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Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
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Lunatic Offline
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Post: #1
Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
Perhaps it was always going to be a building year. No one ever feels great about these things -- sub-.500, picked to finish 7th in the NCHC pre-season poll -- we simply met expectations when we hoped to exceed them. In fact, Bronco Hockey did exceed expectations in a few key areas, and our future is bright, especially for next season.

This team took more risks in the latter half of this season, with more possession entries into the zone, more d-men jumping into the attack, and more broken plays and odd-man rushes on both sides of the puck to show for it. The gambles were beautiful, sometimes chaotic, and they'll serve us well in the long run. Especially when we review film in the offseason and assess what worked.

Working through the summers will also serve us well in the long run, so I'm pleased to hear that we're one of the few schools to offer this perk. Let's put it in the recruiting brochure and hope it weeds out the unmotivated. Cardio-wise, I personally wouldn't be pushing the pace too hard in these summer practices until maybe August, and would instead use them to develop hands, muscle, speed, agility, and to have some fun with. Put it in the literature; This is how we do it here in K-zoo.

McKee's made a ton of progress this season and is a new man out there, especially in terms of skating, hands, and awareness. When he finally gets paired with Danny in Detroit he'll probably look back on this season as being the most difficult of his career. He's been called upon and challenged in ways that DeKeyser and Witkowski never were and has risen admirably.

Commitment to our program and time will tell us if going to the best conference in the country was the right call. FYI, it definitely was. In a down year during spring break, we packed Lawson well tonight and were treated to a solid victory over the #6 team in the country. What a great farewell for our seniors' last game here. The lion's share of our talent returns next year, along with high expectations.

I'll double down on Murray.
03-08-2015 01:05 AM
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Ubish Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
Great post, well said
03-08-2015 08:17 AM
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DudeReally Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
(03-09-2015 10:50 AM)DudeReally Wrote:  Working through the summers will also serve us well in the long run, so I'm pleased to hear that we're one of the few schools to offer this perk. Let's put it in the recruiting brochure and hope it weeds out the unmotivated. Cardio-wise, I personally wouldn't be pushing the pace too hard in these summer practices until maybe August, and would instead use them to develop hands, muscle, speed, agility, and to have some fun with. Put it in the literature; This is how we do it here in K-zoo.

McKee's made a ton of progress this season and is a new man out there, especially in terms of skating, hands, and awareness. When he finally gets paired with Danny in Detroit he'll probably look back on this season as being the most difficult of his career. He's been called upon and challenged in ways that DeKeyser and Witkowski never were and has risen admirably.

Commitment to our program and time will tell us if going to the best conference in the country was the right call. FYI, it definitely was. In a down year during spring break, we packed Lawson well tonight and were treated to a solid victory over the #6 team in the country. What a great farewell for our seniors' last game here. The lion's share of our talent returns next year, along with high expectations.

I'll double down on Murray.

Agree with your assesment of Saturday night. Awesome win for the Seniors, and for added confidence going into the playoffs.

Also 100% agree about Big Mike. Great improvement over last year!

Still disagree with the summer workout program. Give the kids a break. Give them time to get away from it, see thier family and friends, get a break from the micro-managing coach. Even the NHL'ers get a break. Now, that does't mean the players should sit on the couch and play Xbox all day and drink beer. Give them a written workout plan and clear expectations on what is expected. If they can't or won't meet the expectation, then sit them or get rid of them! They need to come in ready to go. Maybe take May and June off, come in after July 4th and get ready for next year.
03-09-2015 11:05 AM
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Bronco nut Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
(03-09-2015 11:05 AM)DudeReally Wrote:  
(03-09-2015 10:50 AM)DudeReally Wrote:  Working through the summers will also serve us well in the long run, so I'm pleased to hear that we're one of the few schools to offer this perk. Let's put it in the recruiting brochure and hope it weeds out the unmotivated. Cardio-wise, I personally wouldn't be pushing the pace too hard in these summer practices until maybe August, and would instead use them to develop hands, muscle, speed, agility, and to have some fun with. Put it in the literature; This is how we do it here in K-zoo.

McKee's made a ton of progress this season and is a new man out there, especially in terms of skating, hands, and awareness. When he finally gets paired with Danny in Detroit he'll probably look back on this season as being the most difficult of his career. He's been called upon and challenged in ways that DeKeyser and Witkowski never were and has risen admirably.

Commitment to our program and time will tell us if going to the best conference in the country was the right call. FYI, it definitely was. In a down year during spring break, we packed Lawson well tonight and were treated to a solid victory over the #6 team in the country. What a great farewell for our seniors' last game here. The lion's share of our talent returns next year, along with high expectations.

I'll double down on Murray.

Agree with your assesment of Saturday night. Awesome win for the Seniors, and for added confidence going into the playoffs.

