Episode 004 – Opening Sweep, Irish Preview, and Streaming Challenges

Transcript

Speaker: Go talk till the whole night goes. Let it roll

Speaker: With the same old friends

Speaker: Welcome everyone to another episode of the Lawson Lounge, a podcast dedicated to Western Michigan Bronco hockey. I'm one of your hosts, Tony Ringgett. Joined, as always, by my two co -hosts, Matt Wally -Walseck. And we got Polonsky this time. No family obligations this week. So, Polonsky, good to have you back.

Speaker: Um, Boys, how was your weekend? Blonsky, let me start with you. It was good. I feel like weekends just go by quicker and quicker. as the year comes to an end, which is terrifying. that's October now.

Speaker: um But overall, not too bad. A little bit of rain. dried out now, so. ready to feel like fall when it's in the upper 80s the rest of the week so Well, that was yours, man.

Speaker: I know you ah you're talking about Tailgate. I was very excited to hear about that. yeah no it was a good weekend for me uh Yeah, did a little. Illinois High School tailgate on Friday. Um,

Speaker: You know. Pretty ah low -key weekend. uh attempted family pictures for the first time ever. um So, you know, that didn't go overall great. My one year old decided to.

Speaker: throw the biggest fit in the world. um So. I felt like I should have called my mom and apologized. for. 34 years ago. for probably when I was the biggest pain in the rear. uh doing that so Because I really felt sympathy at that point. You still kind of are, but we like you. It's okay.

Speaker: Yeah. So. But overall, not a bad weekend. after while And the Bears just got absolutely creamed by Tony's pack. so ah we don't.

Speaker: We don't look back. We go forward. like Other than that, it was a great weekend. okay

Speaker: What about you, Tony? I wasn't going to bring it up. Yeah. i just I just wanted to get it out of the way.

Speaker: Someone's going to do that. That's fine. Rip that band -aid off. No, mine was good, guys. i we had a baby shower on um on saturday so we're out in fort worth and ended up going out to a bar. with some friends to watch the OU Texas game, which if.

Speaker: I mean, I used to always like that game, but then since moving to Dallas, I mean, it's taken on a whole new. whole new level of love for me i think it might be my my favorite like big rivalry game outside of Western Central, obviously. um But yeah, I mean, so.

Speaker: Oh, you beat. Texas. That was crazy. Who beat OU? who beat Texas, who beat Ohio State. so why you're What you're telling me is we should be in the top five by next week.

Speaker: College football playoff, here we come. We're going to forget Boise State. Moving forward. yeah it's It's funny. as ones are just as good as ones It's funny watching the pregame for all that college football stuff on Saturday morning and everybody's just writing that game off that's going to be a dud.

Speaker: And then like, I didn't get to watch it and I'm real bummed. I did it because the. The the fact that OU. wins it at a walk -off. field goal. I mean, that... I think everybody thought Texas was going to blow them out after what happened to them against Michigan. saw me like That rivalry clearly is not dead Um...

Speaker: So that place had to have been rocked.

Speaker: Oh, it's it's such a cool setting, and and I heard people... say the Cotton Bowl is kind of... This game's grown beyond the Cotton Bowl, and and I get it. like Brian, you're shaking your head. have you ever been to that Have you ever been to the Cotton Bowl? Here's the thing. I just think that makes the game that much better because they still play it at... The Cotton Bowl. If they played it at Jerry World...

Speaker: Could they sell, what, 20 ,000 more seats? Sure. But I think that is like the charm of that game that I think I appreciate. Because that's all the only time we see that stadium all year. in the college world. Yeah, what i'm what I'm getting at is it's still like an old stadium. When I went there for the Winter Classic, what, like six years ago now? um it It was, dude, it was horrible. Like. it was a great like don't get me wrong like the views are great like it was

Speaker: it was an awesome atmosphere and i mean there is something to be said about having it at the state fair but man, I couldn't figure out how to get to my seats. So basically like the whole upper concourse, you just have to get into there and it like walks, you like walk around in front of all of the seats in the upper concourse. So you just have to get there and that's how you get to your.

Speaker: seats up there so if you're looking for section like 215. you're not probably not going to find it in signs and you're going to be confused as hell if you have never been to the Cotton Bowl. So.

Speaker: But that's enough Cotton Bowl talk. um Western football, though? Uh, I was. Happy to see that out. that I guess outing.

Speaker: um I felt like it could have been a trap game for us. with with Central coming up next weekend. But. i mean i was impressed i mean there was a couple times I think I really only watched the first half, but a couple times that.

Speaker: Our defense. you know, got a big stop. They were in field goal range and. Defense came up with a big sack to kind of knock him out of field goal range. and then Brock had a great day throwing the ball overall. I thought, you know, that was the kind of.

Speaker: That's what we needed going into central. Yeah, I mean... You don't expect Brock to be the... ah passer normally, like the yards that he put up in that game.

Speaker: Like you said, Kent State probably could have been a trap game. And a lot of these Macs games. at this point could be trapped in. I mean, even Central. It could be a trap game for them. as far as the MAAC championship. um you know,

Speaker: getting it taken away from them at some point throughout the season. but That is exactly. The way the Broncos want to play football, at least from offensive. perspective. They want to run well. Buckley, I think, had over 100 yards.

Speaker: ah They had a couple others that were like 50 and 40 yards. Brock, I think, had like 50 -something yards or even more rushing. Um, It's good to see that his passing game is getting a little bit better and better each week because that was the part.

Speaker: That really didn't exist too much last year. I think it really shocked the world when. People like saw his stats and... I don't even think he came close to like 1 ,800 yards, you know, passing.

Speaker: put it as a thousand yard crusher. uh I mean... he's He's not as good, but he's like a... A little bit like Tim Tebow. the the way he just wants to like run.

Speaker: he He doesn't slide ever. each he Tries to run through people. There's a part of me that loves that. or and then there's And there's a part of me that's like, oh, God, just go down or go out about.

Speaker: Because he's a what? He's what? 6 '1", 210? Like... He's not... he's not sick he's not tebow size but like you're right every time i'm just like ah can you lean to the side or run out of bounds What? Well, he did slide once, and he slid short of the first down line on... third and 10 and ended up being fourth and one. So.

Speaker: Well. I don't know if I want him to slide anymore. It's like four, I guess. I feel like that's happened I feel like that's happened a couple of times for him this year, all right? Where he. He's cost himself a first down.

Speaker: based on when he decides to slide. Twitch. I'm sure in the moment it's hard to figure that out when you're running in the middle of the field, but like still it. I know it's... It costs some drives, but. But, yeah, we got Central. Biggest.

Speaker: it's the only game that matters For us. I got a funny story here, boys, about. you know central michigan so i'm at this tailgate right on friday And my brother -in -law is up in Michigan and he's a big, ah big time sales rep.

Speaker: And he... Michigan's part of his territory. with all the colleges. Or most of them, at least. so like Trying to get, I don't, Western's not calling his name and I'm a little disappointed. Like we, you know, Lance Taylor and the AD here, you know, got a new AD. I told.

Speaker: So my brother and I said, hey. That phone's going to ring, sir, I guarantee it. but you know he He's up in. ah playing golf with, you know, Michigan State, Michigan, Grand Valley, all these ADs, and I still got to ask them.

Speaker: Bartholomew was up there. Um, But I go, hey, where were you at? And he says tells me this golf course they're at. and I said, where's that at? He tells me Mount Pleasant. and I said. Talk to you later.

Speaker: Uh... He comes back. Friday at the tailgate. And he comes up to me and goes, Man, I didn't realize. and He goes, I know you've told me this, but I didn't realize.

Speaker: How much Central and Western... students, alum, and fans hate each other. And I said, Yeah. Derp derp. They're dirtbags up there. It's not pleasant.

Speaker: And he tells this story. There are no mountains, no mountains either. So it's a city of two lives. Well, and he tells this tells me the story that it know whoever was representing. Central Michigan or whatever.

Speaker: The guy told the... He goes, I would go work at any Michigan school. but Western. If there was an offer out there and it was only Western. I reject it. And I was like, hey, we don't want you.

Speaker: That's right. this This was a couple years ago now. my my sophomore year roommate George. Yeah, he... he was like, dude, I just met someone that graduated from Central.

Speaker: I didn't know anyone actually did that. ah I hope. There's a part of me that says, I really hope there's no central fans.

Speaker: because, like... They don't got hockey. The crossover of Bronco hockey fans and Central Michigan supporters are probably pure. I think they have a club team, but whatever. They're probably not that good. I mean, it is central.

