Quotes from coach Paluch after some losses this year

pdt1081 · Post by **pdt1081** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 4:06 pm

cowboyjoe wrote:Here we go again...after last night's game against Mich. St.:

"We did a real good job for 2 1/2 periods of playing an extremely smart game and not giving up a lot of turnover chances which have been hurting us the first part of the year. Our defensemen were a lot smarter with a lot of their decisions and kept the puck in a lot of safe areas. (Horrell) was very, very strong."

"Both teams did some things well and they got the goals, said Paluch. "It was a game that was fairly-evenly played. Going into the third period, we had played a game that was perfect as far as giving us a chance to win in the third period. We just weren't able to get as many chances as we wanted in the third period. They did a good job keeping pucks clear. The first two periods, we were able to generate a lot more chances."

you've got to be kidding....3-0 shutout for gosh sakes!

Let's see, a 3-0 shutout inwhich the second goal was scored on a bullshit penalty shot that should have been a diving penalty called on MSU. We're down to 2-0 now. The first one, Sitko got beat just inside the blueline. Should Horrell have stopped the shot, yes, but it was a very good play by a very good hockey player. Any goalie would have had trouble with that play. On the third goal, the MSU player split the defense on a 2 on 2 (definately should not have happened, especially to a senior...Morrison!) and Horrell got beat. It caught him offgaurd and it went in funny. You could fault Morrison for getting beat, but the way Hall was calling penalties last night, he probably would have gotten two minutes for just touching him. We played a very good game last night. We just didn't score any goals. Had we capitalized on some of our chances, the game definately would have gone a different direction. Everything Paluch said about last night's game is absolutely true and is not just coach's speak.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 4:16 pm

thanks pdt.

I admit, I'm interpreting this stuff "blind", going on flow of the game and box scores mostly. But if this team was coming out and repeatedly losing games 5-0 or whatever and the coach was saying "we're almost there", I'd be a bit more concerned. But from what I've heard, read, whatever, the effort is there, the execution is sometimes what is missing. That can be, and should be, hammered out in practice, not by belittling the team in print.

cowboyjoe · Post by **cowboyjoe** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 11:06 am

Now this is a quote when you get thumped like the b-ball team did last night. "We just got dominated tonight," Dakich said. "And that's two games in a row, because Oakland did it in the second half [a 76-66 loss] on Wednesday night."

No sugar coating...even though we were "close" at the half.(down 9 pts)

Freddie · Post by **Freddie** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 11:40 am

Today's poll:

Who know's LESS about hockey?

A. Falconboy
B. Cowboyjoe
C. MikeTheMullett
D. An annoying wad of gum stuck to the sole of your shoe

TheKa · Post by **TheKa** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 11:42 am

I've tried to bite my tongue, but I can't hold it any longer.

While I have been frustrated by some of the team's play this year, For Coach Pooch to say that we played well for 2 1/2 periods on Friday is a COMPLETE truth.

Were you at the game cowboyjoe? How many hockey games would you say that you've seen this year? I would just like to know your "credentials" so to speak. If you are a long time fan and not just a casual one, I might take your throughts with a little more than a grain of salt.

The team did indeed play well for MOST of the game at MSU on Friday night, just as the coach stated. (as have others on this site) The game was a little flat from both sides, but it was 1-0 until about 10 minutes left to go in the 3rd period when that completely BOGUS penalty shot was called.

Most people on this site have already at one point mentioned some of the issues from this game and from others. And those who know me KNOW that I've been fairly critical of the outcomes of some of the games this year, but after almost 30 years of watching this team, I see things that the casual fan just might not.

But, I guess what I'm saying is that we were NOT dominated in any way shape or form on Friday night. In this case, a shut out was not a complete domination. That's the thing about Hockey...you can get shut out and not be dominated as easily as you can score 6 goals and the game not even be as close as the score indicates. Am I concerned about only having 3 shots on goal in the third period on Friday? Sure! But at the same time, with MSU's excellent team D in the third, the fact that they were completely shutting down the FFM line, and our inability to complete the "dump and chase" (which I HATE by the way) I see why we only had 3 shots.

I guess we're all entitled to our opinions!
Erika

pdt1081 · Post by **pdt1081** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 12:13 pm

TheKa wrote: Am I concerned about only having 3 shots on goal in the third period on Friday? Sure! But at the same time, with MSU's excellent team D in the third, the fact that they were completely shutting down the FFM line, and our inability to complete the "dump and chase" (which I HATE by the way) I see why we only had 3 shots.

Speaking of TEAM D, I thought ours did an excellent job during the final minute of Friday's game. With Horrell on the bench for an extra attacker, MSU managed to force the play into BG's end for the final 45 seconds of the game. MSU attempted about 8 shots at the open net from inside the blueline and BG's defense was able to block every shot. Yes, the play was in our end when we had the extra man, but it was a great showing by everybody on the ice.

Last night showed that Comley has little confidence in his team's ability during the final two minutes of the game. Either that, or he is completely inept at coaching. Not once during the final two minutes did he look at his goalie. Vicari was yelling at the bench trying to get the coaches attention about when to go to the bench. The assistant looked at him and shrugged his shoulders while pointing to Comley (who was looking the other way). A timeout with 19 seconds left and down by 2 goals without pulling the goalie beforehand is completely useless. All it did was give BG a rest before the final storm. It helped us more than them.

