Happy Halloween from Amsoil Arena, where UMD looks to do more than just scare UMass-Lowell. The Bulldogs seek their second sweep of 2015-16 on this night, and will do so against a motivated RiverHawks team that has more than enough talent -- led by their extremely capable goalie -- to earn a split.
UMD has a few areas it will try to improve, including the power play. Yes, it scored the winning goal Friday in a 2-1 triumph. And it was a very nice goal, a greasy goal made possible by good work in front of the UML net. But UMD also surrendered two short-handed breaks in a previous power play. Might want to clean that up.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Iafallo - Toninato - Young (Austyn)
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Johnson
Sampair - Decowski - Spurrell
Pionk - Welinski
Soucy - Raskob
Corrin - Kotyk
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Fons
UML
Smith - Gambardella - Louria
White - Fallon - Dmowski
Wilson - Campbell - Francis
McGrath - Master - Chapie
Zink - Kapla
Folin - Mueller
Panico - Forney
Boyle - Cleary
(NOTE: Boyle started Friday, when the goalies were listed in the other order. Don't know if this means Cleary is starting. Clearly, I'm an idiot, but follow me on Twitter for updates.)
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Friday, October 30, 2015
Saturday Hockey Notes and Thoughts: Bulldogs Grind Out Quality Win
It was a game much more entertaining than the final score indicated, as the UMD Bulldogs won a goaltenders' duel at Amsoil Arena Friday night.
UMD sophomore Kasimir Kaskisuo and UMass-Lowell senior Kevin Boyle traded big save after big save, but a Dominic Toninato rebound goal late in the second period gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. The win runs UMD's unbeaten streak to five since a season-opening loss at Bemidji State.
The game started a bit slowly, but UMD's Blake Young got a minor penalty forplaying hockey charging just short of the 6:00 mark of the first. UMD killed it off without allowing a shot, and the Bulldogs started to get going after that. The first ended scoreless, but UMD ended up leading 11-4 in shots, and the Bulldogs started getting the better of zone possession as the period wore on.
All the game's scoring came in the second period, and after the teams traded goals, it was UMD's fourth line that really got things working. Cal Decowski, Charlie Sampair, and Blake Young had a great shift, with Young and Decowski both getting a couple shots, and while they didn't score, they hemmed UML in for quite a long time and eventually drew a penalty. 11 seconds into the power play, Toninato banged home a rebound off an Alex Iafallo shot that hit the post, and UMD led 2-1.
Lowell generated some real possession time in the third period, but only managed 11 shots on goal. There were a couple sequences where the Bulldogs struggled to get the puck out of their zone, and when they did, it didn't go more than six feet across the blue line before it was rapped back in. The RiverHawks, however, didn't get a lot of great looks at Kaskisuo, who made his best saves on a futile UMD power play early in the second period. A couple bad turnovers gave UML two short-handed breaks in the same UMD power play. Kaskisuo stopped both of them to keep the game scoreless.
This might have been the best game "Kas" has played at UMD. He made a few point-blank saves in the second period, and he did a good job controlling rebounds. His defense blocked 17 shots, which helped him, but he was strong from the outset, despite not seeing any shots of any kind for the first half of the first period.
It's obvious Kaskisuo improved over the offseason. Outside of a couple hiccups, mainly in the Bemidji State game, his rebound control has been exemplary. He's standing tall and making the saves he's supposed to make. Also, his puck play -- while still not at Stalockian levels -- has certainly gotten better. It's certainly early, but Kaskisuo is at a .933 save percentage through six starts, which would mark a superb improvement over his solid freshman numbers. I don't think it's necessarily reasonable to expect a goalie to post that kind of save percentage over 34 games against this kind of schedule, but if he does, it's a bonus for UMD and bodes well for the kinds of goals this team has.
I was looking for a few things this weekend. I wanted to see how UMD responded to UML's "pack it in" defensive game. The RiverHawks do an outstanding job in their own end, and it's rare that you see the puck cycle down low and have the offensive player not outnumbered. UMD players coughed up a few pucks Friday because they were trapped and outnumbered deep in the offensive zone. But as the game wore on, the Bulldogs appeared to wear down UML a bit with a strong forecheck. They got that going by being smart about dump-ins and getting to pucks quickly. Every line generated pressure and chances, and every line had at least four shots on goal in the game.
I liked how UMD got to Boyle and kept the pressure on him. He's a whale of a goaltender, very athletic and fundamentally sound. He played a great game, and UMD did a lot of good things to keep the heat on.
With the goalie pulled in the final 1:30 or so, the RiverHawks never really got a great look to the net. UMD won a couple faceoffs and battles, and the clock ran out when Kyle Osterberg, who assisted on Andy Welinski's goal to open the scoring in the second period, dumped it down the rink.
I know it ended 2-1, but it was a very entertaining, very cleanly-played game between two very good teams. Whatever happens on Saturday, this is a quality win for UMD and will absolutely help them going forward.
Six NCHC teams played games for conference points on Friday. In Kalamazoo, Western Michigan never trailed in handing Omaha its first loss of the season in a 4-2 game. Ohio State transfer Collin Olson started for WMU in goal and made 31 saves, and the Broncos got goals from four different players. Sheldon Dries gave Western the lead for good in the second period, then Aaron Hadley added insurance in the third.
In St. Cloud, the homestanding Huskies dominated Miami, winning 3-0. SCSU outshot the RedHawks 40-15, including 17-4 in the first period. Patrick Newell scored twice for St. Cloud State, and goalie Charlie Lindgren made the 15 saves for a shutout.
In Colorado Springs, the kids were all right for North Dakota in a 5-2 win over Colorado College. All five UND goals came from rookies, with Chris Wilkie tallying twice. Goalie Matt Hrynkiw made 19 saves for the win, as the Tigers fell to 0-7.
Also, Denver got a late goal from Will Butcher to tie Boston College 3-3, but Matthew Gaudreau scored with 36 seconds left to lift the Eagles to a 4-3 win over the Pioneers. Danton Heinen scored twice for DU, which plays Boston University Saturday to close out the weekend out east.
Local Division III teams also kicked off their seasons Friday night. St. Scholastica got a goal from Dylan Nowakowski with 54 seconds left to complete a comeback from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits and get a 3-3 tie against UW-River Falls. The Saints welcomed back head coach Mark Wick, who missed the end of last season on medical leave. He revealed to the Duluth News Tribune he was battling depression.
In Ashland, UWS got third period goals from Anton Svensson and Jordan Neduzak to beat Northland 3-1. The Yellowjackets head to the Upper Peninsula for a Saturday game against Finlandia.
UMD sophomore Kasimir Kaskisuo and UMass-Lowell senior Kevin Boyle traded big save after big save, but a Dominic Toninato rebound goal late in the second period gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish. The win runs UMD's unbeaten streak to five since a season-opening loss at Bemidji State.
The game started a bit slowly, but UMD's Blake Young got a minor penalty for
All the game's scoring came in the second period, and after the teams traded goals, it was UMD's fourth line that really got things working. Cal Decowski, Charlie Sampair, and Blake Young had a great shift, with Young and Decowski both getting a couple shots, and while they didn't score, they hemmed UML in for quite a long time and eventually drew a penalty. 11 seconds into the power play, Toninato banged home a rebound off an Alex Iafallo shot that hit the post, and UMD led 2-1.
Lowell generated some real possession time in the third period, but only managed 11 shots on goal. There were a couple sequences where the Bulldogs struggled to get the puck out of their zone, and when they did, it didn't go more than six feet across the blue line before it was rapped back in. The RiverHawks, however, didn't get a lot of great looks at Kaskisuo, who made his best saves on a futile UMD power play early in the second period. A couple bad turnovers gave UML two short-handed breaks in the same UMD power play. Kaskisuo stopped both of them to keep the game scoreless.
This might have been the best game "Kas" has played at UMD. He made a few point-blank saves in the second period, and he did a good job controlling rebounds. His defense blocked 17 shots, which helped him, but he was strong from the outset, despite not seeing any shots of any kind for the first half of the first period.
It's obvious Kaskisuo improved over the offseason. Outside of a couple hiccups, mainly in the Bemidji State game, his rebound control has been exemplary. He's standing tall and making the saves he's supposed to make. Also, his puck play -- while still not at Stalockian levels -- has certainly gotten better. It's certainly early, but Kaskisuo is at a .933 save percentage through six starts, which would mark a superb improvement over his solid freshman numbers. I don't think it's necessarily reasonable to expect a goalie to post that kind of save percentage over 34 games against this kind of schedule, but if he does, it's a bonus for UMD and bodes well for the kinds of goals this team has.
******
I was looking for a few things this weekend. I wanted to see how UMD responded to UML's "pack it in" defensive game. The RiverHawks do an outstanding job in their own end, and it's rare that you see the puck cycle down low and have the offensive player not outnumbered. UMD players coughed up a few pucks Friday because they were trapped and outnumbered deep in the offensive zone. But as the game wore on, the Bulldogs appeared to wear down UML a bit with a strong forecheck. They got that going by being smart about dump-ins and getting to pucks quickly. Every line generated pressure and chances, and every line had at least four shots on goal in the game.