Also 100% agree about Big Mike. Great improvement over last year!

Still disagree with the summer workout program. Give the kids a break. Give them time to get away from it, see thier family and friends, get a break from the micro-managing coach. Even the NHL'ers get a break. Now, that does't mean the players should sit on the couch and play Xbox all day and drink beer. Give them a written workout plan and clear expectations on what is expected. If they can't or won't meet the expectation, then sit them or get rid of them! They need to come in ready to go. Maybe take May and June off, come in after July 4th and get ready for next year.

Dude you are correct,I have talked to several players and they are burnt out by the end of the year because of the year round training.
03-09-2015 08:50 PM
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brovol Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
I know you will think I am a negative Nanny, but I don’t feel good about the program right now. When the preseason conference predictions come out before the start of next season, I doubt we will be projected in the top half, and perhaps very low. I know those projections mean nothing, but they are an assessment by people who follow and understand college hockey. Those assessments are as valuable as ours anyway.
Regardless, we don’t seem to be able to put together a real solid stretch of wins over the past few years. I think the quality of competition, along with a lot of travel, has a lot to do with that, but those factors won’t change. I can say this; another losing season will be tough to digest as a program; particularly in this conference. We are looking up at the Nebraska-Omaha’s, Bowling Green's, Ferris St’s, Michigan Tech’s, and Minnesota States of the world right now. Who would have thunk it three years ago?
(This post was last modified: 03-10-2015 11:49 AM by brovol.)
03-10-2015 11:47 AM
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The Colonel Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
(03-10-2015 11:47 AM)brovol Wrote:  We are looking up at the Nebraska-Omaha’s, Bowling Green's, Ferris St’s, Michigan Tech’s, and Minnesota States of the world right now. Who would have thunk it three years ago?

If you take the long-term recent past into consideration - say, the past 10-15 years - you could argue we've been looking up at just about every other CCHA program over that span.

We've been looking up at Omaha for a while now and up at St. Cloud State for the past two seasons. How we fare against both (along with CC and Duluth) over the next few seasons will be a good barometer for us.

Ferris is sub-.500 this year - we're certainly not looking up at them right this minute. Michigan Tech and BG are having good seasons this year for the first time in ages (BG, though, isn't even a lock yet for the NCAAs). I'd prefer to see how all of these programs do over the next few seasons before crowning them. Other than the fact that they're the WCHA Flavor of the Week, I don't see a connection between ourselves and Minnesota State.
03-10-2015 03:25 PM
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BroncoFever Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
(03-10-2015 11:47 AM)brovol Wrote:  I know you will think I am a negative Nanny, but I don’t feel good about the program right now. When the preseason conference predictions come out before the start of next season, I doubt we will be projected in the top half, and perhaps very low. I know those projections mean nothing, but they are an assessment by people who follow and understand college hockey. Those assessments are as valuable as ours anyway.
Regardless, we don’t seem to be able to put together a real solid stretch of wins over the past few years. I think the quality of competition, along with a lot of travel, has a lot to do with that, but those factors won’t change. I can say this; another losing season will be tough to digest as a program; particularly in this conference. We are looking up at the Nebraska-Omaha’s, Bowling Green's, Ferris St’s, Michigan Tech’s, and Minnesota States of the world right now. Who would have thunk it three years ago?

Brovol

You just can't see past the nose on your face, can you? Or in this particular case, our win/loss record...

I suppose you would be the pied-piper for the program if they were competing in the Atlantic and racking up all kind of wins vs the sister of the poor.

Hope to see you in South Bend later this month....
(This post was last modified: 03-10-2015 07:49 PM by BroncoFever.)
03-10-2015 06:43 PM
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brovol Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
(03-10-2015 06:43 PM)BroncoFever Wrote:  
(03-10-2015 11:47 AM)brovol Wrote:  I know you will think I am a negative Nanny, but I don’t feel good about the program right now. When the preseason conference predictions come out before the start of next season, I doubt we will be projected in the top half, and perhaps very low. I know those projections mean nothing, but they are an assessment by people who follow and understand college hockey. Those assessments are as valuable as ours anyway.
Regardless, we don’t seem to be able to put together a real solid stretch of wins over the past few years. I think the quality of competition, along with a lot of travel, has a lot to do with that, but those factors won’t change. I can say this; another losing season will be tough to digest as a program; particularly in this conference. We are looking up at the Nebraska-Omaha’s, Bowling Green's, Ferris St’s, Michigan Tech’s, and Minnesota States of the world right now. Who would have thunk it three years ago?

Brovol

You just can't see past the nose on your face, can you? Or in this particular case, our win/loss record...

I suppose you would be the pied-piper for the program if they were competing in the Atlantic and racking up all kind of wins vs the sister of the poor.

