vs. Alaska (2/15-2/16)

[Hockey John]

I ask this question here periodically...Is Bergeron a guy who can take the rubble and bring it back to respectability...and that's as far as it goes? Or is he capable of doing more...or maybe is this situation going to allow him to do more?

Miami's program has fallen on hard times and many of their fan base believes the problems started when Bergeron left to come to BG. I also remind people to remember where we were as a program at that time that Bergeron arrived. I never want to go back to those times. I have watched the rise of the program. I was in Lake Placid in 1984. I also survived the depths and near demise of the program, Am I frustrated at times that we lose games that we shouldn't definitely. Do I want Bergeron to leave? Definitely NOT. We are doing many things very well. We are 2nd in the nation in team defense allowing 1.81 goals a game. We are 4th in the nation in killing penalties. Bergeron, in my opinion, is the coach we need here at BGSU.

[BGDrew]

I think sometimes people forget just how bad things were ten years ago. That torpedoed recruiting for 5-7 years, and you’re now finally seeing the quality recruits coming in higher numbers.

I appreciate when fans of other sports poke their head in to check out hockey. But, you can’t compare the recruiting process to any other sport.

The program has been a model of consistency over the last five years. Looking at the players we have now and that are coming in the next couple years, that should get us closer to Mankato’s level.

Bergeron’s teams have always flipped the switch in the playoffs. I’ve seen it eight years in a row, and I have no reason to believe it won’t happen again. Yes, we should be having bracketology discussions right now. But, the season is not over (despite what my Twitter mentions look like every weekend).

[pdt1081]

Did Craggs even intend to hit the Nanook (Leer, I think) at all, let alone to the head? It happened fast, but to me it looked like Craggs never even saw the guy.

When Craggs entered the circle, the guy had his head up and back (looking almost directly at TV camera). When Craggs hit him at the dot, he had his head down and forward looking back for the puck. I don't think the contact was with the head as much as Craggs's jersey snagged the top part of his facemask. A hit like that directly to the head would've knocked the guy out cold. The trainer was working under his shoulder pads around the bottom of the neck.

Hopefully, 252 penalty minutes gets the attention of the league to actually address the issue. That hit was a culmination of non-calls and looking the other way. The missed charging call behind the net that leveled Schneider is one that really sticks out. Kinda funny how 2 people missed seeing the guy with the puck get hit by someone that clearly left his feet to hit high. Rauhauser having his stick chopped from his hands while on the powerplay is another. The entire bench was standing and yelling about that one. Add in the continual action after the whistle and the frustration just builds to the point players are just trying to make contact any way they can.

[TommyG]

There isn’t some influx of talent coming in to take us to another tier. Yes the program was in bad shape 10 years ago, but the university has dumped a lot of resources into hockey and we are now in a much lower talent level conference. We are what we are. Good enough to beat mediocre teams and compete in the WCHA. That’s our ceiling.

[mbenecke]

I think sometimes people forget just how bad things were ten years ago. That torpedoed recruiting for 5-7 years, and you’re now finally seeing the quality recruits coming in higher numbers.

I appreciate when fans of other sports poke their head in to check out hockey. But, you can’t compare the recruiting process to any other sport.

The program has been a model of consistency over the last five years. Looking at the players we have now and that are coming in the next couple years, that should get us closer to Mankato’s level.

Bergeron’s teams have always flipped the switch in the playoffs. I’ve seen it eight years in a row, and I have no reason to believe it won’t happen again. Yes, we should be having bracketology discussions right now. But, the season is not over (despite what my Twitter mentions look like every weekend).

I like to be optimistic about this team, but I know it''s not always realistic.

Drew, at this very moment, do you feel like this team will make the national tournament?

[BGDrew]

I like to be optimistic about this team, but I know it''s not always realistic.

Drew, at this very moment, do you feel like this team will make the national tournament?

60/40. 70/30 if they sweep Bemidji.

[BGDrew]

There isn’t some influx of talent coming in to take us to another tier. Yes the program was in bad shape 10 years ago, but the university has dumped a lot of resources into hockey and we are now in a much lower talent level conference. We are what we are. Good enough to beat mediocre teams and compete in the WCHA. That’s our ceiling.