I liked how UMD got to Boyle and kept the pressure on him. He's a whale of a goaltender, very athletic and fundamentally sound. He played a great game, and UMD did a lot of good things to keep the heat on.
With the goalie pulled in the final 1:30 or so, the RiverHawks never really got a great look to the net. UMD won a couple faceoffs and battles, and the clock ran out when Kyle Osterberg, who assisted on Andy Welinski's goal to open the scoring in the second period, dumped it down the rink.
I know it ended 2-1, but it was a very entertaining, very cleanly-played game between two very good teams. Whatever happens on Saturday, this is a quality win for UMD and will absolutely help them going forward.
******
Six NCHC teams played games for conference points on Friday. In Kalamazoo, Western Michigan never trailed in handing Omaha its first loss of the season in a 4-2 game. Ohio State transfer Collin Olson started for WMU in goal and made 31 saves, and the Broncos got goals from four different players. Sheldon Dries gave Western the lead for good in the second period, then Aaron Hadley added insurance in the third.
In St. Cloud, the homestanding Huskies dominated Miami, winning 3-0. SCSU outshot the RedHawks 40-15, including 17-4 in the first period. Patrick Newell scored twice for St. Cloud State, and goalie Charlie Lindgren made the 15 saves for a shutout.
In Colorado Springs, the kids were all right for North Dakota in a 5-2 win over Colorado College. All five UND goals came from rookies, with Chris Wilkie tallying twice. Goalie Matt Hrynkiw made 19 saves for the win, as the Tigers fell to 0-7.
Also, Denver got a late goal from Will Butcher to tie Boston College 3-3, but Matthew Gaudreau scored with 36 seconds left to lift the Eagles to a 4-3 win over the Pioneers. Danton Heinen scored twice for DU, which plays Boston University Saturday to close out the weekend out east.
Local Division III teams also kicked off their seasons Friday night. St. Scholastica got a goal from Dylan Nowakowski with 54 seconds left to complete a comeback from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits and get a 3-3 tie against UW-River Falls. The Saints welcomed back head coach Mark Wick, who missed the end of last season on medical leave. He revealed to the Duluth News Tribune he was battling depression.
In Ashland, UWS got third period goals from Anton Svensson and Jordan Neduzak to beat Northland 3-1. The Yellowjackets head to the Upper Peninsula for a Saturday game against Finlandia.
Game 6: UMass-Lowell at UMD
We solemnly swear to not make electricity jokes.
This marks UMD's first Friday night home game of the season. It also marks UMass-Lowell's first game outside of the state of Massachusetts (four home games and one at Merrimack so far for the RiverHawks).
As I wrote about earlier, I expect this to be a very interesting weekend. UMD likes to push the pace and use its speed. UMass-Lowell is closer to a lockdown-variety team, and a very fundamentally sound one.
Too bad healthy scratches can't just leave the team for the night, because the Wild have healthy-scratched defenseman Christian Folin, and his younger brother Niklas -- a freshman -- is a top-pair blue-liner for UMass-Lowell.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Iafallo - Toninato - Young (Austyn)
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Johnson
Young (Blake) - Decowski - Sampair
Pionk - Welinski
Soucy - Raskob
Corrin - Molenaar
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Fons
UML
White - Fallon - Dmowski
Smith - Gambardella - Louria
Edwardh - Master - Chapie
McGrath - Campbell - Francis
Mueller - Folin
Zink - Kapla
Panico - Forney
Cleary - Boyle
(NOTE: Looks like UML lists goalies numerically. Grr. Anyway, we're assuming Boyle starts until someone says he isn't.)
This marks UMD's first Friday night home game of the season. It also marks UMass-Lowell's first game outside of the state of Massachusetts (four home games and one at Merrimack so far for the RiverHawks).
As I wrote about earlier, I expect this to be a very interesting weekend. UMD likes to push the pace and use its speed. UMass-Lowell is closer to a lockdown-variety team, and a very fundamentally sound one.
Too bad healthy scratches can't just leave the team for the night, because the Wild have healthy-scratched defenseman Christian Folin, and his younger brother Niklas -- a freshman -- is a top-pair blue-liner for UMass-Lowell.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Iafallo - Toninato - Young (Austyn)
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Johnson
Young (Blake) - Decowski - Sampair
Pionk - Welinski
Soucy - Raskob
Corrin - Molenaar
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Fons
UML
White - Fallon - Dmowski
Smith - Gambardella - Louria
Edwardh - Master - Chapie
McGrath - Campbell - Francis
Mueller - Folin
Zink - Kapla
Panico - Forney
Cleary - Boyle
(NOTE: Looks like UML lists goalies numerically. Grr. Anyway, we're assuming Boyle starts until someone says he isn't.)
Bulldogs Battle for Space Against Big, Experienced RiverHawks
This is going to be a meat-grinder.
The Bulldogs have long looked comfortable playing what basically amounts to racehorse hockey. When a team wants to engage UMD in a game of "up and down the rink," the Bulldogs are at their best. UMD wants to play with pace, and sometimes struggles when the opponent won't allow that to happen.
That's what I expect this weekend. UMass-Lowell is one of the better defensive teams that we'll see this season, led by senior goalie Kevin Boyle and his obscene .961 save percentage. But to watch UML play -- I watched back the Merrimack games from last week -- is to appreciate how good a job this team does defensively.
The RiverHawks just don't give much up to the opponent. It's exceptionally hard to get to the net and make anything happen against these guys, and that's something assistant coach Jason Herter addressed this week when we spoke.
"We're challenging our guys to get to the net and move their feet," he said. In order to get and sustain pressure and earn quality scoring chances against UML, UMD will have to move its feet at a very high and consistent level.
Merrimack had 35 shots on goal in the Warriors' 1-1 tie against Lowell last Friday. What I don't see are the kinds of quality chances it takes to beat a goalie of Boyle's caliber. He's a 6-1 goalie who played like he's 6-4 or 6-5. I'm very impressed with what I saw from him last weekend. He could be a tough nut for UMD to crack.
Herter said this UML team reminds him a bit of the Western Michigan team that knocked off UMD in the NCHC playoffs two years ago in Duluth. With just the Merrimack games to go on, I'd argue those Broncos may have had more speed and pure skill, but the RiverHawks play their system to a tee, as well and as consistently as any UMD opponent I've studied.
I do think UMD has more speed and forward depth than Merrimack, and that could be a different layer of a challenge for UMass-Lowell.
"They will be the strongest team that we have played so far," head coach Norm Bazin said this week of UMD. "They've got eight seniors and seven juniors so you're thinking about 15 upper classmen guiding their team, they've got good goaltending, they've got big defensemen and speedy forwards so they've got a good mix. We want to play our game and see where it takes us; it should be exciting hockey."
UML has veterans, too, with seven seniors and four juniors. Like UMD, the RiverHawks have four players at 100 or more career games. As Herter pointed out, UML has a large number of players who came in after spending time in junior hockey, most commonly the USHL. It's another trait largely shared by UMD, but the RiverHawks have five 1991 birthdates among their seniors compared to two for UMD.
I'm looking forward to this series. I think it's a great challenge for the Bulldogs. Last year, UMD didn't necessarily play well against tougher defensive-minded teams, especially WMU. To make plays this weekend, UMD needs to take advantage of smaller windows than maybe they'll get against other opponents. UML does a great job defending its net, starting with Boyle, but the five skaters on the ice play a role there, too. The Bulldogs have to use their speed and skill to spread out UML as much as possible.
Special teams are always huge, and the RiverHawks have killed all 18 power plays they've given opponents. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Bulldogs have cooked up on the power play. The numbers are not good, but for the most part, the power play has done good things even when it hasn't scored. Last weekend is more of an exception, but UMD cleaned a few things up Saturday against Notre Dame, and hopefully will take another step this weekend.
Glenn "Chico" Resch is sure one of a kind.
The former UMD goaltender gets the ultimate Bulldog Hockey tribute Friday night at Amsoil Arena, when the school retires his No. 1 jersey. The affable Resch will be in Duluth this weekend, but he also stopped by Amsoil Arena last week on hockey media day. Not surprisingly, he held court for the assembled professional journalists.
Oh, and I was there, too.
He joked about how he didn't believe a request from UMD Athletic Director Josh Berlo to get a hold of him was anything important. Then he heard from alum Walt Ledingham, who told him Berlo really had something important to tell Resch. When we met with Resch last week, he still seemed a bit in shock it was really happening.
Nearly 35 years later, the man they call "Chico" still raves about his time at UMD.
"My world was never the same after I graduated (from UMD) in 1971," Resch said. "I have so much to be thankful for."
