Transcript
Speaker: on the table glow. Go talk till the whole night goes. Let it.
Speaker: With the same old friends
Speaker: Welcome everyone to another episode of the Lawson Lounge, a place to talk. Uncle Hockey. I'm one of your hosts, Tony Rangette. joined as always by my two co -hosts brian plonsky Matt Wally -Walasek. Boys, how are we doing? Brian, how was your weekend?
Speaker: I mean, aside from the obvious, it was okay. I've gotten to the... I'm not a big Halloween guy. That's not really my preferred holiday. But um the better half. And a couple of our friends, we went to a ha a a haunted mini golf course.
Speaker: And also, public service announcement. if you open If you operate a bar and you have happy hour on Fridays. And it goes past 6 o 'clock? You're a... Big win in my book.
Speaker: I mean, if you have happy hour on Fridays, you're a big win. But you go past you go till 630 and then you magically go do your tea time or I guess you're. I don't even call it a tee time in mini golf. Your tee time? You guys know one of my my my putt time? my Spinning windmill time? I don't know. But... um really cool they gave you your first drink and a little blood bag so that was kind of nifty um i like a good theme i just don't like halloween But.
Speaker: um I was doing my best WALL -E impression on the links there, trying to, you know. watch out for the spinning pumpkins and the windmills but Aside from the things we'll talk about, not a bad, uh... Not a bad fall -esque weekend. Wally, did you do anything fun and exciting?
Speaker: uh no didn't i didn't do anything fun exciting uh but my wife did uh she uh She's 20 weeks pregnant and completed a 10K. That's hot dick. So, I was, uh...
Speaker: Really puts me to shame over here, not doing really much with my physical health right now. Same thing. She rocks it. She knocked it out of the park. so Half marathon.
Speaker: i Keep joking is the next the next pillar We'll see you. If she does that. thank you move That's crazy. Mad respect to Mrs. Waller. Yeah, she's in this runner's high now all of a sudden, so I'm like...
Speaker: I get winded walking down my driveway.
Speaker: I was winded looking at the pictures. yeah Man. scrolling too much with my finger makes me makes me tony Tony probably had a good weekend though with us. Stars victory. Didn't the Stars win over the weekend?
Speaker: The Stars have been good. um they've been They've been playing good hockey since they since their... since our slow start i was at the game uh last night which was sunday and it's a good game going into the third pier and then they just kind of I had a great third period and ended up winning 6 -3, so it it was fun. It's good to see that they're playing good hockey. I was ready to fire Glenn Gullitson at the beginning of the year.
Speaker: um But he's he's got the boys playing. playing well. That was about all that was good about my sports weekend. Last weekend was great. This weekend sucked. so uh man it it sucks that uh but hey happy hour speaking of it My favorite bar, which I went to on Saturday.
Speaker: as a Reverse happy hour. So like every evening from like, I don't know. 11 to 2 is always a happy hour too. so Just stick it out long enough, you can get some. happy might They even do it on the weekend.
Speaker: Ooh. Yeah. you Shout out to Stone Lake Pea. i'll say is it the p let's go yeah it's the p it's the p it's my it's my uh it's my dallas waldos so if you ever find your If you ever find your way to to Dallas, check it out.
Speaker: um But, man, watch the football game on on Saturday, I guess. morning, afternoon. And that first half was a real dud. After the game, I needed to go cut my grass.
Speaker: i text i Brian, I think I was texting you. I was like, well. i guess i can cut my grass during the second period and then Lo and behold, they run the second half kickoff back and and made it a game. They made like made it a game that was a frustrating defensive struggle. um they look like the They look like Swiss cheese, but throughout that, they made it interesting. yeah That first half, as I was listening to it, you know, again, the dulcet tones of Robin Hook saving my weekends.
Speaker: um It was just frustrating. you know I always think Toledo. They're always a good team, even when they're like 4 -8. I think they're a good team. Um, tough to get wind of the glass bowl, but they made it interesting. Got out of one score game. Now it's a.
Speaker: So we're on to Bowling Green now, but yeah. Not um... When you yeah but I saw Brock Lowry in the first half, I think 28 yards passing, I was like, oh boy, this is going to be a long game. I was surprised they kept him in. To be honest with you, I would have pulled them.
Speaker: uh Especially after that. yeah Well, I you know, but like in hindsight before at halftime, I would have gone up to be like, you're done. like This is just not your game. I'm going to give it to. what's his name the backup because I mean, at first year.
Speaker: yeah first series i mean one play turned it back over after you know it's like You can't do that. I mean any quarterback but like especially hair i mean It's just kind of inexcusable for me. um Well, yeah, I mean, I'm with you. I forgot where I was at.
Speaker: I think I was running Aaron or something. i'm listening to it off my phone while driving. And I'm seeing the alerts pop up on my CarPlay. you know, interception, this, Brock Lowry. three and out that I'm like.
Speaker: oh god just just put the dagger in it now and just call it a day like let's move on And then all of a sudden I get back in my truck and. It was like, what, 28 -21? Or no, 31 -21. And then they just scored. so you know, they're only down three. And I'm like,
Speaker: Come on, defense. Let's just pick it up here. Just one stop is all we need. defense couldn't do it. Good. offense played great in the second half, and they just kept... answering Toledo but Man, I mean, like I don't know what the defense lately just doesn't seem.
Speaker: as sharp as the first few weeks. I don't know. it's just I don't know what's going on. We're struggling in the Mac. I don't get it.
Speaker: Maybe Michigan's offense is just that bad. Wow. Well, if you watch their games, I'm sorry. I mean, the amount of people blowing it up about how that office offensive coordinator's done. i mean if I didn't watch the game, but I heard... you know some of the dumb play calling on the one yard line. He's throwing up.
Speaker: like random routes instead of just running it in. and throwing up a fade to your 6 '7". Yeah, I don't get that. so combination of things. I don't care. I don't like that school anyways.
Speaker: yeah Not my problem. But. Wally, how are how are our pro Broncos doing right now? in the and NHL. Yeah, I mean, I feel like we've slowed down a little bit. You know, I'm going to start in the goalie section here because it's one guy right now, and that's Brandon Busting right now. he two wins two losses um he's given up 20 goals so far Uh...
Speaker: You know, I don't know if this is a little bit of a Stanley Cup. you know hangover going into this um you know This was supposed to be his net. you know to take on this season freddie anderson's out and ah the The guy that I...
Speaker: blanking on his name. I know he was hurt most of last year. um is kind of They're kind of really just 50 -50 right now trading roles, but he's playing a lot better, unfortunately, than Bussey.
Speaker: You know, for him, he's going to have to really have a couple good games, maybe even a shutout here very soon to really try to regain. majority of that net on his end. ah but you know another guy that's struggling.
Speaker: Alex bump, you know, we hate to see it. He got sent down. Has a phenomenal week in the AHL. Gets called up. and he's still pointless and really he's just all he's done is just take shots and just kind of to get some hits. That's really all he's been doing so far.
Speaker: in and out of the lineup. So that's unfortunate to see. The guys that really kind of stand out to me, Tim Washi, I think is right now playing the best out of them. the Broncos and the pros. Three goals, three assists.
Speaker: almost 40 hits, and right now he's just under 52 % of the dot. so Doing everything Quinville wants him to do on that fourth line. Um... And really kind of same with Owens. I mean, kind of slows down after the first week of the NHL where he blew up with the goals and all that.
Speaker: He's 2 -2, minus 3, though. Um... and say you know not as many hits uh but also kind of that 52 range in the dot so again He's also contributing the way he probably needs to be on that fourth line.
Speaker: Um... And then, you know, we got the Vancouver guys, both Cotter and Sassen. Both playing very well still. um You know, Paul Cotters. four goals, three assists. This one was kind of.
Speaker: threw me for a loop when I looked at it earlier today. It's only taken nine shots so far. So four goals on nine shots. Kind of unbelievable. Nearly 50 % shot. Yeah. yeah i'm yeah Yeah. and And you know,
Speaker: Not the biggest guy, but he's almost got forty i he's got almost as many hits as Washi. So he's just throwing his body around. Doing pretty well at the dot, too, 50%. I'll round them up because I believe in the curve, 51%.
Speaker: And then Sasson, you know, again. playing kind of alongside him at times. Not doing as great in the dot. just under 45%. Three goals, two assists. You would think he's the guy that would kind of run his body around and versus Cotter. So it's kind of.