Speaker: But there's a part of me that I hope they're listening at least to this episode and realize, hey. You guys aren't that great.

Speaker: Yeah, you made the wrong decision I respect them if they would have gone to Ferris more in Central.

Speaker: My app. My sister went to Central for one year and left. Smart. i mean my I had a sister that went there briefly, too, and I said. those those like two years or wherever she was there, I said, yeah.

Speaker: I did text her.

Speaker: Dead to me. Yeah, exactly. ha po

Speaker: All right, boys, we'll shift in gear a little bit to to a little bit of college hockey action this past weekend. I don't want to dive too much into these games. um We did have some some games in the NCHC this past weekend. And honestly, there's a lot of teams, I think, getting their sea legs under them this week.

Speaker: I. Duluth. I want to say Max Plant is out. right now to start the season. or one of the Plant brothers are. They lost in overtime on Friday 4 -3 and tied 1 -1 on Saturday against Augustana.

Speaker: um North Dakota got two wins against Bemidji. So they won 3 -2 on Friday, 4 -3 on Saturday. So a couple of close games. St. Thomas split with Air Force, so they lost 5 -1 on Friday, won 4 -2 on Saturday.

Speaker: Arizona State split with Holy Cross. um I mean so much turmoil going on there with you know, who's going to be coaching and everything. um They lost 2 -1 on Friday and then won 5 -4 in overtime on Saturday.

Speaker: And then St. Cloud ended up splitting with Michigan Tech. They lost three to two in overtime on Friday. 1 -5 -3 on Saturday. so Lots of vibe. Lots of tight games in in the NCHC this past weekend.

Speaker: um apart from our Broncos.

Speaker: Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest shocker was probably the Duluth Augustana. week, uh, series. Uh... I think but the biggest shock for me is how Duluth really didn't drop. too much i mean they're still in the top 10 after that week and uh I mean, August, Dan, I think.

Speaker: over the last couple seasons has gotten progressively better and better. repetitive in the CCHA, but... overall. You know, with the amount of firepower Duluth had going into the season and they got a third plant brother on the team now.

Speaker: And one of them is going to be a Hobie Baker finalist, if not a winner. um You don't really expect them to do that. to start the year. So that's very shocking. And i'm so I'm really surprised they didn't drop. really out of the top 10.

Speaker: Uh... And then you know the North Dakota Bemidji, I think that just kind of solidifies that Bemidji is a little bit better than... And they've always been really good. I mean, the CCHA really runs like three dog, you know, three horse races up there. as far as who's going to.

Speaker: really take on. the ccha so um it was kind of It's good to see that Bemidji is competitive. um with and another really good North Dakota team. Um,

Speaker: And then, you know, Tony, you know Michigan Tech. you know, they're They're looking pretty solid so far. i mean they St. Cloud is supposed to be a lot better this year. They they were pretty good last year. and Um, I think they're finally.

Speaker: i mean when They first were in the NCHC. St. Cloud was really the power. Wag it. for a while for for college hockey. I am in. They're one of the greater upset stories in college hockey.

Speaker: you know however many years ago when they were the one overall one seed and got upset in the first round of the playoffs. when everybody kind of wrote them as the national championship winner. so Uh, you know i I'm not surprised that they split there. I think that's...

Speaker: says more about tech i think tech's going to be very competitive this year after this weekend. um And again, it's still early, right? It's the first weekend for a lot of these teams. so ah We really don't know.

Speaker: Where... teams are going to really settle in until we get to like the holiday break. you know, kind of almost that halfway point going into the new year. where you could kind of start determining. all right this team's going to make a run or this team has already kind of ruled out so obviously you don't talk about that after the first week but Um,

Speaker: Yeah, I mean, nothing really surprised me overall except the Duluth series. That that one really shocked me. And ultimately when I look at the early season, I don't really take into consideration as much the the losses that teams might have. I'm looking more at like what teams actually looked. Good.

Speaker: in the first week of the year, because I think that's really hard. and really difficult to do. so um You mentioned the polls a little bit. Western did climb in the polls to number six in the USCHO poll.

Speaker: Denver State at number one, Michigan at number two, Michigan State at number three. North Dakota at four. Wisconsin moved up to five. We're at six, so that's kind of... kind of where we're sitting, Duluth fell down to nine. so Little bit with the rankings there.

Speaker: And you've got Augustana ranked. So that's fun to see. Yep. Well, and we should also point out that these rankings are really subjective to right from the USCHO and the USA Hockey.

Speaker: Because ultimately, these rankings don't matter when it comes to the playoffs. ah You know, i'm I'm sure a lot of the listeners and fans know that it it comes down to but what used to be what the RPI.

Speaker: ah or whatever yeah know or um it's the MPI now. um And that's ultimately, to be honest, I kind of just don't understand why college hockey just doesn't. Like when you when you watch a game on TV And they have that ranking there. Why? That's just not the number. like why do we like I still don't understand why we have to have...

Speaker: three different rankings. It does confuse people a lot. ah And ultimately, the USA hockey and the USCHO is just really subjective. I mean, it just is telling people.

Speaker: Hey, this is how good they are. But... You know, like we saw last year, like Western and Denver were going. One and two, one and three, two and four.

Speaker: But when you looked at the MPI, Western was always number two. And at one point they got to one. Consistently number two. They were just here the entire time. Exactly. So like it.

Speaker: It's something that I kind of wish college hockey would kind of. just I hate to say fizzle out because. I do like. what the USCHO does and USA Hockey.

Speaker: It's just for me, it's just like. Kind of brings you back to the old BCS. days where you had the coaches pull. in the AP poll. I mean, that was mattered back then a little bit more because they didn't have this MPI in football, but like we have it in hockey.

Speaker: And that's really what that matters the most. so it's For me, it's like I just I look at it with a grain of salt, those rankings. But. When the MPI finally can calculate after so many games in the college hockey news app.

Speaker: That's one of the ones I'm just religiously looking at. Where are we at? because that's what you're looking for you're just looking at those top 16 spots and Where do you stand in that 16? Yep, exactly. Honestly, 15, because there's always 15 or 14, because there's always...

Speaker: one conference that doesn't have somebody in there but you know i think i think a big part is obviously you know for conversations and In theory, it should be for TV, but... College hockey has not figured out.

Speaker: the TV. element of it. Yeah. Um, For a sport that. I mean, hockey I feel like hockey has more popularity now. than it kind of has, you know, in a while, especially coming off of the Olympics last year.

Speaker: But. it's so difficult to watch like Other sports, you can actually accidentally... stumble upon a Mac basketball game. If you have ESPN Plus, you could accidentally stumble upon a baseball game.

Speaker: here or there, but like hockey, you just really. with the exception of a couple conferences you have to go out of your way to find it i mean for nchctv's like 130 dollars i mean who's gonna pay for that other than you know us sickos Um,

Speaker: You know, I had to pay $20 to watch. western play fair state on midco sports which Horrible. um The production value of that game was awful. Jacqueline was like, is this like a student announcing? Like, this is horrible. Can we mute it, please? um Half the time the camera didn't.

Speaker: go over to the goal so you couldn't tell if the puck went on net or not it was just a bad production and I'm like I paid money for that It looked like they were recording on a potato for the game, too. Yeah.

Speaker: Yeah, some good science project. I mean... it's It's sad to say that I feel like it was better when we were in college. i mean If you couldn't find it on...

Speaker: what Back then it was NBC Sports or Versus. Or... Every Friday night, CBS Sports Network hosted a game, which was always cool. before really the NCHC kind of took over or, you know, kind of had their deal with them. And it was then really just a.

Speaker: NCHC primary. Primary. The primary game. ah on that Friday night. To your point, you don't really get to stumble upon and say, oh, hey, there's a college hockey game. I'm going to watch it.

Speaker: Now for me, I kind of. Do stumble upon it. I did a couple weeks ago because my Fubo subscription Got. or gets the Flow TV.

Speaker: through my sports package so it It gets some of the CCHA games. um Because I was able to watch. you know, whoever it was Bowling Green or someone. And. it was the week before western so i'm like i'm gonna watch and just see what's going Wasn't the greatest game in the world, but...

Speaker: Um, But I remember first level so it's fine but yeah well i remember but when we were back in college, if you wanted to watch. You know your school play college hockey. You went to...

Speaker: Whoever their... their way team. or their you know wherever they were going, like let's say this and the Notre Dame. You went to Notre Dame's website. Pulled up the stream, hooked up your laptop with an HDMI cord, your TV.

Speaker: Watched at that. Still wasn't the greatest production, usually. But um you know you had to do what you had to do. but You didn't pay a dime. Well, except for your internet provider. you know, that was always great. And like now.

