Why I'm not that depressed about last night's Hockey
First of all - I'm depressed about last night's hockey. That was shitty. Beyond a dong punch. Michigan DOMINATED the OT, the officiating was terrible all game long, and really deserved to win. It sucks.
But - remember December and January. Realize that this hockey team finished better than last year's team. (2nd round exit vs. 1st). The 2008-09 hockey season ended with us getting embarrassed, a number 1 seed ousted in the first round. This year's ending sucked too for all the reasons I listed above.
Just like last year's tournament was an ominous warning for the hockey team's performance this year, this year's postseason makes a GREAT case for the future of Michigan hockey (and how 2010-11 will be a great year for M sports in general).
Keep in mind that a month ago we were a seven seed in the CCHA tournament. Our #1 goalie just went down with a groin injury, and we were all clamoring for the hockey season to just end so that we could put a final nail in the coffin of the worst Michigan sports year in recent memory and kill 2009-2010 Michigan Hating God. But then... we swept Lake State at Yost. Then, this happened http://mgoblog.com/content/kobayashi-porcelain-co (sweep of State) and we ended State's hockey season and booted them from the NCAA tourney. Then a weekend sweep at the Joe happened and... for the first time since the ND game, we had Muppets. We had our own version of Rudy (but better than Rudy cuz ND sucks and Hunwick is amazing) lead us to a CCHA Tourney Title and we get to hang a banner in Yost.
We had Yost West in East Lansing, Yost East at the Joe, and Yost South in Ft. Wayne. For three weeks it was GREAT to be a Michigan fan again. The Board wasn't full of "I hate Sparty" "Denard at [insert random position here]" posts (well...) It was all about Michigan Hockey. We had hope, we had purpose, we had a great Cinderella run. We went toe-to-toe with the #1 team in college hockey for 85+ minutes and lost. Yes we lost in a shitty way, but look back on the past three weeks. Would you have taken a sweep of MSU and said "well, hockey sucked this year, but that was sweet"? I would have.
We won the CCHA Tourney. We made the NCAA's for a record 20th consecutive time. We played into double OT with the #1 team in the land. For me, Michigan Hockey 2010 was a success. A big "came out of nowhere" success.
And we got screwed out of a Frozen Four that would have been epic in Ford Field. And we're pissed. And if you think that a bunch of random dudes on the internet are pissed off about this game, then words cant describe how upset the hockey team must be. 3 posts in overtime, etc. etc.
But - that lights a fire. This team will come back next year with more fire and passion and things to prove than a Michigan hockey team has in a while. Any time Red needs any motivation all he has to tell his team is "Fort Wayne" and this team will come back with a drive to succeed.
Yes, we got screwed, our soul dongs got punched yet again... but I'll take the last month as a huge positive. Consider those calls as the last piece of bad karma we've banked in 2009-2010... and I can't wait to collect.
Your 2009-2010 Hockey Team. CCHA Tournament Champions, and most motivated team of 2010-2011. I can't wait for next year to start in all 3 sports. Go Blue
But - remember December and January. Realize that this hockey team finished better than last year's team. (2nd round exit vs. 1st). The 2008-09 hockey season ended with us getting embarrassed, a number 1 seed ousted in the first round. This year's ending sucked too for all the reasons I listed above.
Just like last year's tournament was an ominous warning for the hockey team's performance this year, this year's postseason makes a GREAT case for the future of Michigan hockey (and how 2010-11 will be a great year for M sports in general).
Keep in mind that a month ago we were a seven seed in the CCHA tournament. Our #1 goalie just went down with a groin injury, and we were all clamoring for the hockey season to just end so that we could put a final nail in the coffin of the worst Michigan sports year in recent memory and kill 2009-2010 Michigan Hating God. But then... we swept Lake State at Yost. Then, this happened http://mgoblog.com/content/kobayashi-porcelain-co (sweep of State) and we ended State's hockey season and booted them from the NCAA tourney. Then a weekend sweep at the Joe happened and... for the first time since the ND game, we had Muppets. We had our own version of Rudy (but better than Rudy cuz ND sucks and Hunwick is amazing) lead us to a CCHA Tourney Title and we get to hang a banner in Yost.
