Randomness from Rabib

Its Got to be Mental....right?

2007-12-11T15:11:00.000-08:00

So SCSU is now in a five game slide where they have lost every game by one goal and have coughed up 3rd period leads in three of those 5 games. Everyone who watches this team knows the talent is there so what exactly is the cause of this? Are they just a young team that needs to learn that you've got to bring 60 minutes of effort every night or is it something more.
Personally I think it's the former. The main cogs of this team are all underclassmen, our top 3 scorers, all the goalies and half the regularly playing defenseman are all underclassmen that need to learn this is a 60 minute game.
Prime example was last Saturday. They looked great for 54 minutes against Denver and were well on their way to a win. What happens? They forget to play the final 6 minutes and fall 3-2.
It's getting frustrating for Husky fans but look at it this way, they don't have a losing record overall even with this slide and they are only 6 points out of 3rd in the conference and that's with the 3rd place team playing 4 more games to this point. Not to mention that only two teams in the league have winning records in WCHA play.
They also have one of the best offenses in the nation, they are number one overall in the WCHA and are 3rd in offense in conference play. Yes the D needs to tighten and Weslosky probably needs to start making more saves that he shouldn't, but this team is going through some growing pains right now as is much of the league.
Should make for one exciting stretch run. :)
There is a lot of time left, but urgency does need to set in as the schedule I mentioned a few posts below doesn't get any easier this week with CC then the tourney then Minnesota and UND.
They need to right the ship and do it now, and I do wonder, if they were mad last week after being swept at Wisconsin while playing well, exactly what are they this week?

Oh, and one recruiting note, add Roseau goalie Mike Lee to the list of Northland boys choosing SCSU. Lee is expected to come in 2010.

New Guy

2007-11-25T19:47:00.000-08:00

SCSU added Green Bay (USHL) Defenseman Taylor Johnson this week as he committed for either the '08 or '09 season.
Johnson is a bit on the small side at only 5'9" 175 and was supposed to be a senior at White Bear Lake this year.

So that leaves SCSU's recruits as follows
Tyler Kieffer-D-Lincoln (USHL) 08 possibly 09
Jared Festler-F-Lincoln (USHL) 08
Travis Novak-F-Omaha (USHL) 08
Chris Hepp-D-Omaha (USHL) 08
Sam Zabkowicz-D-Sioux Falls (USHL) 08
Drew LeBlanc-F-Chicago (USHL) 08
Jordy Christian-F-Prince George (BCHL) 08
Nic Rioux-D-Practicing with SCSU 08
Luca Cunti-F-Practicing with SCSU (could be this year if his clearinghouse issued are resolved)
Taylor Johnson-D-Green Bay (USHL) 08 or 09
Bryce Ravndalen-F-Warroad (MN HS) 09
Nick Oliver-F-Roseau (MN HS) 09
Ben Hanowski-F-Little Falls (MN HS) 09

Start of a rough stretch

2007-11-21T15:47:00.000-08:00

So this weekend begins a tough stretch for the Huskies.

First up is Clarkson who is currently the #1 team in the ECAC. Now Clarkson will likely be looking for some payback after getting thumped by SCSU last year. I expect a good series, especially since Clarkson hasn't lost at home in over a year. I think that ends this weekend.
Next they go to UW a place they haven't won at since 2001. I think they can get a win there but I'm always fearful of this series as good Husky teams have gone down and out in Madison.
Next up are two home series with the current #1 and #2 teams in the WCHA, oddly enough, both from Colorado. Both teams always play hard and can give the Huskies fits. But these series are at the NHC and SCSU hasn't lost at home. While I think they will lose at least one of the four, 3 wins isn't out of the question and less than 2 is completely unacceptable.
Then comes the Christmas tourney. Now typically SCSU does well in the mid-season tourneys as it has been the only trophy (besides the DQ cup) we can win lately. That said, the first game is against the current #1 team in the nation, the Miami Redhawks. Miami has benefited from a favorable schedule but just swept the defending champs, Michigan State in East Lansing. Time will tell if they are for real and that game could prove whether the Huskies are real too.
If that isn't bad enough, the 2nd half opens with UND and Minnesota. Now 3 out of the 4 are at home and right now Minnesota is playing horribly but they will be tough games none the less.

Huskies, it's time to man up, cause the road gets rough from here.
First up, Clarkson tomorrow night, can the leading scorers in the WCHA continue the pace they have been on and has Motzko found the line combos that will work. A sweep in Potsdam would go a long way to answering those questions.