Speaker: You know. Not many people want to pay. I mean. 130 bucks. I just don't get why the NCHC over really. mainly did that.

Speaker: Um, you know 130 bucks and they took on their own network and they kind of ditched cbs sports network i just That was a bad move. for that.

Speaker: I mean one, you're not on national television anymore. And I don't know if they just think that they're trying to. build their own production out of it and build up their own you know, personnel and commentators.

Speaker: But... This is it. yeah unfortunately, in comparison, said football. Where like you can have. the acc network and the scc network and i feel like that's what they were they're trying to do is have their own network.

Speaker: but you're not on you're not on any of these subscriptions like YouTube TV or, or, and or, uh, FOOBALL! the popular ones that most people have right You want people to download the app.

Speaker: And pay the subscription. So like. They're missing the ball there, and and I don't understand why they haven't caught on to that yet. You get way more viewerships if you can merge. And cut a deal with.

Speaker: Peacock. fubo youtube tv or whatever the big other big ones are And just. Have it. filtered into the sports. you know subscription like most of us probably have Yeah.

Speaker: And I feel like that's how they're going to get more viewership or. like we were texting earlier this weekend. Like yeah ESPN really should just buy all of them out. and have it on ESPN+. plus And like the big games like have like a section.

Speaker: like yeah ESPN or ESPN2 gets like a Friday night or Saturday night game. Probably more Friday night because of college football. Yeah, I mean, well, that's just because then you get, like Tony says, you get the people that that stumble upon it because.

Speaker: you know, their their team isn't playing whatever, baseball or basketball. but they want to watch something and you know here espn 2 or espn news Boom. Oh, Kyle Chalky, let me see what what that what's that all about.

Speaker: And that's how you probably are going to grow the game. And at this in this era... And we've talked about it for over 10 years, going back to when we were in college sitting at Waldo's. College hockey continuously wants to grow.

Speaker: and i They're not growing. The way that they're doing it right now is not, in my opinion. the footprints of growing the game.

Speaker: And you're talking about. In our days, yes. I think we all did the HDMI plug into your laptop monitor to watch. you know the fifth most popular sport at... Um. larger university.

Speaker: But I thought it was kind of like a special thing when we'd go to we'd go to Lawson for a game. And we'd see the CBS Sports banners or the NBC Sports net. whatever it was, CSN banners, whatever it was called back then. And knowing that like, this was like the marquee game. This was probably the only.

Speaker: one of the only contract games being broadcast across the country. And it helped for someone like me. with My family being a little bit further away, I could tell them, hey, turn on CBS Sportsnet at 730. home against Ohio State, North Dakota, whoever we ended up playing that week.

Speaker: So it was cool having that mentality of like, we got the national broadcast. Cool. It shouldn't have to be like that. Theoretically, every game can be nationally broadcast if it's done the right way. espn like you said i'm really surprised espn plus or espn they own everything now Why can't they? They could do that. make a little window of like, hey, here's the premier games.

Speaker: And then you're right. You can stumble into it. There are so many times. ah I think it takes both of you this too. There's so many times I'm grateful that I'm... in i act older than my age and i still have cable i like clicking my power button on my tv and their heirs.

Speaker: the sports package channels that I have. It is refreshing sometimes. I don't have to worry about it. But if it's not on, it's sort of like, well, I can probably find it somewhere. But... I'm... talk we didn't talk about This could be missed opportunities for...

Speaker: college hockey to kind of fill it in. Me, I love the dulcet tones of Robin Hook. So I enjoy listening to the radio feed. Also, shout out to them for 500 consecutive football games. That's insane.

Speaker: um I thought it was 500 total games. like That's amazing. No, he's... Literally never missed a game. This man's a man's a saint. but I enjoy hearing. The radio broadcast, more of the home games, obviously, because I like hearing the chants they're trying to hit with the dump button on, see which ones get through.

Speaker: um That's sort of like my backup of just, I sort of. If I can't find it quick enough or if I need to log in to log into an app to log into a trial to log into something else. I just sit in the corner and cry, which I do anyway, but that just doesn't make it any better.

Speaker: I'm just going to be like, okay, I'll watch the StatCast, listen to Robin Hook. and see what I get. um And catch the kexel highlights if I have to or see it on YouTube. you know, within an hour or two.

Speaker: But yeah, there could be so much more there. Um, It's nice that we get it. It's nice, you know. A lot of the regionals are televised by but yeah ESPN, but like, we got to get the next, we got to keep going down. We got to get some more premier games.

Speaker: thrown to more eyeballs. Yeah, especially being the premier conference. I mean, I saw somebody on Twitter that's a Michigan fan before this talk about like they're telling a coworker about Michigan hockey and they're like, yeah, it's number one against number two this week. And they're like, oh, is it going to be on TV?

Speaker: And they go, yeah, if you have something called NCHC TV. So. um Ultimately, I think we... it need I've been saying this for a while. They need to fix that. They need to figure it out. um But.

Speaker: we We'll see. I do i do want to move move the conversation a little bit. um you know Western had our first games of the season this past week. Um, ah I thought we looked really good in both of them. on.

Speaker: You know, you're always a little nervous going into games one and games two because, you know, what new lines working together, new players, you know. all that kind of stuff.

Speaker: But I thought they played really really well. winning 6 -0 on Thursday and 5 -1 on Friday. um Matt, what what were what were your some thumb some of your takeaways from the Thursday night game out at Lawson, the last ever home opener?

Speaker: In that old barn. Yeah, I mean, you know, we talked about trap game and I think this was a trap game to start the season based on how last year went. ah for the banner raising and it got spoiled by Ferris who didn't have a great season last year either.

Speaker: Um, ah You know... I wasn't surprised by the lineup card. um I think we kind of knew after the exhibition, you know, where they were leading towards and we saw. angle was there.

Speaker: uh, extra skater that first had on. So he was kind of rotating with Wook on. And on that Wahlberg line a little bit. Um, Listen. ah You know, I have a lot of notes here for the Thursday game, but, you know, just like.

Speaker: Right off the top of my bat, I want to say Quentin Miller was... As advertised. um for people that didn't get to see him play last year before if but yeah before he got injured.

Speaker: You could see why he. played well at Lawson last year. on in enemy colors versus now he's in. He's in the right jersey now. uh the pace was great you could see that they you know continue you know like they they almost kind of looked already mid -season form which was great like it's not overall going to take them long to develop these connections and in the chemistry especially with Some of the freshmen like Benak and Lafreniere.

Speaker: Ooh. You know, both looked great. I would want to say, though, Thursday Lafreniere, I think, was... was outstanding. it's His forward tracking was unbelievable. Um, you know, But the the biggest...

Speaker: thing for me was the fourth line production on Thursday. I mean, Sadlowski with two goals. I mean, they just came out buzzing, and McKenzie was playing great, had an apple. And then Sikora gets one up there too. So, you know. And Sikora's goal was kind of hilarious because listening to the announcers, they were kind of confused, you know, like.

Speaker: I think it was a knuckle puck. I mean, if you watch it, he. He doesn't get a lot on it and it just goes. right over the goalie's shoulder. Just enough, just enough to get into the net. Yeah. I mean, it's hard for that. I mean, but knock, I felt like was quiet in the third period.

Speaker: And not really in a bad way, just, you know. i um you know he he was skating really well it's just you know i I don't think he was. producing on the stat line which you probably want to do He makes up for it, though, obviously the next day.

Speaker: Um... You know, so like overall, I mean, you got to love what you see. Coming out Thursday night. the first game of the year. for washington with the offensive production.

Speaker: how well they were maintaining and possessing the puck. Getting the shots on, the forward checking was outstanding. like the last few years. Their penalty kill. which has been great and probably in the top three in the nation going back three, four years now.

Speaker: outstanding, especially when they went on a five on three. and I think they got more shots on the five on three at one point then. Ferris did. Um... You know, and we talked about we were texting the power play.

Speaker: You know. Doesn't look the greatest they did get one or one or two on so thursday they got one i think on friday Overall, I think they're still sitting at like 23 % converted.

Speaker: That's kind of in the sweet spot you want to be in anyways. i mean if you look at some of these nhl over the last couple of years it's You're really... looking to aim at that like 18 to 25 percent mark i mean if you're over that you're You're outstanding. uh So, I mean, again, it's just the first two games of the year. So, like, that's going to get better. but I rather...

Speaker: be one for seven like they were at one point. But at least they're keeping the puck in the offensive zone and just getting shots on and they're getting the puck movement going. the goals will come. And and even if they don't,

Speaker: The goals are coming right after the power play ads. so I loved everything I saw Thursday. I love to turn out. Lunatics were there from end to end. It was good. I was a little nervous being a Thursday game.