We had Yost West in East Lansing, Yost East at the Joe, and Yost South in Ft. Wayne. For three weeks it was GREAT to be a Michigan fan again. The Board wasn't full of "I hate Sparty" "Denard at [insert random position here]" posts (well...) It was all about Michigan Hockey. We had hope, we had purpose, we had a great Cinderella run. We went toe-to-toe with the #1 team in college hockey for 85+ minutes and lost. Yes we lost in a shitty way, but look back on the past three weeks. Would you have taken a sweep of MSU and said "well, hockey sucked this year, but that was sweet"? I would have.
We won the CCHA Tourney. We made the NCAA's for a record 20th consecutive time. We played into double OT with the #1 team in the land. For me, Michigan Hockey 2010 was a success. A big "came out of nowhere" success.
And we got screwed out of a Frozen Four that would have been epic in Ford Field. And we're pissed. And if you think that a bunch of random dudes on the internet are pissed off about this game, then words cant describe how upset the hockey team must be. 3 posts in overtime, etc. etc.
But - that lights a fire. This team will come back next year with more fire and passion and things to prove than a Michigan hockey team has in a while. Any time Red needs any motivation all he has to tell his team is "Fort Wayne" and this team will come back with a drive to succeed.
Yes, we got screwed, our soul dongs got punched yet again... but I'll take the last month as a huge positive. Consider those calls as the last piece of bad karma we've banked in 2009-2010... and I can't wait to collect.
Your 2009-2010 Hockey Team. CCHA Tournament Champions, and most motivated team of 2010-2011. I can't wait for next year to start in all 3 sports. Go Blue
when you're playing with house money.
It was a hell of a tear and despite how well we were playing there at the end, we were quite lucky to be in the NCAA tourney. Next year will be great, assuming we don't lose too many to the pro leagues.
and... that summed up my feelings completely. we were playing with house money.
Damn i wish i thought of that line when i wrote this...
March 29th, 2010 at 11:34 AM ^
Losing many to the pros shouldn't be much of a problem this year. The only non-senior that I could see going would be Hagelin, and I expect that we've seen him in a Michigan jersey for the last time. Everyone else is either in a system that favors the long development curve or the player still needs to work on something with their game. Rust may be a close call, especially now that he's with Columbus and Hitchcock is no longer in Columbus, but my guess is that he'll stay because he's still new to their system and they're already comfortable with having Michigan players in their system (i.e. Lynch). I'd be pretty surprised if Caporusso goes, primarily because there isn't an obvious place for him to fit into Ottawa's lineup right now and his development curve is better suited to stay at Michigan than in Binghamton. The only reason they might try to bring him out early would simply be to get him to play more games next year, but because he's still only 20, that probably won't be the case. The biggest issue for this team moving into next year is goaltending.
Popular sentiment is that Hagelin sticks around next year, fwiw.
March 30th, 2010 at 12:23 PM ^
That may be the popular sentiment, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Rangers share that sentiment. The reason being that they could want to see him play more games per year so that he can work on some of his consistency issues. He's the best wing prospect in the Rangers' system right now that is eligible to make the jump to the AHL, so they may want to see him make that jump and see what he can do. It may be in his interest to do so, as well, since the next year he could have to compete with Kreider and Bourque for that same roster spot in Hartford. Just my two cents. Obviously I'd like to see him come back, though.
Awesome. I love getting negged for providing actual insight on the decision-making process involved with whether one of our best hockey players stays or goes pro. If you disagree with my assessment, man up and say what your disagreement is instead of hiding behind the anonymous positive/negative garbage.
March 29th, 2010 at 12:16 PM ^
Exactly
It's hard to get depressed when you're playing with house money.I keep trying to tell myself the same thing, except when you pretty much outplay the best team in the country for the second time in 9 days and the only thing keeping you from victory is a really bad referee call, it's tough to swallow. I almost wish Miami had come out and steamrolled us 4-1 and left no doubt about who the better team was. We had a magical run and it was glorious month of hockey, but it's little consolation when I can't get past the notion that the better team lost last night. It hurts man, it hurts a lot.
last night it was the most soul-crushing loss I've experienced since Game 7 against the Penguins last year (which okay not super long ago, but that one fricken' hurt too!). The better team lost, absolutely - but that's part of the problem with single elimination hockey. Brian said it once, and it couldn't be more right: pucks bounce.