We’re only middle of the pack in terms of budget in the WCHA. Middle of the pack in coaches’ salaries as well.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

I'd go further and say not only is Berge the man, but Ty and Barry (and Jimmy Spratt) are also "the man." Look at the goaltenders this group has brought in (Hammond, Nell, Bednard, Dop). Defense has improved every year. Consistent scoring always seems to be a challenge but I think that's more endemic to us institutionally than it is a knock on the staff. Remember that we recruit into a 50-year old concrete tomb in the middle of wind-swept Wood County playing in a lower-talent league with an athletic budget towards the bottom of the MAC. And we're 16th in the nation. Folks, that is pretty darned good.

What I lament is the opportunity we had this year. We set ourselves up so well during the first half and have blown that all sky high. And if you look at who we're losing after this year (seniors plus Bendard, Rauhauser, and Craggs) there is a lot to replace. I worry it may take us a season or two to get back into the national conversation, but I'm fully convinced this is the staff to do it.

[BG84]

I think the elder Craggs does not play dirty, and I love his energy, but he takes a lot of penalties. Bergeron has complained about undisciplined penalties, said there will be consequences, said the main consequence is related to ice time, and mentioned Craggs specifically. I haven't seen any consequences. (The consequence I would notice is Craggs's not dressing. I might notice his dressing but getting few shifts.)

I'm sure Bergeron watches the game on video before determining the discipline involved in penalties. The penalty Kruse took for tripping that lead to the second goal Saturday, as an example. It looks stupid to take a penalty in the offensive some like that. But, watching the replay, you'll see the player that got tripped actually slashed Kruse's stick into his own feet. How can you discipline the player in a situation like that?

I wouldn't.

[jbakerifm]

I think sometimes people forget just how bad things were ten years ago. That torpedoed recruiting for 5-7 years, and you’re now finally seeing the quality recruits coming in higher numbers.

I appreciate when fans of other sports poke their head in to check out hockey. But, you can’t compare the recruiting process to any other sport.

The program has been a model of consistency over the last five years. Looking at the players we have now and that are coming in the next couple years, that should get us closer to Mankato’s level.

Bergeron’s teams have always flipped the switch in the playoffs. I’ve seen it eight years in a row, and I have no reason to believe it won’t happen again. Yes, we should be having bracketology discussions right now. But, the season is not over (despite what my Twitter mentions look like every weekend).

That all sounds great, and ignores the fact that the program has a fundamental problem with not being able to finish out seasons and beat the bad teams they should pound on. The collapse this second half is ridiculous and there is no reason for it other than the team showing up not ready to play. More talent on the ice Saturday wouldn't have made a lick of difference, they were not ready to beat the #50 team in the nation. It's not the first time they've pissed away a tournament bid or title this way either.

[Hockey John]

There isn’t some influx of talent coming in to take us to another tier. Yes the program was in bad shape 10 years ago, but the university has dumped a lot of resources into hockey and we are now in a much lower talent level conference. We are what we are. Good enough to beat mediocre teams and compete in the WCHA. That’s our ceiling.

The talent level has improved each and every year under Bergeron, You are so wrong that this our ceiling. I will give you a little history lesson, In the mid 1970's BG was a young program in a lower level league the CCHA. BG continued to improve and made it to the NCAA Final Four in 1978 finishing third. Two years later another team from the same league, Northern Michigan finished second in the NCAA tournament, After those two seasons, Michigan State, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Michigan Tech left the WCHA and entered the CCHA, Michigan Tech later switched back, but the CCHA grew to be one of the strongest leagues in college hockey. The top teams in the WCHA are competitive with the teams in the other conferences, I don't believe that this is our ceiling. I also would not be surprised to see another shakeup of leagues in the near future.


Also, a few years ago Providence received the final NCAA spot over BG by ,0001. Providence won the NCAA tournament that year. Massachusetts has not been a strong program in Hockey East. This year they are ranked second. We are also 5-0-1 against teams in the top 9 in the pairwise. Again, Tommy G, you are so wrong.

