Well this seems familiar, I was saying to myself after MSU scored the first goal of the game. But then fate reared its ugly head and we just got outplayed. Moving on.
Our best bet to finish in 11th place is to sweep Michigan Tech later this season and at least gain an additional three more points than MT. So in ten league games left we would have to go at least 5-4-1 against Bucky, CC, MT, UNO and Denver, and this would be assuming MT goes 2-7-1 ( against UNO, UAA, MSU, SCSU and CC). Could we still do it? Ummmm.........yes? This season's version of the Seawolves is not consistent, I would like to think we could pull off a split with Bucky, maybe even CC, then if we could sweep MT that would leave us a record of 1-2-1 against UNO and Denver assuming of course MT falters and goes 2-7-1 to end the season. Looking at Bemidji's schedule, it is fucking rough: UNO, SCSU, Bucky, MD, ND, and Minny. Now I feel a little bit better, looking at MT's schedule and Bemidji's we have hope.
[Bold and italicized indicates home series]
Must have goals
• Split with Bucky, either win and loss or tie and tie
• Same with CC
• Sweep MT
• Then coast a win and tie out of the UNO and Denver series
Simple right? But alas, even with the best of laid out plans, something very unexpected arises. Maybe Brett Cameron will come back and lead the charge from out of the cellar. Maybe Robby or Kamal will steal the end of the season with some fantastic goal keeping. Maybe Matt Bailey will go on an absolute scoring spree and catapult our team, we all know he is capable of this.
With Bemidji and Michigan Tech, surely one team must royally screw up right? If I had all of King Midas' gold, I would bet on Bemidji. That is an absolute hell of a way to end your season, unless of course they can somehow split there way to a .500 record here down the stretch. And if Bemidji does do poorly, we could potentially end up in 10th or tied for 10th. I don't think we could catch up to CC (currently in 9th place), they have the easiest of schedules between these four teams and are at 15 points.
On a side note, the 2013 Division I Rulebook has been passed and there seems to be a lot of money now available to student-athletes, whether it be financially, performance based, or medically based. I think it's in the right direction, this will help some less fortuante student-athletes and will help cut down on illegal payments made to student-athletes across the board. Link is here.
Thanks for your thoughts, Andrew. :)
ReplyDeleteBut le sigh, these dark days for the Seawolves just keep getting darker and darker. I appreciate your doing the potential outcome math, it does give one hope that we Seawolves can still come out with something.
However, I must say that I'm not hopeful that the Seawolves can bang this one out. This season just keeps on getting more horrible as each game goes on, and I don't see any end in sight.
I'm not going to lie.. I want a regime change. I've been a fervent supporter of coach Shyiak, but it's time for Shyiak to move on and admit that he can't dig the wolves out. I'm not saying another coach is going to magically do better but I think if we as fans and supporters don't demand something better we are just going to invite the same thing year after year. We need a new direction.. we need to do better.. and I think a new coaching direction may do that.
Sorry to sign out on that bummer note. Just had to get that off my chest.
Alaskana, "we as fans and supporters HAVE demanded something better". Long time boosters have told the U they want changes, none have been made and look at the awful attendance. I think Shyiak still has a year or two left on his contract, but man we need a new coach. The players are starting to doubt him, they don't trust his decisions, and I don't think they respect him. Why has Shyiak not given our freshman goalie ONE shot so far? Look at what the freshman goalie from Mankato has done ... but he had to be given a chance to prove himself!! It's not like Gundy or Kamal have been on fire. Man, this is just so depressing.
ReplyDeleteI would advise ALL season ticket holders (YOU) send Cobb an email stating they are not renewing season tickets unless he fires Shyiak and gets a QUALITY top notch coach here. That of course assumes Cobb even cares, but this booster is indeed writing that email.
I'm glad that I can post here like an anonymous asshole, seriously... I'm not joking one bit! I'll be back for sure.