Speaker: flipped So it's a little odd. And then. ah Ethan Frank, man. I don't know what's going on with him. at washington i hasn't seen the ice yet i don't think or maybe he's seen one game Um...
Speaker: He's only got two registered shots, so it's – I don't know if – He'll be getting sent down pretty soon. Uh, Kind of disappointing to see that. And then Matias Samuelsson, you know, he's just doing his thing on defense for Buffalo.
Speaker: Uh, It did well for me in fantasy when he got 17 penalty minutes in one game. So I was happy to see that. it's um And, you know, Buffalo is going to be a contender for you know the playoffs. So they need him to be.
Speaker: They need to be let him be scrappy like he is. Give me more penalty minutes for some more points. But yeah, that's all we got so far. and ah the pros right now. Um, and you know, I think they're still doing and some of the guys are still doing pretty well, like I said, and, uh,
Speaker: We're going to keep track of them all year and see how well they do at the end of the year. Hopefully a lot of these guys are playing in the playoffs too. I mean, I don't think the Vancouver guys will be unless one of them gets traded. Well, yeah. I mean, right now, Paul Cotter's, you know.
Speaker: He could be on part of a deal here the way he's playing. I wouldn't be surprised here. so Um... Yeah. We'll have to keep our eyes on that. you know But, you know, Edmonton, Buffalo, Anaheim, they all made the – and Washington all made the playoffs, we know. Airline just came off the Stanley Cup. so Right now, if you're looking at...
Speaker: Teams that made the playoffs from prior. Hopefully going into this year. Got a lot of Broncos that are in the playoffs. So we'll see you at the end of the year, though. Love to see it.
Speaker: Well, last week in the NCHC. Good amount of teams. I think everyone was playing last week. Eight of us. we're playing i guess North Dakota, I think, was the big was the big series. North Dakota, Minnesota.
Speaker: They lost 5 -3 both nights disappointing showing for for North Dakota. They've got... They've got the Broncos coming up in two weeks. so they They have kind of struggled against good teams this season.
Speaker: Miami got two wins against Anchorage. They won 5 -1 and then got an overtime winner 3 -2. on Saturday. Duluth had a home and home with Bemidji. They swept that, winning 4 -1 and then 3 -0.
Speaker: Omaha swept. Lindenwood. They won 7 -4. on Friday and then got 143 and overtime on Saturday. Denver, BC, I think was another one of those highlight highlights.
Speaker: matchups over the weekend. Denver got the win 5 -2 on Friday and they had a 2 -2 tie. on Saturday. CC. got a couple wins against air force six two and four nothing um i did in fact here they took the bus to to the uh to the air force academy so they did not They did not walk there, Brian. They didn't walk? like Oh, man. no No, they could have saved so much energy. Diesel's expensive. They could have saved them some money here, but you know.
Speaker: Yeah. And then St. Thomas lost 3 -1 and 2 -0 to Minnesota on a home -and -home. Do either of you follow GFED? on on any social media platforms.
Speaker: I know he's there funny Okay. um Well, G -Fed travels to a bunch of different stadiums, and he's ah he's a Western grad. So he was at the Minnesota State St. Thomas game.
Speaker: on I think that was Friday night was the one in. in Saint Paul. And again I guess the students turn out to these games. The attendance was...
Speaker: Horrible. It doesn't look like the Tommies are really drawing too much attendance. Um, in St. Paul. this season. I mean, that's...
Speaker: kind of disappointing to hear especially when they just got into the nchc so um You know, I don't know if, you know, entering the new conference. ah you the the most prestigious conference right now in college hockey.
Speaker: Kind of boost a little bit in recruitment for Rico in a couple years. We'll have to obviously wait and see. but Yeah, a little disappointing to hear that because, you know, St. Thomas, as soon as they kind of entered and Rico took over.
Speaker: Uh... thank you Kind of was buzzing out there a little bit. you know From what I've heard, the facility is pretty sweet. for the hockey team. So it's not like they're just kind of like a dog. you know
Speaker: type of rink or anything like that or you know like they haven't put too much money and from what i've heard that uh kind of an outstanding facility. of for for them out there. so And you got to believe Rico will turn it around at some point. um Yeah.
Speaker: Guy's kind of a living legend in college hockey, you know, same like the the Dave Axtalls and so forth. so Uh... We're seeing it kind of happen pretty quickly right now in Arizona State, how how well they're playing for Hackstall.
Speaker: i would I would think at some point St. Thomas will turn it around here. at some you know I don't know about this year, but in the coming years, but well you're again, we'll have to see. it's Kind of shocking, though, when you say that, that they're not. They're not filling that stadium.
Speaker: Well, I think the hard thing is when you're a private school. in a city. I mean, there's a lot to do in cities on a Friday or Saturday night. And if you're not affiliated with that university in some capacity. I mean, how many... I wonder how many people that went to St. Thomas.
Speaker: our Gopher fans. yeah And they'd much rather watch the Gophers play than than watch St. Thomas play. i And I don't know how, I don't know what the relationship with with the city and the school is.
Speaker: But it's... that's tough. Like that can be really difficult. I guess we see it kind of in in Dallas a little bit with SMU. And I know SMU is doing a really good job to try to. you know, bring the city of Dallas. like into their corner. But.
Speaker: When a lot of the city can't relate to the school, it can be It can definitely be a little bit. a little bit challenging to get buy -in. there but the The new polls are out.
Speaker: uh broncos come in at six in the uscho poll i believe it was number five in the usa USA Hockey Pool. Not too surprising, dropped a spot there after after a loss. and I've got no qualms.
Speaker: with where we're sitting right now. No, no qualms. i'm Kind of. prized. I thought... we would stay five everywhere. I guess one pull one slot isn't a huge swing.
Speaker: but I'm glad we weren't punished too much for what we're going to talk about here. in a couple minutes. No, I figured that this game would it I mean if they were to have lost it wasn't gonna hurt them And if they would win, I mean, we're really not moving up too many spots either. i mean ah it wouldn't have hurt Michigan too much as well. Uh, the one thing that shocked me the most i think is when i i looked at the mpi earlier this morning. and We dropped from one all the way to seven.
Speaker: And I was just a little surprised that like. There's what North Dakota's got two losses and they're at Five, I thought it was, or four. i mean it's there was only like two teams that stood out for me from the mpi i was like why is western below that with with one loss and they got two losses.
Speaker: But again, I know it's there's a lot of factors in the MPI when it comes to that strength schedule and stuff like that. so Um... And it's still early to even look at the MPI, to be honest with you. so am Am I putting too much stock in that? No, it was just kind of like a little bit of a shell shock when I initially saw it. Like, wow, we dropped.
Speaker: you know, all the way to seven. after just one game. And again, so. a team that's going to contend for the national title. that that That's what kind of threw me for a loop a little bit.
Speaker: Yeah, I mean, it's i don't I don't care about any of these numbers. in you know October or November it's A lot of movement happens. We haven't even hit conference play. I saw one dude on Twitter doing.
Speaker: Bracketology early on in the season. I'm like, what's the point dude? Like are you just doing it because you're bored and you want to have something on there or are you? i don't know that's what he's doing let's be honest because it's too It's too dang early to to do any of that.
Speaker: But, yeah, going into going into this weekend, I thought. you know I was interested to see how we'd play. you know we took it to a not a very good Ferris team.
Speaker: We beat Abe. Prop. probably a Notre Dame team that... Maybe we'll get to double -digit wins this season. I don't know. playing in the Big Ten. So I was like interested to see how we would do against our first real test and that was a A road test at Yost, always a tough place.
Speaker: to play for bronco hockey and and i thought we played Honestly, I thought that game was exactly how you would expect number one versus number five in the country to. to turn out to pretty evenly matched teams.
Speaker: I thought both both teams had their moments in that game. But we did fall 3 -2, which we'll we'll talk about. about the goals. later what What were your thoughts early on in that game?
Speaker: I mean, for me, it was it's like you said, you're you're going into a tough environment at Yost. Uh, You know, one of the you know kind of premier college hockey arenas. I mean, I hate to.
Speaker: Admit that. I got a lump in my throat saying that. But. It's true. um in the And this team is, like I said, with The amount of talent they have.