Two Sputtering offenses

2007-10-26T15:20:00.000-07:00

According to BSU fans, their offense has been anemic so far this year as they are waiting for their team to gel but they have been getting decent goaltending.
Sound Familiar? It should as this is exactly what we Husky fans have been saying about our squad.
The line shuffling continues tonight as Nodl and Lasch will skate on an announced line together for the first time.
They have been used on the power play and at Motzko's discretion so far this year but have never been a pairing till tonight. Is this Motzko putting all of his eggs in one basket? Time will tell.
Right now I think he's trying to pull start an offense that has sputtered (6 goals) since the opening game against Cansius.
Also this weekend, the return of Matt Francis to the NHC and the return of Travis Winter to his home town.
Both guys seem jacked to play in this series but so do former teammates of Francis and guys Winter grew up playing with in Hartman and Swanson.
Will Francis get Kronick syndrome and light his former team up?
Well Kronick had never scored a goal in college before coming to SCSU but he'd only played in 15 games.
Francis played in over 40 games with SCSU and has played in 2 with Bemidji. He has a total of 8 assists for his career.
Now logic says he will light us up this weekend because that's just how it works. I for one hope he gets at least one and the crowd gives him no grief over it. He played hard when he was here and deserves some respect.
That said, SCSU needs a sweep, not only for the mental aspects (confidence) that it would bring, but to show the talent that we know is there, it just needs to show up for a full 60 minutes.

Long Time No Post

2007-10-04T05:01:00.000-07:00

Well a new season is almost upon us, and I think its time to make my predictions on the new season.

1. UND
2. UMN
3. SCSU
4. MTU
5. UW
6. CC
7. DU
8. UMD
9. UAA
10. MSUM

This is highly "scientific"
I was way wrong last year, hopefully I'll do better in the new season

So it comes down to this...

2007-02-09T08:14:00.000-08:00

Tonight begins the most important eight game stretch of the season and likely in the history of St. Cloud State hockey. IF SCSU wants to prove it is among the elite in the nation, it must start tonight. Starting tonight SCSU has two games with CC, two @ UW, two with MN and two with UND. The Huskies have not played CC or UW this year and are 0-1-3 against UND and MN.
Judging from the articles this week, the guys are ready for this challenge and they want to prove they are among the elite. Only time will tell.
There has been a quiet confidence among the team and the fans all season long that is just waiting to bust out. The time has come, the chance is here. LETS GO HUSKIES!

Splitsville

2006-10-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

So the Huskies first weekend ends in a split with DU. The odd thing is, the strength of the Huskies from last year is what let them down, or this likely would have been an SCSU sweep.
Friday the defense as a whole was just flat out horrible. Goepfert wasn't much better as the first goal trickled over the line off his glove, the second squirted underneath him while the third bounced off his leg from a sharp angle. None of these are goals he gave up last year and even he admitted afterwards that he blew the game. The Huskies gave up way too many odd man rushes on the weekend and that lead to every goal DU got. Friday they were down 3-0 before they decided to come play and play they did. 50 shots on Friday generated only three goals while DU took 23 and 4 resulted in goals. Yes SOG are not a viable stat but its still sad on both accounts.
Saturday the roles were reversed as SCSU was badly outshot by DU (33-20) but won easily 5-2.
Goepfert played much better on Saturday after another shaky start.
The big thing from this weekend is the 8 goals scored by the Huskies. Including the exhibition, the Huskies have put up 16 goals in three games. Compare that with 4 through the same period last year and things are looking promising.
The Huskies Freshman class is looking up to snuff so far, at least in terms of Nodl and Lasch. Nodl ended the weekend with 2 goals and 2 assists, while Lasch scored one goal on Saturday to go with his assist on Friday.
All tolled, the Huskies had goals from 5 players (Gordon 2, Nodl 2, Swanson 2, Lasch, Raduns) who played essentially on two line but the firepower is there as DU is not a slouch on defense.
Things are looking very promising for SCSU in the young season, and if Goepfert can return to the form he showed last season and flashes of on Saturday, this could be a long year for the rest of the WCHA.
Next up is a home and home with Mankato and revenge for a sweep in Kato last year will be on the Huskies minds before homecoming on Saturday.

