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Etc....nothing more to say.

0 for last 37 on the PP.


This is why some of us were not going crazy after our win over Uconn to start the year.

As hard as this is for a fan of the program, I feel for the whole team. From the top to bottom a sweep is hard to swallow, especially in-conference.

I think they need to take some frustration out on some Nuts next weekend.

First, the football team is going to lose to scUM and then we're going to finish the sweep.

I'm not ready to guarantee victory yet, but we'll see.

Not making excuses here, but I do know that many of the guys have been sick most of the week. Someone who was at the game said he thought they looked "weak" which would make sense if many of them were sick, are getting sick, or are just getting over being sick. Just something to take into consideration, fwiw.

And like BGDrew said....SWEEP THE NUTS!!!!

Fighting Irish 4-0.

The Falcons suffered another tough defeat last night giving Notre Dame the weekend sweep. Frankly the game was lost in the first 9 minutes after giving up 2 quick goals. The game was a better effort than Friday night but nevertheless the Falcon’s were comprehensively out played.

Jimmy Spratt had a less than auspicious game making 24 saves. All nightlong the frustration showed as ND totally neutralized Matsumoto and Whitmore neither of whom was a factor in the game tonight. Moto did show his diving skills early in the game and made an effort to persuade the officials he had scored at the end of the second. The video replay however showed that it was no goal.

The PK unit made the effort, but was unable to prevent ND’s power play goal. Our PP was once again unproductive. The PP unit went 0-6 tonight, and is now 0 for their last 37 attempts. It would seem to me that Pooch should consider a change in personnel.

All 9 defensemen played tonight, three of them out of position, at forward. I hazard to say they acquitted themselves very well. Ralph, Moore and Bronson made no stupid errors and added an edge we could use but more importantly gave up no goals. Pooch keeps saying, “Notre Dame is the most physical team in the nation”, does he mean it’s not acceptable to be physical?

The top 2 lines were abysmal last night because ND was coached to take them out of the play. If only Pooch realized that taking Erik Condra and Mark Van Guilder out of the play would eliminate their “fire power”. After the 3rd goal there was a visible deflation of the team and the result is evident. This team needs a boost in morale or we have only begun to see the slide.

After watching I conclude (and I hate to say it) this team has no identity, no leadership and this weekend mostly no heart. I’m hearing players are happier staying on campus than traveling with the team because every "ounce" of love for the game is being negated and isn't it evident.

CHN/Wodon: The Irish ran their unbeaten streak to eight games (7-0-1), led by senior goaltender David Brown's 28-save shutout and a pair of goals by sophomore Erik Condra. The eight-game unbeaten streak is the longest for Notre Dame since a 14-game winning streak in the middle of the 1987-88 season. "I thought we played much more in control tonight," said head coach Jeff Jackson. "We dictated the tempo better tonight than last night. It wasn't a free-for-all with odd-man rushes. We made a lot of progress tonight over last night (Friday) and it was just a matter of playing smart with the puck, not giving up the odd-man rushes or making bad decisions with the puck.

These are points that I brought up at the beginning of the year. It is nice to see that people are beginning to realize it now. I hope there doesn't need to be a bunch of more losses before changes are made.
Sidenote- I wonder if Pooch is going to begin using ND's PP becuase lord knows the one we have is doing terrible. I wouldn't hold your breath for a change in the personal on the PP either becuase once Pooch gets it in his mind that those are his players, it will be very close to that from start to finish. Just another great aspect of his coaching.

Friday Night

I don't know if ND played to our level or us to their level, the first two periods, but the game for 2 periods was pretty evenly matched. There were 2 kind of "fluke" goals- one for each team. The second period ended tied 2-2 and I was optimistic. The third period began, as did the parade to the penalty box for both teams. This DEFINITELY separated the men from the boys. BG was completely overmatched on special teams and it was obvious which team would prevail with a "w" in this game.

Saturday Night

BG didn't deserve to win this game and it was obvious that they wouldn't. They were completely overmatched and lost from the opening drop of the puck! ENOUGH SAID!