Speaker: going to contend for a national title. with a few other teams, including Western. And... So you knew it was like. this, you know. Here's a real test early. Personally I liked it. um and you know i thought this was like two years ago when we had to go to bc and and take on an early test for the season. and And even though we had an opportunity to really take this. to really win it or we even just take it to overtime to try to win it. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. we
Speaker: you know, lose in 0 .1 second, similar to the football game, which. you know we don't want to relive Um... So this is kind of, for me, I kind of read it as like, you know what, if this is how we're going to lose, if we're going to lose to this good of a team.
Speaker: This is just going to motivate this team. come playoffs like it did two years ago I felt like and really kind of show us like hey This is what to expect, especially late in the season from the caliber of teams. and So they're they're going to take a lot of good out of this loss.
Speaker: for down the road. So, you know. It. Sucks that we we we lost in the fashion we did because they played very well. um in a tough environment, like you said, Tony, but.
Speaker: Uh... You take a lot of positives out of this game, regardless. nice And at first, and that and the boys are going to do that. it's It's funny you mentioned that Boston College game a couple years ago because it's... It was honestly kind of eerily similar to to this one. We had a two -goal lead in that game. They ended up scoring one kind of late in the second period. Got one super early.
Speaker: in the third period to tie it and then Ryan Leonard beat us with like less than a minute left so That game ended up 4 -2. He had an empty netter. Out. 30 seconds later, but.
Speaker: eerily similar to this game. So maybe that's a good omen for for us. Yeah, I mean, I like what the outcome was for the end of the year. So if if omens are or what we're looking at.
Speaker: And i'm liking I'm liking... for how this year went for us.
Speaker: And then just put the... game itself you guys hit the nail on the head it was one of like it was an early season test Um, re -watching it back. I felt like that first period. again won't get too much on it but first period was i think they were Looking for the start. They were looking for like the spark.
Speaker: And it was, you know, scoreless first period. And it's like, okay. Let's see what happens. They got the first goal. It's like, okay, the light bulb clicked on. I think we started to see him rev up a little bit. Um, third pair we'll get to but um Top Bill in the playing. Again, I'm initially I was just more.
Speaker: Pissed that we've lost? But at the same time, like, okay, you know. That's number one team in the country. like we put Net positive here. but Early syntax, it's better than... coasting through October and then hitting conference play and just seeing what happens.
Speaker: So. say I'm still optimistic. i think but we both are. for this. Yeah. So, the game started out, I thought we we looked a little... unsure of ourselves to start that game.
Speaker: Um, About, what, a minute and a half in, though, Bobby? i think the announcer said bobby cowan but i i'm not sure if that was cowan if that was Zach Sharp. that had a big hit and i think things behind the behind the net.
Speaker: I kind of got things going a little bit. I had to rewatch that because I thought it was Sharpie too, but... It's because Sharp comes in. they're like stacked one behind each other coming into defensive zone but i had to slow it down It's Bobby. Colin, given that.
Speaker: delivering that frigging head stick. I was out. I didn't know that he was that type of player that could do that. so That was kind of like, hey, like. that If that doesn't get the juices going for the boys, I don't know what else.
Speaker: can do because Out of that everybody on the team, he was the last person I really would expect to deliver that kind of a boomstick on the boards there. so That was a... a wild while I actually had the game paused.
Speaker: in the first period and that's where i froze it on So you are correct. That is Bobby Cowan.
Speaker: Love it way to go Bobby yeah But yeah, I i thought that little little bit of a spark, it looked like they... They got a little bit going after that. um voke had a really nice look at one point And. It was one of the few times. next really all game. Honestly, I thought it was a lot of one and done.
Speaker: the entire game. Where. ty hendricks got a rebound and he The shot ended up getting blocked and I thought that was going to be a very high. high -level scoring opportunity, but nothing nothing came of it.
Speaker: For me, the first period, and even similar to the second, which we'll talk about here in a little bit. but Again, slower start. Western just seems like. yeah I don't know if they're unsure of what they're trying to accomplish in the first you know five minutes or so of the game.
Speaker: And it's not the first time we saw this happen against Notre Dame. and even a little bit Ferris. So, it's I mean, to be honest, I wouldn't, you know. if for Slower start versus not finishing. I would rather slow start slow first. any day of the week but When you're playing these teams like Michigan or North Dakota, Denver.
Speaker: Those are sometimes... these opportunities where they're going to like jump on that and and try to get off to a a bigger lead. so Western kind of like you know gets fortunate where. Nothing happens in this slower start. They play. pretty good defensive. Hockey.
Speaker: Miller was able to stop a lot of pucks early on. because Michigan was kind of buzzing early. And then, you know, Western kind of gets their feet, a little you know, kind of more settled in. and Um,
Speaker: And, you know, started kind of flipping the narrative a little bit. but Uh... you know, we We talk about like the power play. I thought they. The palliative care looked outstanding minus one time for the first period where.
Speaker: I think it was Hague for Michigan kind of goes coast to coast and just. catches the defenseman flat -footed and gets into Miller. Miller. Makes an incredible save. And then really after that, I kind of wrote like.
Speaker: They really did a good job keeping the puck along the boards for Michigan. Michigan was struggling to get kind of the middle of the ice. and And they were just kind of like flinging pucks on really bad angles. um You know, we we talk all the time that.
Speaker: Pucks on net is never a bad thing, but... some of these angles Michigan was taking. So just get pucks on that word. not ideal. and That's a win for... for Western all day long, especially in the penalty kill.
Speaker: against a Michigan offense that's... Again, like I think I said it last week, the power play is a little... surprising. you know They're not as successful for Michigan. Uh... versus like five on five. um And i don't I don't know why that is.
Speaker: I mean, they're. You play it, I mean... Got to credit the goalies that they're probably playing. Western hasn't played too many. Great goalies until now. ah versus Michigan played Denver last week, and now they got Western for at least one game. Quentin Miller's an outstanding goalie.
Speaker: You know, you've got to credit the goalies on that. a little bit there but you know Uh... Overall, I mean... Can't complain with the penalty kill for Western again. I mean, that's right now kind of like the...
Speaker: Backbone right now for them. It seems like a little over 90 % killing, I think. Yeah. And I mean, ah really that first. That first penalty, it was about three and a half minutes in.
Speaker: William Whitelaw took a tripping penalty. I didn't think it was a horrible penalty. uh Moldenhauer, I had to look to see if he's related to our Moldenhauer. I don't know. it is Okay, I was going to ask somebody. on I knew one of you guys was going to look that up. i I was like, man. When they kept saying his name, it was really throwing me off. I'm like. Oh, my God. He's still out there. 15 or whatever his number was. what One of them is from Michigan, one of them is from Canada. So, I mean, they could be related.
Speaker: um not brothers or anything. He was kind of walking. crossed the Cross the ice on... uncontested and was going to probably get a nice nice shot off if if we didn't take that penalty so i i thought that was not a bad penalty uh wally kind of like you said i i made in my notes I thought they did a really good job. Michigan controlled the puck incredibly well on that power play, but we just didn't give them any. Bucks.
Speaker: really until about the last 30 seconds and and you know quentin miller really Made some big saves there. Once we kill that off, I... There was one scoring chance that stood out to me. ty han i I thought Ty Hendricks...
Speaker: showed himself a little bit in this game. he had He had some moments, kind of came down the left side of the ice, just kind of slithered along the boards. and ended up getting a pretty good scoring chance off. um Goli made a...
Speaker: I mean, pretty routine save for a... D1 goalie, but... um It was nice to see something going when we really hadn't had much. going up until that point. I will say Michigan, kind of that first 10 minutes.
Speaker: I felt like they were pretty dominant in the game. we could not get anything going they were connecting on passes getting pucks deep a lot more a lot more than we were. um But I think from that point on, I would i said i noted at like the seven -minute mark.
Speaker: Tommy Lafreniere. ah had a great entry and that line had some really good opportunities there and things kind of shifted a little bit. I wouldn't even say in the period, but in that game.
Speaker: I think it was like. 10 foreign shots and before you know it we were Um, I think like 10 .8. period finish 12 -8 in shots in Michigan's favor.
Speaker: Well, I mean, I'm glad you bring up the Ty Hendricks because that was one of the biggest things I wrote in my notes here is. Uh... like you mentioned, that play where he kind of gets through the boards.
Speaker: i wrote He really was using his size. to his advantage throughout the game. um to kind of like shield off with the puck. because that's the park. ah What I'm liking from him versus kind of last year is.