Resch played goalie for UMD starting in the late 1960s, and served as team captain as a senior in 1970-71, when he earned All-WCHA second team honors and was also named UMD's Outstanding Senior Athlete that year. From there, Resch played 14 years in the NHL with the New York Islanders, Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils, and Philadelphia Flyers before retiring in 1986. He played in three NHL All-Star Games, becoming the first former Bulldog to do that.
After his playing career ended, Resch moved into broadcasting, working UMD games on TV with the great Jim Rich before becoming the lead analyst for the New Jersey Devils, primarily on the MSG Networks.
There, Resch formed one of the NHL's most popular local broadcast teams with NHL play-by-play legend Mike "Doc" Emrick. Resch retired after the 2013-14 season, his 18th calling Devils games on TV. The duo was so beloved among Devils fans that the team held special nights in Emrick's honor after he left to work full-time doing games on NBC, and for Resch when he retired.
I had a chance to interview Resch in 2010, the week UMD played its final games at the DECC. I called on a number of alumni to help send the place out with a bang, and Resch really delivered. It didn't take much to get him going, though I'll always remember him being more than willing to talk about his UMD memories with me, and equally upset that he couldn't get out of his MSG television responsibilities with the Devils to be at the last game in person.
Head coach Scott Sandelin calls Resch a "great guy," and is happy to see his program honoring greats from the past. Resch will be the fourth men's hockey player to have his jersey retired, joining Huffer Christiansen, Brett Hull, and Bill Watson, whose No. 14 was retired last year.
Arrive at Friday's game early to see the Resch ceremony at 6:45. He'll be signing autographs and greeting fans after the first period, and if you're tuning into the game on the radio, we'll have him on after the second period.
I know some fans are nervous about UMD "over-retiring" numbers, but I look at it as a cool way to engage our fans in the history of the program. Resch is a fantastic guy and someone who will embrace this honor, similar to Bill Watson last year.
The Bulldogs have long looked comfortable playing what basically amounts to racehorse hockey. When a team wants to engage UMD in a game of "up and down the rink," the Bulldogs are at their best. UMD wants to play with pace, and sometimes struggles when the opponent won't allow that to happen.
That's what I expect this weekend. UMass-Lowell is one of the better defensive teams that we'll see this season, led by senior goalie Kevin Boyle and his obscene .961 save percentage. But to watch UML play -- I watched back the Merrimack games from last week -- is to appreciate how good a job this team does defensively.
The RiverHawks just don't give much up to the opponent. It's exceptionally hard to get to the net and make anything happen against these guys, and that's something assistant coach Jason Herter addressed this week when we spoke.
"We're challenging our guys to get to the net and move their feet," he said. In order to get and sustain pressure and earn quality scoring chances against UML, UMD will have to move its feet at a very high and consistent level.
Merrimack had 35 shots on goal in the Warriors' 1-1 tie against Lowell last Friday. What I don't see are the kinds of quality chances it takes to beat a goalie of Boyle's caliber. He's a 6-1 goalie who played like he's 6-4 or 6-5. I'm very impressed with what I saw from him last weekend. He could be a tough nut for UMD to crack.
Herter said this UML team reminds him a bit of the Western Michigan team that knocked off UMD in the NCHC playoffs two years ago in Duluth. With just the Merrimack games to go on, I'd argue those Broncos may have had more speed and pure skill, but the RiverHawks play their system to a tee, as well and as consistently as any UMD opponent I've studied.
I do think UMD has more speed and forward depth than Merrimack, and that could be a different layer of a challenge for UMass-Lowell.
"They will be the strongest team that we have played so far," head coach Norm Bazin said this week of UMD. "They've got eight seniors and seven juniors so you're thinking about 15 upper classmen guiding their team, they've got good goaltending, they've got big defensemen and speedy forwards so they've got a good mix. We want to play our game and see where it takes us; it should be exciting hockey."
UML has veterans, too, with seven seniors and four juniors. Like UMD, the RiverHawks have four players at 100 or more career games. As Herter pointed out, UML has a large number of players who came in after spending time in junior hockey, most commonly the USHL. It's another trait largely shared by UMD, but the RiverHawks have five 1991 birthdates among their seniors compared to two for UMD.
I'm looking forward to this series. I think it's a great challenge for the Bulldogs. Last year, UMD didn't necessarily play well against tougher defensive-minded teams, especially WMU. To make plays this weekend, UMD needs to take advantage of smaller windows than maybe they'll get against other opponents. UML does a great job defending its net, starting with Boyle, but the five skaters on the ice play a role there, too. The Bulldogs have to use their speed and skill to spread out UML as much as possible.
Special teams are always huge, and the RiverHawks have killed all 18 power plays they've given opponents. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Bulldogs have cooked up on the power play. The numbers are not good, but for the most part, the power play has done good things even when it hasn't scored. Last weekend is more of an exception, but UMD cleaned a few things up Saturday against Notre Dame, and hopefully will take another step this weekend.
******
Glenn "Chico" Resch is sure one of a kind.
The former UMD goaltender gets the ultimate Bulldog Hockey tribute Friday night at Amsoil Arena, when the school retires his No. 1 jersey. The affable Resch will be in Duluth this weekend, but he also stopped by Amsoil Arena last week on hockey media day. Not surprisingly, he held court for the assembled professional journalists.
Oh, and I was there, too.
He joked about how he didn't believe a request from UMD Athletic Director Josh Berlo to get a hold of him was anything important. Then he heard from alum Walt Ledingham, who told him Berlo really had something important to tell Resch. When we met with Resch last week, he still seemed a bit in shock it was really happening.
Nearly 35 years later, the man they call "Chico" still raves about his time at UMD.
"My world was never the same after I graduated (from UMD) in 1971," Resch said. "I have so much to be thankful for."
Resch played goalie for UMD starting in the late 1960s, and served as team captain as a senior in 1970-71, when he earned All-WCHA second team honors and was also named UMD's Outstanding Senior Athlete that year. From there, Resch played 14 years in the NHL with the New York Islanders, Colorado Rockies, New Jersey Devils, and Philadelphia Flyers before retiring in 1986. He played in three NHL All-Star Games, becoming the first former Bulldog to do that.
After his playing career ended, Resch moved into broadcasting, working UMD games on TV with the great Jim Rich before becoming the lead analyst for the New Jersey Devils, primarily on the MSG Networks.
There, Resch formed one of the NHL's most popular local broadcast teams with NHL play-by-play legend Mike "Doc" Emrick. Resch retired after the 2013-14 season, his 18th calling Devils games on TV. The duo was so beloved among Devils fans that the team held special nights in Emrick's honor after he left to work full-time doing games on NBC, and for Resch when he retired.
I had a chance to interview Resch in 2010, the week UMD played its final games at the DECC. I called on a number of alumni to help send the place out with a bang, and Resch really delivered. It didn't take much to get him going, though I'll always remember him being more than willing to talk about his UMD memories with me, and equally upset that he couldn't get out of his MSG television responsibilities with the Devils to be at the last game in person.
Head coach Scott Sandelin calls Resch a "great guy," and is happy to see his program honoring greats from the past. Resch will be the fourth men's hockey player to have his jersey retired, joining Huffer Christiansen, Brett Hull, and Bill Watson, whose No. 14 was retired last year.
******
Arrive at Friday's game early to see the Resch ceremony at 6:45. He'll be signing autographs and greeting fans after the first period, and if you're tuning into the game on the radio, we'll have him on after the second period.
I know some fans are nervous about UMD "over-retiring" numbers, but I look at it as a cool way to engage our fans in the history of the program. Resch is a fantastic guy and someone who will embrace this honor, similar to Bill Watson last year.
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Monday Musings (on a Tuesday): Bulldogs Break Out Ties in South Bend
I bring two ties on every road trip. I know, I should probably bring more, but two games, two ties.
UMD brought two ties home on the bus from South Bend Saturday night/Sunday morning. The Bulldogs, arguably, should have won Friday before a 3-3 draw against Notre Dame. The Irish, arguably, should have won Saturday before a 3-3 tie.
T'was that kind of weekend.
It was an entertaining series, as most of us expected. Notre Dame has a reputation for being a bit on the boring side, but I've never agreed with that. The Irish have too much skill to consistently be branded that way. That's not to say Jeff Jackson doesn't want his kids to play defense. He does. It's saying he does turn the kids loose and lets them display their speed and skill, especially in the middle of the rink. These teams tend to play enjoyable, watchable, clean hockey against each other. It was the last of a four-series deal between the programs (two weekends in each city, with UMD also getting invited to last year's IceBreaker in South Bend), but hopefully they're able to work it out to play each other more in future seasons.
The Bulldogs weren't their crispest or best over the weekend, but yet UMD found a way to avoid losing either game. Friday night, the Bulldogs blew a 2-0 lead, thanks in large part to an anemic power play that struggled with faceoffs, zone entries, and general possession. Saturday's tie came despite a power play that struggled some more, though it did unquestionably show improvement on faceoffs, zone entries, and possession.
