and kept shutting us down.

Despite how much this loss hurts Tech, again... MeanEgirl favorite Geoff Kinrade scored... so she's happier than she should be.

And since I'm hungry and will soon be going to IHOP, I will leave you all with these words: Uh, Tech needs to win tonight.

An Open letter to The Michigan Tech Huskies Hockey team

Dear Huskies,

Hi, many of you know me, but for those of you who do not, my name is Robert Green. I am a former Michigan Tech student who graduated last spring and I like to think I am one of the bigger and outspoken fans of the program. I have seen you play in every state where WCHA hockey is played, except for Wisconsin(I hate that entire state) and Alaska(I want to go but I just haven't been able to make it), all so that I can support this program. Last year I had the honor of watching one of the greatest series I could possibly imagine in Colorado Springs, another great calling card series in North Dakota, a Justin St. Louis hat trick in Minnesoat, and our first appearance at the Final Five since it moved to the Xcel Energy Center. Above all of that as you may have already figured out I write for this prestigious blog.

Last year I attended the Frozen Four in St. Louis, and as you all probably already realize you didn't. We had a great year last year and I got so much more than I expected out of you, so not being in St. Louis wasn't really a big deal. I still remember last year at the conclusion of the championship game as the Michigan State players rushed the ice in celebration, I spoke these words "Tech will win another national championship before any CCHA team". Outside of that game everywhere I went, as well as the fellow Tech fans I was with, we sang your praises. Big things are coming out of Houghton soon, look for us to bring our team with us in the next couple years, prepare to be shocked, this is what we told people. We laughed, we joked, we song, and the people around us started getting excited by our hope and our joy in our program in which we had so much faith in.

The world is ready for you, they are waiting for you, they want you. Even though things aren't looking all that good right now, there is still hope, and I can't shake the feeling that this is our year. Sure we can live and learn from this year, we can reload and try to make another run next year and sure the future looks bright, but this year is not over yet. There is still a chance to shock the world, and if any team can do it this team can.

When I look at this team, I see a group of players with the ability to play with any team in the country and I hope when you step on the ice you see the same. The future is in your hands, as they say the future begins now. The future is not next year, the future is tomorrow night the future is next weekend, the future is April 12.

Some of my fellow fans may have given up hope on you but not me. Some of you may have given up hope but not me. I know what you are capable of and I know the rewards of playing up to what you are capable of. I have already staked my name on a Tech championship please do not make me a liar, so in the words of Al Bundy, "Just Win Baby". Regardless of rather you are there or not I'll be in Denver and I'll be cheering for you. I hope to see you there.

Sincerely

Robert Green
AKA "The Darkness"
AKA "That loud black kid who keep showing up with his shirt off"

Peter Rouleau - WCHA Co-Offensive Player of the Week!

From: http://wcha.cstv.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/021908aaa.html

Red Baron® WCHA co-Offensive Players of the Week
Peter Rouleau
Sr., F, Michigan Tech

Andrew Kozek
Jr., F, North Dakota

MADISON, Wisc. - A pair of veteran forwards - Peter Rouleau of Michigan Tech University and Andrew Kozek of University of North Dakota - have been named Red Baron® WCHA co-Offensive Players of the Week for Feb. 19-25 as a result of their outstanding efforts this past weekend.

Rouleau, a 5-7, 165-pound senior left winger from Hancock, Mich., notched a three-goal hat trick and two assists for a career-high five points as he factored in on all five Michigan Tech goals in last Friday's (Feb. 15) 5-2 conference victory over visiting Minnesota Duluth at the Huskies' John MacInnes Student Ice Arena in Houghton, Mich. His hat trick included a shorthanded goal and a game-winning power-play tally.

In addition to his five points, Rouleau fired five shots on goal in the series and earned a +2 plus-minus rating.

(I cut out that junk on Andrew Kozek. Who really cares? ;))

Congrats to Pete for getting WCHA Co-Offensive Player of the Week... and for getting a "three-goal" hat trick on Friday, as opposed to a 2-goal hat trick...

I'll also mention that Eli Vlaisavljevich was nominated for Defensive Player of the Week! Eli put on an outstanding performance this past weekend, likely the best hockey I've ever seen from him with this Huskies team. Great job, Eli!

I might put up a recap of the series if I get time later on this week...