Speaker: He's playing, I think, a more... style game that I think is necessary for his. six foot five frame versus last year he was I just felt like he was just trying to kind of be like the other side of white law just be a playmaker Um, you know and I don't just don't think that's his...
Speaker: bread and butter skating up and trying to just dangle everybody. Um... and And then just. rough, you know, wrister like white law does. Uh... You know, hasn't put the puck in the net, obviously, in the in the game against Michigan, but he... created a lot of good opportunities for himself.
Speaker: The pucks finding his stick on rebounds. I think we see that in the second period a couple times. And like I said, I'm just loving the confidence that he's kind of skating with right now versus last year where it just seemed like.
Speaker: At times he looked defeated when something didn't go his way. ah That's just what you don't want to see from one of your top. players coming into the season. so A lot of good.
Speaker: will, you know, on the stat sheet wise will come for Hendricks. But right now, the little things that he's doing right is. standing out big time for at least me. um and ah and in a good way that's going to help the boys.
Speaker: you know, get a lot of wins this year. so Um... And then like the one other thing I want to note, too, in the first period, Tony, I think you texted us in the group chat earlier in the weekend.
Speaker: Neumeier's like... The way he skates and brings the puck in is unbelievable. For me, I think his vision is outstanding. I mean, there was like sometimes where he found passes that I didn't see on the ice. and I'm not saying I'm Mr. Perfect and I can see everything.
Speaker: But when he hit. A couple of times that he saw some some lanes in the offensive zone. uh to kind of create something down low i was like oh my god i didn't see that one i thought maybe you go up the boards i mean ah I want to say it was like the NCHC announcer last week or the Ferris week mentioned that he came here to hopefully play less.
Speaker: Because he played so much at Colgate, he was like, what? The NCAA, like... leader in time on ice because that's all he did was just he was just thrown out there Well, like I don't think that's going to happen when you're advising in slide, but.
Speaker: He's... He's really kind of coming into his own a little bit. ah from at Western. I'm not saying like he didn't have his own you know own game at Colgate. Uh... But it's just kind of more impressive each week that I kind of get to see him play now and kind of get to see his style.
Speaker: And I think more of the offensive confidence keeps sparking a little bit more and more each week. and Like I said, his vision right now with the passing game is is unreal for me.
Speaker: Yeah, he's been he's been fantastic. We did drop a power ah power play. near the end of the of the first period uh hawk and ryan drew an interference call just over two minutes left Didn't really get much going on that power play. White Law had a good look. kind of put it over the bar.
Speaker: um but I mean, that's going to happen against good teams like like Michigan.
Speaker: I mean, for me. Yeah, I mean, that power play was... Again, I feel like this has been the narrative so far this year is it the slower start in the first period. And that in the power play, we've seen that kind of struggle.
Speaker: ah through the first couple of weeks, which. will eventually smooth out, I would like to say. As we get. further and further into the season. Uh...
Speaker: But... For Western, it's creating opportunities after the fact when the power play adds. ah We've seen it now at Notre Dame and Ferris that the five on five adds. And...
Speaker: or the five on four, I'm sorry, and we get the even strength. And for some reason that creates. this next wave of of offensive buzzing for them. and And then we've seen at times.
Speaker: them score. so you know i don't know if it's just And I'm sure first of all, and the staff probably don't want that you to say. Oh, let's use this power play just to gain momentum. And then once the guy jumps out of the box, let's fucking score. Pardon my French. but um But, like...
Speaker: You don't want that to be the recipe, but right now it seems like that's been the recipe. I would like that to. score when they have the man advantage at some points here in this season. of But again, that Michigan PK played very well. i I wrote down to... Michigan style.
Speaker: both offensively, defensively. and in the special teams. is almost like feels like identical to what westerns do it um theyre there' They skate through the neutral zone very well.
Speaker: They forecheck really well, back check really well. And. They're all about just getting pucks on net, and they're playing that, especially on the power play. You know, we've seen like the Henricks and Neering, they're playing that two -man stack up in the middle of the screen.
Speaker: get the rebounds. Michigan was doing that very similar on their power play. uh It's really just, ah it was really a case of Friday. who was going to do this better. Really, to me, I don't think anyone did it better than the other because the landing goal was just kind of a fluke goal.
Speaker: It should have been a 2 -2 going into overtime. Uh, So, you know, when one plays five, I really think you saw. one verse one there the way they were both played I think both teams could be number one after that game. um So it's it's a little...
Speaker: eerie to say that. Western and and both Michigan play in a similar game like that. um But also. It'll be good down the road. Meet them in the playoffs.
Speaker: Yeah, and and I would say first period kind of overall. if i had to give it If this was a fight, I would have given it Michigan's way. I thought they were a little bit better. most of that period. But second period was, I thought, all Western.
Speaker: I. Early on, Tommy Lafreniere. Drew a tripping call about five and a half minutes into the period um I thought the power play did a really good job keeping the...
Speaker: the puck in the zone pretty early on. But again, kind of story in with the last one, couldn't really get too much going. on that power play.
Speaker: I mean, another slow start in the second period for me is what I saw. and Not as slow, I think the first four minutes or so. It just, it kind of felt like, oh my God, like. Here we go again. like What are we trying to accomplish in the second period?
Speaker: And then. And then we get a couple of power plays and yeah, nothing comes. comes out of it. um But they did have opportunities, I think better opportunities than the first period.
Speaker: uh And. Yeah, Lafreniere was really, he really jumped out at me too, both the first and second period. He was just... flying around. He had a couple great opportunities from from the dot. um the one i felt like he got robbed i mean i can't remember it was the second period or the first period where He comes around the boards and then kind of just puts the brakes on the at the face -off dot on the right side.
Speaker: There was two guys in front of. Whatever, Yankovic, Ivan. Novich, whatever his name is. Um, and That one. That's the one. Yeah. and re And rips it.
Speaker: like Tries to go top shelf, but... I mean, just absolutely gets robbed with the glove. um I mean, nothing else you could do there. I mean, he i mean because we've seen Lafreniere can really snipe it from any angle.
Speaker: Uh, Darren. Realistically, I mean, that that should have. Made it. one nothing before wisdom or two nothing after like a i said i can't remember if it was before or after that but uh He was really flying around with place all kind of confidence against that Michigan team.
Speaker: He's looked outstanding this season. we would We would get on the board, though. First goal of the game. 836 into the second into the second period Irohaka Ryan and put one on net and the captain. follows it up and slams it home. making it 1 -0 Broncos. That was Wisdom's second of the season.
Speaker: Hockenreinen and Spicer got the assists on that one. And that was a beautiful act of. The captain. Gets the middle of the ice. gets away from the trouble, throws one on net, or...
Speaker: Gets the give and go pass. follows the shot bang right there that's just
Speaker: That was nice to see. Also, nice setup to it. When I was watching it back, the... ah Big. 10 plus. Green purple network, whatever this thing was on uh got faked out so they were focusing on the other side of the earth all of a sudden you see wisdom you know, blue line.
Speaker: Dinks. Pass. Dinks. Scores. So faking the camera guy is always a good sign. But good setup, even though I couldn't see. a quarter of because of the the camera setup. but i think that was when i saw you know even the celebration like it's your first goal you can feel like i think the burden came off a little bit like okay we got the first one Shut this building up a little bit Let's continue to.
Speaker: Let's continue to press forward here in period number two.
Speaker: um Before I give my comment, I want to say I think Brian's going to go down as the John Madden of this podcast with the oink doink or whatever he just said there. I'm really good at making stupid noises.
Speaker: The sound effects over here with the John Madden of college hockey over here. Give me a telestrator. It's gonna be magic. Then he's going to hit you with some boom tough acting tonight. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker: We're going to see him eat a turducken on ah Thanksgiving on the pod. Are you reading my notes? I can't stand you. guys Try to save the surprises.
Speaker: john You know John Madden didn't like to fly, so I guess that's kind of the opposite of you. Yeah, yeah get on the bus. I mean, someone to drag my... posterior around this lovely country. I ain't gonna say no. I like to get be quiet and get things done.
Speaker: Whenever I think of John Madden, though, I definitely Think of. ah the annexation of puerto rico on uh little giants i yeah I don't know if you could pull that off. Uh...