Speaker: would Would the lunatic show up? in that kind of capacity. and They did. um And again, it's just sad that. That's the last home opener I lost.

Speaker: It hit me at the end. I'm like, wow, that's the last one. Last home opener, then I keep seeing the... the the countdown go off like, ugh. But no, the... The barn wasn't sounding. Again, from my radio feed. The barn was rocking.

Speaker: And they were over capacity, so... Paytents was $37 .94. I think 3667 is the actual like attendance number. I feel like we're gonna see a lot of that this year. Yeah, i think I think fans are really going to show up.

Speaker: um we did have We did have six goals this game. I do want i do want to run through each of them. Um, You know, one thing i one thing I really took away from this. is they have done a great job getting guys to the front of the net.

Speaker: um making the goalies vision. difficult, um had some tip -ins there, had some had some goals where... You know, just kind of... One of them, I think it just. i don't I couldn't tell what happened because Ferris State's...

Speaker: and this was in game two but Ferris State's video angles were so bad, I still have no idea how the fuck... one in the net. so Was the ceiling in the way too for that? Tony, I always said didn't catch much of it. The ceiling came in the way. There were there was a couple ceiling pucks. They announced it on the radio feed Friday.

Speaker: it Jesus. Yeah. But yeah, goal goal number one of the year, Garrett Sidlowski. Scored the the opener 12 minutes into the first period. So I felt like we.

Speaker: that's kind of midway part of the first periods when really everything started to look like it was truly clicking. um It was a puck battle in the corner. It looked like Ferris tried wrapping it around.

Speaker: Um, Tyler McKenzie. got his stick on it, found Garrett Zabowski top of the right circle who fired it home for. his first goal of of what would be. to um this game.

Speaker: yeah i mean i i wrote down here for me for that fourth line that this was a statement game for them um you know We talked about... previously like This is the line that you're really going to rotate some of these. Guys that are sitting up in the bleachers.

Speaker: Ty Mason, some of the freshmen too, McNamara that are. it shouldn't get their opportunity. And what I saw Thursday and in even Friday when I was listening to the radio feed.

Speaker: I... They're making a statement to tell first. Hey. You don't got to worry about rotating anybody out. We got this. and I mean, at some points they... You know, like they even mentioned on the NCHC TV Thursday, like.

Speaker: You don't even want to call them a true fourth line because of how well they play. they was just one of the four lines of First Wilder's team. to playing well in overall games. So you got to like that, that he can roll four lines deep.

Speaker: any point of a game. uh which is Kind of what the recipe was, the nat the natty run. And honestly, that fourth line is probably a top line on probably half the school teams in the country.

Speaker: yeah Yeah, I agree. tough to argue that one But, yeah, goal one, that was Garrett Sidlowski's first of the season from Tyler McKenzie, his first assist of the season.

Speaker: um Second goal came in the second period. um Garrett Sadowski gets his second. of the season this one was a fun little goal um He had the puck behind the net, just kind of did a a nice little move.

Speaker: came around to the left circle and just kind of whipped one on net. Tyler McKenzie was in front of the goalie making... making it a nightmare for him to see the puck, and and it found the back of the net for 2 -0. That was Sidlowski's second. Cole Kruseberg, Rosene, and Zach Sharp.

Speaker: had the assist on that one.

Speaker: Yeah, I mean, it goes back to... When you you listen to... And I know I'm going to piss off about half the population here. that are Red Wing fans. But it goes back to when I would watch Blackhawk games. Eddie Olchek says it all the time.

Speaker: And probably still says it to this day, even though I don't think he's doing too much broadcasting. There's no. Get pucks on the net. Um, you know good things happen. And you you kind of saw the fourth line, especially kind of just doing that, like.

Speaker: if If they had ah the slightest opening... They took it. and And we saw, I mean, they they had the best outcome throughout the whole game. Uh... out of you know if you're looking at comparing all four lines from a production standpoint Um,

Speaker: And yeah, I mean, like Tony, you brought up like we saw a lot of. ah player screening goalies. um and And that's I. been preaching that going back to when we were You know.

Speaker: actual loss of lunatics at the games where i'm like begging for somebody to get in front of nut And. they were succeeding at all. you know, ends of the ice there, um especially with the screening. And. the power play especially getting two big guys in front of the goal he's always huge I mean...

Speaker: and You got to kind of... stick tap the the efforts of that Ferris goal. He kept them in. both Thursday and Friday as long as he could. When you got that much offensive firepower.

Speaker: going on in front of you and your team's not really bailing you out. I mean, he kind of stood on his head a little bit to keep fair. I mean, because it could have been blown out. mid -second period especially Thursday.

Speaker: This could have been 10 -0 if it wasn't for him. Yeah. Truth. Goal number three came about 30 seconds later. William Whitelaw got his first goal of the year. eat. Just got to the front of the net.

Speaker: Tipped in ah in a shot from Bobby Cohen to make it 3 -0 Broncos. Bobby Cohen and Cole Kruseberg -Rozine got the assist. on William Whitelaw's first goal of the season.

Speaker: I think he was the one I... Many names that we talked about. in the debut episode who we want to see. take the next step. William Whitelaw was a name for me. That was a nice little kind of. Not a confidence booster goal, but I was like, okay. like you know,

Speaker: Crowd's still buzzing from the goal 40 seconds before that. and just to tap that in a nice little bounce or a little redirect. Love it.

Speaker: Yeah, I mean, not not your typical White Law goal that we saw last year. A lot of his goals last year, he was really just... trying to out skate everybody and get breakaways or if he wasn't he was just trying to snipe something um So it's good to see that, you know.

Speaker: And not that like I doubted him or anything, but it's good to see that he could score from other angles outside of the slot or, you know, or any breakaways, you know, like that. Um. So it's good to see that, you know, that offensive dynamic. uh has gone to a just and the next level for him. to get bucks in the net.

Speaker: our Our fourth goal of the evening came on the power play, and man, oh man, is it good to have this guy back. I i thought outside of Quinton Miller, our best player this weekend with Yonah Weissman. um Man, he's so good. Even watching him play this this weekend was kind of a...

Speaker: Do we go back -to -back if he if he doesn't? get injured last season but Bison and gets his first on the season from Tommy Lafreniere. and Ty Hendricks.

Speaker: um basically just let a wrist shot go from the point. Hendricks was in front of the net. Matt, I know that was something you really loved to see, is Ty Hendricks, that big body, getting in front of the goalies.

Speaker: Yeah, i just I feel like we just didn't see Ty Hendricks do that enough last year. uh And I don't know if he just. took on a kind of bigger role last year versus the year before when he was you know, kind of on the third line that national championship team.

Speaker: Um... And I really just think he's going to make his his money in front of the net, whether it's. tipping the puck in and getting the the greasy rebound. Or screening goalies for other guys to you know to get the pucks and in behind the net there.

Speaker: Uh, and you got to be advising that with a, with a. snipe of a snipe. I mean, there wasn't much room and and he got all of it. and Yeah, it's great to see. i mean I was a little nervous early to start the game. i Thought maybe, okay, is he trying to do a little too much?

Speaker: You know, he's just. skating back and forth with the puck. I think what's like he kind of like. 10 minutes or so we hit that first period you kind of saw um really settle into his role with Neumeier especially.

Speaker: And then, yeah, and then it's just right now it's off to the races for him. You could tell he's. He's missed being on that ice. uh He's not going to. shy away from taking a shot now at this point uh after missing a whole season last year And we are grateful that he's not going to.

Speaker: do that again, you know. but bisty shots anymore.

Speaker: Yeah, he's he's one that I think... I'm kind of. you know, really going to be watching. I think he has the potential to kind of be our, maybe our best shot at a Hobie Baker. Yeah, it wouldn't be surprising at this rate. i mean right he's got two goals after this weekend i don't even know um You know, how many overall points, if he had any assists, I think he had maybe one.

Speaker: Um. This weekend, but... it i sot to assess. to assist so yes we had four points overall this weekend so i mean he's off to an ah amazing start for especially for defensemen Um...

Speaker: You just got to like, though, like. He's the... the NHL quality with his skating. His vision with the passing. especially like on the power play, like him and Banach, or no, I think it was him and Lafreniere.

Speaker: Um, Really seemed to kind of. know where they're at. on the power play line there. when They're going back and forth, back and forth, passing it. um ah You could tell, I mean.

Speaker: Granted. I loved watching Bookman and Bookman kind of was that. Bison in replacement after he went down last year. It's sad that we'll never know what it would have been like to have both of them healthy, Bookman and Visanen. Lane.

