INCH Coach of the Year

[Falcon Fanatic]

INCH names Paluch Coach of the Year:
http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/7Arc ... a_0326.htm

Congratulations and VERY well deserved!!!

[rollalongFF0304]

What a disgrace. No, not that coach was named coach of the year, but that we're celebrating and congratulating him for it on the day after his team got embarassed two games in a row in the first round of the CCHA playoffs -- at home nonetheless!

I hope I'm wrong and that maybe these congratulations are for the right reasons, but this stuff just makes me wonder.

[/sarcasm]

[Freddie]

What a disgrace. No, not that coach was named coach of the year, but that we're celebrating and congratulating him for it on the day after his team got embarassed two games in a row in the first round of the CCHA playoffs -- at home nonetheless!

I hope I'm wrong and that maybe these congratulations are for the right reasons, but this stuff just makes me wonder.

[/sarcasm]

I'm not sure I understand this post...so I'll just say "congrats, Pooch."

[Falcon Fanatic]

What a disgrace. No, not that coach was named coach of the year, but that we're celebrating and congratulating him for it on the day after his team got embarassed two games in a row in the first round of the CCHA playoffs -- at home nonetheless!

I hope I'm wrong and that maybe these congratulations are for the right reasons, but this stuff just makes me wonder.

[/sarcasm]

I'm not sure I understand this post...so I'll just say "congrats, Pooch."

Not sure I get it either, I just ran across the article today and posted it. Regradless of what happened this weekend, Paluch deserves the recognition he is getting. He has worked his butt off (along with his staff) to get us where we are and where we are soon headed (to the TOP!!). We are all sick over the results of the weekend, but the bottom line is that UAF is a MUCH improved team and deserved the wins they worked for. Whether we took them too lightly or whatever excuse you want to come up with, it really doesn't matter now. Paluch DESERVES the recognition he is getting and so does the MUCH IMPROVED FALCON HOCKEY PROGRAM!!

So, regardless of what you think about posting it, I still say Congrats, Coach Paluch!!

[Bleeding Orange]

I have to echo everyone else here (well, almost everyone ). Pooch has done a fantastic job with this team this year. I think that we often forget the adversity that he, as a coach, had to overcome this year. From handling Jordan's illness with tact to the suspensions at the beginning of the season, he proved he was worthy of every task he was confronted with. We could have easily rolled over this year, and we probably would have had quite a few legitimate excuses for doing so. But, we didn't and that is testament to the leadership that Paluch has provided for this program.

I do have to say that I am impressed with the progress Tavis MacMillan produced in UAF's team this year after watching them this past weekend, and I never really saw his name anywhere near COTY discussions. I really think he should have been at least considered. Still, Pooch is the most deserving candidate overall, and I am so proud that he is leading our program, especially as an alum.

Thanks for a great season, coach!

[BGDrew]

I love the way Pooch coaches. He doesn't ever seem to get too intense and always has his head straight. I have no idea how he played, but if this is how he did play, it rubs off on the players. To say this team looked a little jumpy last year is an understatement.

[Falconboy]

I wouldn't agree either the way we freakin' layed a dinasaur egg last weekend! Coach P has led us to at least to a .500 team instead of a losing season all together ,but still I dont' think so. How does a team like us beat the crap out AFB ealier in the year and then give up 12 goals to them in one weekend!! Unbelievable! Yes, absolutley Siggy can kiss goodbye any chance for a Hobey Baker award. He must've been incredibley tired or stiff this weekend over most or something. How do we not atleast out score AFB?? Well, on to next year.

[pdt1081]

I wouldn't agree either the way we freakin' layed a dinasaur egg last weekend! Coach P has led us to at least to a .500 team instead of a losing season all together ,but still I dont' think so. How does a team like us beat the crap out AFB ealier in the year and then give up 12 goals to them in one weekend!! Unbelievable! Yes, absolutley Siggy can kiss goodbye any chance for a Hobey Baker award. He must've been incredibley tired or stiff this weekend over most or something. How do we not atleast out score AFB?? Well, on to next year.

You're forgetting that UAF had 22 days off before playing us earlier this year. THAT makes a big difference. And don't blame just Siggy. The guys in front of him left him out to dry on many of the goals. To tell you the truth, we played a lot like we did when Wayne State played here in November. We had an attitude of "This is gonna be easy" during the games. There really wasn't much team intesity. We were our own worst enemies during the weekend. UAF didn't beat us as much as we beat ourselves. There was individual intensity, but that doesn't mean crap if there isn't TEAM intensity. UAF had it. We didn't. A coach can only do so much to prepare a team.

Were we under-prepared? No. We were under-motivated.

[Bleeding Orange]

I wouldn't agree either the way we freakin' layed a dinasaur egg last weekend! Coach P has led us to at least to a .500 team instead of a losing season all together ,but still I dont' think so. How does a team like us beat the crap out AFB ealier in the year and then give up 12 goals to them in one weekend!! Unbelievable! Yes, absolutley Siggy can kiss goodbye any chance for a Hobey Baker award. He must've been incredibley tired or stiff this weekend over most or something. How do we not atleast out score AFB?? Well, on to next year.

I swear to God, every time you open that hole you call a mouth...

Falconboy, have you ever even been to a hockey game before? Can you tell me what that little black thing is on the ice? No, I didn't think so. I'll never figure out why you always feel the need to wax definitive about situations that you've never even thought about before.

Oh, and by the way, we lost to UAF, not an Air Force Base.

Moron.

