Future of Hockey at BG

bgpuckster · Post by **bgpuckster** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:55 am

Unless and until BGSU get people in place at the Board of Trustee level and President that will make hockey a priority, I'm afraid nothing will ever improve. A little known fact is that the current interim President and the CFO were both at Kent State when they shut their hockey program down. And now with the economy in the shape it's in, the ice arena renovation project may be put on hold, as several other capital improvements may also. I was at Miami's rink two weeks ago and it's very obvious why they win recruiting battles. The coach bears the responsibility to get the team to win, but the Trustee's and President bear the responsibility to make sure the rink is taken care of. I believe a concerted effort to put pressure on the Trustee's and the President to address the issues at the rink is imperative for the future of hockey at BGSU, before there is no future at all.

Puckhead · Post by **Puckhead** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 12:51 pm

Mr. Christopher the money is on the table.
You can replace Coach Paluch at the Christmas break and the money will be there to buy him out,
unlike the search to find the money to buy-out Coach Brandon. As I listened to the Coach Brandon press conference I could not help to think that many of the rational to fire Coach Brandon would apply to Coach Paluch. You can do it now and be financially whole, or you can wait until the program has lost even more fans and more money, and then try to find $ 110,000 ( on top of the $ 250,000 for Coach Brandon).

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make the point more clearly to Mr. Christopher?
I fan could to talk to him personally or send a letter. This is a good idea, but some people fear retribution
from Coach Paluch or AD Christopher. Everyone knows Scott is not above retribution, and I am beginning to question the AD.
Ie. “we have the money for the Ice arena renovation” - “all state projects are on hold“ (11/29) -“The Stroh Center is on hold” (11/29) - “the ground breaking for the Stroh Center is fall of 2009” ( 12/3). Sources say that ground breaking for the Wolfe Center ( please excuse if I misspelled ) is moving ahead. Is the only project that is on hold the Ice Arena? Sources have that the $$ are there for the Ice Arena.

If Buddy runs out of duct tape and bubble gum in January or next October what will happen? Will we play all of our “home “ games at the Findlay rink or Tam-O? Will we play our home games at the other teams house? Will the administration look at the situation and say “ well attendance was down, the students and town do not care, it will cost us many millions of dollars, why don’t we just save the money, put it into the football and basketball programs like we did back in the 60’s?” Please remember that Dr. Cartwright was President at Kent St. when that program was abolished.

Three years ago I started to question Coach Paluch. Unfortunately I was correct. Now I am starting to worry about the commitment$ to Football and Basketball as compared to Hockey. They ( Ribeau, Cartwright, Whipple, Kampf, Christopher) overnight could find $1.3million for a new football field; they raise $ 34 million for basketball , $ !/4 million to buy out a football coach ( who’s record is above .500).
On the other hand they have the money somewhere to replace the ice making equipment and may not authorize this potion of the renovation. Sorry sounds like a little Conspiracy Theory to me. I’m not a Brandon lover or hater, but he did have bowl appearances and a + .500 record. Has Coach Paluch had a
+.500 season yet? If he is not fired/replaced I’d say the fix was in, they want the program to fail.

I do not know who “Answers” is but I have heard from many players and parents that the guys would skate through fire for Reirden. I am sure that Travis would like to be in the same school for more that 6 - 8months at a time.

dforde · Post by **dforde** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:07 pm

Has the university formally announced that the ice arena renovations are NOT happening? I have not heard anything.
Did they ever have hockey at Kent State? If so, I am presuming it was club hockey.
For all of you who know way more than I do about hockey, is being an AHL assistant a better place to be for Todd Reardon in his career right now than being a head coach in the CCHA? I really don't know.

bgsufalcon24 · Post by **bgsufalcon24** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:19 pm

dforde wrote: Did they ever have hockey at Kent State? If so, I am presuming it was club hockey.

Kent State used to be a member of the CCHA.

rood · Post by **rood** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:20 pm

Kent was in the CCHA briefly in 80's. We picked up Quinn Fair from them when they killed their program just like we got Horrell from Findlay.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:25 pm

I still don't think comparing Kent State's situation and BG's is a fair one, no matter who the interim president is. BG has proven they can be wildly successful and well-attended given the right attention. I never went to a Kent State game while they were around, but I'd assume they would have killed for the sparse attendances we complain about.