Black (and gold) Thursday/ or Happy Emo Day

I would very much like to bore you with a long post about how Michigan Tech is going to bounce back this weekend against Duluth and start the push towards the playoffs. I would like to be optimistic and ensure all my fellow Tech fans that everything is going to be alright, but I can't. It's not because I don't believe it, because personally I think I might, but I just can't today. As many of you may know, every year on the 14th of February people are forced to be uncharacteristically sappy towards one another for no apparent reason. Don't get me wrong, The Darkness has absolutely no problem romancing the ladies, in fact I personally enjoy it a lot. But not today, for me today is Black Thursday, a day to remember just how much you hate your life and the idiots around you.

So today I'm forced to be emo. I hope the Huskies can pick up at least one point this weekend. Not that it really matters, they're just going to lose eventually anyway. At least Duluth can't score either, maybe they'll skate to two more 0-0 ties. That might be interesting.

Alright enough with the emo talk, The Darkness is still a believer in romance and such, for no particular reason, because let's face it all things just eventually fall apart anyway, so what's the point in even trying. So instead of sitting here and boring you with why the world sucks and how much the Huskies are going to let me down this weekend I will instead leave you with a perfect example of true love in action, or why we should never fall for anybody ever, depending on how you look at things.

Sigh.

What a huge disappointment this past weekend was. It was sort of a double whammy. Not only did we lose the Winter Carnival Cup, but we lost 3 crucial WCHA points. We have dug ourselves in VERY deep and I will be shocked if we can get out of this and get home playoffs.

And for my usual Why We Lost segment: We can't find the back of the net. We can't finish. We can only tie at best if we have the best defense in the world but no offense. Our power play and penalty kills are another area of concern. It was nice to finally get a power play goal, however. (THANK YOU, GEOFF KINRADE!)

On Friday, freshman Bennett Royer, with a little help from fellow freshman Eric Kattelus, got the Huskies on the scoreboard first. I might also mentioned that Bennett played an AMAZING game and had many chances all game long. He was certainly one of the bright spots of the evening.

The game was a very close, evenly matched one the whole way. Sadly, in the third period, Kyle Turris was able to get one by Michael-Lee Teslak to tie the game. Since it finished as a tie, the team to win on the next night would be the 2008 Winter Carnival champions.

What is it about that 4-1 score? We've lost many games this season by a score of 4-1. Well in any case, that was the score with which the Badgers were able to defeat us and take our own Winter Carnival Cup. In fact, if it hadn't been for the fact that MeanEgirl favorite Geoff Kinrade scored a goal for Michigan Tech, I may have jumped off the lift bridge that night. So now, thanks to Geoff, I am here today and will suffer through the rest of the season.

Last year, the team finished at 18-17-5 overall. This season we're at 10-13-5 overall with 8 regular season games left in our schedule, and at least another two for post-season. The 2007-2008 season started out so bright, but came crashing down so quickly. We started the season at a comfortable 5-2, messing up a game against a young NMU team and losing at home to #1 UND... but with a sweep over a now HOT Mankato team, a victory over #1 UND at home, as well as defeating Wisconsin on the road. In our next five games, we went without a win. In the next nine after the win against UW at the Kohl Center, we went 1-6-2. From the GLI on to now, we have only been able to win four games, two of those against Atlantic Hockey's Mercyhurst. The question I would like to pose is: WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!

I know what this team is capable of... But I am just confused as to why they're not doing it. What would Mike Batovanja say to get this team fired up? Mike, if you're reading this, give the guys a call and light a fire under their asses.

This weekend, UMD is coming to Michigan Tech. They always play us very tough in our own building. points NEED TO HAPPEN this weekend. I don't know what more to say.

Huskies Fight Back to Earn the Tie

Yeah, so this is a few days late.

Box score

I don't know when it really started happening, because I wasn't there to see, but Tech started to really come alive somewhere along the line last Saturday night. They were able to kill a two goal deficit and come back to tie a very tough Seawolves team.

I am grateful that we were at least able to get a point on Saturday, but I was hoping for and expecting so much more...

Ok, that is enough about last weekend's unfortunate events.