Speaker: Um... a full season but man i mean it's It's scary good for us advising playing this well right i mean you would think people are nervous with the Come back from an ACL, would they take it easy, monitor his minutes?

Speaker: through the first couple weeks. I don't think there's any, I think. I think it's. full green light and and he's taken full advantage of it so far.

Speaker: There's just something about my favorite hockey teams having a defenseman. having their number one defenseman being from Espoo, Finland. so Same hometown as Miro Haskinen. but You knew I was going to shout that out, right? Yeah.

Speaker: I expect nothing less. I'm surprised there's not a big flag behind him at this point. Give it time. Give it time. Give it time. give it time Well, that that was all the scoring for the second period. Moving into the third, um we kind of talked about Nicholas Sikora's.

Speaker: His goal that period it was it was funny. Listening to the announcer before that. He was basically just talking about how well the goalie was. playing and then just gives up that goal really I would say it's kind of his only blemish on the evening but that was nicholas sakura his first of his of his college career from Michael Neumauer and Jona Weissman got the assist on that one.

Speaker: Yeah, I mean... Socorro played a phenomenal game, not just from scoring that goal, but I really thought. and We talked about it. in the previous you know episodes that you know i think he really will take on a good two -way role here And his back and forecheck was, I thought. real good on that Thursday game. and And when you do. the the the little things right it creates these offensive opportunities for you and really

Speaker: There wasn't even a lot going on. And if you were like, I think they were on a line change and he was really, I think just trying to get maybe a puck deep. And I think he was going to come off the ice really after because there was no one with him at that point.

Speaker: And, you know, just it flutters over the goalie's shoulder. I mean, hey. again Bucks on net is all you need and good things will happen. And and it it is a good thing for Sikora. Um...

Speaker: And again, just another point for that fourth line that. really looked outstanding, not only Thursday, but I thought also Friday. And Sikora ended up, he spent some time on the power play that game and he spent some time.

Speaker: on the power play and on night two as well. Our last goal of the evening, also on the power play, Tommy Lafreniere. Um, Beautiful shot, top of the circle, snipe. sniped it from the right circle.

Speaker: um beat the goalie far side over the shoulder. um ti tell Tell me if you've heard this one before, Ty Henricks screening the goalie. Um, And just a beautiful shot by. by Tommy Lafreniere.

Speaker: I mean, suck. 17, it just... needs to make his mark and park his seat right in front of the end. of the goal you know that's Again, like. He needs to be there about 90 % of the offensive.

Speaker: possessions that he's out there on. every game. and and and good things will happen for him eventually. um And when you're six foot five, even in the NHL, like. that's what these coaches are going to want to see for having, you know, being a New York Ranger.

Speaker: Prospected. I think the Rangers are going to. Really hope his production is high this year. so they can bring them on next year or even late in the season after.

Speaker: We win a national championship. Uh... Well, you mentioned a lot for years. Power play goal. ah You know. I brought up that I i think. McNamara could be like the the next Tim Washi based on his build.

Speaker: Kind of like he's going to kind of sit for a while. But, you know, I think eventually throughout his Western career, we'll work his way up. My man. Lafreniere kind of gives me washy vibes.

Speaker: Already. And I'm talking about like... so graduate, senior level wash you like. The way he's just throwing his body around, he doesn't get pushed around. or knocked off the puck too often in that Ferris game. Ferris got a lot of big bodies.

Speaker: So I... He wasn't getting bullied around too much and he was creating. opportunities. um In the exhibition game, we saw Banach was originally on that first line in Lafreniere. was on the second power play line.

Speaker: And that kind of got swapped going into game one. And I think that was a great. Coaching move. ah for them because I think that brought a little bit more production. from the power play for both lines perspectives.

Speaker: And. And you just kind of were like. Wandering. All right. When is Lafreniere but not going to get? that first one it Is it going to be this weekend? You really hope so because you want them just to rip that bandaid off.

Speaker: so we can get the race run in here It was good to see Lafreniere get that one on Thursday. So can't wait to see what. He's going to do the rest of the season.

Speaker: And then you know I want to talk a little bit more about Quentin Miller. um he There were a few breakaways that... that Ferris had that he just absolutely shut the door on, on that five -on -three when they actually got some shots off.

Speaker: I mean, five on three, you need your goalie. I mean, on the penalty kill all the time anyways, you need your goalie to be the best the best player on the ice. and and Quinton Miller was absolutely the best player on the ice. He made some incredible saves. um I will say one of the breakaway, I think it was Thursday night, Zach Sharp had an incredible back check.

Speaker: Amen. On. On a guy that. Saved. Saved a potential goal. so But Quentin Miller had a phenomenal game. I mean, I'd give him first star for this game for sure.

Speaker: Yeah, I mean listen um were We're talking all all night, right, about how well. Wester played, but Wester had a lot of flaws too, I think. especially that Thursday game, there was way too many odd man rushes.

Speaker: on either bad line changes um You know, defenseman. pressing with and no one filled in Um... and just some odd end, you know, some bad decisions with the puck in the neutral zone.

Speaker: And we saw about, I think, two or three opportunities of just odd man rushes and a couple breakaways. Quinn Miller stood on his hat on a couple of them. And then, like you mentioned, Zach Sharp made it. Beautiful back check.

Speaker: i mean luckily we have defense to find someone that can skate fast and get back quick. Zach Sharp probably being. He's got to be one. of if not the fastest defense we have. Maybe Angle might be the freshman that could compete with him.

Speaker: Um... And... But that that stuff has got to – I mean, again, it's the first game. Like, that's going to have – happened over the first couple of weeks. You just don't want to see it happen too often, especially when we get into January. so Hopefully, you know.

Speaker: we're not going to see that too much off, you know. down the road here. Uh... But yeah, I mean. Peace. It's hard not to give Quentin Miller a first star after Thursday, Gabe, because. He added some incredible saves.

Speaker: Like you said, we we were in the penalty box way too much. ah Some DOM penalties. Especially like, I mean, this is. Gotta believe that's why Engel wasn't even playing Friday. Took a bad penalty.

Speaker: Uh... When the puck was already frozen, you just... Took a jab at a guy that... Really, you didn't need to. I was really surprised too Colby Wook was even in the lineup. Friday, to be honest, because he also took a bad penalty.

Speaker: Right after that. To cause that five on three. Um, you know so it wasn't a good look and then you know we were texting Like, Wallenberg takes a penalty. Like, we got three defensemen.

Speaker: Boom boom boom in the in the box and they're all in the same freaking line Wallberg's penalty, though, was justified because if he doesn't. Take that penalty. you know Not saying that Quentin Miller was going to give it up the way he was playing, but like it was a breakaway.

Speaker: Um, Because it was a bad line change. yeah but he caused He caused that. he I watched that one again because I wanted i wanted to see. if it indeed was a line change or not no Wahlberg was just caught. He was just. caught puck watching and let a guy get behind him.

Speaker: um Yeah, it was a good penalty to take to prevent a high high -danger scoring chance. Yes, it was his own doing Yeah, I mean, again, like Like I said, we're talking a lot of the positives.

Speaker: People are probably wondering, like, hey, Western, there are they that perfect? No, there was not a perfect game Thursday. by any means except for Quentin Miller, who got the shutout. Um... A lot of stuff needs to to get better as the season will progress, which is obvious in the first.

Speaker: couple of weeks, we're going to see these flaws happen. You really just don't want to see Wahlberg, a veteran guy like that. doing stuff like that, but... Um, you know it does happen to the best of them and and hopefully like it's not going to happen too often for him especially because You know, he's going to be a crucial piece, being one of the bigger defensemen we have.

Speaker: down the stretch here. so um But, I mean... Good penalty kill practice. I guess. in um The penalty kill looked outstanding. I mean, at one point.

Speaker: I think one of the commentators made a joke like. Does Ferris State know that they're on the power play, not Western? Because at one – I mean, what Western, I think I like – Three shorthanded. Shots off. And I think want almost had a breakaway.

Speaker: yeah so i'm like it's just like So it's like... ah it's it's Good to see that the Pally kill is already like mid -season form. um I like that they take opportunities when when they can um to maybe get a short -handed goal.

Speaker: Hopefully that's not the mindset. You know, I rather just. Clear the pot. get the lot and a new line out there, get fresh legs out there. especially down the down the line in the season.

Speaker: uh when we get to the playoffs but Um, you know, If there's windows, I'm glad to see that they're taking them. And they oh they almost made it. a real mess of that game if they could have gotten a shorty let me tell you Ferris would have been asking for like a running clock at that point. Get us out of here. Or something.