UMD never was good enough to put a lot of pressure on a Notre Dame defensive corps that I thought was a bit vulnerable going in. I didn't think there was enough net drive by the Bulldogs, and while they still generated gobs of pressure, there were at least a half-dozen quality rebound opportunities that ended up being harmlessly cleared away because no one in a maroon sweater was crashing down low.
Speed was a big advantage I expected UMD to exploit, especially at forward. While Tony Cameranesi's line -- with Austin Farley and Karson Kuhlman -- made more than a few plays by using their speed, there wasn't of that on the weekend.
Honestly, when you read this, you probably think UMD lost a game. The fact that didn't happen is a credit -- in large part -- to a couple entities: The penalty kill, and Kasimir Kaskisuo.
Kas' save percentage actually went down on the weekend, but don't be fooled. He was superb, especially on the penalty kill in Friday's game. And don't be fooled by the knuckle puck that he let squeak by him from Notre Dame freshman Dylan Malmquist in the first period Saturday. He bounced back from that to put in another strong effort.
The kill allowed two goals in 11 power plays on the weekend, but was actually better than even that number would indicate. UMD outshot Notre Dame on its power plays Saturday, with five short-handed shots compared to four power-play shots for the Irish. At one point, I got to use the "Who's on the power play?" line everyone loves so much, especially when it's your team executing a penalty kill well enough to make it a valid line.
And what can we say about Cameranesi? The guy plays with reckless abandon, to the point that I'm almost concerned about the risks he takes. But good luck getting him to slow down. This is how Tony Cameranesi plays, and when his team needed him most. the senior really cranked up the jets and used his speed to score a huge goal in Saturday's game.
We call that "leadership" around here.
Cameranesi scored later in the second Saturday to cut the lead to 3-2, then set up Neal Pionk's first career goal that tied things up in the third. He's one guy who constantly was using his speed to make plays, and it showed. That line -- Cameranesi, Farley, and Kuhlman -- was UMD's best down the stretch last year, and it's been the most consistent so far.
UMD hosts UMass-Lowell this weekend. Arrive early Friday to watch the school retire the No. 1 worn by goalie Glenn "Chico" Resch, who will hopefully join us on the radio Friday night. That ceremony was scheduled for the first intermission, but has been moved to pregame, so keep that in mind if you have tickets for Friday.
Lowell is a very good defensive team, one that's allowed only five goals in five games (3-0-2 record). The RiverHawks tied Merrimack 1-1 in both games of a home-and-home series over the weekend to kick off their Hockey East schedule.
It's a good challenge for UMD, trying to score goals against a team that simply doesn't give up much. UML was outshot 58-33 by Merrimack, but got two ties out of it.
UMD has outshot its opponents 116-71 at even strength over the last four games. Keep that up, and hopefully we'll see good results this weekend.
UMD brought two ties home on the bus from South Bend Saturday night/Sunday morning. The Bulldogs, arguably, should have won Friday before a 3-3 draw against Notre Dame. The Irish, arguably, should have won Saturday before a 3-3 tie.
T'was that kind of weekend.
It was an entertaining series, as most of us expected. Notre Dame has a reputation for being a bit on the boring side, but I've never agreed with that. The Irish have too much skill to consistently be branded that way. That's not to say Jeff Jackson doesn't want his kids to play defense. He does. It's saying he does turn the kids loose and lets them display their speed and skill, especially in the middle of the rink. These teams tend to play enjoyable, watchable, clean hockey against each other. It was the last of a four-series deal between the programs (two weekends in each city, with UMD also getting invited to last year's IceBreaker in South Bend), but hopefully they're able to work it out to play each other more in future seasons.
The Bulldogs weren't their crispest or best over the weekend, but yet UMD found a way to avoid losing either game. Friday night, the Bulldogs blew a 2-0 lead, thanks in large part to an anemic power play that struggled with faceoffs, zone entries, and general possession. Saturday's tie came despite a power play that struggled some more, though it did unquestionably show improvement on faceoffs, zone entries, and possession.
UMD never was good enough to put a lot of pressure on a Notre Dame defensive corps that I thought was a bit vulnerable going in. I didn't think there was enough net drive by the Bulldogs, and while they still generated gobs of pressure, there were at least a half-dozen quality rebound opportunities that ended up being harmlessly cleared away because no one in a maroon sweater was crashing down low.
Speed was a big advantage I expected UMD to exploit, especially at forward. While Tony Cameranesi's line -- with Austin Farley and Karson Kuhlman -- made more than a few plays by using their speed, there wasn't of that on the weekend.
Honestly, when you read this, you probably think UMD lost a game. The fact that didn't happen is a credit -- in large part -- to a couple entities: The penalty kill, and Kasimir Kaskisuo.
Kas' save percentage actually went down on the weekend, but don't be fooled. He was superb, especially on the penalty kill in Friday's game. And don't be fooled by the knuckle puck that he let squeak by him from Notre Dame freshman Dylan Malmquist in the first period Saturday. He bounced back from that to put in another strong effort.
The kill allowed two goals in 11 power plays on the weekend, but was actually better than even that number would indicate. UMD outshot Notre Dame on its power plays Saturday, with five short-handed shots compared to four power-play shots for the Irish. At one point, I got to use the "Who's on the power play?" line everyone loves so much, especially when it's your team executing a penalty kill well enough to make it a valid line.
******
And what can we say about Cameranesi? The guy plays with reckless abandon, to the point that I'm almost concerned about the risks he takes. But good luck getting him to slow down. This is how Tony Cameranesi plays, and when his team needed him most. the senior really cranked up the jets and used his speed to score a huge goal in Saturday's game.
We call that "leadership" around here.
Cameranesi scored later in the second Saturday to cut the lead to 3-2, then set up Neal Pionk's first career goal that tied things up in the third. He's one guy who constantly was using his speed to make plays, and it showed. That line -- Cameranesi, Farley, and Kuhlman -- was UMD's best down the stretch last year, and it's been the most consistent so far.
******
UMD hosts UMass-Lowell this weekend. Arrive early Friday to watch the school retire the No. 1 worn by goalie Glenn "Chico" Resch, who will hopefully join us on the radio Friday night. That ceremony was scheduled for the first intermission, but has been moved to pregame, so keep that in mind if you have tickets for Friday.
Lowell is a very good defensive team, one that's allowed only five goals in five games (3-0-2 record). The RiverHawks tied Merrimack 1-1 in both games of a home-and-home series over the weekend to kick off their Hockey East schedule.
It's a good challenge for UMD, trying to score goals against a team that simply doesn't give up much. UML was outshot 58-33 by Merrimack, but got two ties out of it.
UMD has outshot its opponents 116-71 at even strength over the last four games. Keep that up, and hopefully we'll see good results this weekend.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Game 5: UMD at Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- For UMD, this game is a chance to win a season series. As junior Dominic Toninato said this week, "every game counts."
Yeah, it's early, but the bottom line is you want to rack up season series wins so the PairWise likes you in March. You know, the only time it matters one iota.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Johnson - Toninato - Iafallo
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Young (Austyn)
Young (Blake) - Decowski - Sampair
Pionk - Welinski
Soucy - Raskob
Corrin - McCormack
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Deery
ND
DiPauli - Hurley - Bjork
Lucia - Fogarty - Herr
Malmquist - Evans - Oglevie
Wegwerth - Cook - Ostlie
Gilbert - Wade
Nardella - Ryan
Ripley - Gross
Katunar - Stasack - Petersen
Yeah, it's early, but the bottom line is you want to rack up season series wins so the PairWise likes you in March. You know, the only time it matters one iota.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Johnson - Toninato - Iafallo
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Young (Austyn)
Young (Blake) - Decowski - Sampair
Pionk - Welinski
Soucy - Raskob
Corrin - McCormack
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Deery
ND
DiPauli - Hurley - Bjork
Lucia - Fogarty - Herr
Malmquist - Evans - Oglevie
Wegwerth - Cook - Ostlie
Gilbert - Wade
Nardella - Ryan
Ripley - Gross
Katunar - Stasack - Petersen
Friday, October 23, 2015
Saturday Hockey Notes and Thoughts: Blown Opportunities Doom UMD to Tie
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- What was a golden opportunity to put Friday's game away turned into a nightmarish power play for UMD.
A failed five-on-three, followed by clunky five-on-four time, then another failed five-on-three, followed by a short-handed goal.
That short-handed goal got Notre Dame back in what was a 2-0 game, and the Irish eventually picked up a 3-3 tie against the fifth-ranked Bulldogs.
In the end, UMD will be stuck lamenting seven power plays missed, including a pair of two-man advantages that totaled over a minute each. Yes, the Bulldogs hit a pair of pipes and had a few good looks on those power plays, but they got nothing by Notre Dame goalie Cal Petersen and were outscored 2-0 on special teams.
Iffy special teams play is certainly one way to lose. UMD didn't lose, however, because it kept throwing pucks at Petersen and eventually got one in the third on an Austyn Young rebound. The Bulldogs couldn't hold 2-0 and 3-2 leads, but surely will take a tie on a night where there were a few things not clicking.
