Here we are, just about 1/3 of the way through the season, and the injuries to key players are already piling up again. Several weeks in the press box for Olson and Royer can now be added to Baker's lingering shoulder problem that has forced him into a medical redshirt. Over the past three seasons, it's certainly seemed like our players' shoulders, knees, hips, and wrists have been made of sugar glass, yet the coaching staff has consistently attributed them to bad luck and claims that they are patternless and unexplainable.
After three seasons of this crap, I think it's time for Russell to admit that the "bad luck" excuse is just that - an excuse. The team is somehow creating that "bad luck" for themselves.
12/04/2010
12/02/2010
Exhibit A: Recruiting
While recruiting has generally improved under Russell, and while we must acknowledge that his two alleged "blue chip" recruits never made it to campus for various reasons we'll consider in a moment, it still doesn't change the fact that he should've gotten more out of some of the players he has had. Here are some of the better examples of Russell's obvious or impending "busts":
The Busts
Eric Kattelus - local kid, talented player in Junior A with a tremendous NAHL Rookie/Player of the Year campaign, followed by a strong rookie USHL season. His results at Tech? In 87 career games over parts of four seasons, he sported a rather unimpressive 6-31-37 stat line, including a half-season suspension for major violation of team rules, and then was just kicked off the team a few weeks ago for stealing team equipment. We can only hope this guy can turn his life around, now that a pro hockey career seems pretty unlikely.
Bennett Royer - Two-time AJHL All-Star. As for Tech, in 107 career games, he's posted a humdrum 11-20-31 line. While his senior senior seemed to be on course to be his best by a longshot, a rumored broken foot has likely put an end to those hopes.
Seth Soley - Offered a full ride straight out of Wisconsin HS/MWEHL hockey where he was a record-setter. Had difficulty adjusting to the USHL and posted a thoroughly unimpressive year with the eventual league champion Omaha Lancers (a team which also featured lost blue-chipper Jake Hauswirth). At Tech, played a whopping 33 games over 2 seasons, posted one assist, and never saw much of anything more than fourth line ice time, much of which was spent in the penalty box. Had a falling out with the coaching staff and has recently transferred to St. Norbert in D3.
Peter Rohn - Just might be the smallest Tech player in history. Seriously, this kid can't be anything more than 5'6" tall on skates and is constantly bumped off the puck. Can't gripe much as he was not expected to be an impact player, but why are we recruiting a player who is the worst of both worlds, small and slow? Rohn belongs in the AHA or EZAC, not the WCHA.
Geoff Kinrade - If he'd spent less time admiring his reflection in the glass and more time focusing on the game, he could've been a 'great' defenseman, instead of the 'decent-with-flashes-of-greatness' defenseman that he was. More than once, someone should've smacked this guy and told him to stop worrying about his acne and start paying attention to the play.
The Lost "Blue Chippers"
Casey Pierro-Zabotel - Here's where we break with the USCHO poster/Russell sympathizer crowd. Losing this guy due to his inability to meet ACT score standards was completely Russell's fault. Sure, they can't hire someone to take his exams for him, but surely they could've found someway to motivate him to be better prepared and pass it on the second try, considering he was allegedly "so close" and "off by just a couple points" the first time. Besides which, why is Tech recruiting this kid if he's so academically ill-prepared that he can't even pass a college entrance exam with an average score of 21 (ACT) or 1450 (SAT)? Shouldn't his high school coursework have told the tale well in advance?
Jake Hauswirth - Again, we break with the USCHO crowd here. This kid was a legacy admit (both his parents are Tech alums), and we lost him to a Washington Capitals contract when his "family adviser" pushed him to sign. The Caps promptly farmed him out to the ECHL, where he remains two years later, no doubt regretting his decision to forgo an all-expense paid degree.
Additionally, there are several recruits who've had freshman campaigns that show potential, then in subsequent years they plateau, or even regress. This proves that while Russell is a decent judge of talent, he is a mediocre-at-best instructor, coach, and mentor.