Speaker: Circle it back to that goal, though. i Wisdom is a type of player where I feel like a lot of people expect him to really just kind of be able to snipe or playmate. be a playmaker. And this was a case of just, he he just does the dirty things too. driving the net hard. Um...
Speaker: you know I believe it was. what spicer that kind of gets the the not the pass but like the shot for the rebound collects the rebound and And wisdom just, you know.
Speaker: I mean, it was never, never frozen. You know, it was just sitting on the goaltender. what, left leg, left pad there. Just jams at home. I mean, that's just smart. IQ. Chug.
Speaker: Go until the whistle. And I mean, we've talked about it. over however however many weeks we've been doing this now. This is how Western's going to score a lot of goals this year. just you know greasy goals rebounds like that. And it's going to be a collection from all over. the It's not going to be just like the Henricks and the nearings, the big guys.
Speaker: or even the fourth line. It's going to be our top guys and even our captain who. like i said People are probably saying like, doesn't this guy just know how to snipe it no he's gonna go to the dirty area and get one too um So... And I'm okay with that. like I don't think Western necessarily has to score all the time from the dot.
Speaker: up top, I mean, unless you're going to Visanen. Uh... And I mean, we've seen wisdom do it in many different ways so far. Tips, and you know, tip ins and all that different stuff. So just.
Speaker: Just another one for the captain. you know Keep it going. For him, he's got to be what? one -pointer game at least right now. It feels like. it Feels like we talk about him every game now.
Speaker: Feels like it. He's having a great season ah Not. Not too, too much happened the rest of, kind of the rest of that period. um Really until the back end. I really do think we were the better team for three quarters of that period.
Speaker: And we started taking some penalties. wahberg had Basically. So. At the 1331 mark, he had a penalty. Um, I thought he did a nice job getting back into the play just kind of did.
Speaker: a little bit too much. uh he got i believe a holding call on that one And then on that on that penalty kill, I thought the killers did a great job just kind of getting the sticks in the lane. Miller made some great saves.
Speaker: Tell me if you've heard that story before. Yeah. Another theme of the season. I mean, hopefully we're we're getting its Miller time trending for him because, I mean, we went from its Hammer time to its Miller time. and I got a lot of millers in the in the garage fridge.
Speaker: to celebrate it's Miller time for that. um ah No, Tony, you you kind of nailed it on the head, though. I mean, Western was definitely the better team in the second period. um After that. goal by wisdom though it was still it it kind of was like a back and forth game but Western I thought was the better team because we really minimized how many. you know Michigan really trying to get into the offensive zone.
Speaker: Western doing. doing what they do best and causing turnovers especially in the neutral zone or Michigan was really having to just try to dump it and chase, and and Western D would just get back there a lot quicker than them.
Speaker: And it shows right there, I mean, really six shots for Michigan ah in that second period versus Western's 10. So, you know, we really kind of leave level the playing field when it came to shots.
Speaker: by the end of the second period. uh considering we were down in the first period but you know i think it was what 12 to 8. Um... So, yeah, I mean, I agree. i mean a Western overall, I thought.
Speaker: won the second period. which was. A very promising sign going into the third period, which has been first, just you know. kind of mantra to the team, you gotta finish.
Speaker: Yeah, and there there was there was a little bit of... of I guess. special teams work near the end of that of that period as well with 223 left in the period Thea Wahlberg took a second penalty. It was a hooking call.
Speaker: That only lasted about a minute. Zachariah Wisdom and... and Those killers did a great job. um creating an offensive rush and also getting a cross -checking penalty that brought it to four on four.
Speaker: We did have a nice two on one going at one point during that. during that four on four. white law came down on the right side just couldn't quite connect with tommy lafreniere on going back door and That period ended up.
Speaker: 1 -0 Broncos, but we did even the shots at 18 apiece. after having been down 12 to 8 going into that period.
Speaker: Yeah, I mean... ah it was a good second period overall for western uh there was a The juices were going going into the third period. that didn't And I mean, for me, listening to it.
Speaker: I was buzzing going into the third period. I thought Western really kind of had. Their number at this point. ah They really kind of silenced the crowd, not that the children of Yost or Yost of Children, whatever they're called, is really.
Speaker: uh, really do much in that in that arena versus the Lawson Lunatics. i just like they It's like a Michigan State. though They just stick them in that one corner and they say, here.
Speaker: here's the student section uh but you know i didn't really hear them too much on the on the radio i didn't really hear them too much in the broadcast when I did the replay later on that weekend. but Uh... I was.
Speaker: Yeah, I was extremely. uh excited for the third period saying oh western's got this Uh... We're going to. Walk out of yours with the W, but... Uh oh.
Speaker: Obviously recap what happened there. not not Not the outcome, though.
Speaker: Yeah, 44 seconds into the third period. uh turn over at the blue line and then just kind of God. perron who's i think their leading scorer i think he's a leading scorer in the nation at this point ended up getting just kind of getting a breakaway on it. I didn't know it. I thought Bobby Cowan did a really good job of getting back. and trying to make it a little bit difficult on him, but he went.
Speaker: backhand top shelf to tie the game only 44 seconds in. Huzzah! Disgusting shot. I was watching it back like, yikes. 1 ,000. Well done by Perron.
Speaker: I mean, at the end of the day, these are the turnovers you can't have. uh so if you're trying to win games. uh The puck just has to get in deep. Like, I don't know what they're trying to accomplish there with the little ticky -tack -toe pass along the blue line there.
Speaker: that there was i mean Even if he completes that pass, and there's nothing that... whoever he was I can't remember who he was trying to get it to at this point. but There's not much more he was going to do from that point except probably.
Speaker: Dump it deep. too so it was like you know Again, trying to do too much at the wrong time, and just get it deep is always the best route when there's not much in front of you. um And, you know, I didn't really I don't blame Miller on this one either. I mean, when you watch the replay.
Speaker: Uh... people are probably wondering like how does he get you know, deked out that bad in the back end. Well, it was eventually it kind of just turns into a two on O. And I... Based on his reaction, he probably thinks it's going over to Hague.
Speaker: for the tap it and I think that's what he was kind of trying to play more because it was kind of you know he slides a little bit more gives up the open. top shelf over there. And like you said, Ron puts it in with the backhand.
Speaker: um Miller. has been phenomenal so far these are the opportunities where it's like as western defense and forwards You can't leave them on an aisle like that. Now, when you got two of the top. Scores and in the. country coming at you with no help at all. ah He did what he could, and and unfortunately and again, we were already up one, so you you're not you you shouldn't even be mad about it.
Speaker: Get in the game, Ty. rally at that point and and retake the lead. It should have been the mindset.
Speaker: And then. 20 seconds later. All right. I think it was Moldenhauer. kind of Just you old Joe Louis Arena bouncy boards threw off the boards behind the net.
Speaker: Came out front. I saw Cole Kruseberg -Rozine was kind of battling. with Dakota Roe Mullen on that one and Roe Mullen beat him to the net, making it 2 -1 Michigan.
Speaker: It's not the first time we saw them do that throughout the game. It seemed like that was kind of like a play. that they were really trying to Uh... pursue.
Speaker: both in the first and second period especially in the power play So I mean again... ah I haven't watched a lot of games at Yost except for the couple times that Western plays there.
Speaker: throughout the last few years. so I didn't really recall that that was how active the boards were And really, it only ever seemed like that was the end of the ah ice that they would ever try that on. I don't recall in the second period them trying that on the other end.
Speaker: Uh... So it looked like that this was something that they just were like, let's take advantage of. Finally, it just connected. I mean, again, Miller can't do much about it. I mean, he thinks the puck's behind the net.
Speaker: And no, it's not. It deflected right perfectly to. the the Michigan player. and Kind of just had a wide open net. The only thing you could say there is is Western defense has got to get in that lane. You cannot let this guy come back door.
Speaker: that freely with the stick on the ice. um you know, so like you mentioned, like Fruesberg -Rosine. If anything, just get your stick down and just get in the way. Worst case scenario, it's just deflection up in the net or something like that So, you know, it's something that down the line you got to, as Western defense, look at better at, but unfortunate there for Western.
Speaker: Not long after that, we did go on the power play. Shocker, if you... Tell me if you've heard this one before. Zachariah Wisdom draws a penalty in the defensive zone. Second time that's happened today.