UMD had some uncharacteristic turnovers, but handled Notre Dame's forecheck pretty well and generally had the better of the play. Problem: The night was full of special teams play.
On the power play, UMD lost faceoffs too routinely, especially on the five-on-threes in the second period. There was too much time spent chasing the puck down, and Notre Dame did a good job pressuring the visitors in the neutral zone, which caused turnovers and slowed up rush opportunities.
Generally, faceoffs can be overrated. They can be terrifically random at times, and puck possession so often changes within a few seconds of puck drop that you can't put too much stock into it. UMD has been really good lately at regaining possession within seconds of a faceoff loss. In those cases, the stat is almost completely meaningless, because it contributes nothing to the overall flow of play.
However, losing faceoffs is a bad way to do business when you have an extra player on the ice. It usually means the loss of 15-20 seconds or more of power play time, just like every other time a team clears while short-handed. It also ratchets up the pressure on all five guys to be clean out of their zone and through neutral, so they can set up and get something going while there's still time.
They don't parse the power play faceoffs out for us, so unless you go look at the official play-by-play, it's hard to get an accurate read. And as much of a nerd as I am, I'm not doing that.
UMD had 12 shots in seven power plays, and the Bulldogs outshot the Irish at even strength 28-13. I'll take my chances with the way UMD has controlled play at even strength this season, outshooting opponents 103-65 in four games, an average of 26-16 per game at even strength. With Kasimir Kaskisuo playing the way he is, that will win UMD a lot of games.
What am I saying here? The faceoff number (.445 in four games) is ugly. But even if it doesn't vastly improve over time, the shot totals -- which translate to scoring chances -- are what matter most. And while the power play is important, odds are we aren't going to see too many games like this one. More often than not, power plays will settle into the 3-5 per game range. Games like Friday will be the outliers, not the norm.
I'm not saying it's a great tie. I'm saying it's a tie. Lessons can be learned, and improvements made. It's still way too early in the season to go into a panic because of a tie on the road. Especially one that so easily could have gone the other way.
Asked the Twitterverse for some questions, and figured I'd answer them here. For those who missed out -- it was late notice -- I'll be doing this at various times throughout the season, usually on road trips where my time constraints are minimal. If you don't follow me on Twitter @BruceCiskie, you miss out on a chance to get your question answered. You also miss out on a chance to read some really bad jokes and stream of consciousness tweets
@biddco: "Your thoughts on face-offs. Was UMD poor at face-offs last year?"
Yes, UMD had a bad year in the circle last year, finishing in the botton 15 nationally. Despite that, the Bulldogs outshot most opponents and were a very good five-on-five team. If that trend continues, I'll live with the faceoff struggles. Just know that I believe at least some of the power play problems can be traced to losing faceoffs. It isn't always a huge deal, but it can contribute.
@campbench: "Is whoever had that 5 min penalty suspended for Saturday?"
That was Notre Dame's Andy Ryan, ejected for a blatant elbow to the head of UMD freshman Adam Johnson. The hit happened after Johnson released the puck on a soft corner dump-in during a UMD power play. While Johnson was eligible to be checked and Ryan could have finished him cleanly, Johnson took what appeared to my admittedly biased eye to be a blatant elbow right to the head. Easy call for the officials, and they got it right.
Is it suspension worthy? Well, in a different league, UMD's Carson Soucy got a game for a shoulder near the head of Bemidji State's Leo Fitzgerald. Like Johnson, Fitzgerald didn't appear to be injured and didn't miss a shift. However, what makes that case supremely different is that Fitzgerald was in no way eligible to be checked. Johnson was. The hit on Johnson was more flagrant, but will Hockey East see it as suspension-worthy? Without knowing much about the league's supplemental discipline policy or history, I'd guess Ryan will not be suspended.
@TeddyThighs (I won't ask if you don't): "Waiting for Adam Johnson seemed like forever, your thoughts so far? I am impressed, he has speed, hands, and a great shot IMO."
Extremely impressed. Clearly a kid who knows what it takes to compete at this level, and I'm told he's worked extensively on his skating. His hands are first-rate, and he can absolutely shoot the puck. He's been so extremely close to his first goal, and once he gets the first one, I believe they'll come in bunches.
Feels like he committed in 1995, but he's totally worth the wait. Doesn't look out of place at all on the top line, and in fact has enhanced it, something we talk with Dominic Toninato about during the first intermission of Saturday's broadcast.
@theboust: "What is it going to take to stay off the penalty kill?"
Wish I had the answer. I don't know that it's risen to the level of a problem yet. We saw UMD take a couple stupid majors (justified calls, but not the smartest actions leading to the penalties) in Bemidji, but I'd argue more than a couple calls that have gone against UMD in the last two games have been of the "ehhhhhhhh" variety. In other words, arguably soft calls at a time of the year where there are a lot of soft calls.
I don't think it's "Move along, nothing to see here," only because we saw it be a problem at times last year, and we don't want that to happen again. However, I'm reserving judgment for the time being. I do think UMD needs to do a better job of avoiding the avoidable penalties, and there were a couple on Friday night. Neal Pionk's penalty was absolutely necessary. A couple of the other stick fouls were not.
In other action involving the NCHC, it was another good night for the league, which continues to make a killing non-conference.
Freshman Jack Roslovic's second-period goal held up for Miami in a 1-0 win at St. Lawrence. Ryan McKay made 26 saves for the shutout win. Johnny Simonson and Bryn Chyzyk scored for North Dakota, as it won 2-0 at Vermont. Third goalie Matt Hrynkiw started and got his first collegiate shutout with 27 saves.
Omaha opened Baxter Arena by punting Air Force 4-2. Freshman Steven Spinner scored twice, and goalie Kirk Thompson made 28 saves as the Mavericks improved to 5-0.
It wasn't all rosey for the NCHC. Clarkson got a late power-play goal and then an empty-netter to ice a 4-2 win over Western Michigan. Quinnipiac scored four goals in the second -- the first goals allowed by Charlie Lindgren since he was a Bantam -- and the Bobcats beat St. Cloud State 5-2. Former Duluth Marshall star Judd Peterson had both goals for SCSU. Also, Boston College shut out Colorado College 3-0 in Colorado Springs.
A failed five-on-three, followed by clunky five-on-four time, then another failed five-on-three, followed by a short-handed goal.
That short-handed goal got Notre Dame back in what was a 2-0 game, and the Irish eventually picked up a 3-3 tie against the fifth-ranked Bulldogs.
In the end, UMD will be stuck lamenting seven power plays missed, including a pair of two-man advantages that totaled over a minute each. Yes, the Bulldogs hit a pair of pipes and had a few good looks on those power plays, but they got nothing by Notre Dame goalie Cal Petersen and were outscored 2-0 on special teams.
Iffy special teams play is certainly one way to lose. UMD didn't lose, however, because it kept throwing pucks at Petersen and eventually got one in the third on an Austyn Young rebound. The Bulldogs couldn't hold 2-0 and 3-2 leads, but surely will take a tie on a night where there were a few things not clicking.
UMD had some uncharacteristic turnovers, but handled Notre Dame's forecheck pretty well and generally had the better of the play. Problem: The night was full of special teams play.
On the power play, UMD lost faceoffs too routinely, especially on the five-on-threes in the second period. There was too much time spent chasing the puck down, and Notre Dame did a good job pressuring the visitors in the neutral zone, which caused turnovers and slowed up rush opportunities.
Generally, faceoffs can be overrated. They can be terrifically random at times, and puck possession so often changes within a few seconds of puck drop that you can't put too much stock into it. UMD has been really good lately at regaining possession within seconds of a faceoff loss. In those cases, the stat is almost completely meaningless, because it contributes nothing to the overall flow of play.
However, losing faceoffs is a bad way to do business when you have an extra player on the ice. It usually means the loss of 15-20 seconds or more of power play time, just like every other time a team clears while short-handed. It also ratchets up the pressure on all five guys to be clean out of their zone and through neutral, so they can set up and get something going while there's still time.
They don't parse the power play faceoffs out for us, so unless you go look at the official play-by-play, it's hard to get an accurate read. And as much of a nerd as I am, I'm not doing that.
UMD had 12 shots in seven power plays, and the Bulldogs outshot the Irish at even strength 28-13. I'll take my chances with the way UMD has controlled play at even strength this season, outshooting opponents 103-65 in four games, an average of 26-16 per game at even strength. With Kasimir Kaskisuo playing the way he is, that will win UMD a lot of games.
What am I saying here? The faceoff number (.445 in four games) is ugly. But even if it doesn't vastly improve over time, the shot totals -- which translate to scoring chances -- are what matter most. And while the power play is important, odds are we aren't going to see too many games like this one. More often than not, power plays will settle into the 3-5 per game range. Games like Friday will be the outliers, not the norm.