OVERALL OBSERVATIONS

Goaltending
Our lack of consistency in net was obvious both nights, but I do not lay blame solely at the feet of either guy. They both have strengths and weaknesses. Eddie Neville REALLY needs to work on the controlling and the placement of the rebounds he gives up. There are way too many rebounds sent back out into the slot area and a good team will make him pay for those. Jimmy Spratt does a better job of controlling rebounds and playing the puck, BUT there are times when he appears to lose focus in net. I noticed it last weekend in the WIN against LSSU, as well. Which goalie would I call upon if I suddenly became Head Coach? I would lean towards Neville. Given that I believe the rebound thing can be corrected and it appears to me that the team plays a little (and that's not saying much) better D in front of him. Although, I will say it really doesn't matter which guy is in net if our D doesn't improve, which brings me to my next point...

The D
They are completely lost out there most of the time. The statistics for the "top 4" on the weekend were horrible. The ONLY one of the top 6 that didn't make numerous glaring mistakes in coverage, puck play and possession and taking unnecessary penalties was Russ Sinkewich. I understand that the top 2 to 4 defense men tend to play more against the other team's top offensive lines, but some of the mistakes made by these 4 wouldn't have mattered if they were playing the Bobcat Hockey team or the #10 team in the nation. For an example of Top D vs. Top O, see Nick Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings.

The Power Play
I am at a complete loss for words watching this on the ice. The BG power play is not just bad, it is downright embarrassing! I would love to see a stat for how much time the team CONTROLLED the puck in the offensive zone during the PP this weekend. It can't be a very big number. As an example, on one Power Play, it took 1:50 to even gain the blue line in the offensive zone. Once the offensive zone is obtained, keeping the puck actually IN the zone is a HUGE problem. There doesn't seem to be anyone capable of stepping up to "quarterback" the power play. I've been watching this game long enough to normally be able to have an opinion which personnel I would chose to play certain positions, but I am at a loss. I know that Unger's injury is hurting here, because there is not "big body" out front. BUT at this point, I don't care what position a person plays or on what line, try something new..ANYTHING NEW...because what is out there now, is OBVIOUSLY NOT WORKING!! This is the most glaring point that I can see might be a coaching problem. Either the coaching staff is not able to fix the problems or the team is not able to execute their coaching...or maybe it's a combination of both, but the COACH needs to fix whatever the problem is.

The Forwards
They were not back-checking or playing team D effectively for most of the weekend. When one member of a line is double teamed, it seems that someone should be open. This open man is having difficulty getting and controlling the puck. (I'm sure you know who you are!) The passing was not sharp and seemed to be missing the mark wildly more times than not. Communication seemed to be an issue.

Shegos
What can be said? He was moderately bad on Friday, but Saturday he was downright horrible! Sitting where I was, I got to hear first-hand the classic Shegos "I didn't see it" over and over again. It seems to be his mantra. Saturday, Paluch rode him for his horrible calls, Shegos for the most part seemed to ignore him. At one point, Paluch yelled "Jesus Matty!" and just kind of threw up his hands! BG had two unsportsman-like conduct (diving) penalties this weekend. In my opinion, the Friday one on Svendsen was horrible (I don't see Brandon as a guy who embellishes the calls) and the one on Matsumoto on Saturday was marginal at best. All of that being said, good teams battle through officiating and win the special teams match ups...BG cannot!

Physicality
This team is just not physical. They seemed to not be completing checks and seemed to be easily pushed around and pushed off of control of the puck. I saw them capable of finishing checks and being physical in the win against LSSU, so I know that it's possible. BUT, they are limited size-wise vs. teams like ND and others. So, they may not be able to stand toe to toe with those teams, but they need to find a way to use other assets. Speed is a possibility, I suppose, but something needs to be done. Can the addition of a tough-nosed assistant coach help here? I don't know. I know Doug Schueller is a tough guy, he played an ENTIRE season with a knee that wasn't whole, so I know he's tough, but can toughness be taught?