In other Husky news, SCSU received a verbal commitment from Little Falls junior forward Jared Festler over the weekend. This is a huge get for SCSU as Festler was the 2nd leading scorer in the state last year with 82 points as a Sophomore. He has so far proven that was no fluke by leading the Midwest Elite League in scoring with 23 points in 11 games. The Elite League features the best High School talent from across the midwest and has players from MN, ND and WI in it.
The hope for Husky fans is this commit leads to his linemate and close friend Ben Hanowski joining him at SCSU. Hanowski is reported to be a strong Gopher fan so if MN shows any interest, the point might be moot as the major reason Festler is a Husky is because it was his dream to play there.
Festler will join SCSU no earlier than '08 after his senior season with the Flyers. It is possible he skips his senior season and plays '07 in the USHL. But it is also possible he plays his senior year in Little Falls then goes to the USHL in '08 meaning he'd join the Huskies in '09.

Either way, if he continues to progress the way he has, he should add a lot of firepower to the Husky offense.

As it stands now, these are SCSU's recruits for '07 and beyond, as taken from Chris Heisenberg's Class of 2007 site which is linked to the right.

Jared Festler-F-Little Falls (Minnesota High School) 5'9 165
Sam Zabkowicz-D-Sioux Falls (USHL) 5'10 170
Tyler Kieffer-D-Stillwater (Minnesota High School) 5'11 188
Aaron Marvin-F-Warroad (Minnesota High School) 6'3 180 2006 NHL Draft #89 overall
Nick Oslund-F-Tri-City (USHL) 6'2 205 2006 NHL Draft #191 overall
Brian Volpei-F- Salmon Arm (BCHL) 5'9 165
Travis Novak-F-Omaha (USHL) 5'11 165
Jordy Christian-F-Sioux Falls (USHL) 5'9 155
Garret Roe-F-Indiana (USHL) 5'9 160

Jets Exhibition

2006-09-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

Wasn't a bad game on Friday night between the F/M Jets and the Southern Minnesota Express. I was very surprised at how fast paced it was even from the very beginning. I did have to laugh though as both team wore their practice jerseys for this game and a lot of players on the Jets weren't wearing their right numbers and a few that were playing weren't even listed in the program we were given. Not that I can verify any of this as the Jets website still doesn't have a roster up. They play their first game on Wednesday morning but no roster is up...brilliant.
The one big change I did notice for the Jets is Dayn Belfour is not on the team. He is a goalie and the son of Eddie Belfour who was going to play for the Jets and attend Fargo North High School this year. Something must have changed but I don't know what because he is out and Mankato recruit Austin Lee is in. Lee started the game for the Jets and played very well, giving up just one goal in two full periods.
After hearing the NAHL is adopting a lot of U.S. Hockey's rules I was expecting a much more penalty filled game than I got. But it really wasn't that bad. The flow of the game reminded me a lot of high school, higher skilled, but still high school. The first period went by pretty quick, no one scored but there were a lot of decent chances. The Jets controlled most of the play except for their one power play in which they were able to put on some decent pressure once they got the puck in the zone, but that was the problem, they couldn't get the puck in the zone. Happened on the 2nd PP too, the Express played some good defense and the Jets couldn't figure it out at all.
The second period produced the games first goals. First one came at 3:21 of the period on a shorthanded play from Dusty Jackson of the Express. Robert Carr of the Jets couldn't handle a pass back to him from Andrew Harrison and Jackson picked it off and was off to the races, beating Lee high over the stick side that glanced off the corner of the bars before finding its way in.
The Express almost made it 2-0 a little later after a nice move by defenseman Robby Spaulding. Spaulding toe dragged past a rushing forward and ripped a low wrist shot through traffic but Lee was able to stick his leg out and deflect it away. Then about 12:00
The action was pretty even till the end of the period when the Jets tied it up. Rob Johnson took a cross ice pass from Tom Jensen above the circles and fired it into the open net before Express goalie Simen Paulgaard could get over.
The third period was relatively uneventful until the middle when the Jets took the lead on the power play. Finally the Jets get a good power play and it pays off. Jesse Echternach took a pass in the slot from Grant Larson and put it away for a 2-1 Jets lead. The Jets kept the pressure on and tried to take a two goal lead but some good saves by Paulgaard kept the Express in it.
Then began a very exciting last four minutes. The Express tied the game at two on a 2 on 2 rush up the ice by Logan Lathan and Danny Sinn. Lathan took a pass from Sinn, used the defenseman as a screen and put one past new goalie Elliot Okland on the short side.
Just 26 seconds later the Express took the lead. Jackson scored his second of the game beating Okland on the far side after a breakdown by the Jets D.
1:01 later the Jets tied it, Andrew Harrison took a loose puck right in front of the goal and popped up over Paulgaard. The game looked destined for overtime, but it was not to be.
Dustin Skinner fired a weak shot from just inside the circles that dribbled on toward goal and slid right through Okland's legs with just 16 seconds left. Final 4-3 Express.