Rightupinthere · Post by **Rightupinthere** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 12:20 pm

pdt1081 wrote: Speaking of TEAM D, I thought ours did an excellent job during the final minute of Friday's game. With Horrell on the bench for an extra attacker, MSU managed to force the play into BG's end for the final 45 seconds of the game. MSU attempted about 8 shots at the open net from inside the blueline and BG's defense was able to block every shot. Yes, the play was in our end when we had the extra man, but it was a great showing by everybody on the ice.

Really, NOW! That's excellent to hear. That, my friends, is a Scott Paluch coached D!

I must get back to see a game. It's been FAR too long. I need a hockey fix and I need a Packos fix.

cowboyjoe · Post by **cowboyjoe** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 7:53 am

Hey "Freddie" I may not know much about hockey but I know a line of bull bleep when I hear it....this was a quote in today's Blade: "We've had a good year but we haven't had the production in terms of winning games and earning points," Paluch said. "We want to build on last Saturday and put a streak together here."

Does anyone think the year so far is "good"?

pdt1081 · Post by **pdt1081** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 8:31 am

cowboyjoe wrote:Hey "Freddie" I may not know much about hockey but I know a line of bull bleep when I hear it....this was a quote in today's Blade: "We've had a good year but we haven't had the production in terms of winning games and earning points," Paluch said. "We want to build on last Saturday and put a streak together here."

Does anyone think the year so far is "good"?

What's he supposed to say? "We've had a horrible season so far." ???

The fact of the matter is we're not in that bad of shape. If this was February, I'd be concerned. But this is still December. So we're tied for 7th, we're only 4 points out of second. Yeah, we've played 3 more games than those that we're tied with. Big deal. There's still half the season that needs to be played yet. How many times have we seen other teams put together a hell of a second half? Why can't we?

There's nothing I hate more than fair-weather fans.

Freddie · Post by **Freddie** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 10:20 am

ll

cowboyjoe wrote:Hey "Freddie" I may not know much about hockey but I know a line of bull bleep when I hear it....this was a quote in today's Blade: "We've had a good year but we haven't had the production in terms of winning games and earning points," Paluch said. "We want to build on last Saturday and put a streak together here."

Does anyone think the year so far is "good"?

Your admission that you "may not know much about hockey.." is an understatement of epic proportions. Nobody associated with the program (most certainly Coach Paluch) can be happy with our win-loss record at this point of the season...and that's exactly what he's saying in the above quote...but anybody who knows anything about hockey can see that we're a lot closer to success than our record would indicate. I'll stand by my prediction that we will finish the season in the top half of the CCHA standings, and that we'll be a force to be reckoned with come tournament time.

cowboyjoe · Post by **cowboyjoe** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 11:05 am

It's not a "good" year so far period. Don't be rediculous. Is the basketball team having a "good" year so far? I don't think so. Let's see how many more "moral" victories we can have the rest of the way and see how many games we can stay "close" in.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 11:10 am

My two shiny pennies' worth ...

As someone who's covered more than my share of hockey games - especially BG hockey - I can safely say that hockey coaches are notorious for providing little insight in post-game quotes, more so than coaches in just about any sport.

Practically every question I posed to Jerry York for three years resulted in him talking about the need to move the puck, accompanied by a specific set of hand movements. His counterparts proved no better.

Keep in mind that Pooch has a young team and he needs to keep his public comments clear of any venom; experienced players, especially players who have a history of winning, can handle public criticism more easily.

Jacobs4Heisman · Post by **Jacobs4Heisman** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 11:10 am

Lets try to keep it civil guys. Thanks.

I really wish people would stop comparing hockey to basketball and football. It's apples and oranges. A good effort in hockey doesn't translate into a Win anywhere near as often as it does in other sports. The team is very inconsistent right now, but has tons of potential. I don't see anything wrong with what Paluch is saying. Perhaps he's being a little too positive, but I think he's indicated that he's aware of things that need to be fixed.

pdt1081 · Post by **pdt1081** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:46 pm

1987alum wrote:My two shiny pennies' worth ...

As someone who's covered more than my share of hockey games - especially BG hockey - I can safely say that hockey coaches are notorious for providing little insight in post-game quotes, more so than coaches in just about any sport.

Practically every question I posed to Jerry York for three years resulted in him talking about the need to move the puck, accompanied by a specific set of hand movements. His counterparts proved no better.

Keep in mind that Pooch has a young team and he needs to keep his public comments clear of any venom; experienced players, especially players who have a history of winning, can handle public criticism more easily.

We could always start a thread on quotes from UNO's coach. Lively boards and egg-shaped ice come to mind on that one......

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 1:07 pm

cowboyjoe wrote:It's not a "good" year so far period. Don't be rediculous. Is the basketball team having a "good" year so far? I don't think so. Let's see how many more "moral" victories we can have the rest of the way and see how many games we can stay "close" in.

Learn to spell "rediculous" and then come criticize the hockey team.

I just want to reiterate what J4H said: hockey is, unequivicably, irrefutably, and undeniably NOT basketball and football. Period. If you are just beginning to learn that, more power to you. I hope your "WOW!" moment comes soon, for everyone's sake. If you simply refuse to believe that, be gone with ye!

I know for a fact that quite a few members of the hockey team read this forum because, moreso than any other sport on campus, there is a definite community amongst players, coaches and fans. I'm sure that they are smarter than to buy into some of this crap, but I don't want ANY player or member of the program reading the uninformed drivel promulgated by several occasional visitors to the hockey forum. Hockey is more fun than the casual observer will ever know - no matter how one is involved in it. Unfortunately, it is a game that requires a much larger foundational knowledge base in order to get it than any other major sport requires. Don't take these comments as not wanting anyone as a fan, just know that it takes some effort.