Hope to see you in South Bend later this month....
Fever,

On the contrary; my position has not changed at all since the debate over which league we should join began, after it was understood that the ccha was done. Look back and check my posts. Our program was strong then, with upward momentum to boot. I predicted that we as a program would struggle over the course of time, because of the quality of the programs in the nchc, and because of the broad geographical footprint of the league, with very few regional league games. My clarvoiance was longer term, not short.

You keep telling everyone how great our program is doing, and that next year we will even be better. Didn't you say the same thing at the end of last season?

Hey; we are all cheerleaders for the broncos. You will be hard pressed to find a more pationate alum than the one you are debating right now. But that does not mean we need to put blinders on either. I think the nchc is a bad fit for wmu. That's my opinion, and I have explained why. If the points I make interfere with your pom pom rally, well I apologize.
03-11-2015 05:41 AM
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Chipdip2 Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
I'm not a hockey guy, but I tend to agree with Brav.

I don't see this affiliation ever panning out. Nor do I see Big Ten Hockey ever having the same appeal as the CCHA unless more Pig10 schools add hockey.

I'd like to see Minn. Duluth, BG, MI TECH, FERRIS, MIAMI, WMU, NMU, LSS, and possibly get CMU and GVSU to add programs. Ten team bus league with regional ties. Fan base could travel. Build a streaming network, SEREVE BEER, hold the league tourney in GR.
03-11-2015 10:05 AM
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brovol Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
(03-11-2015 10:05 AM)Chipdip2 Wrote:  I'm not a hockey guy, but I tend to agree with Brav.

I don't see this affiliation ever panning out. Nor do I see Big Ten Hockey ever having the same appeal as the CCHA unless more Pig10 schools add hockey.

I'd like to see Minn. Duluth, BG, MI TECH, FERRIS, MIAMI, WMU, NMU, LSS, and possibly get CMU and GVSU to add programs. Ten team bus league with regional ties. Fan base could travel. Build a streaming network, SEREVE BEER, hold the league tourney in GR.

I endorse!
03-11-2015 06:31 PM
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MileHighBronco Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
Here's a hypothetical. Bear with me - I know it is not plausible but for illustrations sake.....

Let's say WMU got an offer to take our athletic programs and join a P5 conference. Our football coach, fans and administration want us to be able to compete at the highest level.

Would we argue to stay in the MAC? Because it might be too hard to build to a competitive level in a P5 conference? Because we might lose games?

That is the argument I hear here. There is NO WAY that Miami or Minnesota-Duluth would want to join a bus league of Michigan teams. They are currently playing in a premier conference, and have aspirations of a national title. As does our program. You do not get better by playing weaker competition.

If we want to compete with the best for a national title, it would be good to be used to that level of competition, week in and week out. That is WHERE we are currently. Nobody said it would be easy. There IS NO easy button in sports, otherwise everybody would be a champion.

Why is BG hoping to get into the NCHC? Because of those facts. We're in a league with some of the top HOCKEY SCHOOLS in the nation.

Going to the WCHA or starting another league would be the equivalent of 'scheduling down.'
03-11-2015 07:59 PM
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bronconick Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
Terry Pegula killed our old conference. It's gone.

Your choice are 3 UP Michigan schools and Ferris, Alabama, Alaska x2, an Ohio MAC team and a Minnesota team, or a Nebraska team, 2 Colorado teams, a UND team that travels as well as anyone, 2 Minnesota teams and an Ohio MAC team.

We took the best of the available options.
03-11-2015 11:02 PM
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Ubish Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
In terms of geography, here are the footprints of the WCHA and NCHC


[Image: XHzXWXp.png]

[Image: tNnnASD.png]

I count 1 for sure bus trip (miami), 2 maybe (UMD, UNO) and 5 plane trips in the NCHC

and

3 bus trips (BGSU, Ferris, LSSU), and 2 maybe (Tech and NMU) with 5 plane trips in the WCHA

This isn't all that different, and I'm sure flights into the Alaska cities are more expensive than Denver or Colorado springs.

If Notre dame and BG join the NCHC as speculated, that'd be 3 for sure bus trips in the NCHC and only 2 in the WCHA.

Of course, either conference could add Arizona state and mess this up even more but we will see what happens with that.
(This post was last modified: 03-12-2015 12:10 AM by Ubish.)
03-12-2015 12:07 AM
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BroncoFever Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
(03-11-2015 07:59 PM)MileHighBronco Wrote:  Going to the WCHA or starting another league would be the equivalent of 'scheduling down.'

04-rock04-rock04-rock04-rock

Note: Non-conference games are soooooo important in the NCHC and like last year, WMU shot themselves in the foot with a loss to Canius and Alaska. 01-lauramac2 Had our Bronco's taken care of business in these two winnable non-conference games, pairwise WMU would be sitting @ #17.

