North Dakota beats WMU - ends UM Hockey's At-Large Chances
It's gotten lost in the other game today, but if UM Hockey wanted to make the NCAA tourney, they had to root for Western to beat North Dakota. Which they didn't do.
North Dakota defeats Western Michigan to keep NCAA hopes alive, and knock out Michigan
— College Hockey News (@chnews) March 22, 2014
After 22 straight years in the NCAAs, Michigan is out for the 2nd year in a row
— College Hockey News (@chnews) March 22, 2014...in the early part of the season, but the fact is if they beat who they were supposed to beat (MSU, PSU), they're in easily.
If they just go over .500 against those teams, they're in. Win 7/10 and they're like a 2.
1. Mel.
2. Pearson.
My dark horse candidate is John Madden. Former player, and he's getting assistant coaching experience with Florida Panthers right now.
March 22nd, 2014 at 10:41 PM ^
March 22nd, 2014 at 10:46 PM ^
I know a number of people want Mel for continunity and because of his link to the program, but I honestly can't see how you justify that being a good idea other than "Was at Michigan before"
In his only head coaching experience, he's done nothing remarkable. I'm afraid he's just going to be a slight step down from where we are right now
when red steps down.
and i think it is time that red does that now....
Red has said that he will leave the hockey program when he feels the time is right. He also has two years on his contract and I don't see why he wouldn't coach those two years. John Bacon feels the same way also.
At least the team is young and if we don't have a Michigan hockey summer then the team could be a real contender next year.
Besides having an offseason of Berenson speculation and the usual departure, we have a 7 player class coming in that should remain intact.
Umm the time is clearly right. Even Red isn't that blind. Our last national championship was with Marty Turco. Red Berenson=Lloyd Carr.
Michigan has a nasty habit of being too loyal though. We will probably be seeing Red taking naps behind the bench for at least 5 years sadly.
March 22nd, 2014 at 10:29 PM ^
Red only has 2 years left on his contract. When he signed it, he said that this would be his last one.
This program needs a change. Now.
I had some hope, but not a lot - and honestly, it seemed like a lot to hope for. M hockey didn't handle its business and paid for it. I hope the players who will be here next year will learn their lesson and not play down to the level of other teams.
March 22nd, 2014 at 10:22 PM ^
Let me preface this by saying I love and respect Red Berenson and everything he's done for Michigan Hockey.
It's time. I hate to say it, but it's time.
Take away the minor miracle that was the 2011 tourney run, look at the record since the 1998 championship, take a look at the players on those rosters, and tell me this program has done anything but slowly regress into season after season of total flameouts, headcase drama, and missed opportunities.
Look closely at the stretch between 2003 and 2008, look at those rosters, look at those tournament results, and explain to me how none of those guys won a championship.
It hasn't been popular to ask tough questions about this program ("OMG how can you disrespect Red like that?!?"), but it seems that's how we got here.
March 22nd, 2014 at 10:36 PM ^
March 22nd, 2014 at 10:44 PM ^
Well you're not in the Dekers so I'm not sure your opinion counts
/ProfessorX
March 22nd, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^
As I've said to you before, basing anything on the ridiculousness that is single elimination hockey is absurd.
Basing something on the last two seasons, and basically everything that's gone down outside of Hagelin willing them to victory a bunch and Tiny Jesus being Tiny Jesus is totally reasonable though.
March 23rd, 2014 at 12:20 AM ^
Single-elimination hockey is the system.
Since the two championship years in the late 1990s, Michigan has made the national title game exactly once.
In that span, we have year after year of tourney brainfarts, year after year of the team either acting like it doesn't care until January or that it doesn't care after December. Rosters of NHL talent that lack composure and leadership. It's been getting worse, Tiny Jesus and all.
Sorry, that's just what I've seen in twenty years following this program. No, I'm not on the Dekers board, but it doesn't take a lot to see the writing on the wall.
Like I said above, showing blind loyalty to Red and collectively dodging serious questions about the direction this program is taking have gotten us to this point. It's not like this is an unpopular coach or a new guy or something. We all love Red. But we should be able to recognize when it might be better to take things in a new direction.
Jesus, PRIOR to those two titles, Berenson got to the title game exactly ZERO times. Probably should have fired him then.
March 22nd, 2014 at 10:42 PM ^
and we're more than likely off the bubble and in. We have absolutely no one to blame but ourselves.
Disappointing to miss it again, but it is completely deserved.
March 22nd, 2014 at 11:33 PM ^
When all the results came in we were the first team out. The bid was lost the night in Ann Arbor when we coughed up a goal with 4 seconds left. Or pick any other loss. The margins in college hockey are narrower than ever. We would have been in if Western had won this afternoon or if Colgate lost yesterday or if North Dakota knocked off the dynasty. But the first team out is a team that is out.
See everyone in October.
our mutual love of our/my old hockey team, and what is actually going on inside yost and the admin. neg-bang all you want fellas, but the writing is on the wall. the babcock thing isn't of course written in stone, but that is truly the talk. i haven't talked to the guys in over a month, but nothing that has happened since would likely have changed the scenario.
March 23rd, 2014 at 12:12 PM ^
He's not stepping down. Red will coach next year.