This can be turned around....

[FalconBlue]

In 2004-2005 Notre Dame finished the season last in the CCHA with a record 5-27-6, did not win a game after January 2nd and took a 19 game losing streak into 2005-2006.

Bowling Green finished 5th with a record of 16-16-4.

A season and a half later Bowling Green is last in the CCHA and Notre Dame 1st and Ranked 5th in the Nation (USCHO.com/CSTV Division I Men's Poll-January 8th, 2007).

What changed?

“Jackson takes over a team that had just completed the worst season in school history.” read the headlines.

Jeff Jackson, who led Lake Superior State to a pair of NCAA titles, was charged with turning around the Notre Dame hockey program, so with the same players (they were already there or already recruited by the time Jeff took over) he set about instituting his "team" philosophy.

(Former Coach, Dave Poulin, who had spent 10 seasons behind the ND bench was a 12-year National Hockey League veteran and a former Notre Dame star who replaced RIC SCHAFER, who resigned after eight seasons. Poulin, 36, retired as the Washington Capitals' center. He played for Notre Dame from 1978 to 1982. (AP))

Jeff’s first impressions were;

"There would be times it would be discipline, there would be times it could be work ethic, and I didn't get a true sense “of team” all the time when I watched them play," said Jackson

Sounds very much like the BGSU Hockey program today.

[dannyk]

yes we were 16-16-4 that year but you have to remember that we had the best goalie in the nation. We were consistently getting pts on nights that we were dominated physically and in shots on goal.

Myself as well as others brought up how bad we would actually be with an average goalie, some agreed some didnt. At the time when we were winning games 2-1 that we had no business being in many falcon fans didnt really realized how bad the program was.

As uplifting as the Notre Dame story is I just dont see us turning this thing around in a year or two.

[hockey fan]

yes we were 16-16-4 that year but you have to remember that we had the best goalie in the nation. We were consistently getting pts on nights that we were dominated physically and in shots on goal.

Myself as well as others brought up how bad we would actually be with an average goalie, some agreed some didnt. At the time when we were winning games 2-1 that we had no business being in many falcon fans didnt really realized how bad the program was.

As uplifting as the Notre Dame story is I just dont see us turning this thing around in a year or two.

That's the truth. I was able to see Jordan play five or six times. Each time it seemed like he was in a shooting gallery the way the team would get outskated. It seemed like what offense they would generate probably would have disappeared if they were less confident in their netminder.

[Rod Fausnaugh]

I had the opportunity to get to know Jordan. He is a one of a kind individual. Jordan Sigalet kept us in alot of games we had no right being in. No offense to Jimmy, as a matter of fact I am one of his biggest fans(my son is also a netminder, so I am partial to the position), but he is only a fraction of the goaltender Jordan was.

[Flipper]

I haven't seen much hockey this year, but I think it's hard to judge the potential because they seem to lack strength and conditioning.
They also seem to lack effort at times.

Get in shape and get inspired...you'd be amazed at how quickly things can turn around.

I think that's what's missing most from Jordan Sigalet...that kid was probably the most talented player on the team (if he wasn't his brother was) but he still had the work ethic of a guy trying to prove himself.

[turtle]

Get in shape and get inspired

I would have to agree with this. I have seen a number of times (especially in South Bend) when we come out in the third and are just tanked. Now I am assuming this is because of conditioning and not because there are too few line changes. I am not very knowledgeable about the sport of hockey, but it seems we have guys pulling some long shifts out there.

[Bleeding Orange]

I am not very knowledgeable about the sport of hockey, but it seems we have guys pulling some long shifts out there.

I'm not a great hockey mind, either, but I have always gotten the impression that we run long on a lot of our shifts, especially this year, because of our team inability to clear the zone at any point during the game.

[hockey fan]

A chief complaint of the ex-players was alway that Pooch would run them ragged in Thursday practices and Friday skates. I don't really know personally, but there is no doubt that they always look tired.

[daytonfalcon]

I sure hope that things can be turned around. All this losing is having a negative effect on the prestige of this program. I think we are just another hockey school where players may "settle" to play and not a destination for top hockey talent.