Speaker: I did have an honor of the shutout on Friday. I did have a canned beverage that shares the name of. Our goalie. You know, in his honor, earth that's the least I could do. What should I eat? No, you know, a bush latte.

Speaker: How'd I get it fancy? Well, yeah You know, I do think that was about as perfect of a game you can play for opening night, though. um they I thought they looked fantastic. Those errors that they made, I feel like are...

Speaker: you know pretty fixable um Shots on on goal for the evening 39 -26 in favor of the Broncos. um Power play went two for six. Perfect. Eight for eight on the penalty kill.

Speaker: We're 55 % in the face -off circle. Um, Cole Spicer led the way. Thursday night. Going 13 of 19, he was 68 % in the dots. ah Tommy Lafreniere.

Speaker: was 53%. Adam Banach only took three face -offs. But he won all three of them. i

Speaker: arrow hawk aryan and struggled in the dots um luckily he is on a line with spicer um he was 30%. He went three for 10. on the face off circle so matt you're asking where where is that you know who's going to kind of step up. It definitely looked like this weekend, Adam Banach, Tommy Lafreniere and Cole Spicer kind of taken into that role of.

Speaker: you know Winning in the dots. Yeah, I was pleasantly. Pleased to see the face off die. um really be as successful as it was a couple years ago and even parts of last year. um Yeah, you mentioned Spicer had a great weekend.

Speaker: End of the week. just under 57%. But not. Didn't take as many as a Spicer did, but... Overall, I mean, is that...

Speaker: 77 % after this weekend. And then, ah Lafreniere's at 70. And then you mentioned Hockerine and didn't have the greatest day, but. I don't think he's playing as much center. uh especially now being on the line with cole spicer so Um... And I think that's going to maybe suit Hakurana a little bit better.

Speaker: and be a little bit more successful this year. Versus. I know. His freshman year, he played more center. Um... I just... ah After last season, I just I think he's a better winger than a centerman.

Speaker: Um, I think the face -off dial will get better for him. progressively uh he just won't be in it as often i mean unless Spicer gets kicked out. Hopefully not.

Speaker: So, yeah, even Waila had... 100 % in Sikora. Took two face -offs because they probably got. banaca kicked out and uh McKenzie got kicked out of the circle. so Yeah. I mean, it's a great start for the face -off production so far. And and that's like, it we Like I.

Speaker: talked about the last couple episodes is That's going to. help us be successful down the road. so just They just got to keep it going. You knew J .J. Crew. AKA Jimmy Johns.

Speaker: and all the other ridiculous names in that Instagram video Whereas I was going to get the boys ready. Juice box is my favorite.

Speaker: We got to get him and find out what was his favorite name. but

Speaker: But 11 different Broncos scored. um Weissman had three points in game one, a goal and two assists. Lafreniere and Whitelaw each with a goal and assist.

Speaker: Sidlowski had two goals and then Cole Kruseberg -Ruzin, or CCR as Brian affectionately calls him. had two assists as well, so. um A lot of Broncos getting on the score chart.

Speaker: Moving on to Friday night. Fantastic night for the Broncos as well. Did allow a goal. um Ended up winning 5 -1, outshot Ferris State 41 -22.

Speaker: um We still have not given up an even strength goal. Their only goal came on the power play. It was 3 -0 and they ended up... i Nobody got the guy back door, just kind of was able to sneak in there and put one in.

Speaker: um But overall, i thought I thought Friday night was a... a really good outing as well. um Adam Banach, I think, was absolutely the story for for the Brown and Gold on on Friday night. Four assists on on the five on the five different goals.

Speaker: Yeah, I mean ah that That goal that Ferris had. God, I mean, yeah, backdoor. That puck just had eyes. I mean. You know. back door the guy just had a stick down and just you know, good deflection in.

Speaker: Can't believe that from the the corner. or the blue line, I should say that. No one could have deflected that, but you know, whatever. I mean, I think Miller was going to go. backto- Back -to -back shout -outs, no.

Speaker: Um, this This game, I think worried me a little bit. After Thursday, um just. You know, historically Ferris. wants to just kind of then...

Speaker: get a little more uh you know they want to beat western up essentially Um, and get a little bit more chippy. on the the second game out of the the home and home. I mean, we were we witnessed one of the...

Speaker: few college hockey fights many, many years ago when we went. um And I'm getting popcorn thrown at me by Ferris parents, as a you know, classy. organization up there.

Speaker: Um, That was a wild time. what Did they call you a sellout? then called me i They call me, I got, I had a lot of names. I don't even remember being that loud at that game except when they scored goals. i don't I don't know why I was getting picked on.

Speaker: by all these Ferris fans back then, but whatever, you know.

Speaker: Doesn't matter to me. stay out but all But yeah, I mean, Banach was... was ah way more noticeable than Thursday's game. um And not only just because he was on the stat sheet. four out of five goals, but...

Speaker: You could just. Kind of see, ah you know, he had a big pop in his step on the ice. I mean he was flying all over the place. in a good way, create an offense. and really just dishing the puck. It's like we were talking about. i mean This guy's a playmaker.

Speaker: And we really saw that playmaking come alive in in Friday's game and in Big Rapids for him.

Speaker: Yeah, and and going to the first goal of the night um on the power play, he did a really great job of keeping the puck in the zone. Um, Got it over to Neumeier who put one on net and and Zachariah Wisdom deflected. deflected the shot in again going to the front and in front of the net um

Speaker: It was a long power play opportunity. We did have a five on three in there at one point. um Ended up scoring five on four, so a nice power play goal to get the evening started about four minutes into the game.

Speaker: Yeah, I mean, ah Wisdom is... going to do this night in and night out. um Because we we know what he could do from last year, and he's just continuing to off that success from last season. and Um,

Speaker: I mean, he just. Gets in front of that and just, you know. Good deflection. And for him, so. Hopefully that kind of gets the ball rolling for him, too. You know, we're going to need him this season to really put up some points.

Speaker: um like he did last season coming in in his first year with Western. so And, yeah, like you said, I mean, Banach. is contributing there. Neumeier contributing. we We didn't really...

Speaker: Talk about Neumeier too much on the Thursday game. who played very well defensively and it was really skating well, just wasn't on the stat sheet. Um, So it was good to see him get his. technically his official.

Speaker: first stat or point. as a Bronco. in the Friday game. so ah And you just you you really liked what you see in that. overall that first power play for Western, the way they were moving the puck around.

Speaker: Yeah, and Neumeier kind of... Thursday night, just let. He let Yonah Vison in. be Yonah Vison in and was kind of... That guy that could that could stay at home if if you know he kind of went up and wanted to gamble a little bit um The Broncos would score six minutes later.

Speaker: Uh, Bobby Cohen, he... Scored an assist from Binnock and Wisdom on that one. um I thought they did a really great job of controlling controlling the puck in the zone, that possession. um Binnock just kind of whipped one in. Like... Matt, as you said before, Pucks on net. And.

Speaker: just kind of bounced in off of Bobby Cohen. um that was the one i was talking about that i'm really not sure what happened because the camera angle Sat.

Speaker: Yeah, I saw that the satellite vision was also confused. It's like, oh. Okay. Go. Hey. All right. For me, ah it... It's good that, I mean, they get they credited bob Bobby. Bobby college. So.

Speaker: you know if he did or did not. ah I'm glad that. really he's accredited for it because ah you know like There was times last year I just felt like he was really like sporadic and when it when the scoring came. like he He really came in waves. And I'm hoping this year.

Speaker: um you know, second year in the system. you know, Islander draft pick. He's playing on that first line with Banach and White Loss. There's, you know, there's going to be a lot of offensive opportunities for him. this season.

Speaker: It's good that he got that that one. early this year. And hopefully like wisdom gets the ball rolling and consistently because. Um, You know, I think all I. did was read about last year is how bobby collins could be a very big offensive ah producer for Western.

Speaker: And I wasn't really disappointed last year. I just, like I said, I... i It came in waves for me. Um... So hopefully it's not going to be like that this season. being on a different line now.

Speaker: And it's good to, you know. get that band -aid ripped off early for him in the first weekend here.

Speaker: Goal number three came in. No more scoring in the first period. Goal number three came at this. nearly seven -minute mark of of the second period. Yonah Weissenden gets his first of the game, second of the year.

Speaker: um It was just a situation. Ferris couldn't clear the puck. There's some movement behind the net. Binak got it to Kalbach, who just let... gave it to vison and who was able to walk in um top of the right circle and just fired one on net um both white law and cowan were were in front of the net screening the goalie so i again theme this year. I think they've done a really great job crashing the net.

