The odd thing this year was we could lose close ones in overtime just as often as we could get blown out. The ot losses is what I see as an improvement.
Omaha is a good example too. Had its struggles, got a new coach, turned it around, now knocking on the door of the NCAA field. Eastern Nebraska isn’t exactly a hockey hotbed.
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We aren’t dropping the program. Just stop. We aren’t changing leagues. Just stop. Please.
Chris Bergeron has been a head coach for 13 seasons. While in the WCHA he never EVER finished higher than third. He never EVER won a playoff championship. He made the NCAA’s once (in his 9th season). Despite the spin that now turns ties into W’s (that’s a new one), he has won 8 games twice and 28 games in four years. We now celebrate success as being one game and a couple of ties better than last year along with some sort of subjective eye test. YAY US!!!
I hear all this silliness about how Covid hit us so hard and that we were so down and out when he came in that blah blah blah then I get called out for throwing the BS flag. Well, Rico (yeah, THAT Rico) won 3 games his first year with DIII leftovers, some kids he recruited over the course of a single year, and a bunch of portal rejects. In his second year he wins eleven (11!!) games playing in a community rink. I’m being asked to accept that our program was in such dire straits that 8 wins in our fourth season is “right on track, baby!” You want me to accept that our program four years ago was so horrible that two years later we were still worse than a DIII program? That’s the argument? Sorry, I am not buying.
Despite all the evidence pointing to where the ceiling is for this staff, folks still hold out hope that Bergeron will, after 13 years, magically transform himself and our program into 2009, that we will magically win 20 games in the NCHC year after year, we will magically win Penrose after Penrose, and we will magically head to the NCAA’s no worse than a 2 seed. What are you seeing that leads you to believe any of this is remotely true?
Anybody want to bet me on whether Rico makes it to the NCAA’s before Bergeron? If that really is the yardstick and Berge really is the guy then it should be an easy bet, right? RIGHT???
Apologies. I am once again letting my frustration get the better of me. Back to lurking.
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Hockey is not better. How many talented recruits want or will come to Miami now? Think it is clear that not enough want a part of this mess.
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Four years is one more year than should be necessary to resurrect a once solid program. IMO it is time to restart the process and see what we can do in the next three years.
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I’ll address the two points that were clearly addressed to me…
You haven’t seen me defend anyone for this season. Last season, yeah, a 16-month in-person recruiting moratorium absolutely made it tougher for a have-not to become a have, but no excuses now. In fact I’m apparently on the coaches’ naughty list.
The other was W-L. I was responding to someone who said there was no improvement, when in fact that’s not true. I would be pretty happy with a 0-0-34 regular season. But fine, we’ll go by winning percentage, which does in fact calculate a tie as half a win (so does PairWise, by the way). In 2021-22 it was .222. This season it’s .294 against a tougher non-conference schedule. Again, it is improvement, but we can all agree it’s not nearly an acceptable amount.
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@Bonk, I know you have to play things down the middle. I sometimes take that in ways not intended. As I mentioned a long time ago, you and I are on the same side and want the same thing.
Is there any way I could get on that naughty list? Might be fun.
Back to lurking.
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Lurker, I’m not telling you how to do your job, but it would be insanely funny if you for whatever reason, you started showing up in the comment feeds of a sport beyond hockey. Somewhere no one expected you. Even if you had no knowledge of that sport. Or topic. I guess in a way, that’s me here, but your brand makes a better entrance when it shows up. Also, season is almost over so we won’t see you for a while. Where does Lurker go on holiday? Or does he stay home and simply look at photos from others who have taken trips…
YN5 (may I call you that?), I will consider the suggestion.
Back to lurking.
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I told you to call me Chicken Tenders, but I’m still happy to hear from you. Also, how come no one in management took my suggestion to start recruiting pure goon. If we become the most dangerous team to play, the wins will surely follow. Back when I was a young lad, about every third team in the NHL had this as a roster building modus operati
Bonk, I understand that you are presenting ties in the best light, probably a little better than they deserve. So here is why I don’t think 2 ties are equal to a win. Nobody walks out of the arena pumped up and excited by a tie. We do after a win. Also, The NCHC awards 3 points for a win, and 1 point for a tie, and one point for a shootout win. I am not going back to look it up, but it seems like we lost every shootout all year. So in the NCHC standings, it took 3 of our ties to equal 1 win. lol Just balancing out your comment about ties.
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At the risk of showing my ignorance on matters of this kind, can I ask why the exit fee from NCHC is so substantial.
I realize it’s one of the premier college hockey conferences of the land, but correct me if I am wrong in saying that outside of that, Miami profits very little financially due to our membership.
I guess my question is how was the league in such a strong position in order to demand and gain agreement to such a huge fee?
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nm Incorrect info
A”pure goon” only would add to Miami’s tendency to spend way too much time in the penalty box.
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Since no one else will answer, I’ll have to pop out of lurk-mode. The buyout is equal to one year’s operating expenses and was put in place when the league was formed. At the time that number was $1.5M. As operating expenses have risen, so has the buyout which is why you see a variety of numbers thrown about.
Back to lurking.
Thx Lurker…a shame we can’t reasonably get out. I just don’t see us turning it around in the NCHC w our doormat reputation entrenched.
Hope I am wrong as it appears we have no viable options (other than another HC change and starting over again) unless all the conferences implode due to NCAA rules and we can reformulate a “MAC-centric” Midwest (Michigan-Ohio) conference someday.
You need to watch more 1970’s hockey. Goonstyle can work and is part of a complete breakfast.
Goonstyle!!! Even just thinking about the recruiting pitch makes you smile a little: “kid, I know you’re a decent player, but the thing I like about you is, you’re dangerous. I think you’d be a real asset in our goon-centric offense. What does that look like or mean you ask? Here, watch this VHS I have of some classic 1970’s hockey.”
It would certainly be a way to attract the average student whose entire knowledge of hockey is Slap Shot. The Goggin could be rebranded as The Goondome.
Anyways, I’m really looking forward to watching some good eye tests this weekend.
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My other confusion generating behavior (a direct lift from men’s hoops EGB but modified for the hockey need) is to make the players wear uniforms that camouflage into the ice. Ie: clear with blue lines. Goon-a-palooza somehow seems easier to execute though.
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So all of our NCHC ties were still just worth one point ?
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