Speaker: Did have some great chances on it, just couldn't slam the door shut. Penalty ended with about 20 seconds left. when Hakurainen took a slashing penalty.
Speaker: We need to start to think about all of our cash ranges for this and see if we can check them off. Let's tell you what this is for. Draws penalty in defensive zone. Killers out there. Brian makes ridiculous John Madden noise. Let me just start doing that. That'll be for our, for our next ride. We'll do a.
Speaker: catch for We'll do a Western hockey bingo.
Speaker: The most upsetting thing about. watching the game, the replay on the Big Ten Plus was. uh all of a sudden i the announcer after that second goal you know again this There's 18 and a half minutes left.
Speaker: after the second goal. There's a whole third period. And this announcer makes it seem like there's like 90 seconds left. You know, he makes this comment. I wrote it down here, you know, something about. western Western has to change their game to to find a way to tie this up.
Speaker: First of all, First has never done that. I've never watched him change. the game plan. or even the lines. down one or down four. so Again, didn't do your homework on Western there.
Speaker: Um... And again, you're down one goal with 18 and a half left. to go in the third period. And you're the fifth? best team in the nation right now. I mean, come on. Like, it's just. but For me, I'm like, I just don't understand where these comments are coming from. It's like, do you you not?
Speaker: I mean, like, these are the comments you make when when there's two minutes left, not when there's a whole third period in front of you. I mean, if there was one thing for Western, it's like, OK, as soon as he made that comment, I was like.
Speaker: even though I already knew the outcome of the game watching the replay, but in the first... third period it was like Better just slam this home now and get like three. just to like rub the sky in the rock, you know, like. That was a dumb comment to make.
Speaker: I just. Do your homework, bud. That's all I got to say. I will. I will give it to him though. Like that was a. That was a pretty good – it was a student -only broadcast. I mean, I i will give it to them.
Speaker: Dig right up until that. There's a lot of other homework to do. well I don't know. what Are they doing homework in Ann Arbor, some of these people? I don't know. Psalm.
Speaker: Sorry. No, I give it – he was good the whole game. i it Up until that comment, I was just like, come on, dude, seriously? like And I get it. Maybe he's like trying to like amp it up, you know, like. get, get some buzz going. Like, Oh, like build like some, like.
Speaker: Uh... I don't even want what you would call it, but like. It just like. The comment just didn't make sense to me. Like. Again, like This is the fifth best team in the nation, bud.
Speaker: And there's a whole third period. So we're only down what? We don't got to change anything. Like we haven't done anything wrong up until this point. Why would all of a sudden you go. They better figure this shit out. but because it's basically over it's like no that's not the case This is why Robin Hook is the priority for me. Everything else gets muted.
Speaker: Yeah. Yeah, well if if I could figure out how to time it perfect I would but I'm I'm not on Brian Flonsky's level of listening to the radio and TV and watching the TV at the same time.
Speaker: It's an acquired skill. Yeah. Haven't acquired it yet. I've acquired a lot of things, but maybe not that.
Speaker: Now we did have four on four for about 20 seconds uh Cole Kruseberg -Rozine did take the puck down the ice and Whitelaw nearly scored. in that 20 seconds of four on four.
Speaker: But. Alas, nothing nothing happened there. Michigan did have a minute and 40 of power play time. And they controlled the zone really well. But again.
Speaker: Same story on the on the penalty kill. They did a great job limiting big chances. And when they did have big chances. Quinton Miller slammed the door shut.
Speaker: I mean, Miller just I mean, you. We know we gave up three goals, but when you look at all three. 201, he can't do anything. mean Two of them you can't do anything about, and we'll talk about the last one here in a minute.
Speaker: Um, Overall, though, I thought he played an outstanding game. ah yeah When you're listening to the radio, when he gives up the second goal. They made it sound like something was wrong. like he was very shaky just like and you know he someone mentions on the radio, like, oh, the players are rallying behind them. And um I was kind of, ah you know, a little confused. I'm like.
Speaker: I mean, I'm listening. Like, I can't believe we just gave up two in a row like that, like that quickly. But. Like. i didn't you know listening to the play -by -play initially i'm like i Does it sound like Miller's having issues?
Speaker: And then I watched the replay. you know, a couple of days later. And I'm like, no, it's not. mill Like, Miller was fine. It's just... Some of these you just, you don't. He can't do anything. He can't do it all.
Speaker: Uh, He needs help. And these cases, he just didn't get the help. And Michigan was able to. Oh. you know. capitalize on it. So it's it's unfortunate. But yeah, Miller, I thought, again, was had an outstanding game. they're just like So far, he's played all year.
Speaker: Yeah, he's he's been fantastic. Eight minutes left in the period. We did take another penalty. Haig got behind the defense. Bison then slashed him. i I thought it was a pretty good penalty, prevented a a high danger scoring chance.
Speaker: And then. On that, on that. Penalty kill White Law got behind the defense and he scored that shorthanded goal to tie it up. a great move to beat the goalie backhand.
Speaker: And that was his third of the year. assisted by Spicer. Beautiful move. And I'd say... Gotta love power play goals. I also gotta love the shorties, too, like that. But no, just beautiful. It just finds a way to get behind there. And I'll go back to the, to the bad. Boom. you Just kind of shoot. so throws back there ties it up and shuts the crowd down a little bit is brian Is Brian John Madden in a comic book?
Speaker: I don't know. I don't know if he's John Madden or a little... I think I have more things on this podcast, so we could... We'll let the wolf does the audience decide. Mix in a little Troy Aikman. I don't know. He's one of the two.
Speaker: Can I mix in his contract negotiations, boys? I'm up i'm due for a contract renewal here. Yeah. We weren't supposed to tell them about our fight before the before we went on air. Yeah. Oh.
Speaker: You knew White Law had to score this game. um Peace. being the the guy that came from Michigan. Uh, And. Western's the only team that he's... wanted to play more than one year for.
Speaker: which makes sense. He had a great year last year, and why not? you know The boys can make a run for a natty this year. why Why go anywhere else? um and And yeah, I mean, Spicer. Again.
Speaker: I was, when you see it. The replay, you're like, oh, my God, I can't believe that pass almost didn't get to him. You know, it's like it was a little too soft, but White Law was able to grab it. no one's catching well he's gotta be one of the faster guys and in college hockey and Just an outstanding move. to get the backhand around the goalie there.
Speaker: uh And that really. When Western really needed a shot of momentum, that was it. Because if if that doesn't happen, the penalty kill. Let's say they do kill the rest of that off without that goal.
Speaker: You know, I don't know if Western goes on to score after that. um But that one really kind of gave them a little bit more of a. a burst throughout the third period.
Speaker: when when it seemed like they were kind of losing a little juice. And we almost scored again on that on that same penalty kill. It was almost like what it looked like a three -on -one. Their their their defense yeah played it really, really well.
Speaker: And. Wisdom had a good chance to score but couldn't. couldn't put it in so that was a very effective power play or a penalty kill looks like a power play at times or the brown and gold.
Speaker: I mean... I mean, it it's a little terrifying to say that the. The penalty kill might... outscore the power play. right now. yeah you You don't want out you. You do not want that stat by the end of the year, but... Early odd, we'll take it for right now. but Like I said earlier, like the power play, whole because the power play gets that there's a lot of opportunities. It's not like.
Speaker: They're just getting one and it's being flunked down the ice like they're. They're getting multiple shots on that. It's just. You got to tip your hat to some of these goalies they've played. I mean, especially in Michigan. he's He's an outstanding goaltender.
Speaker: um for the number one team but even like ferris and in notre dame's goal he really kept him in the game like like those were the better players i thought for those two teams That really kind of helped shut down the majority of the power plays Western had. the first two weeks. so But.
Speaker: The goals will come. set up I'm not worried. Yeah. They'll come on the power play.
Speaker: And then with one second left in the game, they just it looked like they were just kind of... trying to throw one on net. Hit off a coal spicer. It was just there. and fell right to Will Horkoff.
Speaker: And he just... threw it on net and i'm not sure if quentin miller just wasn't wasn't ready for that one but one i and know you look him enough his reaction would like to have back And again, with one second left, we lose to Michigan.
Speaker: I was. Following it on the subway ride. Back. to my home. Saw. Again, after the Halloween. Should've stayed at the bar, could've had another beer or five to - get over it, but...