Do what it takes to put the product on the ice and BG hockey will flourish.

bgsufalcon24 · Post by **bgsufalcon24** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:30 pm

TG1996 wrote:Do what it takes to put the product on the ice and BG hockey will flourish.

ie: fire scott paluch

rood · Post by **rood** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:56 pm

dforde wrote: For all of you who know way more than I do about hockey, is being an AHL assistant a better place to be for Todd Reardon in his career right now than being a head coach in the CCHA? I really don't know.

That would depend on where Todd wants to go in his career. If he would be happy being the head coach at BG or any other school for the rest of his coaching career (and possibly move into administration) then he should come back. If he has plans of coaching in the NHL he needs to stay where he is. I can't think of a single college head coach who moved on to be a head coach in the NHL.

dforde · Post by **dforde** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 3:17 pm

I got to know Todd a little when he was an assistant last year and he is an outstanding guy. He really impressed me and I could totally see him having command of the locker room. I do believe he has aspirations to coach in the NHL and I believe he will make it.

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 5:24 pm

I've heard it said by the roadies, that there were often more people on the public skating ice than at the hockey games. I thought it was a shame they cut hockey there and an example of bad timing, since the sport had a surge of attention and popularity in the years right after. But then, Kent simply doesn't know how to do sports unless it relates to some aspect of political correctness. That our current prexy is from there doesn't inspire a lot of hope on some fronts. It was suggested by somebody who I was talking too, and I'll let him identify himself on his own terms if he likes, that Brandon's fate was already a given as far back as August, so long as he didn't run the table and win something. That puts the issue of his contract on Ribeau's watch. And I think Whipple is the real power on campus in terms of major cuts. GC will do what he is told if he has to report that something needs to be done. He won't want to cut unless he has too. I don't think hockey is on that block, certainly it should not be in any case.

Strange times.

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 5:51 pm

Puckhead wrote:Mr. Christopher the money is on the table.
You can replace Coach Paluch at the Christmas break and the money will be there to buy him out, unlike the search to find the money to buy-out Coach Brandon.

Interesting that someone is willing to step up and give the AD the money. I wonder if he will take the individual up on his offer.

Puckhead wrote:Please remember that Dr. Cartwright was President at Kent St. when that program was abolished.

Wasn't the Kent program abolished because of their behavior and a large contingent of players being arrested? Or was that in the 80's and the program temporarily suspended?

jg4242 · Post by **jg4242** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:09 pm

That would depend on where Todd wants to go in his career. If he would be happy being the head coach at BG or any other school for the rest of his coaching career (and possibly move into administration) then he should come back. If he has plans of coaching in the NHL he needs to stay where he is. I can't think of a single college head coach who moved on to be a head coach in the NHL.[/quote]

Herb Brooks coached in the NHL after his days at Minnesota. He coached the Devils for a few years, I believe. I'm sure there are some others, as well.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 7:21 pm

jg4242 wrote:Herb Brooks coached in the NHL after his days at Minnesota. He coached the Devils for a few years, I believe. I'm sure there are some others, as well.

Bob Johnson went from Wisconsin to the Pens, right?

Of course, in the last 20 years, I'm not sure if I can come up with many.

McConvey · Post by **McConvey** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 9:04 pm

TG1996 wrote:
jg4242 wrote:Herb Brooks coached in the NHL after his days at Minnesota. He coached the Devils for a few years, I believe. I'm sure there are some others, as well.
Bob Johnson went from Wisconsin to the Pens, right?

Of course, in the last 20 years, I'm not sure if I can come up with many.

Those are also two examples of coaches who were legendary NCAA coaches. I can only think of two coaches in the NCAA right now that fit that bill (Jack Parker and Jerry York) and I don't think either of them has designs on going to the NHL. In fact, both are in the twilight of their careers.

There are two coaches that have had proven success with their programs in the past 10 years and are young enough to consider jumping to the NHL if so inclined (and if they could find jobs): Minnesota's Don Lucia and Denver's George Gwozdecky.

Again, these are just as I see things. And my vision has been blurred lately.

Oh...come to think of it, you could probably lump Red in with Jack and Jerry.

rood · Post by **rood** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 10:04 pm

I stand corrected, although I think Herb got noticed for the Miracle on Ice more than his work at Minnesota. Gopher fans would be more than happy to send Lucia to the NHL from what I see on the blogs.