Good Points
There were some bright spots on the weekend, I don't want to give the impression that everything was horrible (just mostly ) The play of the "4th" line (energy line, whatever you want to call it) was something to definitely smile about. Bronson, Moore, Boyd (Friday) and Ralph (Saturday) were 100% hustle! They are a joy to watch and for times on the weekend were OBVIOUSLY the best BG line on the ice. They were physical, energetic and consistently able to gain and maintain offensive zone pressure. A bounce one way or the other and one of these guys would've scored. Ralph was superb on face-offs on Saturday. I don't know the actual stats, but he had to be at 90% or better. Jon Erikson also did a good job on Saturday, he appeared to be a guy fighting to show he wants playing time. I am impressed by Danton Cole, not that I doubted his pedigree in any way, far from it! I'm completely impressed by it! I witnessed a lot of coaching during the game both on the bench and in the "tunnel" area. The guys seemed to be listening to him and trying to respond. I was a VERY nice sight to see!

So, if you're still reading this novel, know that while I'm pessimistic coming out of the weekend at ND, the problems I see are for the most part correctable! Will they be corrected? Can they be corrected? Will the coaching staff correct them? Will the players correct the ones they can correct? Will anyone care by that point? ONLY TIME WILL TELL!
GO FALCONS!
Erika

I know this sounds negative but did we really expect to get more than a point or 2 this weekend. The point that we are getting pushed around physically is obvious. Thats what happens when we recruit guys that are '5"8, 165lbs. Guys like Dobek, Meloche and many of the freshman forwards are decent players but would get pushed off the puck by most guys on the club team. Next year Cepis is coming in who weighs 150lbs right now.

I guess my point is a few small guys are fine but all of our forwards being feather weights seems a little odd.

Nov. 11, 2006

Notre Dame Keeps Rolling With Shutout Of Bowling Green
Brown, Condra Star In Victory

Compiled by USCHO Staff
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Led by senior goaltender David Brown and a pair of goals by sophomore Erik Condra, Notre ran its unbeaten streak to eight games Saturday night with a 4-0 win over Bowling Green.
The Irish, who also got goals from Mark Van Guilder and Christiaan Minella in the win, improved to 8-1-1 overall and 3-0-1 in CCHA play, while Bowling Green fell to 3-6-1 on the season and 1-5-0 in conference play.

The 8-1-1 record for the Irish is their best start since the 1998-99, and the eight-game unbeaten streak is the longest for Notre Dame since a 14-game winning streak in the middle of the 1987-88 campaign.

"I thought we played much more in control tonight," said head coach Jeff Jackson. "We dictated the tempo better tonight than last night. It wasn't a free-for-all with odd-man rushes. We made a lot of progress tonight over last night (Friday) and it was just a matter of playing smart with the puck, not giving up the odd-man rushes or making bad decisions with the puck."

Condra put the Irish ahead to stay with the eventual game winner at 6:19 of the first period when he took a feed from defenseman Dan VeNard and steered it past Bowling Green goaltender Jimmy Spratt for his fourth goal of the season.
"That was a high roll play where the defenseman comes down the wall with the puck. Their defenseman was right on me. I moved out and he followed me and when he did I got around him and went to the net. Vern (Dan VeNard) just made a great pass and I was able to tip it in." explained Condra.

The Notre Dame lead would go to 2-0 at 9:04 of the first when Minella, a freshman, making his first collegiate appearance scored off a two-on-one with Josh Sciba when he whipped a shot past Spratt from the slot for the first goal of his career on his first shot. Jason Paige set the play in motion when he blocked a Falcon shot at the blue line and the puck went to Sciba to start the two-on-one.
"Christiaan's (Minella) a big lad who skates well and bangs bodies," said Jackson. "He'll make things interesting on our team. It took him awhile to pick up some of our systems, but I thought he did well without the puck tonight. He's a wide body who skates well and hits people and that's something that we can always use."

The Irish lead would grow to 3-0 in the second period with Noah Babin setting up Mark Van Guilder for his eighth goal of the year at 9:12. Off a face-off to the right of Spratt, T.J. Jindra moved the puck to Babin on the left wing boards. Babin carried deep into the Bowling Green zone and found Van Guilder in the high slot. The junior center fired through a screen beating Spratt for his second goal of the weekend.
Condra then rounded out the scoring at 11:43 of the final period with his second of the night and fourth of the year, this one coming on the power play. Kyle Lawson and Kevin Deeth (his second assist of the game) set up the goal.