Speaker: saw I could have swore it said... Final 2 -2? And it showed Michigan with a win. And I was kind of like, okay. And I saw the thing come up, but there was no chance in hell.
Speaker: We lose this team in another sport. with one second on the clock. to see key You can't script this stuff sometimes. I mean, i I alluded to it earlier. like You can make two arguments here for for Miller. oh First off.
Speaker: It's just dumb luck that the puck ends up on the second best player or the best player, however you want to view it. stick to end the game. uh perron or horkoff they're one of the two are going to be if not both ob finalists Um,
Speaker: So like, that's just dumb luck. But when you when you kind of watch the replay, you're kind of like there's. I was like, man. How does Miller not get that? like there's Not a lot of traffic in front of you. He's taken almost from the blue line.
Speaker: It should have been. Kind of a routine save. But then I rewatched. to play again. And I think it's Colby Wook. uh Tries to slide dive or something.
Speaker: What did what I say, but what is it? I always get this guy's name wrong. Volk. Bulk. Yeah, I got to write that down. honey Yeah, I got to write that down. I think he's the one that's kind of like...
Speaker: Hehehe. I didn't do my vocab book this week, guys. ah Um... He uh I believe it's him that kind of tries to slide dive. to take the bottom half off and then there's One other.
Speaker: skater and i couldn't see the number That's just standing directly behind him. And they're both kind of in the lane of where Miller's. trying to look.
Speaker: So... Again, I think you can make the argument that maybe Miller just. The reason he reacted the way he did is because he couldn't see where it was coming from. because it ends up going on his right side. And it went, you know, it's just unfortunate that way.
Speaker: ah So ah you can make that argument. And again, if there was a better angle. Is he tracking the puck the whole time? and was he able to see it and just reacted poorly i don't know I really do think it's the latter. I really do think that these two guys just inadvertently screened him.
Speaker: And Horkoff being Horkoff. was a phenomenal score. took advantage of that. uh and was able to just capitalize. so I honestly, though, I'm sitting at a high school football playoff game in the stands with this in my ear, listening to the radio.
Speaker: I was about to jump up Like, yes, we're going to overtime. And I jumped up and kind of felt backwards when they said goal. And I was like, oh, my. God, you got me good. And then my wife's talk was like.
Speaker: What happened? They win? And I go, I don't want to talk about it. okay And then we told I told him at the end. I told him at the end, I said, this is how it ends, and he just goes.
Speaker: Not again. Not to Michigan. and I go, yeah, of course. uh I'm pretty sure it ended up on SportsCenter, ESPN, or yeah esp like or like at least on the Instagrams. like like There's no way that this could happen to Western in the same year to the against the same school, and yet it did. it's like In two different sports. it's Like, what's next?
Speaker: mean ah We're going to do this in soccer. or something, volleyball, what' what's next? Don't but don't tempt them. Well. Stats for that game, we obviously... Lost 3 -2. um we were 20 we did win The shots on goal battle, 29 to 28. So after that first period, I thought, you know, we did ah we did a pretty good job.
Speaker: getting pucks on net. Face off circle is not kind to us. We are 28 for 60 in the dots. Cole Spicer was 35%. Adam Banach was 38%.
Speaker: ae tommy lafreniere he he was 62 62 he went eight for 13 in the dot so not Not a bad day. we I think we all said he... he was probably one of our better players on the ice. and He was good in the face -off circle.
Speaker: Quinton Miller made 25 saves. so really another good night from from quentin miller For the Broncos, Zachariah Wisdom had a goal. William Whitelaw had a goal.
Speaker: Cole Spicer with two assists and Irohaka Ryan. one assist. on the night so that that Spicer line really came out to play. Good night.
Speaker: I'll say this. um before we end the topic of this game is so like i went before we got onto this pod here to record. And I never knew that CHN's website.
Speaker: what's like a little graph down below if you go to the game to go to the box score And you can kind of look on ice like they have all the shots, goals, missed, blocked. They have it all dotted.
Speaker: Uh, If you look at the shots, and if there's a way for me to splice this as I'm talking about it into the the pot, i'll I'll do my best here. um so But at the same time, I do my best to kind of just explain this for the audio listeners.
Speaker: Uh... Michigan and Western. Okay. Very similar in shots, right? ah where I thought Michigan did a better job than Western when you look at the the shots from where they're taking place on the ice.
Speaker: They were able to get to the middle of the ice a lot more. and and get shots on that versus Western. really takes a lot of shots from the dots and kind of that slot area.
Speaker: They did have some, obviously, kind of in front of the net. So, again, like we talked about, greasy goals, greasy shots. We're going to go for the rebounds. and obviously we capitalized on one of them like that and then one being a breakaway Uh... For me, you want us, I would, and I've. I feel like I've said this really going back to even when we were.
Speaker: students there. I don't understand why we don't take as many shots from the center of the ice as possible. um at least especially on the power play, it just seems like we're really trying to replicate.
Speaker: And again, I just don't think we have. Yet. Oh, a Volente. who has a cannon. from the face -off dot. to set them up like that.
Speaker: i know we're trying to get whitelaw and cowan kind of in that in that mode and same with spicer Uh... But for me, like especially when it's the nearing.
Speaker: And Rick's. power play line out there. Why whoever's not, whoever's. that playing that blue line up top. whether it's Neumeier or Banox up there circling as a playmaker.
Speaker: Why we're just not trying to throw one down the middle of the ice and see if they could just get a ah random tip in or something. um So I just feel like that we really missed the ball there. I feel like if... Western could have maybe gotten a few in the middle of the ice.
Speaker: Um... You know, who knows, maybe we get another goal that's not a shorthanded or power play or even on the power play. I mean. the fact Like I said, the fact that we had... X amount of power plays. and through the shots. for the whole game and none are coming from the, from the.
Speaker: middle of the ice from the blue line it's For me, that's That's a little alarming. um Again, I know it's probably not. well I mean, we've not really seen that over the last few years as Western. does that but they should be trying to at least try that every now and then you got to really mix it up and not be hopefully too predictable with some of these teams and saying, hey, as long as we keep them outside the dots.
Speaker: or keep them behind the net, we're okay. uh so Hopefully we'll see something different. moving forward, especially as we get into conference play where we're going to need.
Speaker: to capitalize on power plays especially Which is right around the corner And then Saturday night, we did have the exhibition game against Wisconsin. i I watched a period of it. It's a diet.
Speaker: It's an exhibition game. I i wasn't gonna take... too much stock into that i'm not sure if wisconsin played their normal lineup or not We definitely did not. I know Sidlowski wasn't playing. uh hawk ryan and spicer But Bison, it was ah wisdom wasn't it?
Speaker: Blair wasn't in there. Bison in. Cruzburg, Rosene, that entire group didn't play. give a lot of guys some some opportunity to see what they can do. against a really good team in Wisconsin.
Speaker: Not a good outing. 4 -0 loss. Wisconsin scored a shorthanded goal in the first. scored two in the second and then scored one in the third so i don't feel like we need to jump too too much into this game that doesn't count on this in the standings.
Speaker: Doesn't count. It was kind of like a new set of best to see who, you know, let's get. Seven other guys out there see what they can do just to get some actual ice time instead of get real ice time in an exhibition game versus You know. I... blowout win loss or anything like that and to see what other goaltender looks like giving Quinn Miller the night off.
Speaker: for that but yeah I try not to get, you know, I don't like seeing a loss regardless. I know his exhibition, but it was like, it's a really good team too. So playing the number one team in the nation and then playing a number six team. No matter what it counts or doesn't come from the stat line or in the in your schedule Still tough, regardless.
Speaker: I looked at the box score. and it looks like they played their backup goalie, but right now it looks like... and i Right now, split between the two, they're playing both very well.
Speaker: And it looked like they did bench a couple of their their star players. Not as many, I think, as Western did, though, unfortunately. um Yeah, I mean, I'm not going to put a lot of stock in this game. It was an exhibition game, so win or lose or draw, I don't really care.
Speaker: I wasn't going to, if they won 5 -0 Western, I wasn't going to put a lot of stock in it, to be honest, myself. because You would think Mike Hastings had the same. uh logic as first as far as this this was just get some of the guy younger guys that aren't playing as often in there to see like if this can if they can Show us something different that we haven't seen yet to give them a reason to put them in the lineup moving forward or not ah lot The only concerning thing was, this man, I just...