I'm not saying it's a great tie. I'm saying it's a tie. Lessons can be learned, and improvements made. It's still way too early in the season to go into a panic because of a tie on the road. Especially one that so easily could have gone the other way.
******
Asked the Twitterverse for some questions, and figured I'd answer them here. For those who missed out -- it was late notice -- I'll be doing this at various times throughout the season, usually on road trips where my time constraints are minimal. If you don't follow me on Twitter @BruceCiskie, you miss out on a chance to get your question answered. You also miss out on a chance to read some really bad jokes and stream of consciousness tweets
@biddco: "Your thoughts on face-offs. Was UMD poor at face-offs last year?"
Yes, UMD had a bad year in the circle last year, finishing in the botton 15 nationally. Despite that, the Bulldogs outshot most opponents and were a very good five-on-five team. If that trend continues, I'll live with the faceoff struggles. Just know that I believe at least some of the power play problems can be traced to losing faceoffs. It isn't always a huge deal, but it can contribute.
@campbench: "Is whoever had that 5 min penalty suspended for Saturday?"
That was Notre Dame's Andy Ryan, ejected for a blatant elbow to the head of UMD freshman Adam Johnson. The hit happened after Johnson released the puck on a soft corner dump-in during a UMD power play. While Johnson was eligible to be checked and Ryan could have finished him cleanly, Johnson took what appeared to my admittedly biased eye to be a blatant elbow right to the head. Easy call for the officials, and they got it right.
Is it suspension worthy? Well, in a different league, UMD's Carson Soucy got a game for a shoulder near the head of Bemidji State's Leo Fitzgerald. Like Johnson, Fitzgerald didn't appear to be injured and didn't miss a shift. However, what makes that case supremely different is that Fitzgerald was in no way eligible to be checked. Johnson was. The hit on Johnson was more flagrant, but will Hockey East see it as suspension-worthy? Without knowing much about the league's supplemental discipline policy or history, I'd guess Ryan will not be suspended.
@TeddyThighs (I won't ask if you don't): "Waiting for Adam Johnson seemed like forever, your thoughts so far? I am impressed, he has speed, hands, and a great shot IMO."
Extremely impressed. Clearly a kid who knows what it takes to compete at this level, and I'm told he's worked extensively on his skating. His hands are first-rate, and he can absolutely shoot the puck. He's been so extremely close to his first goal, and once he gets the first one, I believe they'll come in bunches.
Feels like he committed in 1995, but he's totally worth the wait. Doesn't look out of place at all on the top line, and in fact has enhanced it, something we talk with Dominic Toninato about during the first intermission of Saturday's broadcast.
@theboust: "What is it going to take to stay off the penalty kill?"
Wish I had the answer. I don't know that it's risen to the level of a problem yet. We saw UMD take a couple stupid majors (justified calls, but not the smartest actions leading to the penalties) in Bemidji, but I'd argue more than a couple calls that have gone against UMD in the last two games have been of the "ehhhhhhhh" variety. In other words, arguably soft calls at a time of the year where there are a lot of soft calls.
I don't think it's "Move along, nothing to see here," only because we saw it be a problem at times last year, and we don't want that to happen again. However, I'm reserving judgment for the time being. I do think UMD needs to do a better job of avoiding the avoidable penalties, and there were a couple on Friday night. Neal Pionk's penalty was absolutely necessary. A couple of the other stick fouls were not.
******
In other action involving the NCHC, it was another good night for the league, which continues to make a killing non-conference.
Freshman Jack Roslovic's second-period goal held up for Miami in a 1-0 win at St. Lawrence. Ryan McKay made 26 saves for the shutout win. Johnny Simonson and Bryn Chyzyk scored for North Dakota, as it won 2-0 at Vermont. Third goalie Matt Hrynkiw started and got his first collegiate shutout with 27 saves.
Omaha opened Baxter Arena by punting Air Force 4-2. Freshman Steven Spinner scored twice, and goalie Kirk Thompson made 28 saves as the Mavericks improved to 5-0.
It wasn't all rosey for the NCHC. Clarkson got a late power-play goal and then an empty-netter to ice a 4-2 win over Western Michigan. Quinnipiac scored four goals in the second -- the first goals allowed by Charlie Lindgren since he was a Bantam -- and the Bobcats beat St. Cloud State 5-2. Former Duluth Marshall star Judd Peterson had both goals for SCSU. Also, Boston College shut out Colorado College 3-0 in Colorado Springs.
Game 4: UMD at Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Off and running from South Bend, where No. 5 UMD opens a key non-conference series against Notre Dame.
Sorry for short blog, but lines were late and I'm still stunned after spending way too much money at the campus store. It is Notre Dame, after all.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Johnson - Toninato - Iafallo
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Young (Austyn)
Sampair - Decowski - Spurrell
Pionk - Welinski
Soucy - Raskob
Corrin - Molenaar
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Deery
ND
DiPauli - Hurley - Bjork
Lucia - Fogarty - Herr
Wegwerth - Evans - Ostlie
Malmquist - Oglevie - Jenkins
Ripley - Ryan
Gilbert - Gross
Nardella - Wade
Katunar - Stasack - Petersen
Sorry for short blog, but lines were late and I'm still stunned after spending way too much money at the campus store. It is Notre Dame, after all.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Johnson - Toninato - Iafallo
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Young (Austyn)
Sampair - Decowski - Spurrell
Pionk - Welinski
Soucy - Raskob
Corrin - Molenaar
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Deery
ND
DiPauli - Hurley - Bjork
Lucia - Fogarty - Herr
Wegwerth - Evans - Ostlie
Malmquist - Oglevie - Jenkins
Ripley - Ryan
Gilbert - Gross
Nardella - Wade
Katunar - Stasack - Petersen
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Avoiding Letdown Key for UMD in South Bend
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Let there be no doubt, UMD fans. The players and coaches heard you loud and clear Saturday night.
"It was fricken awesome," said junior center Dominic Toninato.
Head coach Scott Sandelin talked multiple times this week about how great the crowd was Saturday. The record gathering of 7,569 at Amsoil Arena saw UMD topple Minnesota 3-0. Not only did it finish off a weekend sweep of the archrival Gophers, but it also clinched a sixth straight win over Minnesota, something UMD has never done before.
Now, however, a different challenge awaits the Bulldogs as they prepare for a weekend non-conference series against Notre Dame.
How do you avoid a letdown?
You can talk all you want about the importance of every game, as Sandelin did when I asked him about a letdown. Of course, he also admitted that was a great question, because no one truly knows if it'll happen until the players hit the ice Friday and Saturday at the b-e-a-utiful Compton Family Ice Arena on campus.
Reality is that every game is really important. The six NCHC teams that made the NCAA Tournament last spring had a combined non-conference record of 42-17-4, and that isn't an accident. UMD went 8-4 out of conference last year, and that success played as big a role in the team being locked into the NCAA Tournament entering the conference playoffs despite a meh fifth-place finish in league.
"It's big, it's huge for the PairWise. I know it's early, but every game counts," Toninato said.
He's right. Something I've preached -- probably to the point people are sick of hearing it -- is that I believe these non-conference games almost carry more weight than league games do. UMD doesn't play teams like Providence, Boston College, Boston University, and other top Eastern schools. A good way to flip close comparisons toward UMD would be for the Bulldogs to do well the next two weekends, playing Hockey East opponents Notre Dame and UMass-Lowell. Do well in these series, then hopefully the Irish and RiverHawks pick off some quality opponents themselves (they will). Come selection time, it will benefit UMD. Lose these games, and the chance exists the Bulldogs will lose comparisons to other top Hockey East teams because of it.
So, back to the original question: How do you avoid a letdown? Notre Dame draws well here, averaging nearly 4,500 a game last year. There should be a good atmosphere.
But these aren't the Gophers. And this arena won't be jumping like the home rink was Saturday.
"We have to stick to our game," Toninato said. "We have to compete. We have to win those 50/50 puck battles. We have to be disciplined."
Usually, when a team goes on the road and faces a tough opponent (which Notre Dame undeniably is), it's not a bad thing to get out of the first period scoreless. Obviously, you want to score and have the lead, but 0-0 isn't the end of the world. As an example, I felt UMD took the best punch Minnesota had in the first period at Mariucci Arena last Friday. 0-0 game, and UMD led in shots. That isn't bad.
In a game like this one on Friday, I'd look for something good to happen for the visitors early. Could be a goal, but it could also be a big hit, a big save, or a successful penalty kill. Could be something even less significant than that. Just enough to galvanize the bench a bit and get guys emotionally into what's in front of them.
If UMD comes out Friday and, as Toninato said, wins races and/or battles, and maintains its discipline early, it could very well be a good night, and a good weekend.
I've never formally met Mario Lucia. Talked to him briefly at a press conference before the Ice Breaker last year, and enjoyed listening to him address reporters.
But I like him.