[Rightupinthere]

I wouldn't agree either the way we freakin' layed a dinasaur egg last weekend! Coach P has led us to at least to a .500 team instead of a losing season all together ,but still I dont' think so. How does a team like us beat the crap out AFB ealier in the year and then give up 12 goals to them in one weekend!! Unbelievable! Yes, absolutley Siggy can kiss goodbye any chance for a Hobey Baker award. He must've been incredibley tired or stiff this weekend over most or something. How do we not atleast out score AFB?? Well, on to next year.

I feel great things for you grasshopper. Someday, in my mind, you will contribute something with meaning and thoughtfulness reserved only for the most steely minded of us all. I feel it in you. It will have to await for tomorrow, I'm afraid, because you're holding true to you modus operendi of baseless knee jerking (and other jerking, I might add).

Pooch has done a fantastic job and we are quite lucky to have him at BG.

Congrats, Coach!

[FindlayFalcon]

I wouldn't agree either the way we freakin' layed a dinasaur egg last weekend! Coach P has led us to at least to a .500 team instead of a losing season all together ,but still I dont' think so. How does a team like us beat the crap out AFB ealier in the year and then give up 12 goals to them in one weekend!! Unbelievable! Yes, absolutley Siggy can kiss goodbye any chance for a Hobey Baker award. He must've been incredibley tired or stiff this weekend over most or something. How do we not atleast out score AFB?? Well, on to next year.

Not sure which game you watched this past weekend. I thought BG played UAF not AFB

Maybe when you learn a little more about hockey you might understand why and how we can beat the crap out of a team one weekend and they can do the same to us another weekend.

We are all disappointed by this past weekend but you better believe none of us are HALF as disappointed as the team and coaches are. Your comments sure don't help support a team that gave us so much joy and excitement this year. A fan is someone who supports their team no matter what. (Like those of us who have been around since the late 70's and early 80's) And then there are "bandwagon fans" who only support the team when they win. I guess we all know which kind of fan you are!!!

[Falcon Fanatic]

I wouldn't agree either the way we freakin' layed a dinasaur egg last weekend! Coach P has led us to at least to a .500 team instead of a losing season all together ,but still I dont' think so. How does a team like us beat the crap out AFB ealier in the year and then give up 12 goals to them in one weekend!! Unbelievable! Yes, absolutley Siggy can kiss goodbye any chance for a Hobey Baker award. He must've been incredibley tired or stiff this weekend over most or something. How do we not atleast out score AFB?? Well, on to next year.

Did someone say something??? oh...I guess not. Carry on....

[Falconboy]

First of all I never was ON the "bandwagon" to begin with people! I didn't grow up with hockey in my parents veins like you guys did! So take a moment and RELAX!! I was quite upset too after seeing us lose the way we did to UAF (sorry)last weekend. But really, what is it about my post that you so vehemently disagree with, that I think Coach P doesnt really deserve the INCH Coach of the Year award just for bringing us to around .500?? Yes I've been to game , the first home game with MSU earlier in the year in which we lost 9-3 or something. If you guys think Coach P is the "second coming" or whatever then fine , but I politely dissagree. A team that loses their composure twice against a "supposed" way lesser team than us is mystifiying to me. Is Coach Palauch too easy going or soft on his players. Cuz he kinda comes off that way at least in the interviews that I've seen at the Coaches Show at Frickers. Does that account for the totally unprepared attitude that we apparently had? Inform me here you ARE the supposed experts. Also do you really disagree that Siggy is most likely not going to be awarded the Hobey with the the apparent swiss cheese-like goaltending against UAF in the last games of his college career?

So guys I am here to learn as much about hockey as your willing to dish out. If you guys know how a team can beat a another team pretty soundly one game and then get beat soundly by the same team , then fire away please. I'm all ears. :-\

[BGDrew]

Hockey is a completely different sport than you've ever seen, watched, or experienced. Any team can win on any night. Unlike football, where the mighty YSU Penguins wouldn't exactly put up a fight against USC. If you need evidence of that, look at Saturday's ND/UM game. A team that stunk the place up all year took a top ten team in the nation to OT.

Second, if you would have experienced the depression that those around the program experienced the past couple of years, you'd understand why an above .500 program is a sign of good things to come.

I'm all for educating those about this amazing sport. However, if you come in shooting to kill all, not many are going to be happy to see you.

[pdt1081]

If you guys know how a team can beat a another team pretty soundly one game and then get beat soundly by the same team , then fire away please. I'm all ears. :-\

It's really quite simple on this one. How did Notre Dame (possibly the worst team in NCAA this year) beat Boston College earlier this year? Simple. In this great game of hockey, any team is capable of beating any other team on any given night. One bounce of the puck can make or break a team. Couple years ago (97-98 maybe) we were one of the bottom dwellers. We went into MSU (then #1 in the nation) and shut them out 1-0. It's all which way the puck bounces.

On the Coach of the Year award: I don't give much stock to INCH. They are trying to compete with USCHO and feel that in order to do so they must do things differently. I think there are definately more coaches that are more deserving this year. Kemp from UNO comes to mind right away. UNO was picked DEAD LAST in both the media and coaches poll this year. For them to host a playoff game and make it to the Joe, he definately deserves it more than a preseason #9 getting swept at home in the playoffs.

With that said, Coach Paluch has many years of training under Jerry York. Not only did he play for him here in BG, but he was also an assistant under him at BG and at BC. There are many similarities starting to develop between BG and BC. For starters size and speed. Both teams are recruiting faster, smaller skaters that are good puck handlers. It's a slow process but BG is on the way to getting there. Look at this years freshman. Matsumoto, Foster, Geelan, Hodgson....as these players develop and become better, more players like them are going to notice BG and follow in their footsteps. I'm almost willing to bet within the next 5 years, we will have a CCHA Championship and at least one NCAA tourney appearance. Give it time. Coach P knows what he's doing and will get us there (along with some support from the athletic department).