Here's a look at the WCHA standings (with poor formatting that I can't fix):

Team						WCHA Record	Points
Colorado College						15-4-1	31
North Dakota						14-7-1	29
Denver						12-6-0	24
Minnesota-Duluth						7-8-5	19
Wisconsin						8-9-3	19
Minnesota State						7-9-4	18
Minnesota						6-10-4	16
MICHIGAN TECH						6-9-3	15
St. Cloud State						6-10-2	14
Alaska-Anchorage						3-12-5	11

It's a tight race in the lower part of the WCHA. If we end up typing UMD (0-2), SCSU (0-2) or UAA (0-1-1) as of right now, we would lose the tie breakers with those teams. Although we do have series coming up with UMD and St. Cloud. We have the tiebreaker on MSUM (2-0); however, we have a series coming up with them soon. Hopefully they cool down by then. And currently, we have split series with UMN (1-1) and UW (1-1). We're done with UMN in the regular season. I'm not sure what happens after head to head record... Goal differential, maybe? If that's the case, UMN has a one goal edge on us. And as for UW... well, we'll know for sure after this weekend.

Here is the good news! We are only four points out fourth place with TWO games in hand on everyone else from 4th to 10th place in the WCHA. It has never been more crucial to start getting points than it is right now.

I must ask of all Michigan Tech fans to come out to the games, be vocal... keep the support coming. The the team will reward you if you do so.

Huskies: The Preferred Food of the Seawolves

So, my team got pummeled tonight in the beautiful city of Anchorage, Alaska. The hungry Seawolves were looking to please their home crowd, and they did just that... although if you ask me, it was a bit of an overkill!

This is the first game that I will write on this season that I didn't actually see. Judging by what I heard from Dirk Hembroff on the radio, it was a fair combination of great UAA play and piss poor Tech play. I kind of want to excuse it a little bit. Having traveled to Anchorage last year myself, it isn't the easiest thing to adjust... And all I did was eat, sleep, drink, and watch hockey. I cannot imagine playing hockey!

Tomorrow is another day, however. Another whole day that the team would have to adjust to being in Anchorage. Come tomorrow, I cannot make up more excuses for this team. Tomorrow's game is a MUST-WIN, especially with how hot the Mavericks are right now.

After the game, Coach Russell told it like it was, "I thought we were completely useless in front of the net." What more needs to be said? Also according to Russell, he was pleased with Schwarz and VanWagner. The rest of the guys.... not so much.

And for my random feature.... Why We Lost: This can be blamed on a number of factors... goaltending, our play in front of the net, the brilliant play of Olthius and the rest of the Seawolves... However, I'm not going to say it is any of those. I'll just say it's because I wasn't there. It was tough missing my first game of the season, on both me and the team... as you can see. :)

Let's go guys.. salvage a split from this weekend!

Confessions of A College Facepainter

In response to a post left on the USCHO fan forum by screen name Burnt Orange Husky.

You face painters make me laugh, you're such homers! You should get out of Houghton more often.

The team finally played well at GLI this year and I acknowledged that in a post. I bet you weren't even ALIVE the last time Tech won GLI. They won it SIX YEARS IN A ROW when I was at Tech. The 1979 Ann Arbor News sports section lead story had the headline, "Tech Owns GLI".

So excuse me when I don't pat Russell on the back and say, "Good Job. We had a winning season last year." I expect more than that. When they play well, I'll cheer them on. But when they play poorly, I'll kick them in the butt. They can call their moms if they want a hug...

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We are not band wagoners, we are not the ones who cheer for our team because everybody else is, and then disappear when they fall out of fashion. We are not fair weather fans, we are the not ones who have no problem cheering for the team when they are on top, and then turn around and rip on the players and coaches when things aren't going in our favor.

We are facepainters. We are the upper echelon of sport fans, or the bottom tier depending on where you're sitting. We are the ones on the front lines, forsaking the small aspects of our own live for the sole affirmation that comes with watching other pursue their craft. We are the irrational, we are the manic, we are the lunatics bordering on insanity that always believes that the next game will be the best game.

We are the ones who have spent hundreds if not thousands of dollars in the name of supporting our team. We are the ones who have skipped parties, and weddings, and funerals, exams and countless other activities just so that when the puck dropped we would be there. We are the ones that fells the world spinning off it's axle every time a goal is scored and we're not there to celebrate it. We are the ones who have been driven to tears at the sound of galvanized rubber hitting an iron post. We are the ones who have celebrated to the brink of causing injuries to ourselves and others because this time the score worked out in our favor.