Speaker: Yeah, I mean... um When you compare it to last season, guys would get in front of the net. But you're not seeing what. they're doing now where they're kind of getting one right up in the goalies grill.

Speaker: And then you kind of got one a little bit more toward, you know, kind of parallel with the face -off dots there. And because I had nothing better to do. Thursday while working. or I had but nothing better to listen to or watch, I put...

Speaker: Western hockey games on that are on YouTube still. and Primarily I watched. or listen to the the Denver and the BU game. And at one point, I was kind of watching the Denver series on a lot of these power plays you watched from two years ago.

Speaker: You had Neering and Washi doing the same thing, and and that's how successful they were. We wanted Natty out of it. Um, So it's kind of – It's good for us. that we're We're kind of going back to that blueprint.

Speaker: um with what we have on the ice right now. and um And yeah, I mean... Man, advising. I'm like thinking right now in my head, like as you're like talking about hip scoring.

Speaker: And you mentioned earlier, like, Colby Baker, like. Could he be like our Hal McCarr? For Western, I mean the way and He's not as fast, but like the way he skates, the way he's right now producing offensively.

Speaker: in my car could score goals just as easily as anybody did when he was at UMass back then. You know. We'll see. I mean, man. It's giving me some a car vibes, though.

Speaker: It's good for the penguins, man. they Yeah. For the guy, you know, for the. organization that's holding on to you know, fossils right now in LaTang, Crosby, and Malkin. Sadly, they're still producing.

Speaker: But, man. They got a good one coming up. on the blue line advice it in here if he's produced at this level

Speaker: Fans on the blue line gotta love her. Yeah, man, I'm going to see Cale McCarr tomorrow and night. He can go jump in a forest fire.

Speaker: Well. we We talked about Ferris' next goal. um That made it 3 -1. Third period rolled around. You know, I was getting a little bit a little bit nervous in the third period. just That two goal lead is always the one where you feel a little uneasy.

Speaker: Most seemingly normal sports. I think we've said that for. many years. Oh, yeah, the amount of times you see that two -goal lead. disappear very quickly. But at about the 10 -minute mark, Zach Nearing.

Speaker: he He scored, it started with a block shot by Zach Sharp. um White Law was able to put one on net. to get an offensive zone faceoff. And then Lafreniere won the draw back to Luke, who passed it over to Wahlberg. um Nearing was in front of the net. and and ended up scoring off the deflection so um Again, great work by that group to to get that goal.

Speaker: So I'm... I remember he listening to the radio and they said New York, but like. Earlier today, I went back to look at the statute. They gave it to Hendrix. So...

Speaker: It's like. Did they really? Yeah. So, I mean, well, they're they're both six foot five, so I don't know if there's confusion there, but. Um... it That doesn't for me. For me, it doesn't matter if Hendrix or Nearing got it because my reaction is the same as.

Speaker: Oop. This is where they're going to get their production and their and their goals primarily this season. in in these fashion, so um it's It's good that they got that one early for them, whether it was Hendricks or Neering, I don't know.

Speaker: Uh... again like And I doubt if we can go back to the camera, we'll be able to figure it out based on what Tony has told us. um So I'm going to give it to 8 and 17. I'll give them a half a goal each so they can share it.

Speaker: Um... they're hat's Good for them. Yeah, but... um i mean I really, truly think that Western this year is going to score a lot of goals. from that area. in that in that front of the goal like that, whether it's going to be tip -ins or just greasy rebounds.

Speaker: Wow. Like that's where a lot of our production, I feel like it's going to come. We're not going to be just true. snipers out here. Or like, you know, the last couple of years with Valente just haven't. Bombs from the slot and the power play.

Speaker: Or relying on white law to just outrace everybody for breakaways. That's not going to be. our blueprint i feel like to be successful this year our our main calling card will be these greasy goals in front of net getting in front of the goalie and making it difficult for him to make saves.

Speaker: And it's good to see how successful it was this this weekend.

Speaker: And then we would tap tap tack on the fifth goal. um Just under two minutes left in the game. Benach kind of whipped one around the boards. um Cohen freed it in a battle in the corner, and then Whitelaw just kind of wheeled around the net.

Speaker: yeah Beyond the face -off dots in the middle of the ice and whipped one on net, it went in. um Cohen and Banach were kind of crossing in front of the net on on that goal. So, um again. it's I'm glad to see they're getting getting guys in front of the goalie and making their lives.

Speaker: little bit difficult. It just when I watch that goal, I just like. I feel like Whitelaw did did that a couple times last year, just like... Just like, it almost looked like he just like, all right, I'm just going to throw it. Just see what happens. Like, not like.

Speaker: Trying to aim, not even trying and really necessarily get it on that. And it just. happened The reaction was just like kind of funny. It was like... You know, because like when he scores, you know, he'll jump in the boards and big time Sully.

Speaker: This one it was just like, oh, my God, this went at. like you know it was kind of like a what you know For me, it's almost like I want to coin it as like a... Typical white law. uh greasy goal even though it really wasn't that greasy it was just like man like What are the odds? Like you're just going to flag one. It's just going to find the net, but whatever. I mean,

Speaker: White Lodge. is a scoring machine. and from last season, so let's just... However it's going to happen, I don't care. what Get the puck in the net. Good for him.

Speaker: Well, in this one, 10 different Broncos found found the the score sheet. um Power play was one for seven on the night. Uh, Penalty kill went went two for three.

Speaker: uh we're 60 in the face off dots and and quentin miller made 21 saves so Again. another really good night and yeah Wally like you said you know you thought that game could have gotten a little bit chippy um I thought they did a great job.

Speaker: um went into what used to be at least a difficult barn to play in and and came back with a pretty decisive five. 5 -1. Victory. Yeah, I mean The thing that we haven't talked about too is like, so like there was a lineup change in that Friday game. Talbeck got the nod.

Speaker: uh angle was out i wasn't surprised by that again like i just angle didn't have a The sharpest game Thursday. So, you know, first of all, he's going to. is going to rotate guys until he...

Speaker: believes that Someone's playing consistently. the Western way. um So, I mean... There'll be opportunities for angle, I think, to get back in. Cause like, again, I.

Speaker: Callback did get on the score sheet. I think he had an assist on one of the goals, if I'm not mistaken. so Um... and callback played on this team last year. I mean, granted it was for half the season, but so like he, he's already been in the system a lot longer than angle. so um you You're not. really overly surprised that he ended up getting the nod here over angle after this point.

Speaker: um My biggest question, though, after. Thursday's game and it got answered, obviously. Friday. at the first puck drop was. was first of all, they're going to roll Miller back to back. at least in this first series, or was he going to give Moffitt... Um, The Friday game just.

Speaker: Because... Good. Ferris' caliber over the last... season or so and and going into this season. um you know, where we get to see more of that. Tamro Hammer.

Speaker: until we get to the playoffs, or are we going to see Hammer? all day long, like we did last year. We saw Miller all day long. this so um You know, that question definitely got answered. I mean. Miller's healthy. um clearly and First of all, I obviously trust him.

Speaker: to get the job done. both uh this in this perspective Thursday and Friday, but Friday and Saturday moving forward. so That was really my biggest question. of the day And then like the only thing I really i want to say, too, is, you know, people might say one for seven on the power play.

Speaker: Hey, that power play, though, Friday, if you listen to the radio or were able to watch the game. That puck was moving nonstop. um you know It wasn't like they were just getting one shot. It was being dumped, and we're and we trying to get it back in. They were moving the puck well.

Speaker: That power plate will... see more goals throughout the season. so you know Again, it's the first weekend, so I don't think anybody is sounding the alarmer. or anything like that, but if someone is.

Speaker: You know, we got a long season ahead of us. That power play is going to get better and better each week. Yeah. Well, moving on to next week, um we we take on Notre Dame, and another so old CCHA foe.

Speaker: Um, It is a home and home. So Friday, Saturday night. Friday night we'll be at Lawson Arena. That game will be on NCHC TV Saturday night. um will be um at Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend.

Speaker: That game will be on Peacock. so talk about good streaming places at least people actually have peacock as a streaming service I accidentally stumbled upon. and the camera quality will be significantly better.

Speaker: Yeah, I mean, it can't be worse than what? the high school broadcast that Ferris was breaking out there. um But just Notre Dame last weekend played Niagara. they they got They got a sweep.

Speaker: um What I... Doing a little bit of research on it, what I found kind of interesting. So they scored seven times. Zero of their goals were even strength. They had, I think.

