MSU did not play well at all this weekend. But, I wouldn't say they are "struggling big time" All of thier loses have been to very credible teams. It's not like they have lost to a team of pylons. Who else in MACHA has beat Iowa State D1 and Florida Gulf Coast? MSU is still the team to beat in MACHA.
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Marquette 6 Mckendree 5 or,Marquette 5 McKendree 5.They where tied at the end of regulation,does anyone know the MACHA rule on this? Marquette scored the only goal in shoot out.
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MSU is struggling. They are not creating traffic infront of the net, something Lindenwood and FGCU did. They can't get the powerplay set up, and there are too many individual players playing at the moment. You know when a team is struggling when two of their better defense start playing/acting as forwards. The front line is not producing like they should. Goaltender Mike Poepping can't do it all.
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Earlier in this post it was pointed to that MSU beat ISU D1 and FGCU. Good wins but even in the first third of the season those wins have been outweighed by three losses at Showcase and now the Lindenwood sweep. No doubt MO State is a good team, are they the team to beat in the MACHA? Not to sure about that. SIUE off to a good start splitting with Mizzou and look to Kansas, they seem to be able to play with the best of them. MO State should try to regain their confidence at practice this week and play like that know they can play, not like they say they can play. There are bias fans in every ACHA city and I'm sure that I will awaken them with my comments. Support your teams and lets hear from you but please, logically, look at performance from this season and get your expectations in line. Don't let the win at Ames fool you or make you think that you can mail in the season.
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I think MSU can use an attitude adjustment. These loses this early are probably a good thing. Some things I think they need to concentrate on.
The breakout: way too many turnovers trying to get the puck out of thier end of the ice. Trying to force too many passes through the middle that get picked off. If the D don't have an outlet pass they can skate it out but they don't have to go coast to coast every time. Dump it and let the forwards do thier job.
Power play: see above. They really struggle getting the puck out of thier own end on the power play. Once they get the puck in the offensive zone they do an ok job of setting up some quality shots. The big guy needs to create more havoc in front of the net. Too many times the goalie has a clear view of the shot coming from the point.
Forwards without the puck need to get up into the play, too much sitting back and watching. Forward carring the puck needs to take it wide to set up a play. Everytime it's a one on two the forward tries to skate right up the middle. This doesn't work! Take it wide set up a play.
These are just some of my observations. They need to play as a team, individual's don't win hockey games teams win games.
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Not sure what is going on at Bradley. Short bench and not the same level of play as last year. MSU beat them twice last year but both games were very close (Bradley connections claimed that Bradley was the much better team but got beat by some really good MSU goaltending.) This years matches were not even close in spite of some very good Bradley goaltending. MSU outshot them 2-1 and outscored them for the weekend 12-5.
(At least one MSU team is playing well right now!)
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I completely disagree with this post.. I didn't think Iowa or Kansas played very well.. Iowa was missing their head coach for both games and it showed. They looked undisciplined and like none of their players wanted to be there. Kansas looked like the exact same team as last year.. One good line, one good defensemen, and the rest of the team is average at best.. If Iowa or Kansas plays the way they played this past weekend against Mizzou, SIUE, or MSU they will get swept.. that simple.
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The way MSU played this weekend is really nothing new - you can get lucky only so many times, and it appears their luck has run out. Teams will no longer be intimidated playing them (as if they were before). The win against FG came after a FG played a number of games on the road in a limited time frame. Perhaps, FG was simply tired.
This team has never played disciplined hockey, never. Too many stupid penalties, too much individual play - watch how they like to skate all the way from their end to the other with the puck, even though other players are open. Heck, even Squirts know you can pass quicker than you can skate.
Can't wait to hear WSR's excuses.
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I think a little fairness is due here. They were missing key players from their top lines. Perhaps a little chemistry is missing and will be formed when these kids get a chance to practice together.
Plus, their coach is making a huge sacrifice to coach these kids but is at a distinct disadvantage by not being able to run practices. I can't even imagine trying to coach a team without the benefit of running the practices. In my opinion that's where coaching and strategies are set. I'm not saying it can't be done but it will certainly take some time to put his stamp on the team. I say give them more time, lots of games to go.
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If the asst. coaches can run the practices why can't one of them run the bench during the games. At least then there would be some continuity. As a player you may not respect a coach as much that is never at practices. I am not saying anything bad about that coach at all, he may be great for all I know.
Where are all the Benjamin bashers at now? I thought once he was gone we were going to see the second coming at Missouri State. (I feel he was great for that program and so do many others) Sure doesn't seem to be a "different breed of bear" at this point.
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I'm not big on using the old saying "I told you so". I think we should chalk it up to what happens to so many ACHA programs. Players, parents and fans don't appreciate the work of a full time coach until they lose or replace that coach and bear the complete responsibility of their programs. Many players and participants think "how hard can running this team be, I mean I was involved in hockey my whole life". What they don't see and probably have never seen is all the work that was once spread out amongst a large group of volunteers in a youth hockey or high school organization that's now done all by one coach with little help from a university.
So to the past coaches that have donated countless hours running teams, representing their institutions, spending time away from their families and friends, giving unselfishly, no matter to what degree of success, hats off to you.
And to current coaches, stay committed but don't waste your personal time if at a minimum it's not appreciated.
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You wrote: "I'm not big on using the old saying "I told you so". I think we should chalk it up to what happens to so many ACHA programs. Players, parents and fans don't appreciate the work of a full time coach until they lose or replace that coach and bear the complete responsibility of their programs. Many players and participants think "how hard can running this team be, I mean I was involved in hockey my whole life". What they don't see and probably have never seen is all the work that was once spread out amongst a large group of volunteers in a youth hockey or high school organization that's now done all by one coach with little help from a university. So to the past coaches that have donated countless hours running teams, representing their institutions, spending time away from their families and friends, giving unselfishly, no matter to what degree of success, hats off to you."
Although I agree with much of what you said, it probably relates more to changes in the SIU-E program than at MSU. I believe that Larry Thatcher carried a huge load there. The head coaches at MSU are supported first by their incredibly dedicated GM Stan Melton who even has an assistant GM to share the administrative burden. I think it was very unfair for the MSU program to be put in this position by their head coach quiting on the cusp of the season but as they say "it is what it is" and they certainly have enough talent to be successful but it may take a while for things to gel.
I say let let someone from MACHA beat them before we get too carried away with this sky is falling rhetoric.
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