[jpfalcon09]

There isn’t some influx of talent coming in to take us to another tier. Yes the program was in bad shape 10 years ago, but the university has dumped a lot of resources into hockey and we are now in a much lower talent level conference. We are what we are. Good enough to beat mediocre teams and compete in the WCHA. That’s our ceiling.

The talent level has improved each and every year under Bergeron, You are so wrong that this our ceiling. I will give you a little history lesson, In the mid 1970's BG was a young program in a lower level league the CCHA. BG continued to improve and made it to the NCAA Final Four in 1978 finishing third. Two years later another team from the same league, Northern Michigan finished second in the NCAA tournament, After those two seasons, Michigan State, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Michigan Tech left the WCHA and entered the CCHA, Michigan Tech later switched back, but the CCHA grew to be one of the strongest leagues in college hockey. The top teams in the WCHA are competitive with the teams in the other conferences, I don't believe that this is our ceiling. I also would not be surprised to see another shakeup of leagues in the near future.


Also, a few years ago Providence received the final NCAA spot over BG by ,0001. Providence won the NCAA tournament that year. Massachusetts has not been a strong program in Hockey East. This year they are ranked second. We are also 5-0-1 against teams in the top 9 in the pairwise. Again, Tommy G, you are so wrong.

I think BG has plateaued a bit the past few seasons. Consistent 2nd and 3rd place finishes in the WCHA. Struggles against lower competition. Being on the cusp in Pairwise but still not getting over that hump. The individual talent level has improved, but there are still issues with being consistent as a team and eventually Bergeron and Co. are going to have to answer questions about that. It's great that BG defeated some good teams this year, but the top programs finish strong and don't lose/tie against program in the bottom 10% of PWR.

[TommyG]

There isn’t some influx of talent coming in to take us to another tier. Yes the program was in bad shape 10 years ago, but the university has dumped a lot of resources into hockey and we are now in a much lower talent level conference. We are what we are. Good enough to beat mediocre teams and compete in the WCHA. That’s our ceiling.

The talent level has improved each and every year under Bergeron, You are so wrong that this our ceiling. I will give you a little history lesson, In the mid 1970's BG was a young program in a lower level league the CCHA. BG continued to improve and made it to the NCAA Final Four in 1978 finishing third. Two years later another team from the same league, Northern Michigan finished second in the NCAA tournament, After those two seasons, Michigan State, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Michigan Tech left the WCHA and entered the CCHA, Michigan Tech later switched back, but the CCHA grew to be one of the strongest leagues in college hockey. The top teams in the WCHA are competitive with the teams in the other conferences, I don't believe that this is our ceiling. I also would not be surprised to see another shakeup of leagues in the near future.


Also, a few years ago Providence received the final NCAA spot over BG by ,0001. Providence won the NCAA tournament that year. Massachusetts has not been a strong program in Hockey East. This year they are ranked second. We are also 5-0-1 against teams in the top 9 in the pairwise. Again, Tommy G, you are so wrong.

We’d be nowhere near the top 16 in pairwise if we played in any conference outside of Atlantic Hockey or WCHA. It’s not that we aren’t capable of beating top 10 teams, it’s that we wouldn’t be able to compete week after week with avg to above avg competition. We literally play at least 2 out of every 6 games against the worst programs in the country. Despite these advantages we still have played inconsistent hockey the entire 2nd half.

I’m so right.

[pdt1081]

[double post

[pdt1081]

We’d be nowhere near the top 16 in pairwise if we played in any conference outside of Atlantic Hockey or WCHA. It’s not that we aren’t capable of beating top 10 teams, it’s that we wouldn’t be able to compete week after week with avg to above avg competition. We literally play at least 2 out of every 6 games against the worst programs in the country. Despite these advantages we still have played inconsistent hockey the entire 2nd half.

I’m so right.

Have you watched any games from the other conferences lately? The NCAA instituted rules and interpretations specifically against the WCHA style of play. The WCHA has ignored those. Certain teams have adjusted their style, and it shows in the out of conference records. BG would do fine in every other conference. They wouldn't have near the injuries they've had this year either. Also, being in a conference like the NCHC, a team can be just above .500 for the year, and still make the tournament. There's a much larger margin of error.