ReplyDeleteLove,
BBEF
Well said Steve, no arguments here - I'm in total agreement with you. I apologize for not mentioning the efforts of you and many others. indeed I'm not the first one to start demanding a coaching change. I'll be sure to write Dr. Cobb about my concerns.
ReplyDelete@ Alaskana the day I write a negative post, I will have become something I hate.
ReplyDeleteGood to have you back BBEF....I think?
No worries, Andrew. :) Sorry about bringing that negativity to your blog, I know it's a touchy subject and that there are some who prefer to stay above the fray. I actually like that this blog has a generally upbeat tone and as such I'll refrain from talking about that in the future. I just want the Seawolves to be successful, so maybe I can start by bringing a little more positivity here.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, blog on!
You have the right to free speech Alaskana, your negativity is warranted with the season we've been having. We all want success and don't ever feel afraid to express your opinion, and this applies to all else. I've only had to delete one comment so far, so I consider myself lucky so far.
ReplyDeleteJust cannot see any way anything will change. There is just no way to support it any longer. Our kids come here with different reasons but all come to play the game to win. Our style of play negates our chances of winning.........period, the proof is in our goals per game average. If you want to cycle the puck behind the net all night have at it. Goals are scored in front of the net, where we rarely posess the puck. Hey fellas dont be so nervous with the puck, you don't need to make an immediate pass to a teammate so he can turn it over. Take your time you have skills. Sorry I digress... I am sure Dave S. is a great guy and I like all the kids he has brought here but winning is the bottom line and we just cannot get it done. So you move on and change things. Can Cobb do that? Doubtful so far, he has taken the flag ship sports program and run it into the ground with no end in sight. FYI if he does change it up, dont expect much based on the pay scale we are talking about with this state run institution. Enough with the negativity, sorry...UAA lets get this shit done.
ReplyDeleteI agree Mike, Shyiak's style of hockey is BORING. Watch the other teams who BEAT us night after night and they don't play that kind of hockey. We dump the puck and cycle it down low. Rarely do that pass it to the point. We have a lot of talent on this team, but they don't seem to have any confidence and coaching has a lot to do with that. We need a change, not just a new coach but a new athletic director as well. He's the one who isn't willing to make any concessions. Ask the Alumni Association who met with him to make changes for the better. But Cobb still says that everything is ok. Right.
ReplyDeleteDumping the puck to facilitate a line change I understand. Also understand dumping if the carrier is under extreme pressure. But to dump and chase as a system I do not understand. When you have puck possesion why give up possesion with the hope you MAY get it back? Especially when 2 defenders are further up ice than the puck carrier or any of your team mates. If the puck carrier is ahead of his team mates why not slow down or circle? Your guys are coming as fast as they can. They'll be there in a matter of a few seconds and you maintain possesion.
ReplyDeleteThe cycle is to try and force your opponent out of position. If you have 3 VERY talented guys cycling this strategy may work. When you have 3 average college skill players trying it, it usually goes: cycle, cycle, lose the puck.
When you combine "dumping" and "cycling" unless you have a way above college level skill guys it's not usually a winning system.
Down in Bucky Land we face a team that is on our skill level. We should be able to beat those guys. Stay 5 on 5 and we will beat them.
Go Wolves!!!
Like the new blog Andrew - thanks.
ReplyDeletebut THE COLORS - my eyes and brain hurt reading this blog. Get back to some neutral light color background and contrasting type. The old UAAfan blog was excellent in readability.
But keep up the blog, the content so far is excellent.
agree...the yellow font is pretty painful.
DeleteSo I tinkered a little, I like it and think it is easier on the eyes. Kinda goes with that whole modern, clean, strong lines stuff. Yes, D's blog is easy to read but I strongly dislike the soft yellow, I could have soft green and then a strong contrasting color type. But then you run into the whole that's not really UAA's color thing and..........tell me were getting somewhere!