Most of the night though, it was Brown, doing what he's done most of the season — stop the puck. His big period came in the third when the Falcons had 11 shots on goal, including four power-play chances.
"David was his usual self tonight," said Jackson. "I don't think he had to be as spectacular tonight as last night. There were less back door plays and fewer odd-man rushes. He had to stand tall on several power plays in the third period but he continues to be very consistent in goal.

The Notre Dame goaltender, who leads the nation in goals-against average (1.20) and save percentage (.953), echoed his coaches analysis. "It was different tonight. They had a lot of odd-man rushes last night (Friday) and a couple of breakaways. We got some fortunate bounces tonight, not going in off skates," explained Brown.
Brown and the Notre Dame penalty killers did the job again on Saturday, stopping all six Falcon power-play changes and holding Bowling Green 0-for-11 on the weekend.

Spratt finished the night with 22 saves in the Falcon goal.
"We're still competing with everyone in the league," said Jackson. "We'll find out where we stand over the next four weeks (vs. Michigan State, at Nebraska-Omaha, home with Alaska and a home-and-home with Michigan)."

Attached is a post from Dublin Falcon, also my comments:

Here is my 35,000 foot assessment:

The program started to slide at the end of Jerry's tenure and had continued under both Buddy and Scott. It has been since 1990? since we have been to the NCAA's - nearly EVERY other CCHA team has been there since BGSU has.

At has been suggested that the Administration has not and will not support hockey at the level needed for it to be on the National radar. What specifically does this mean?

Facilities - Way behind other teams in CCHA and other leagues. We need better facilities when program is at the bottom - it does not exude excellence. Ask former players what they think of the facilities.

We are a feeder system for the East Coast, not the NHL - See when Andrew Saurer de-committed from BG to NU - his coach (Juniors) said that NU (not MICH or MSU!) is better at putting players in the NHL. Wake up call!

Scott and Ron have tried recruiting the top players who look at Mich and MSU (the guys Buddy stopped recruiting) yet at the end of the day we really aren't getting the more talented guys.

I have not made up my mind as to Scott's coaching abilities other than his record is not good - bottom line, no excuses.

My analysis - Scott is not getting it done (I would bring in Danton Cole - MSU ties and prior head coach) and demand higher administrative support and new facilities.

My comments:
I love our arena. We do not need a new facility. What we need is a major renovation. We have been told by the coaches that the facility is a determent to recruiting. Ok, then we have the top recruits at BG, and we just got swept by a 2nd year coach that plays in a facility that looks like an after thought.
I have talked to many alumni and alumni parents ( you will never get a negative comment out of the mouth of a current player); to a person they will compliment the facilities (and the BG Community), and go on to say that if class "A" player looks at BG and then look at Miami, NMU, MSU, UNO or even U of M; these guys will go to the school that has made the major commitment to the program.
I want my BGSU Hockey back! Last week I talked to 3 "oldtimers", people that go back to the the '70's. We talked about what "it" was about BG Hockey back in the 70.s, 80's and early 90's. Hard to explain what "IT" was.
Back then we planned the winter around BG Hockey. We knew the schedule, we knew the standings, we knew the palyers, we knew the poll ratings. We never thought of missing a game. I still never miss a game, I even travel to ND.
You will notice that there are "oldtimers" that use to be at every game do not have season tickets. They may still d$onate to the program, but the heart just isn't there anymore. I want my smash mouth BG Hockey.

1. People have called for head of Scott Paluch; I will leave that call to people smarter than I. What I do know is that something is not working.
2. Facility: We added lights - great. We replaced the boards and glass -
a major inprovement! The Capital Developement report has been out for months; what were the recommendations, where is this report, has there been any action based on this extensive/expensive report? Yes, I realize that we have to finish funding and building the Sabo Center. Dr. Ribeau and Greg Christopher could announce that the University is moving forward
to impliment the recommendations by 2009, a fund raising program will be established, and are exploring the naming rights options with local insitutions.
Many people have commented that it would be appropriate for the President of the University attend some games to show support for the program. The saying is "the buck stops here", Dr. Ribeau the buck and the puck start with you.
3. Until these things happen our job is to support the program, the guys, and the coaches.

0 for their last 37 on the powerplay is completely unacceptable. That is on the coaching. Obviously whatever system and plays we are running is not working. I swear if we do not get a PP goal this weekend, we should just decline the penalty like in football.