Last night, it was awful. Today I woke up, remembered that pucks bounce, man, and that we were lucky to be there in the first place. It helped.
Still hurts, but it's not as soul-crushing as it would've been if we'd been on top all season long, and then had it ripped from us like this.
March 30th, 2010 at 12:24 PM ^
I completely agree. That's exactly what's wrong with single elimination. The better team can lose, whereas with the NHL's system 7 game elimination the better team always wins.
March 29th, 2010 at 10:01 AM ^
I was thinking many similar thoughts, the season was a great turn around and had us very entertained for 3 weeks. This was a team that was already dead and most people had already left. They played inspired hockey and reminded us that we are not entitled to a NCAA birth or (thinking football) a bowl game, we had to earn it. It was a great feeling, I look forward to our first bowl game in the RR era following this years football season.
March 29th, 2010 at 10:05 AM ^
To preface - this is my first time posting here and it will likely be my last.
I know this board is widely read amongst the Michigan faithful - so I just wanted to say I was tremendously impressed by the play of your team and the support of your fans last night. I made the long trek up to Fort Wayne from Dayton and believed last night to be one of the best sporting events I've ever witnessned live. Every Michigander I chatted with greeted me with a friendly "Go Blue!" and was happy to talk about your new goal tender and the changes that were made that sparked the team's impressive run. They were also equally complimentary about the job that our Coach Enrico Blasi has done and the strength of our recruiting. We also shared some chuckles at the struggles of OSU Hockey.
Thank you for bringing such a welcoming and knowledgeable fanbase. I am sorry your season had to end on such a "dong punch" but I believe your program has many excellent years to come.
March 29th, 2010 at 10:14 AM ^
It was a good game, just not that way that anyone really wanted to see it end. I hate seeing a ref's call make that large of difference to such a hard played game. Miami now is the last rep of the CCHA in the tourney and I will support them to win it all, showing how tough the CCHA has become.
March 29th, 2010 at 10:15 AM ^
Congrats to you and your team. Most M fans have (or should have) a great deal of respect for Miami's program, without the blind hate reserved for MSU/OSU/ND. The refs are another story...
March 29th, 2010 at 11:45 AM ^
"They were also equally complimentary about the job that our Coach Enrico Blasi has done and the strength of our recruiting."
That's the biggest issue for Michigan, in my opinion. The upswing of Miami's program is drawing away some of the top kids that would otherwise be going to Michigan. Let's be honest, as much as Michigan State wants people to take them seriously, there is no comparison between the level that Michigan and Miami are recruiting at, versus the level that Michigan State, or any of the other teams in the CCHA are recruiting at.
March 30th, 2010 at 10:07 PM ^
As devastated as we are about the conclusion, and grouchy about some calls; our hats off to your team and its fans.
We take nothing away from your seasons successes and your coaching. Best of luck on your way to the NCAA championship. Make us CCHA schools proud.
Now kick some ass!
March 29th, 2010 at 10:27 AM ^
I would agree if we lost fair and square. Miami is a very good team and there would have been no disgrace losing to them. But not the way we did. It is great to think about what we accomplished, but it should have been more. To lose this way, by a bad call, which was able to be made right, no way, no how.
Your post, in some small way reminds me of one of the great lines from "The rock."
"Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home and fuck the prom queen."
Last night, our reward should have been the prom queen. Instead, we just plain got fucked.
March 29th, 2010 at 11:35 AM ^
"Why I'm not that depressed about last night's Hockey"...
Thought you were going to say "... because I have no soul". j/k
But you did make some valid points as we were playing with house money so we can't get too upset. But I would argue the opposite. We've been getting screwed by the MAN, the MAN'S dog, ... the cable company, the newspaper (ahem, FREEP), etc. I just can't take it anymore. This could have been a team of destiny that would let me forget about the past year (2 for football!).
