Paluch announces Brian Bales decision to leave Falcons....

[FalconBlue]

THIS IS MY STORY - LSSU's Birkeland Shares His Thanks for Seconds

Nov. 22, 2006

Lake Superior State senior defenseman Barnabas Birkeland has written a first-hand account of his growth from being a talented, but spiritually lost young athlete who nearly lost his opportunity to play college hockey to a young man who has made the most of his second chance. Birkeland is a different person and player than he was when he arrived at LSSU in 2002. Today, he is the only senior defensemen helping the Lakers maintain their traditionally respectable goals-against total, and he is so respected by his teammates and coaches that he is wearing the "C" in 2006-07.

Second Chances
By Barnabas Birkeland

My most vivid memory from my sophomore year is outside the Lake Superior State University men's hockey locker room, and Jeff Jakaitis telling me, with tears in his eyes, how sorry he was, and how he should have done something. I hugged him and told him there was nothing he could've done. I was the one being kicked off the team, and I was the one who was responsible.

It was mid November. I should have been traveling with the team, but instead, I was off the team and going home for Thanksgiving. I had lost everything I had worked for and cared most about: my team, my reputation, my pride, and I had let every person I knew down. I was defeated, and I was broken.

Officially, I was terminated from the team on Wednesday, the day that I was going home, but it was two days prior, on Monday night, that I first knew I was in trouble, and would most likely be off the team. I remember the fear, the tears, the shame, the embarrassment and the humiliation. I had failed, and I had failed very publicly. I called my father that night and told him all that had happened, and then I called my grandfather. My grandfather started by telling me that he thought that if I did something wrong, I should be punished for it. Then he told me something that gave me tremendous hope. He said that in his own experience, the worst thing that ever happens to a person often is the best thing that ever happens to them. He told me that fear is what forces us to change. It's been almost exactly two years since that night, and I feel like everyday I have is a testament to those words. I was absolutely lost, broken, terrified, stripped of everything I had, and I count that moment as the single most-important one in my life.


I was off the team for a little over a month when I was reinstated just before Christmas. Of the things I'm most grateful to Frank Anzalone for, giving me that second chance is preeminent. I don't understand how it was that he believed in me at that point in my life and was willing to give me the chance that he did. I wish he could see how much he impacted my life. I don't know that I can ever repay that debt, or even have the opportunity to try, but I know that he would take much pride, and get much satisfaction in knowing that he had such an impact on my life.

My play at the rink my sophomore year didn't undergo much of a transformation once I was back on the team. I played poorly, and was injured a great deal. I think I was at a point where I had to figure out a lot of personal things before I could just focus on my game. That summer we underwent a coaching change, with Jim Roque taking over as our new head coach. I was conflicted about losing Coach A, about being loyal to him after all he had done for me. I remember him reassuring me and telling me to go to school, get my degree, and play hockey.

But that would prove to be more difficult than I anticipated. Coach Roque had been an assistant coach my first two years at Lake Superior, and he had had perhaps a closer look at some of the things I had done and been through. He had good reason to question my integrity and character. Again, I found myself on unsure footing, not knowing whether Coach Roque would give me yet another chance or not.

He did. He took a chance, and I thank him for that. I also have to thank my teammates, many of whom vouched for my character and probably saved my spot here at Lake Superior State. There are many other people who have helped me tremendously, and although I won't name them, I thank them. I have received many blessings over the last two years; perhaps the greatest being that I was given a chance to change, and to be a part of my team, and this university.

Two years ago it was fear that triggered the start of a change in me. It was the fear of who I was and what I was becoming which made me search for something else. I had tried it on my own, and I had made a huge mess of it. My life was a disaster, completely unmanageable. I was raised in a Christian home, but it wasn't until I realized that I was lost, that I began to pursue God. By that I mean trying to let go of myself and surrender control to Him. I realized that I was miserable by the decisions I had made on my own, and that I didn't actually know what things would lead to real happiness. God, I believe, knows what we're about, knows what will make us happy. Although it may be difficult at times to sacrifice some things in order to live how I think God wants me to, it's with a fundamental understanding that it is the only way to the full life I desire: a life of happiness, joy, and freedom.

[Goldwing]

I know it is tough to believe, but the players are still kids. They make mistakes. How they deal with the mistake says far more about their character.

[PGY Tiercel]

I know it is tough to believe, but the players are still kids. They make mistakes. How they deal with the mistake says far more about their character.

Are they kids or are they men? If they make mistakes like kids should they not be treated like kids? Or if they want to be treated like men, should they not act like men?