The NCHC will be tough year in/year out and it will be real difficult to have a consistent high win percentage because of it. But, if they (all NCHC teams) take care of business in non-conference play and trade off wins/loses of NCHC games, come tournament time will have a 75 to 88% chance of making it into the NCAA tournament and will be one of the most prepared/battle tested teams in the country
(This post was last modified: 03-12-2015 01:03 PM by BroncoFever.)
03-12-2015 11:18 AM
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bronconick Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
Heck, we play Sparty, Ferris and Notre Dame noncon next year. There's your local games.
03-12-2015 02:34 PM
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The Colonel Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
(03-12-2015 02:34 PM)bronconick Wrote:  Heck, we play Sparty, Ferris and Notre Dame noncon next year. There's your local games.

And BG, too...
03-12-2015 03:00 PM
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BroncoFever Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
(03-12-2015 03:00 PM)The Colonel Wrote:  
(03-12-2015 02:34 PM)bronconick Wrote:  Heck, we play Sparty, Ferris and Notre Dame noncon next year. There's your local games.

And BG, too...

Not a big fan of scheduling both Ferris and BG in the same year, would prefer alternating them every other year.

Need some "road series" vs Atlantic and ECAC

Would also like to see the NDTP on our schedule in some "timely" spots, ie right after the Christmas break, as a tune up game

Not a big fan of the tournaments and would prefer to see non conf series schedule instead, on the road.

No more outdoor games either
(This post was last modified: 03-12-2015 06:58 PM by BroncoFever.)
03-12-2015 06:38 PM
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
Your honor, many of the arguments you make are logical.

One of my main issues with your pessimism is that the microclimate in Kalamazoo is ideal for a great hockey program: We have community support, an increase in interest in hockey at the local level, and a great (and improving) economic landscape. It's also clear that, with the addition of our law and medical schools, demand for high-end entertainment will increase over time.

Our athletic department has shown commitment to an exciting program, and at a good price. In the twitter age of unjustified outrage and megaphones for everyone, I hope that the AD can maintain the fortitude to stand by their correct decisions, and to support their coaching staff no matter who admonishes them on an anonymous sports forum.

The fundamentals for a solid program are in place: good coaches, fan support, and sustainable revenue. Like I said, the only horse I have in this race is Bronco Hockey. The wins will be hard to earn, and they won't come easily, but we'll get them sooner or later.
03-12-2015 11:05 PM
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brovol Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
Well, as I said a couple years ago, time will tell who is right; and I hope my prognostications are inaccurate. Unfortunately, the past two seasons have suggested otherwise. We were very much an upwardly mobile hockey program two or three years ago, with high optimism that we would even be challenging for a national championship by now if we stayed on the same course. I was worried that, despite the great optimism and excitement of being in the new elite conference, the very high level of competition each week, without any patsies, as well as the more difficult travel (which it is regardless of what others may suggest), we would find the sledding much tougher, and real solid won/loss records would be hard to come by. I said this would take its toll. It seems so far what has happened has not been too inconsistent with those predictions.

We shall see what happens next year and beyond. I hope fever is right, and we will be great next year because of all the terrific players we will have. If you all want, I will even hold my breath. I just have never liked the situation, conditions or circumstances of this conference. If it works out and we challenge for championships, then my smile will grow large. If we stagnate though, I may say I told you so again.
03-13-2015 06:54 AM
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BroncoFever Offline
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RE: Damn it Feels Good to be a Bronco
(03-13-2015 06:54 AM)brovol Wrote:  Well, as I said a couple years ago, time will tell who is right; and I hope my prognostications are inaccurate. Unfortunately, the past two seasons have suggested otherwise. We were very much an upwardly mobile hockey program two or three years ago, with high optimism that we would even be challenging for a national championship by now if we stayed on the same course. I was worried that, despite the great optimism and excitement of being in the new elite conference, the very high level of competition each week, without any patsies, as well as the more difficult travel (which it is regardless of what others may suggest), we would find the sledding much tougher, and real solid won/loss records would be hard to come by. I said this would take its toll. It seems so far what has happened has not been too inconsistent with those predictions.

We shall see what happens next year and beyond. I hope fever is right, and we will be great next year because of all the terrific players we will have. If you all want, I will even hold my breath. I just have never liked the situation, conditions or circumstances of this conference. If it works out and we challenge for championships, then my smile will grow large. If we stagnate though, I may say I told you so again.


Playing in the old CCHA, Bronco’s were an upwardly mobile hockey program, challenging for a national title ???

BUT

Playing in the new NCHC, Bronco’s program can't challenge for a national title??

You are clueless Brovol…….
(This post was last modified: 03-13-2015 10:21 AM by BroncoFever.)
03-13-2015 08:25 AM
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