The 22 years before that were excellent.
Huge mystery how Michigan didn't get at least ONE National Championship in the 2000s.
Hell, they didn't even reach the championship game with those stacked teams.
Great news; The man is a legend!
We return almost the entire team and bring in a huge class.
Next year can be a Top-5 team.
Our 2014 class
Dylan Larkin: NTDP power forward with above average offensive skills. Good hands, great skater. Projected 1st round pick.
Connor Murphy: Elite playmaking center. Made the roster for the OHL's Owen Sound Attack at 16, stayed in Junior B to pursue college. 32-64--96 scoring line; Player of the Year. Projected mid round pick.
Dexter Dancs: 6'2, 200lb power wing with playmaking skills and high offensive upside. Excellent skater, soft hands, plays hard in front of the net. 7th in BCHL scoring.
Tony Calderone: 6'0, 210lb wing. Dominant net front presence. 52 goals in two years in the USHL.
Alex Talcott: Punishing forechecker, defensive forward.
Sam Piazza: Left defensemen. Former Boston College commit and potential top pair blueliner before a concussion two years ago. Great vision and skating. High upside.
Cutler Martin: Left defensemen. Big hitter. Injured in December and hasn't played since.
March 23rd, 2014 at 10:57 PM ^
March 23rd, 2014 at 11:11 PM ^
We have Nagelvoort and Racine, both are 4 year players. Getting a quality goalie to commit and sit on the bench for a few years isn't going to happen.
Hayden Lavigne is our only goalie commit, for 2015.
Emphasis on the word CAN.
Last year, this year could've been and were at one point, top-5 ranked teams. And they collapsed.
Copp better be the captain. No alternates.
I'm so sorry for taking NCAA Tournaments for granted. Should've learned my lesson from Football. Hopefully Hockey doesn't turn into the trainwreck that Football has become.
And it should be that way. The man is a legend, and a great coach on top of that. Rough season? Well, sure it was...but it was what, an inch or so away from an NCAA berth?
Go Blue, and Go Red!
I hope he goes out with a good season. The last thing I want is for him to go out like Joe Paterno or Bobby Bowden or even Bear Bryant.
Sadly though the "good season" you hope for in many cases simply gives rise to idea that the older coach hasnt lost it and should stay even longer.
I know absolutely nothing about hockey and cant' comment on this being good or bad news. But philosophically I don't agree with those who say a coach, any coach, has "earned the right" to leave when they want to leave - without regard for the results on the field, court or ice. That implies to me that the coach is bigger than the program and their personal desires superceeds the success of the team.
I know that Berenson did sign an extension through 2015-16, but he has also said that, at this point in his career, he evaluates his position each year and has let Dave Brandon know that despite signing the extension. He has been very explicit in intereviews that if he ever felt that he was becoming a hinderance to the program that he would retire at that point.
I have to believe that, at this juncture, the University more than likely gives Berenson the honor of going out as he wishes as there hasn't been - to my knowledge - any chatter about him being here beyond 2016. I assume that, by making this knowledge public, he's completed the evaluation for this year.
The man can stay as long as HE wants. Hes earned it!!
Although you are a stereotypical Michigan fan. Relying on way past accomplishments instead of focusing on the present. Still sad that Lloyd is gone?
(eyeroll)
And look what happened when Lloyd retired. Getting a new coach might be a disaster. I will take my chances with Red over hiring someone else.
I have to agree with Jobu here. You don't get to decide when you want to leave your position if you're not doing the job as well as it needs to be done no matter how long you've been there.
There's been way too much talent on this team for it not to make the NCAA's two straight years; not to mention losing to the dregs of the conferences over and over.
(See, e.g. StAEE, PSU, BG, Western, etc.)
and here's hoping next year is a lot different than this year. But, there should certainly be succession plans in the works. All great things come to an end.
While I think there are many potential reasons that we have taken a slide (lack of top end scoring talent, smaller D across the board, etc.) the real reason we have struggled for a while is the fact we haven't had a top tier goalie in a LONG time.
That was always the cornerstone of every winning Michigan team. And while we got lucky with a walk on a couple of years ago, it is simply unforgivable that a walk on could even get a chance. Other teams have AT LEAST two goalies and we haven't had ONE in almost 10 years.
Jack Campbell decommitting screwed us, sure, but that was one recruit. Where are the others. Until, unless we start bringing in top net minding, we will continue to be a borderline tourny team.
Not that he has kind words for me nor do I have any for him, but I'm curious to hear what Bando thinks.
His opinions on Hockey are usually very insightful.
Red ISN'T Michigan hockey anymore than Bo IS Michigan football. Even he would tell you that.
If you throw in a new coach with Guptill, Phil DG and a couple other possibilities leaving that could be the perfect recipe for an ugly turn for the program.
I do still have faith in Red and don't pin much of the struggles recently on him. I think we have just had some odd mixes of talent and chemistry just not coming together.
Being a goalie all my life I like to think I know a little something about the position and I think we have a couple pretty good ones...maybe not elite but good. The difference between a good and elite goalie is you don't stop 45 shots but let up that soft or flukey one that demoralizes your team at the wrong time. We have had that from both our goalies at times and that can really mess with a teams mojo.
Hopefully we don't lose every experienced player we have and the new ones coming in gel a little better.
Not having NCAA hockey to watch and care about this time of year sucks.
Red's great. The program's been down but coaching changes aren't always great things. If he spends the offseason trying to figure out Penn State and we don't lose too many people due to Michigan Hockey Summer then we should make the tourney next year
(Then again, we should've made the tourney this year)
I think that's quite a bit hyperbolic
At least Red came out and directly (and correctly) said that this year's team underachieved. With another decent crop of freshman and a solidified goalie situation (ZMFN), next year should be back to where it should be. If they miss the tourney again next year then welp.
But I agree with someone above that a succession plan needs to be in place.
Not so fast, my friend. You're an idiot (nothing personal) if you believe that this job is Mel Pearson's to lose. No way Mel is the ideal guy right now. He's a decent coach who can't break .500 (14-19 this year) at Michigan Tech in the 2nd worst league in hockey, what is he going to do against Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the 3 (improving) State teams?
Tech has done nothing for decades.
Recruiting there must be reminiscent of hell.
I remember when I made this post when arguing with you a month ago. Funny how everything I posted in that thread has made it into your repertoire... Really, between here and USCHO, I feel like i'm posting with three accounts when it comes to Red, and I don't remember posting as two of them...
Hard to plug my ears when there are good points being made that make sense. This whole situation is very delicate.
Things have taken a nosedive since Pearson has left leaving me to believe that he was a HUGE part of the success here.
OTOH, he hasn't been doing hot at Houghton but then again, who in the world has since 'Mac? That's the logical thinking. And your point with him taking the trip up North to get some HC experience makes complete sense.
This can't end like Football did.
You can keep the longtime legend and continue to get by, go after the obvious candidate with past affiliations or gamble with an outsider like a Rick Bennett or Danton Cole.
I just hope whatever move is made is what is best for the program and Michigan gets back to making the Tournament every year. Because this really, really sucks having to put away my Hockey jerseys the third week of March.