We are the ones who cheer our team no matter what. We are the ones who have no problem wearing our allegiance on our skin, because we know are loyalties will never change. We are the ones willing to to lose our voices for weeks at a time, because we know that sometimes the difference in playing hard and hard enough to win is simply knowing that others believe in you.

We may be homers, our glasses may be colored in the shade of our schools colors but that doesn't mean we are blind to the truth. We are still the ones who feel the pain when our team drops a game to the last place in the league, and even when they are that last placed team, but we still cheer. We know the pain of being called celler-dwellers and a disgrace to the sport, but we still believe. We know the feeling of shame as other programs cheer for you because you're harmless, but we know that one day it'll be different. And even though we know that our team is not as dominant as it once was, it is still our team. We know that the second you give up hope that you can't win is the moment you should stop playing. And we know that the day when you step into a building and don't feel like you can win is the day that you should stop cheering.

All that may be common knowledge, but here's the confession, deep down inside we are the ones who know, that the players aren't playing for us. They are playing for themselves, they are playing because they want to be the best, they are playing because they love the game, they are playing for pride. We know that we can't change how they play, or change why they play so the only way we can effect the game is to make sure that they fell the confidence and pride that we feel.


We are the ones that know that in the long run coaches and players may come and go, but facepainters are forever.

State of the Season Address

Thank you very much. I am very happy to be here today to discuss with you the state of Michigan Tech Hockey this season. [ Applaud me here ]

The late Coach John MacInnes would be very happy with the strides that this program has taken over the past few years. This team has gone from a 4-win season only a few years ago to a team that is now much more respected. [ Applaud me here ] This team will continue its uphill climb. [ More applause, please ]

Coach Russell, I commend everything you have done since you have returned to Michigan Tech, but this time as a coach. It was rough at first and many players didn't buy into your system, along with some fans. You kept with it though and recruited your own guys... and it is really beginning to pay off. [ Applaud me, fools! ]

Today I will be discussing where we are at now and where we will be in the future. Currently, we're in a three-way tie for 7th place in the WCHA, a mere one point behind Minnesota who sits alone in 6th, and only three points behind the two teams tied for fourth place, Wisconsin and Minnesota-Duluth. This is of course not where we had hoped to be at this time in the season; but there are many reasons to remain optimistic about the future, as there is a lot of hockey left to be played. [ Applause ]

Earlier this season, we started out at a strong 4-2 record, with a sweep over Mankato. [ Insert your clapping here] After a bit of a slump, we pulled it back together and had a great showing at GLI. The team was definitely prepared for that weekend as they beat Michigan State for the first time since 1991 (?) by a score of 4-1. [ Clappity clap clap! ] For the first time in several years, we were playing in the GLI championship game, with an outstanding showing by Michigan Tech fans and alumni. This team took #1 Michigan through 4 scoreless periods of hockey, hitting two crossbars and two pipes in the process. [Applause ] Unfortunately, Michigan had 'won the cointoss' as was able to sneak one by goaltender Rob Nolan, who was just amazing all weekend long. Even though it went down as a loss in the books, it gave the team and the fans a lot to look forward to for the rest of the season. [ You know the drill ]

After faltering in North Dakota, the team went through their last off weekend, a well-used one as they bounced back and played WCHA leader and the nation's #3 team Colorado College at home, tying them the first night and defeating them 5-2 on the second night. [ Yep, more applause ] CC goaltender Richard Bachman was the WCHA's leading goaltender at that time. After that weekend however, he has fallen to the number two spot and Michael-Lee Teslak has taken over. [ Lots of applause ]

We have big goals for the rest of this year... and one of those is to get home ice for the first round of the WCHA playoffs. [ Applause ] In order to do this, we need to win conference games. [ More applause ] Our team can do great things on home ice, and hopefully they will get that opportunity. [ Keep it coming ]

Home ice or not, the team is looking forward to their SECOND trip to the WCHA Final Five in two years. [ Applause ] As most of the team has been there before, they will know what to expect this time, and you can certainly expect a much better performance this time around, along with RESULTS--the results that we're looking for! [ You know what to do ] The ultimate goal is to WIN the Final Five... and make our first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in quite some time. [ More applause ]
A future of hope and opportunity requires that all our fans have readily available support. When it comes to winning, our team has an obligation to win for the fans and making them happy. And they will meet those responsibilities. [ Applause ]

