Not trying to take anything away from the AMAZING tourney that Hunwick had, but I'm wondering if anyone agrees with me on a "backup theory"
The comment was made during the open thread that Michigan was NOT allowing anything in front of our net. The D, wings, everyone was collapsing and eliminating second chances in both games this weekend. I think this was a direct result of the team knowing that they didn't have a superior goaltender.
As a goalie growing up, I was usually the starter (squirt through high school). Oftentimes, I'd notice that the team would play better in front of the backup goalie. I naturally found it frustrating, but I felt like the team psyche was "We don't have the same last line of defense, so let's really pick it up in every other area." I think that's exactly what happened for Michigan.
As a goalie coach for a high school team this past year, I had to explain to our goalies on numerous occasions that they were not pulled for their play. Sometimes we put the other goalie in just to try to get the rest of the team to raise their level of play.
I really think that the team did a GREAT job in front of Hunwick in the tourney, and I think that Hunwick played his ass off. He was amazing.
the point of the topic is.... do you think this "backup theory exists? Does this have a parallel in other sports? Does an O-line play better/smarter/etc. when a backup QB comes in? I know in basketball a coach often takes a technical to "fire up the team" and in the NHL players take it upon themselves to get in a fight to get things going... are there other examples out there?
Let's hope the whole team and Hunwick bring their A game to the NCAAs, Lets go Blue.
(I know this is long for a board topic, as I'm still pretty new I didn't feel like making this a diary. If it should be, please move it. Thanks.)
I think there is some truth to your back up theory. I'm a career fencer, and I know that similar things happen in team matches. If I couldn't bring my best fencers with me, I know that myself and the other fencers often stepped up to compensate for the perceived lack of back up. If the other squads (collegeiate team fencing often competes as a full squad, the victories of all three weapons often count for the whole team) were weaker, we did the same thing.