But we still have a great University, and I'm sure we'll be back next year to compete. Winning all the time would get stale, right? No, I don't believe myself either.
March 29th, 2010 at 11:53 AM ^
I'm angry.
March 29th, 2010 at 12:23 PM ^
You beat me to the punch. I would still like to throw my TV through a plate-glass window.
March 29th, 2010 at 12:55 PM ^
We won the CCHA Tourney. We made the NCAA's for a record 20th consecutive time. We played into double OT with the #1 team in the land. For me, Michigan Hockey 2010 was a success. A big "came out of nowhere" success.
Most important part of the season was winning our conference. This was the only way we were going to make the tournament and we did! Nobody counted us in the odds! We were being told we wouldn't even last two rounds in the CCHA tournament but look what we accomplished. Swept LSSU, had a beautiftul 2 win sweep over MSU in their arena! Beat the best team in the nation to go on and beat Northern to win our conference in one of the most exciting Michigan hockey games that I have seen in a long time! And it boosts Red's numbers in CCHA tournament appearances and NCAA tournament appearances! I'm damn proud of the way we finished out this season and we have nothing to hang our heads over! I don't know about you guys but every Wings game I'll be at come playoff time, my eyes are going to catch sight of that 2010 CCHA CHAMPIONS MICHIGAN WOLVERINES banner. If that banner isn't an example of a great finish then I don't know what is.
Yeah, who knew we would have to score two goals in OT to win?
That said, at least Miami is a class school and will represent the CCHA well at the F4 at FF.
I have been watching hockey all my life, and that was without a doubt the worst officiating I've ever seen. Not just last night, but against Bimidji too. Their calls and non-calls were horrible, but the inconsistency was even worse. Inconsistency like that makes it impossible for players to settle into the game, and it results from a lack of knowledge of the game, and letting the fans and coaches influence your calls. Simply pathetic. How is there such a huge disparity between NCAA and NHL reffing?
NHL referees are professionals who don't referee the games as a side job.
You guys bashed me pretty hard the other night, but I’m a big boy, I can take it.
And not to cry over spilled milk, but the question of the day was whether Miami "touched" the puck or "possessed" it leading up to the disallowed goal. The rule states that Miami must possess the puck not merely touch it before the whistle blows. Steve Piotrowski (Director of Officials), supposedly told a Daily reporter that Miami "touched" the puck, not controlled it.
So not only did the referee blow the original call, the explanation was also botched.
I've included the NCAA rule so we can finally get that story straight:
c. The appropriate on-ice official shall use a “delayed whistle” when a
foul is committed against the team in possession of the puck, thereby
HR-50 RULE 4 / PENALTIES
postponing the stoppage of play until the offending team shall have
possession and control of the puck.
The last player to control the puck, other than the goalkeeper, is the
last player to be deemed in possession of the puck. Control of the puck is
defined as the act of propelling the puck with the stick, hand or skate.
Possession and control is not a rebound off the goalkeeper, an opposing
player, the goal or the boards or any incidental contact with the body or
equipment of an opposing player. Batting the puck with the hand or kicking
the puck is considered to be controlling the puck. Touching the puck (e.g.,
poke check or deflection) is not considered control of the puck.
During a delayed penalty, a goal may not be scored by the penalized team
as a result of a deflection off of a penalized team player.
As noted above, there shouldn't be any significant player losses this year, outside of Summers. With the rectuiting class we have coming in, there's no reason we shouldn't be much better next year. I'm curious to see how the goalie situation will play out. I know that we were recruiting a couple of goalies, but that was pre-Hunwick playing out of his mind. I say stick with what we have for one more season, let Hogan and Hunwick battle it out, and may be best man win the job in the end.
Shawn!?!?!? Is that you?!?!
March 30th, 2010 at 12:27 PM ^
Not bringing in anyone else and letting Hunwick and Hogan battle it out would be the absolute worst thing they could do. The team obviously doesn't have confidence in Hogan's play and Hunwick's performance may (or may not) be permanent. Hogan's tenure as a legitimate option in goal for Michigan should be a thing of the past.
Comments