Lucia is one of six seniors on the Notre Dame roster. However, no one would have batted an eye if he wasn't one of them. Lucia could have turned pro after last season, and signed with the Minnesota Wild (drafted in 2011). Instead of taking his 49 goals and accepting paychecks, Lucia came back.
Edina's Steven Fogarty, who had a hat trick in Notre Dame's 7-4 season-opening win over Penn State last Friday, is the Irish captain for a second straight year. But Lucia is the biggest name and probably the top player. He entered the season with 86 career points, 40 more than fellow senior Sam Herr, who was the next highest career scorer, and 43 more than Fogarty.
Lucia showed some real maturity in explaining his decision to the South Bend Tribune earlier this month.
Fogarty, Lucia, and Herr are the leaders of an interesting Notre Dame team. The Irish have six seniors, many of whom have been impactful players. Despite that experience, Notre Dame is the fifth-youngest team in Division I, according to College Hockey, Inc. The Irish six freshmen and nine sophomores, and their average age is just a shade under 21. Only Boston College, Boston University, Michigan, and Wisconsin are younger.
There's talent. Lucia isn't over 50 career goals by accident. Blueliners Jordan Gross and Dennis Gilbert can make some noise, as can Andy Ryan, who had two goals last Friday at Penn State. Sophomore goalie Cal Peterson had his struggles last weekend, especially in the Saturday loss, but he was good in earning the No. 1 job as a freshman.
Notre Dame has developed a reputation of being a more defensive-oriented team over the years, but this group appears more able to open things up. Jeff Jackson is a heck of a hockey coach, and he'll adapt to the talent on hand and do what fits best.
"They do some things that could cause you some problems if you aren't aware of what's going on," Sandelin said this week. I do see Notre Dame being more aggressive offensively as I watch back the Penn State games. We'll see how that develops this weekend. I see UMD being the faster team, so if the feet are moving and UMD is smart with the puck, opportunity should present itself to make plays.
If you're inclined to listen to the radio, thanks as always. 4:30 Central time pregame Friday, 5pm Saturday.
If you're more of a TV type, Friday's game is on the American Sports Network and will be available on NESN Plus and CSN Chicago Plus, for those who have access to regional sports networks. Saturday will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network and streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra.
LISTEN TO THE RADIO.
"It was fricken awesome," said junior center Dominic Toninato.
Head coach Scott Sandelin talked multiple times this week about how great the crowd was Saturday. The record gathering of 7,569 at Amsoil Arena saw UMD topple Minnesota 3-0. Not only did it finish off a weekend sweep of the archrival Gophers, but it also clinched a sixth straight win over Minnesota, something UMD has never done before.
Now, however, a different challenge awaits the Bulldogs as they prepare for a weekend non-conference series against Notre Dame.
How do you avoid a letdown?
You can talk all you want about the importance of every game, as Sandelin did when I asked him about a letdown. Of course, he also admitted that was a great question, because no one truly knows if it'll happen until the players hit the ice Friday and Saturday at the b-e-a-utiful Compton Family Ice Arena on campus.
Reality is that every game is really important. The six NCHC teams that made the NCAA Tournament last spring had a combined non-conference record of 42-17-4, and that isn't an accident. UMD went 8-4 out of conference last year, and that success played as big a role in the team being locked into the NCAA Tournament entering the conference playoffs despite a meh fifth-place finish in league.
"It's big, it's huge for the PairWise. I know it's early, but every game counts," Toninato said.
He's right. Something I've preached -- probably to the point people are sick of hearing it -- is that I believe these non-conference games almost carry more weight than league games do. UMD doesn't play teams like Providence, Boston College, Boston University, and other top Eastern schools. A good way to flip close comparisons toward UMD would be for the Bulldogs to do well the next two weekends, playing Hockey East opponents Notre Dame and UMass-Lowell. Do well in these series, then hopefully the Irish and RiverHawks pick off some quality opponents themselves (they will). Come selection time, it will benefit UMD. Lose these games, and the chance exists the Bulldogs will lose comparisons to other top Hockey East teams because of it.
So, back to the original question: How do you avoid a letdown? Notre Dame draws well here, averaging nearly 4,500 a game last year. There should be a good atmosphere.
But these aren't the Gophers. And this arena won't be jumping like the home rink was Saturday.
"We have to stick to our game," Toninato said. "We have to compete. We have to win those 50/50 puck battles. We have to be disciplined."
Usually, when a team goes on the road and faces a tough opponent (which Notre Dame undeniably is), it's not a bad thing to get out of the first period scoreless. Obviously, you want to score and have the lead, but 0-0 isn't the end of the world. As an example, I felt UMD took the best punch Minnesota had in the first period at Mariucci Arena last Friday. 0-0 game, and UMD led in shots. That isn't bad.
In a game like this one on Friday, I'd look for something good to happen for the visitors early. Could be a goal, but it could also be a big hit, a big save, or a successful penalty kill. Could be something even less significant than that. Just enough to galvanize the bench a bit and get guys emotionally into what's in front of them.
If UMD comes out Friday and, as Toninato said, wins races and/or battles, and maintains its discipline early, it could very well be a good night, and a good weekend.
******
I've never formally met Mario Lucia. Talked to him briefly at a press conference before the Ice Breaker last year, and enjoyed listening to him address reporters.
But I like him.
Lucia is one of six seniors on the Notre Dame roster. However, no one would have batted an eye if he wasn't one of them. Lucia could have turned pro after last season, and signed with the Minnesota Wild (drafted in 2011). Instead of taking his 49 goals and accepting paychecks, Lucia came back.
Edina's Steven Fogarty, who had a hat trick in Notre Dame's 7-4 season-opening win over Penn State last Friday, is the Irish captain for a second straight year. But Lucia is the biggest name and probably the top player. He entered the season with 86 career points, 40 more than fellow senior Sam Herr, who was the next highest career scorer, and 43 more than Fogarty.
Lucia showed some real maturity in explaining his decision to the South Bend Tribune earlier this month.
“It came down to: What’s the best opportunity? I could have gone and played in the minors for the whole year. The Minnesota Wild have a great team this year. They only have a couple new guys who made their roster.Obviously, we want two wins this weekend. But I see parallels between Lucia and UMD captain Andy Welinski, who is back because he wants to become a better player and lead his team to a championships. These stories are good for college hockey, and they're better stories if Lucia (and Welinski, for that matter) go on to succeed in pro hockey after spending four years in college.
“Coming back here, being a leader, playing an important role – I wouldn’t know what my role would be there. I felt (coming back) was best for my development.”
******
Fogarty, Lucia, and Herr are the leaders of an interesting Notre Dame team. The Irish have six seniors, many of whom have been impactful players. Despite that experience, Notre Dame is the fifth-youngest team in Division I, according to College Hockey, Inc. The Irish six freshmen and nine sophomores, and their average age is just a shade under 21. Only Boston College, Boston University, Michigan, and Wisconsin are younger.
There's talent. Lucia isn't over 50 career goals by accident. Blueliners Jordan Gross and Dennis Gilbert can make some noise, as can Andy Ryan, who had two goals last Friday at Penn State. Sophomore goalie Cal Peterson had his struggles last weekend, especially in the Saturday loss, but he was good in earning the No. 1 job as a freshman.
Notre Dame has developed a reputation of being a more defensive-oriented team over the years, but this group appears more able to open things up. Jeff Jackson is a heck of a hockey coach, and he'll adapt to the talent on hand and do what fits best.
"They do some things that could cause you some problems if you aren't aware of what's going on," Sandelin said this week. I do see Notre Dame being more aggressive offensively as I watch back the Penn State games. We'll see how that develops this weekend. I see UMD being the faster team, so if the feet are moving and UMD is smart with the puck, opportunity should present itself to make plays.
******
If you're inclined to listen to the radio, thanks as always. 4:30 Central time pregame Friday, 5pm Saturday.
If you're more of a TV type, Friday's game is on the American Sports Network and will be available on NESN Plus and CSN Chicago Plus, for those who have access to regional sports networks. Saturday will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network and streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra.
LISTEN TO THE RADIO.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Monday Musings: Bulldogs Sweep Overmatched Gophers
No single stat probably shows the shifting of tides in the Minnesota-UMD men's hockey rivalry than this:
Before Scott Sandelin arrived at UMD in 2000, the Bulldogs were 56-111-11 against Minnesota, a pretty terrible .346 winning percentage.
After Saturday's 3-0 win over the Gophers, UMD is 23-23-6 against their longtime I-35 rivals under Sandelin. That'd be .500, and a vast improvement over previous years.
Included in that are the two longest winning streaks UMD has ever had against Minnesota. The current six-game run is a record. It broke the old mark of five, set by the Bulldogs between 2003 and 2004.
So not only is Sandelin now .500 against UMD's biggest rival (sorry, St. Cloud State and North Dakota), but his teams are responsible for the two longest winning streaks against Minnesota in program history.
Sandelin will tell you it's not about him, and he's not wrong. But the players he's recruited and the style he coaches have combined to make UMD more consistently competitive against the Gophers than they've ever been before.