And so tonight, I propose two new initiatives that may not be new because they have probably been done before. First, I propose that each and every member of the team eat their vegetables. Many tests have shown that vegetables are healthy. If the guys remain healthy, they will probably play better. [ Applause ]

My second proposal should help the guys consistently play hard during each and every game. I suggest to them that they play each and every game as if it were the most important game of their lives. Perhaps if they always keep that in their mind while they're on the bench or on the ice, they will push themselves that much harder. The W's will then start rolling in. [ Yep, more applause here ]

Yet even with these steps, we cannot guarantee home ice playoffs, a Final Five Championship, or a NCAA tournament appearance. Michigan Tech fans must do their part as well, by attending games and cheering loudly. They must create a superior home atmosphere for which our Hockey Huskies can get their job done. [ Applause ]

With such determination and passion, ladies and gentlemen, we see the spirit and results of our Michigan Tech Hockey Huskies. They are a decent and honorable hockey team--resilient too. The team and the fans have been through a lot together. Yet we can go forward with confidence -- because the State of our season is strong, our cause in the hockey world is right, and tonight and for the rest of the season, that cause, winning, goes on. [ You're almost done ]

See you next game. And go Huskies! [ Okay, lay it on thick here! ]

Why we cheer.

Friday shortly before 6 o'clock, as I was on my way home from work, I had an unpleasant experience. I will not go into the details of how it happened, but I was involved in a rather bad car accident, no injuries (thank God) but the front end of my car will probably never be the same again.

After cautiously driving home and being lectured on not driving so fast I really needed a way to vent, which lead to me breaking my SD card which had very crucial information on it that I need for a client, on top of all that I had to deal with my nephew, who I love but I really have no desire to spend more time around him then I have to. All things considered it was probably very understandable that I was not in the best of moods as I set down to watch my Michigan Tech Huskies play the first game of a two game series against Colorado College. I was feeling discouraged, frustrated and feed up with my situation and my surroundings and I really just needed something good to happen. That night the Huskies skated to a 2-2 tie in a game they probably should of won.

Saturday I took my car to a collision shop to get an estimate of how much it would cost to repair the damage. I found out it will cost less to get a new car then to fully repair the damage, definitely not good news. On top of all of this I again had to deal with my lack of personal solitude as I had to deal with my nephew, my sister and their friends, who don't live in my house and I really wish would go away (seeing as it is Sunday morning and they are still here). Again discouraged, frustrated and feed up with my situation and my surroundings, not to mention I had the biggest headache I have had in a long time. That night the Huskies took the ice against the Colorado College Tigers and left the building with a 5-2 win, that many will call an upset but I expected.

My situations haven't improved, but for approximately six hours over the two nights everything was okay. It didn't matter that I now have to rely on other people to get around, or that I have no idea what the future will hold, for those couple of hours life was good, and that's all that mattered.

For all those who don't understand, this is why we cheer. Because sometimes when life isn't going in your favor it's just good to escape. Different people do it in different ways, some read, some run, some go about doing things to their body that they can never reverse, and some like me, invest their time and energy in the support of others.

Some may look upon us and see crazed maniacs hopelessly devoted to things that don't matter, or pathetic individuals living vicariously through the lives of others, but there's more. To us it's more than just the pursuit of the dreams of others, but when their dreams become your dreams, then you have a way to accomplish things that you probably will never have a chance to do on your own. You can feel the accomplishment of winning a championship, or the adrenaline rush of scoring a game winning goal, and at least for a little while you get to be more than you are.

For those of us who have a problem expressing your emotions, it's an excuse to yell to cheer and sometimes to cry. It's a reason to give your all, to lay it all on the line, to act like a complete and total fool without worrying about what anybody else thinks of you.

This is why we cheer, this is why we don't mind investing our money and time into an obsession that many can't understand. We all have our obsessions and the things we love for no apparent reason, and anybody who doesn't I feel sorry for. If nothing else this I know on any given Saturday I can watch a college football game and no matter what is going in my life, that's all that matters. Most importantly I know I can watch my Huskies and I lay my emotions and my thoughts on their shoulders, and this weekend they proved they can handle it.

So to Jamie Russell and the Michigan Tech Huskies, I would just like to say thank for not letting me down, and no matter what, just as I will always be a fan of the University of Michigan Football team, win or lose, I will always be there to support you.