Speaker: Hey. Moffat. play was just... a little I mean, we don't know much about him, right? He didn't play at all last year because of Hammer and now this year. But that was a little deflating to see how...
Speaker: he played because We saw him in an exhibition obviously earlier against Western Ontario. He did not look like that. Not saying though Wisconsin and Western Ontario are remotely close. caliber.
Speaker: Uh... Needless to say, though... Moffitt just didn't look. comfortable didn't look Great. Um... And it. concerning Tip. to be honest with you. ah that, you know,
Speaker: This is the potential backup. Again, knock on wood. miller Miller's over. We'll be okay all year. Uh, And maybe this was just a fluke. I don't know. Again, does Moffitt play like that with the regular lineup in front of him? You know, who knows?
Speaker: Um... It was cool to see that Wisconsin be at Lawson. I mean, I i couldn't tell you. If we. ever got to witness that. in the last 15 i think it was 1981.
Speaker: so Okay, so we definitely didn't witness it. So, I mean, that's pretty cool. I mean, Wisconsin, everybody knows it's a historic college hockey program. Um... So to have them at at ah at Lawson was probably pretty cool in in general.
Speaker: Again, Mike Hastings.
Speaker: dominated as a coach at Minnesota State. Obviously he's been pulled. dominating the last few years now as Wisconsin's head coach. um And so, yeah, overall, it's pretty cool to see. But again.
Speaker: You know. Not much you could put into that game. there I mean, even from the highlights. There wasn't anything to highlight because there was no goals. i mean You're watching NCHC Highlights. it It's just.
Speaker: a couple shots here a couple shots there that was it i mean um No one really looked like they stood out. um if I think Whitelaw played in the game. he I don't know if he even really tried to do much.
Speaker: knowing like what's what's at stake of this it's just an exhibition so The only thing I'd say is, hey, if we get what. Wisconsin at some point in the playoff. It's going to be a whole different. ball game, let me tell you.
Speaker: Well, we do have a Thursday -Friday series this weekend against Long Island. Long Island this season. is They're 2 -5. They beat Canisius 3 -2. And last Tuesday. rare Tuesday game. They beat St. Lord 7 -6.
Speaker: They had an exhibition game on Friday against the U .S. development program where they won five. One. their leading scorer matt do you want to pronounce his name or do you want me to No, I'm just going to call him 16, hedging an arrow.
Speaker: Steakston. Inertia. That is their leading scorer. He's got two goals. Thanks, sir. seven assists for nine points in in seven games. And then Luca Layton is their leading goal scorer with three goals.
Speaker: They've started two different goalies at times this year. This almost looks like one of those Andy Murray situations. where one guy will... well get the starting job for one game, the next game he won't have a great game. So the other guy will take over and just repeat that cycle over and over again.
Speaker: Daniel Duras has played in five games, starting five of those games. He's got a 4 .33 goals against average. and an 875 save percentage he's 0 -3 on the season Lucas Renaud is too, he's...
Speaker: Started two games. Three goals against, 9 -14, say, percentages, 2 -2. on the season. It looks like they've been alternating them a lot more these these past few games. So wouldn't be surprised to see both of them this weekend.
Speaker: in Kalamazoo. As a team, they're averaging 2 .7 goals per game. They're allowing 3 .9 goals against per game. three ah three for 28 on the power play four for 27 on the penalty kill And they're about 56%.
Speaker: from the face -off circle. I don't know much. i do do have a fun fact about long island yeah the team, the school, not the not the place.
Speaker: I mean, not much about the place, but... It's there. Two things. top Tony touched on it, but this is our first ever meeting with LIU. They started playing ice hockey. I want to say it was the 2021 season.
Speaker: I might be correct, made me to correct on that one. Sounds about right. um I did notice it. I don't know if you guys... Tony probably saw this too, but... Look through their schedule. they're We're the first non -New York team they they're going to play since the beginning of the year. They play at Duluth to start the year.
Speaker: Played Canisius, good Catholic school in Buffalo. They played um RPI. in suburban Albany and the St. Lawrence who we saw. I think it was our senior home opener. I'll have to double check the stats on that one.
Speaker: Yes, it was because it was one of those. BS bounces off the back stanchion. that fell right in front of Slabowski and their guy threw it in in overtime. And that honestly, ah I think was the difference in us not making the NCAA tournament that year.
Speaker: Not bitter. That's a deep cut memory. Yeah, I can't remember a lot of things I need to remember, but somehow I remember that. the red and brown interesting school colors but yeah there's the fun fact and we just broke wally now so great we'll have to reset him too but no there's my fun fact about liu is just they played a lot of They played all New York teams.
Speaker: Except for Duluth. And now they're coming. to play us and then they don't they don't play a new york team for a while so that's all That's all I got for fun facts. i'm mean I'm intrigued to see how they play. um You know, when they became a division one team out that.
Speaker: One threw me off. Penn State didn't. Arizona State didn't. Uh... But when... the rumor became true that a school Long Island.
Speaker: was becoming division one. and I was, A little confused. ah Um. And I'm not trying to discredit them at all. I don't know much about them. I haven't really gotten to watch them play too much.
Speaker: Um... So um I'll be intrigued to watch what how they play, what's what's kind of like their game plan Thursday, Friday. Uh... But. You know.
Speaker: All right. I don't know. You know, are guys going to be transferring there? you know, to play. It almost seems like kind of like a. Alabama -Huntsville a little bit.
Speaker: Like... Guys, if they do go there, I miss them.
Speaker: I mean, they they just right now it seems like they're kind of the new Alabama Hotsville. Teams are just going to beat them up. and The guys that are going there to play are just guys that just want to continue to play hockey. college hockey for a couple more years. like Really no aspirations to go pro probably because I made really no one.
Speaker: white bro from Huntsville that I could think of. on i mean When Huntsville was around, they weren't the greatest except maybe like part of a season that I could probably recall.
Speaker: um And now they're no longer a thing, which. I'm with Brian. is A little disappointed because I thought they had some dope jerseys. um And their arena was actually pretty sweet. Um... So, you know, it again.
Speaker: This is a game or a weekend where. Western just has to... put the Michigan loss behind them and just regain focus on what they do best, which is for checking face off widths.
Speaker: Get pucks on that. Get pucks deep. Uh, And, you know. Get ah over 30 shots on net and let's win. Both games, you know, 4 -1, 4 -0.
Speaker: and walk out with two more wins. just start before we get into conference play. Um, you know this this is a Decent rebound weekend for for Western. to kind of with the Michigan hangover, if if there even is one.
Speaker: Um, And, you know. I'll throw it out to you guys. It's a question. Michael Polston, backup goalie for this weekend. No. Nope. No, no. actually was thinking that too. I was like, maybe.
Speaker: Yeah, so NCHC play does start this week for. 8 other schools. uh asu is at st cloud state duluth is at colorado college omaha is at denver Miami.
Speaker: plays St. Thomas, and then Michigan State. So non -conference here. Michigan, it's a Saturday only. Michigan State. travels to North Dakota. So. Actually, I was going to ask you, do you know why they're playing that game in Austin, Texas?
Speaker: Oh, that's right. They're doing one down here. I think Michigan, or Michigan might be playing down here too. Okay. is just is it I saw it's Hockey Hollow. Yeah, because I saw the verses and I was like, oh, why is State going to Grand Forks? Like, that's cool. I like seeing...
Speaker: big name teams playing up in the Arctic tundra of Grand Forks. Then I saw us Texas. Yeah, it's just it's the two of them. It looks like they're playing. at the HEB Center in Cedar Park, which is home to the Baby Stars. so The baby star.
Speaker: is that just is this just to like expand college hockey in the texas i don't know i'm just i'm asking like why is it down there Does anybody know? Probably. Probably. Who knows?
Speaker: I mean, that's that's a tough slate for North Dakota, though. I mean, Minnesota, they should have won last week, and now you've got to take um MSU. that's ah That's a good team. so Oh. see what happens with North Dakota in that series.
Speaker: Well boys space. Been a good episode. um Hopefully next week. I'm optimistic next week. And that we'll have ah we'll have a good week and and get a couple couple wins on the board. But I hope you guys have a great rest of your week. I hope listeners.
Speaker: Have a great weekend, and we will see you all next week.
Speaker: Cheers. Don't forget to hit that follow and subscribe button.
Speaker: Have a going boys dubs up everyone