Saturday was another masterful performance, as the Bulldogs outshot the Gophers 17-2 (!) over the first 20 minutes of a 3-0 win. Now, this Minnesota team does not have the look of a serious national contender (yet). The Gophers are too young in key spots, especially center, to make a lot of noise when you look at the level of talent and experience that others possess.
Doesn't matter. UMD needed to see its best players step up. Check. UMD needed to play more consistently. Check. UMD needed its penalty kill to rise up. Check.
Two things really stood out to me on the wekend. Sandelin made it abundantly clear he wanted to see more out of his best players. He wasn't going to identify them, but outside of the first period, Dominic Toninato had a rough game against Bemidji, and Tony Cameranesi's line had its struggles.
Both lines were outstanding in both games against Minnesota. Toninato scored twice, including one of the better individual efforts you'll ever see to clinch Friday's win 32 seconds after Minnesota had cut a 2-0 lead in half. The UMD junior scored on this third shot. He simply followed the initial shot to the net and found himself in position for a rebound. Gophers goalie Eric Schierhorn fought that off, but Toninato's third shot found the net from a sharp angle to give UMD a 3-1 lead.
FS North analyst Ben Clymer said it was an example of why Toninato has a chance to play in the NHL, and he talked about the leadership you see from a player when he does something like that in a time of need. To me, it's a sign of something everyone involved with the team has talked about. Leadership doesn't just come from captains. In fact, as Austin Farley told me last week, guys who don't wear letters will step up -- both in the room and on the ice -- and show that leadership and make the team better by doing it.
Toninato's wicked wrister got UMD on the board first Saturday, a great shot into a tight spot over Schierhorn's shoulder that cranked the crowd up to another level. It wasn't as early as his opening minute goal last year at home against Minnesota, but it had the same effect on the crowd and the bench.
Karson Kuhlman was great Saturday, Jared Thomas was strong all weekend, and the Bulldogs saw the kind of effort that will take them places. I still want to see this team bear down more on its scoring chances, but no question the weekend was a huge positive and a giant step in the right direction.
Defensively, I have no complaints. Andy Welinski is off to a great start. Neal Pionk was better Friday than he was Saturday, but I expected him to struggle a little going from big ice to small. You can still see his poise, even when he might not be playing his best. Carson Soucy came off suspension Saturday and was superb. I thought Willie Corrin had a nice weekend, and Nick McCormack played well in Soucy's spot Friday. The blue line is deep and talented, and I'm excited to watch the group develop.
So UMD's best players were their best players. And the penalty kill was great all weekend. Going eight for eight against the high-end skill the Gophers possess is a superb start to the season. The kill has allowed 26 shots in three games and 12 power plays, but not many of them have been of the "Grade-A" variety. When they have been great chances, Kaskisuo has shut the door (like on Hudson Fasching and Justin Kloos in the second period Saturday, preserving the 3-0 lead).
Penalty killing, goaltending, and top-flight players stepping up. Sounds like a formula for long-term success.
Now, the challenge may be to avoid a letdown. Notre Dame will host UMD Friday and Saturday at the beautiful Compton Family Ice Arena. The Fighting Irish are off a .500 season, but loaded with more experience this year. I'll talk to coach Jeff Jackson later this week, but I have to think he was about ready to throw a party when Mario Lucia decided to come back for his senior year.
Notre Dame is experienced, but did have to replace leading scorers Vince Hinostroza (left early for pro hockey) and Robbie Russo (graduated). Lucia and captain Steven Fogarty -- both Minnesota kids (eight Minnesota kids on the roster, including four from Edina) -- had four points each in a split against Penn State over the weekend.
Lucia is especially talented and dangerous, but Fogarty is an underrated player who will have a big season. Should be a very good test for the Bulldogs, who aren't lacking in experience or depth.
After freshmen Billy Exell and Parker Mackay made their debuts against Minnesota, forward Blake Young is the only skater who hasn't gotten in a game yet. I'd expect that to happen this weekend, and I'd also be surprised if senior goalie Matt McNeely didn't get a game in before conference play starts in Omaha Nov. 6.
Before Scott Sandelin arrived at UMD in 2000, the Bulldogs were 56-111-11 against Minnesota, a pretty terrible .346 winning percentage.
After Saturday's 3-0 win over the Gophers, UMD is 23-23-6 against their longtime I-35 rivals under Sandelin. That'd be .500, and a vast improvement over previous years.
Included in that are the two longest winning streaks UMD has ever had against Minnesota. The current six-game run is a record. It broke the old mark of five, set by the Bulldogs between 2003 and 2004.
So not only is Sandelin now .500 against UMD's biggest rival (sorry, St. Cloud State and North Dakota), but his teams are responsible for the two longest winning streaks against Minnesota in program history.
Sandelin will tell you it's not about him, and he's not wrong. But the players he's recruited and the style he coaches have combined to make UMD more consistently competitive against the Gophers than they've ever been before.
Saturday was another masterful performance, as the Bulldogs outshot the Gophers 17-2 (!) over the first 20 minutes of a 3-0 win. Now, this Minnesota team does not have the look of a serious national contender (yet). The Gophers are too young in key spots, especially center, to make a lot of noise when you look at the level of talent and experience that others possess.
Doesn't matter. UMD needed to see its best players step up. Check. UMD needed to play more consistently. Check. UMD needed its penalty kill to rise up. Check.
******
Two things really stood out to me on the wekend. Sandelin made it abundantly clear he wanted to see more out of his best players. He wasn't going to identify them, but outside of the first period, Dominic Toninato had a rough game against Bemidji, and Tony Cameranesi's line had its struggles.
Both lines were outstanding in both games against Minnesota. Toninato scored twice, including one of the better individual efforts you'll ever see to clinch Friday's win 32 seconds after Minnesota had cut a 2-0 lead in half. The UMD junior scored on this third shot. He simply followed the initial shot to the net and found himself in position for a rebound. Gophers goalie Eric Schierhorn fought that off, but Toninato's third shot found the net from a sharp angle to give UMD a 3-1 lead.
FS North analyst Ben Clymer said it was an example of why Toninato has a chance to play in the NHL, and he talked about the leadership you see from a player when he does something like that in a time of need. To me, it's a sign of something everyone involved with the team has talked about. Leadership doesn't just come from captains. In fact, as Austin Farley told me last week, guys who don't wear letters will step up -- both in the room and on the ice -- and show that leadership and make the team better by doing it.
Toninato's wicked wrister got UMD on the board first Saturday, a great shot into a tight spot over Schierhorn's shoulder that cranked the crowd up to another level. It wasn't as early as his opening minute goal last year at home against Minnesota, but it had the same effect on the crowd and the bench.
Karson Kuhlman was great Saturday, Jared Thomas was strong all weekend, and the Bulldogs saw the kind of effort that will take them places. I still want to see this team bear down more on its scoring chances, but no question the weekend was a huge positive and a giant step in the right direction.
Defensively, I have no complaints. Andy Welinski is off to a great start. Neal Pionk was better Friday than he was Saturday, but I expected him to struggle a little going from big ice to small. You can still see his poise, even when he might not be playing his best. Carson Soucy came off suspension Saturday and was superb. I thought Willie Corrin had a nice weekend, and Nick McCormack played well in Soucy's spot Friday. The blue line is deep and talented, and I'm excited to watch the group develop.
So UMD's best players were their best players. And the penalty kill was great all weekend. Going eight for eight against the high-end skill the Gophers possess is a superb start to the season. The kill has allowed 26 shots in three games and 12 power plays, but not many of them have been of the "Grade-A" variety. When they have been great chances, Kaskisuo has shut the door (like on Hudson Fasching and Justin Kloos in the second period Saturday, preserving the 3-0 lead).
Penalty killing, goaltending, and top-flight players stepping up. Sounds like a formula for long-term success.
******
Now, the challenge may be to avoid a letdown. Notre Dame will host UMD Friday and Saturday at the beautiful Compton Family Ice Arena. The Fighting Irish are off a .500 season, but loaded with more experience this year. I'll talk to coach Jeff Jackson later this week, but I have to think he was about ready to throw a party when Mario Lucia decided to come back for his senior year.
Notre Dame is experienced, but did have to replace leading scorers Vince Hinostroza (left early for pro hockey) and Robbie Russo (graduated). Lucia and captain Steven Fogarty -- both Minnesota kids (eight Minnesota kids on the roster, including four from Edina) -- had four points each in a split against Penn State over the weekend.
Lucia is especially talented and dangerous, but Fogarty is an underrated player who will have a big season. Should be a very good test for the Bulldogs, who aren't lacking in experience or depth.
After freshmen Billy Exell and Parker Mackay made their debuts against Minnesota, forward Blake Young is the only skater who hasn't gotten in a game yet. I'd expect that to happen this weekend, and I'd also be surprised if senior goalie Matt McNeely didn't get a game in before conference play starts in Omaha Nov. 6.
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