The Busts
Eric Kattelus - local kid, talented player in Junior A with a tremendous NAHL Rookie/Player of the Year campaign, followed by a strong rookie USHL season. His results at Tech? In 87 career games over parts of four seasons, he sported a rather unimpressive 6-31-37 stat line, including a half-season suspension for major violation of team rules, and then was just kicked off the team a few weeks ago for stealing team equipment. We can only hope this guy can turn his life around, now that a pro hockey career seems pretty unlikely.
Bennett Royer - Two-time AJHL All-Star. As for Tech, in 107 career games, he's posted a humdrum 11-20-31 line. While his senior senior seemed to be on course to be his best by a longshot, a rumored broken foot has likely put an end to those hopes.
Seth Soley - Offered a full ride straight out of Wisconsin HS/MWEHL hockey where he was a record-setter. Had difficulty adjusting to the USHL and posted a thoroughly unimpressive year with the eventual league champion Omaha Lancers (a team which also featured lost blue-chipper Jake Hauswirth). At Tech, played a whopping 33 games over 2 seasons, posted one assist, and never saw much of anything more than fourth line ice time, much of which was spent in the penalty box. Had a falling out with the coaching staff and has recently transferred to St. Norbert in D3.
Peter Rohn - Just might be the smallest Tech player in history. Seriously, this kid can't be anything more than 5'6" tall on skates and is constantly bumped off the puck. Can't gripe much as he was not expected to be an impact player, but why are we recruiting a player who is the worst of both worlds, small and slow? Rohn belongs in the AHA or EZAC, not the WCHA.
Geoff Kinrade - If he'd spent less time admiring his reflection in the glass and more time focusing on the game, he could've been a 'great' defenseman, instead of the 'decent-with-flashes-of-greatness' defenseman that he was. More than once, someone should've smacked this guy and told him to stop worrying about his acne and start paying attention to the play.
The Lost "Blue Chippers"
Casey Pierro-Zabotel - Here's where we break with the USCHO poster/Russell sympathizer crowd. Losing this guy due to his inability to meet ACT score standards was completely Russell's fault. Sure, they can't hire someone to take his exams for him, but surely they could've found someway to motivate him to be better prepared and pass it on the second try, considering he was allegedly "so close" and "off by just a couple points" the first time. Besides which, why is Tech recruiting this kid if he's so academically ill-prepared that he can't even pass a college entrance exam with an average score of 21 (ACT) or 1450 (SAT)? Shouldn't his high school coursework have told the tale well in advance?
Jake Hauswirth - Again, we break with the USCHO crowd here. This kid was a legacy admit (both his parents are Tech alums), and we lost him to a Washington Capitals contract when his "family adviser" pushed him to sign. The Caps promptly farmed him out to the ECHL, where he remains two years later, no doubt regretting his decision to forgo an all-expense paid degree.
Additionally, there are several recruits who've had freshman campaigns that show potential, then in subsequent years they plateau, or even regress. This proves that while Russell is a decent judge of talent, he is a mediocre-at-best instructor, coach, and mentor.
12/01/2010
Getting Started
Welcome to the new blog dedicated to demonstrating the incompetence of Michigan Tech hockey coach Jamie Russell and his staff.
Who are we? We are a group of passionate Tech hockey fans who are concerned about the direction of the program. After the outcome of the past two seasons, and the current tailspin after a glimmer of hope in early October, we are worried that Russell has lost the confidence of the team. We acknowledge that at one time in the not-too-distant past, he may have had the program going in the right direction. Nonetheless, barring dramatic improvements in the team's fortunes between now and March, we feel that it is time to consider a new direction for the program next summer.
In the coming weeks, evidence will be presented as to why Russell does not currently deserve to have his contract renewed in June 2011. For now, just sit tight.
Who are we? We are a group of passionate Tech hockey fans who are concerned about the direction of the program. After the outcome of the past two seasons, and the current tailspin after a glimmer of hope in early October, we are worried that Russell has lost the confidence of the team. We acknowledge that at one time in the not-too-distant past, he may have had the program going in the right direction. Nonetheless, barring dramatic improvements in the team's fortunes between now and March, we feel that it is time to consider a new direction for the program next summer.
In the coming weeks, evidence will be presented as to why Russell does not currently deserve to have his contract renewed in June 2011. For now, just sit tight.
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