DeleteIf you are trying to facilitate a coaching change don't talk to Steve Cobb. This guy is a buffoon. If you are wanting to discuss the state of UAA hockey you need to email or communicate with bill spindle vice chancellor who is cobbs boss. Also reach Tom case who is chancellor of UAA. He is spindles boss. They attend the slop on Friday and Saturday's at Sullivan. This program needs the little fans who go to the games who are fed up with Dave shyiaks inability to run a division one hockey team to have a voice and call cobbs superiors and tell them enough is enough and our support both time and money are walking. This is the time to let the administration know that there are less than two months until this season is over and we need a new direction. If not then you will have no support from this hockey community. How can UAA continue to have Shyiak keep coaching with a record of 79 - 166 - 30. A complete embarrassment. PK and PP are a joke. That falls on Shyiak. Time for change call the administration and go above cobbs head.
ReplyDeleteThe way I see it: The players are all talented and fine young men. Say it the way it is, they weren't recruited by the very top teams in the league. Enough said. If you were being recruited and had a look at the Wells Fargo Sports Center ice and training facilities then went down to the Sully, then had a look at a different teams facilities you'd be a dope not to choose the other school recruiting you. How can we compete in the recruiting wars with the facilities we have? When contacting the higher ups at UAA in my opinion it would be more productive asking for new facilities than a coaching change. Dr Cobb isn't going anywhere. Look at his record with mens/womens basketball, track and field, cross country, womens volleyball. He says ice wasn't put in the new sports center for a reason...he wants whats best for the hockey program, a stand alone hockey barn. Putting pressure on your legislative representative to get money for a on campus hockey facility seems to me to be a far more positive effort than trying to get someone fired. As far as Shyiak is concerned, look at coaches saleries around the league. For the money Shyiaks paid where are you going to get a better coach. your not. Lets put our energy into something positive which we may be able to accomplish: an on campus hockey barn.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, Thanks for putting this blog up so we can all have our say. Green and Gold may be a little hard on the eyes here but we all love it on our boys. Please just keep it up so we may have a discussion that furthers the Seawolves.
DeleteGo Wolves!!!!
Well, Shyiak may not be making the most money right now, but he has the POTENTIAL to. If his record were better, if UAA got home ice for the playoffs, if UAA won their tournament, if they made the Final Five, if he got buts in the seats, etc, etc, etc. All of those things boost his salary a good deal and should be incentive enough for him, but he isn't accomplishing hardly any of those things.
ReplyDeleteDave certainly has had the time to improve things, but if he has one or two more years on his contract we should let him finish it out. I'm sure there is a buyout clause and I don't think Cobb would want to pay for that. If we fire Dave, who in the bloody hell are we going to hire? Who is willing to come up here for let's face it, a struggling program who hasn't had a winning season since I was born (20 years now). Let Dave finish his contract and coach in the new WCHA. Our boys have some puck confidence against lesser opponents which bodes well. There is a little less dump and cycle in our tourney games. Once his contract is up, we will see where we truly stand in the new WCHA, and maybe see if there will be a new arena within a reasonable eye shot. Is it what I want? No. Does it suck? Yes. Sadly were are in a rut, and unless we can get a proven winner/builder up or a coach that will for sure bring change we should keep Dave till his contract is up.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure but when Blair was given the Associate Head Coach contract didn't it contain a clause that says he gets the head coach job if Shyiak leaves?
DeleteShyiak's contract is up this season. Kinda weird that his contract is up once the WCHA will be watered down. Hmph. Well, let's find us a winner now folks.
ReplyDeleteUSCHO Report
I'm not sure about the Blair contract though.
Love the new color scheme, thanks Andrew. :)
ReplyDeleteMuch easier to read and easy on the eyes.
DeleteThanks Andrew!
Okay, I think we have this accomplished as painful as it was.
ReplyDeleteAndrew, yes he certainly has had enough time to change things, and like i said before i really like all the kids he has brought here, but if the style of hockey does not change, our results will not change...period. So what do we or UAA do? Finish a few rungs up the ladder in the new WCHA and cling to the hope that we are improving. That's my prediction anyway and at the end of the day you are still in the same boat. Coaching changes are expected in sports especially when mired in this type of situation.
ReplyDelete