In the various threads it as now been established from former players that they aren't treated like adults, but instead have to do "childish" activities. Now you want to pass off mistakes because they are still "kids".

It has to be one or the other. Either step up and act like men, and therefore demand the respect due to one, or do stupid childish acts and be treated like children.

[Goldwing]

The last I remember, BGSU was an institution for learning. They may be men, but they are young men that make a mistake now and then. I'm glad everything is so black and white in your world that you feel the honor of being appointed judge and jury.

[PGY Tiercel]

The last I remember, BGSU was an institution for learning. They may be men, but they are young men that make a mistake now and then. I'm glad everything is so black and white in your world that you feel the honor of being appointed judge and jury.

I didn't pass a judgment. All I'm trying to figure out is when players feel they should be treated like adults and when they should be treated like young adults.

[bigdog]

Bales took his punishment, he knew he screwed up. He recieved his punishment and then this year, nothing. Its tough to play with confidence when you get none from the coaching staff. Its tough to play to your top ability when there are d-men playing forward and playing more than him.

[Bauer]

maybe his underage drinking was an obvious contributor to why he didn't play last year.......quit blaming the coach for the players actions. They get the great opporunity of playing D1 hockey and getting full rides etc and they decide to do something like this. ITS CALLED LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY.

[dannyk]

That doesnt make sense to me. Matsumoto got an underage and I dont recall him missing much time, maybe a game or so.

[FalconBlue]

Jonathan Matsumoto was arrested for underage drinking and theft of a bicycle last year, any idea how he was punished?

A game suspension....

This is the press report:
"Missing their leading goal scorer, sophomore forward Jonathan Matsumoto, who was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules"

http://www.thelantern.com/media/storage ... antern.com

Bauer, explain this one to me.

I see no difference between Matsumoto's transgression and that of Bales. Obviously the treatment of the two was very different so the coach is telling his team that some are more equal than others. Some should cut their hair and others not.
How does a coach garner the respect of his players this way?

R..E..S..P..E..C..T

First published Wed 10 Sep, 2003

"Respect is of great importance in everyday life. As children we are taught (one hopes) to respect our parents, teachers, and elders, school rules and traffic laws, family and cultural traditions, other people's feelings and rights, our country's flag and leaders, the truth and people's differing opinions. And we come to value respect for such things; when we're older, we may shake our heads (or fists) at people who seem not to have learned to respect them. We develop great respect for people we consider exemplary and lose respect for those we discover to be clay-footed;"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... &q=respect

[dannyk]

That is an absolute joke because in sports you can never rest on your past resume. Sure Matsumoto has a decent year right now but this year he is having a terrible year. All players should be treated equal in terms of punishment by the coach.

The first part of the equation is on the players though. Dont get drunk and make an *ss of yourself at Ziggys and the university and the coach wont be put in the situation.

[pdt1081]

That doesnt make sense to me. Matsumoto got an underage and I dont recall him missing much time, maybe a game or so.

Bales missed most of the first half of the season because he suspended from the team before the season started. This means he was not in shape when the season started and he was reinstated. Matso was also suspended from the team and unable to practice. Because his incident happened later in the year he was still in shape and didn't miss as much practice.

[bigdog]

wrong, wrong, wrong. It was not becuase he was out of shape that he didn't play when he was reinstated. Trust me the practices that Pooch runs are ten times harder than games. Hey I wonder if that could be why the team looks sluggish durning the games, could they be burnt out by the time the games come. I know I felt that way when playing for pooch.

[pdt1081]

wrong, wrong, wrong. It was not becuase he was out of shape that he didn't play when he was reinstated. Trust me the practices that Pooch runs are ten times harder than games. Hey I wonder if that could be why the team looks sluggish durning the games, could they be burnt out by the time the games come. I know I felt that way when playing for pooch.

Guess you should have worked harder in the offseason to improve your conditioning......

[Jacobs4Heisman]

wrong, wrong, wrong. It was not becuase he was out of shape that he didn't play when he was reinstated. Trust me the practices that Pooch runs are ten times harder than games. Hey I wonder if that could be why the team looks sluggish durning the games, could they be burnt out by the time the games come. I know I felt that way when playing for pooch.

Guess you should have worked harder in the offseason to improve your conditioning......

That's a little unfair. It is possible to overwork a hockey team in practice, and we have looked slow to the puck an awful lot the last few years. This one may have some credence.

[ShaneFalco]

PDT:

You have no clue. Please do not make ignorant comments like that. Survive a Matty M. workout and then post something like that.