Speaker: Three empty netters. Three shorthanded goals and a power play goal. Yeah, you heard that right. Three shorthanded goals. Hmm. And then interesting Thursday night.

Speaker: Yeah, fascinating, right? Thursday night. They were one for two on the power play. According to their stat sheet on their website, they only had one shot on the power play. Jesus.

Speaker: Interesting. So it looks like they had more shots on the penalty kill than they did on the power play. Help. Yeah, I mean, like Notre Dame's trying to retool that. Team. I know they're trying to retool a little bit after some down years, new coach, new staff, new system. but I don't think you... Draw that off. That's impressive. I'm i'm more surprised that I am like.

Speaker: Anything, really. Wow. Yeah, I mean, this post Jeff Jackson world that they're living in, they're just. Trying to find. their footing again. I mean, Notre Dame is...

Speaker: historically have had a great program. going back many, many years before before we were alive. Um... And then Jeff Jackson, we know. uh just A lot of love. biggest pillars in college hockey overall.

Speaker: And a huge part in that Notre Dame success. Yep, there it is. doesn't move didn't move off that glass uh even for a time out You better be listening.

Speaker: He's one of my favorite coaches just for that aspect. guy that am he didn't move a muscle for 60 minutes. um Yeah, I mean, I was.

Speaker: No, it's Bob Daniels. oh Bob Daniels. Did we see Jeff Jackson somewhere? Maybe I may have. All runs together. Yeah. I was able to catch part of that game Friday on NBC or NBC Sports, whatever it's called these days. of while I was flipping through channels and Um,

Speaker: You know. It's hard to get a read. incomp compete they They look better. And last season, for sure. Um, do i think they're they're your typical notre dame hockey what we expect but like When we were in the old CCHA, they were always contenders.

Speaker: I just don't. know if they're there yet uh i mean again it's still early in the season so who knows um And I'm not trying to downplay Niagara at all. I think Niagara's head.

Speaker: some good seasons over the last few years, but. As far as the caliber. You know, I think. It's not. the highest when it you're comparing Big Ten hockey or NCHC hockey.

Speaker: uh You know mainly um Again, I think Western just needs to stick to what they know. I mean, what if they do what they did against Ferris, they're going to be successful.

Speaker: um Staying out of the box. But, you know, if we're in the box killing those penalties, again, just getting opportunities on the offense, forward checking like we know how to forward check. which creates that. that overall puck possession and offensive opportunities.

Speaker: um Try to take much off Quint Miller as possible. We know we got a stud back there that can stand on his head. but We don't need them to do it. All day long, you know you know, we got guys that can.

Speaker: get in front of the puck and block shots. And like I guess said, forecheck and backcheck. get us out of our zone, get in the Notre Dame zone there. so And again, just getting pucks on that. uh We're going to have guys screening their goalie nonstop. so Again, they do everything they did this past weekend, next weekend. They're going to be successful. We're going to walk out.

Speaker: Uh, two W's from Notre Dame.

Speaker: And just a little fun tidbit, the last three times we played them, we have been victorious 4 -0.

Speaker: Consistency consistency i do they They did bring a back a lot of guys from last year, brought back 17 returning players, brought back their goalie. Brought back some of their leading scorers. So it looks like last year um Evan Werner had 34 points. He was their leading scorer. I think he scored twice on on Friday night.

Speaker: um

Speaker: Nicholas Kempf is their goalie. he had ah He had a solid weekend for them. as well so they've got some good players in there they also brought in five transfers, four of whom We're from the NCHC.

Speaker: Tony, we might have lost your mic there.

Speaker: David Klee came in from... a Yep. David Klee came in from North Dakota. He played 24 games for. For the Sioux last year, Hagen Burroughs. Played the last two years at DU.

Speaker: um Had 16 points last year. Michael Quinn spent the last two years at Miami. um He was productive when he was there. Leo Gruba played the last two years at Minnesota. So it's not like you're getting guys that.

Speaker: you know didn't play any any minutes these were contributors on on some decent teams. So um it'll be interesting to see how Notre Dame does. this season.

Speaker: Yeah. But shifting gears a little bit. or go ahead Well, I was just going to say real briefly, too, like, you know, we we talk about they're in a post Jeff Jackson world, but really, I don't think they are because.

Speaker: their head coach being Brock Sheehan. played for Jeff Jackson at Notre Dame. so Ultimately, I think. We're going to see. the same probably systems and uh production it's just getting the right pieces for notre dame to be successful especially ah for them contending in the Big Ten this year. um So yeah, but I think Western's just... on paper right now and statistically the better team.

Speaker: Um, and Again. They do the right things, the little things. um like they did at Ferris, we're going to be victorious. but Friday and Saturday. Lawson and Compton.

Speaker: So moving on this week. um Everybody in the NCHC is in action. Uh, Saint Cloud. We'll travel to Boston College. Uh, Miami has a home and home against Robert Morris.

Speaker: Omaha has a home and home against Augustana. um CC is at UConn. ASU is at Lowell. North Dakota's home for Bentley. UMD has a home and home. with the Gophers.

Speaker: And the big matchup of the weekend. The University of Denver. hosts the University of Michigan, number one versus number two in the USCHL poll. Should be a lot of fun. If you're lucky like us to have NCHC TV, you can watch those games.

Speaker: Don't just stumble around to find it. You know where it's at. I mean... Here's where Brian's knowledge is really going to come into play here. Is Robert Morris really close enough for them to be a home and hope? Yeah, Army's in sub suburban Pittsburgh.

Speaker: So. Just right across. Because I was 70. You know more than you think you do. It's not the school that used to be in Chicago. I almost said that. like d Here we are.

Speaker: ah Yeah, I mean... the you guys You guys have all met my friend Darby, I think. um she was She was in the wedding. Brian, you walked with Darby in the wedding. I did. darby Darby went to rmu or Robert Morris in...

Speaker: in in chicago and she played she was a she was a keeper on the women's soccer team well they're there look She was also a college lacrosse player and had never played lacrosse in her life. so um The lacrosse team.

Speaker: was like, hey, we need another player. you you play soccer. So you're at least the right build for lacrosse. So she was a college lacrosse player. And I think she was on the practice squad for their basketball team too. I'd stop. Wow. So she, the reason that school closed or.

Speaker: No. Was she also like that? Well, she also has to be the head hor baseball coach. and dick Was she the dean of admissions? It seems like any any position that was up to you, she took over.

Speaker: Yeah. um I did not anticipate getting Robert Moore's Chicago talk. in in No, I did. Only here is you're going to find it. Oh. man.

Speaker: Well, any anything else you guys got for this week? I'm excited. Weak. I'm sorry, well i go ahead. No, you go ahead Brian Now, let's say, you know, we got one kind of full weekend of college hockey. It's kind of, okay, like...

Speaker: I think you or guys were saying it pretty well. Just kind of shake the rust off, get the sea legs back. It's like, okay. Now, okay, we've seen the one, and I like seeing these non -conference games. um even at contract level It's nice to see, like... even though Bemidji is pretty close to North Dakota.

Speaker: It's good to see that. I like the home and homes, you know. Especially when you know that you can do a home -and -home with Miami. and and Bobby Moe. Pennsylvania version, not Illinois version. I'm just looking forward to like getting back into the...

Speaker: Back into the flow of things. Got a full weekend now. You guys remember those? weekends in college we have the Pocky and Friday night. Most of us go to the football game Saturday, and then, all right, let's go back in line and wait for the Saturday night.

Speaker: game to either face off at Lawson or... plug someone's computer into the TV and make it work. So good to have the full weekend back. It's going to have like a normal, and we're kind of getting back to like fall normalcy.

Speaker: So. Looking forward to it. Time marches on.

Speaker: yeah I'm excited to see what ah how the weekend goes and especially that DU mission game. ah Keep my eye on that one a little bit. um throughout the weekend. but Yeah, I mean, to Brian's point, it's cool to see these non -conference because this place is not better than football.

Speaker: ah You know, we get non -conference. It's not like we're playing some slack division, you know, three team or whatever, or some high school. Prodigy. Playing Alabama, so.

Speaker: at least it's better for college hockey in this sense. So, and some of it's old school rivalries, which is always cool to see get relived a little bit. so Yeah, I'm just excited for Friday and Saturday. get Notre Dame.

Speaker: Get another two W's here.

Speaker: Yeah, let's get two W's there and let's bring the cannon back home. Let's keep it in Kalamazoo. Yeah, come on, Lance Taylor. Got to do it. its All righty, boys. Great episode. I'm looking forward to.

Speaker: um Talking to you guys again next week after hopefully. A few victories. here's Doves up, boys. See you guys.