[hockey fan]

I sure hope that things can be turned around. All this losing is having a negative effect on the prestige of this program. I think we are just another hockey school where players may "settle" to play and not a destination for top hockey talent.

Hate to break it to you bub, but that's the kind of school we've been for the last 10 to 15 years or so. Sure there have been a couple of exceptions, but most of our guys have been second or third tier kind of guys. The program's down turn pretty much coincided with the graduation of Jerry York's final class or two.

[jontends]

i love how all of you come on here and criticize the players for not being in shape, or being second tier players. Many of the players that come in are recruited from all of the top schools around the country, but by the time they leave, their game is worse than when they came in. These guys work hard but their talent gets waisted playing for pooch. He has been playing a trap system for 5 years and it never works. He ruins hockey players who work as hard as anyone around the country and these players are just as talented. If you don't know what you are talking about, or never played the game at a high level, you probably shouldn't talk.

[BGDrew]

These people who "shouldn't talk" also are the reason players have the opportunity to get a free education. While I'll agree that discussing someone who's not even old enough to legally drink, they have a personal (and sometimes financial) interest in the product which is being presented.

It's a two-way street.

[hockey fan]

i love how all of you come on here and criticize the players for not being in shape, or being second tier players. Many of the players that come in are recruited from all of the top schools around the country, but by the time they leave, their game is worse than when they came in. These guys work hard but their talent gets waisted playing for pooch. He has been playing a trap system for 5 years and it never works. He ruins hockey players who work as hard as anyone around the country and these players are just as talented. If you don't know what you are talking about, or never played the game at a high level, you probably shouldn't talk.

Look, I'm not saying that Pooch is a great coach. In fact, I suspect he isn't, but you can't tell me that we have the same calibre of players that we used to. I've seen these guys play. You are telling me that Paluch is beating the ability to make a simple pass out of these guys. Are you suggesting that Pooch is the sole reason the players can't stickhandle their way past a telephone pole? ... OK, maybe that was a little harsh.

Look, I never played at a particularly high level, but I've seen more than enough hockey to know what to look for.

[dannyk]

Note to Jontends most of our players are not recruited by good schools. Out of the last few years I can think of maybe 2 or 3 that were "steals" for BG hockey.

We have fallen on hard times and can no longer pull top players from the USHL, and have instead pulled mediocre talent from canadian jr leauges. Look at the numbers some of these guys put up in junior leagues and you wonder how in the hell they were ever offered a scholly. I know the NAHL is not as good as it used to be but some of the local guys in that league are easily at the same caliber as these undersized, and unproductive benders we are getting from random internet searches. Sending a guy a packet in the mail and hoping he shows up as a 20 goal scorer is not the way to go.

Take a look at some BG career total stats from some forwards that graduated in the last couple years and you will see what I'm talking about.
Some of these guys barely racked 10 goals in 4 years.

Goaltending although I agree they are not getting much help has been below average at best. Last year Horrell are supposed number #1 goalie came out of the gate playing terrible. He would make a big save every now and then, but would continually get lit up by the bottom half of our league. That combined with Spratts inexperience as a freshman left the team playing with less confidence.

[pdt1081]

Goaltending although I agree they are not getting much help has been below average at best. Last year Horrell are supposed number #1 goalie came out of the gate playing terrible. He would make a big save every now and then, but would continually get lit up by the bottom half of our league. That combined with Spratts inexperience as a freshman left the team playing with less confidence.

Not to take anything away from the guy, but Horrell was a solid backup goaltender. He played very well as a backup. Did what he needed to when he was called on, keep scores from getting worse, give the team a kick in the AZZ, and occasionally give the starter a night off. As a #1 goalie, a lot more is expected of you. Unfortunately, Horrell wasn't a #1 goalie, nor should he have been. Spratt was recruited as a #1 goalie. He came to school out of shape physically and mentally. This forced Horrell into the #1 goalie spot.

This season, Neville is a good backup. He was given a chance at the #1 goalie spot but didn't step up his game. Spratt is starting to show why he was recruited as a #1 goalie. The game against scUM he was the best player on the ice. A lot of his struggles this year seem to be with the resizing of the catching glove.