It wasn't a bad game, but Okland looked very shaky in goal and I wouldn't be surprised if Lee ends up the Jets primary goalie very soon.

The Jets also lost the next night to North Iowa 6-3 to finish the preseason 0-2.
They begin the season on Wednesday at the NAHL Showcase in Blaine.
Hopefully the Jets site will have a roster up by then.

Hockey Season is almost here

2006-09-03T18:10:00.000-07:00

For me at least.
I'll be going to the F/M Jets exhibition game on Friday and then maybe on Saturday as well.
Can't wait, live hockey at last.
One thing that does suck, the Jets website doesn't have a roster up yet which is strange if they are playing a game in less than a week. Maybe these games are going to have cuts after them, who knows.

Duh...Predictions

2006-08-19T00:26:00.000-07:00

In my hastiness, I realized I had ranted, but hadn't posted my predictions for this year

1. DU
2. SCSU
3. UMN
4. UND
5. UW
6. UMD
7. CC
8. MSUM
9. UAA
10. MTU

We'll see how right I am come March

People Are Nuts

2006-08-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

Those of you that know me know I pay attention to college hockey and at one time was a poster on USCHO. What's funny now is my Fiance has decided to get in on that action and everyone on there thinks she's me. Heck, we do think alike and have a passion for hockey so I guess that's ok.
But, that said, this is why I think people there are crazy, well at least the WCHA fans.
No one on there thinks SCSU has a chance of being any good despite the fact that only they and UMD didn't lose anyone early.
Now, I will agree that UND, UMN, UW and DU all have more overall talent than the Huskies and the argument could be made that last year was a fluke and SCSU can't possibly be any better. But I don't buy that, for several reasons.
1. Every player improves somewhat from year to year, especially at this age, so its ridiculous to say they can't improve.
2. There is legit star talent on this team with Gordon and Goepfert and probably a star in the making in incoming freshman Andreas Nodl.
3. They finally have a decent coach in Bob Motzko who already seems to know how to get the most out of his players and maybe even a little more.
4. The loss of talent from every other team in this league is staggering.

Minnesota loses over 100 goals from last years squad due to graduation and defection early yet most posters think they still have so much they won't be stopped. How easily they forget the Final Five and Holy Cross.

UND has a lot of good talent returning but they still lost 5 guys early, not to mention the graduates so they will likely hurt as well

DU loses a Hobey Baker winner and a lot of scoring as well so they could struggle to start the season and a lot of pressure will be put on Dingle and their goaltending to start off strong.

UW loses their top five in scoring and I can't recall any goalie having a 2nd season like the one Elliott put up last year. For most college goalies, that is a once in a career type season. Elliott will be good and Wisconsin will have to count a lot on him. But they won last year largely because he put up the numbers he did and its ridiculous to say he can put up a GAA around 1.55 again. Not to mention that they lose a key defensive leader in Gilbert

The big thing that keeps being brought up is that SCSU doesn't have much depth in the way of talent and in a lot of ways that is true. These guys with the exception of Gordon and Goepfert, Borer and Fletcher are not very talented and none of them outside of those four have any kind of shot at making the NHL. But what they all are, are solid hard working college hockey players.
They work their butts off every shift and give it all they have and really I wouldn't ask any less of them.
The next knock is SCSU has scoring issues. Well they had scoring issues last year and managed to have their best offensive output since Hartigan last skated for SCSU. The bottom line is this team doesn't need to score a lot of goals. They rely on good goaltending and good defense to win and they have that. Goepfert returns as possibly the best goaltender in the nation and the defense lost one player who really wasn't all that important to the defense as a whole. So the two strengths from last years team return basically intact, and those two strengths really can also only get better.
The recruits coming in are the strongest class SCSU has had in years, led by Andreas Nodl who, if he puts up anything close to what his hero Vanek did for the Gophers, will be a force in this league and a major boost to the offense. The other recruits are likely role players but you need those on any good team. The darkhorse is Ryan Lasch. The knock on him is that he played in a weak league and this is true. In the hierarchy of junior A leagues in Canada, this one is likely near the bottom. But, Lasch dominated the CJHL. 146 points in the regular season, another 40 or so in exhibitions and the playoffs, those kinds of numbers can't be ignored. If he makes a decent adjustment to the speed and skill of the WCHA, he could have a tremendous freshman year.

The point to all this is that while I don't completely think SCSU WILL win the WCHA, I don't think its at all a stretch to say they won't be able to be competitive and at the very least, have a damn good shot at the top 3 and the first NCAA win in the program's history.