There’s been plenty of talk about hockey coaches from Michigan Tech in the early days of the new decade. The exciting news of former Husky player Davis Payne landing behind the St. Louis Blues bench was tempered by the sad news that Amo Bessone – who coached the Huskies for three seasons before becoming a legend at Michigan State – had passed. And in some circles, there have been no shortage of discouraging words written about the Huskies’ current coach too.
If you are a fan frustrated by Michigan Tech’s recently-concluded 12-game losing streak, and you were thinking of buying the web address www.firejamierussell.com to send their coach a message, you needn’t bother. The Huskies’ head man lives and works in one of college hockey’s smaller and more hockey-knowledgeable communities, and he’s heard the grumbling firsthand. None of it is enough to get him dwelling on past struggles instead of focusing on future promise.
Yes, there are message boards and anonymous folks posting unkind words, calling for the seventh-year coach’s head. He doesn’t care.
“I don’t read a lot of credibility into that,” Russell said. “Who knows who any of these people are and if they have any hockey knowledge at all. To get bothered about the comments of someone who won’t even put their name to them is just a waste of my time.”
But Russell admits in the close-knit communities of Houghton and Hancock, he’s heard grumbling up close, and his boss, athletic director Suzanne Sanregret has felt some pressure.
“Nobody feels worse about that than me,” Russell said. Still, if you think he wants to get out of town to flee the heat of fans’ frustrations, you apparently haven’t glanced at Tech’s schedule.
No, the Huskies did not come out for their 1-1 home tie with Northern Michigan this week wearing their road sweaters. Although out of past habit, they might have expected to do so. Tuesday’s game was just their third time on home ice since Nov. 13, which, incidentally, was the date of their last win.
Brett Olson leads Michigan Tech in goals and points.
But with eight of their next 10 games at McInnes Student Ice Arena, and some encouraging signs that there is hope for this young team, there’s definite hope in the Huskies’ attitudes.
“We’re excited to have a chance to play some games at home, and we could use it right now,” said sophomore center Brett Olson, who leads the team in goals (9) and points (18). “Sitting in hotel rooms got a little old. It’s nice not to have to order room service.”
As was expected, Olson and senior Malcolm Gwilliam, have led the way offensively. What was not expected was the doldrums Jordan Baker has been mired in all season. After leading Tech with 27 points a year ago, Baker has just seven points in his junior season. Russell described a 2-on-1 break versus Northern Michigan where Baker was fed a beautiful pass for a shot at a yawning net, and promptly clanked the goalpost, indicative of the way he’s been snake bitten in 2009-10.
“He’s handled it pretty well,” said Olson of Baker’s offensive slump. “Jordan seems like he’s finding a groove and getting some nice chances. He’s definitely starting to get out of it.”
As for getting the team out of its two-month funk, the hard-driving Russell says one key has been keeping things fun, focusing on the positives and making sure the Huskies still have fun when they come to the rink. Ever the optimist, he points to the recent return to the lineup of junior forward Eric Kattelus, who was suspended for the first half of the season, as sign of good things to come. A bigger concern than the offense has been in goal, where neither sophomore Josh Robinson nor freshman Eric Genoe sports a saves percentage above .900.
In team video sessions, Russell and his assistants have focused on positives, pointing out good plays no matter what the final score has been. Olson says you can see from the numbers which show Tech taking 30 shots or more on goal in their past two games that pucks are getting though to the net, and they’re learning to play more puck possession hockey in the offensive zone – signs that good things may be building, and a second consecutive finish in the WCHA’s basement is not a foregone conclusion.
“We definitely have a hill to climb, but for us it’s a new start,” Olson said, anticipating the weekend home series with Alaska Anchorage. “We’re definitely looking forward to this weekend and the next few weeks.”
CLOSE-KNIT BUNCH IN WCHA
One of the more interesting stats we saw this week noted that of the 83 games played between WCHA teams thus far, 50 of them have been decided by two goals or fewer. There have been 33 games with a three-plus goal differential, 11 two-goal games, 27 one-goal games and a dozen ties.
HUSKY POND HOPPING
While Michigan Tech coaches and players are glad to be home for a few weeks, they’re looking forward to one upcoming extended road trip. The Huskies recently announced plans for a 10-day, five-game trip to Germany and Austria this coming August.
The itinerary has them arriving in Munich on Aug. 13 and playing five games versus German and Austrian professional teams, before returning to Michigan on Aug. 21. Under NCAA rules, which allow teams to take one overseas trip every four years, the team is allowed to take academically eligible current players – no incoming freshmen or players who have signed a professional contract.
Tech assistant coach Pat Mikesch played professionally in the Deutsche Elite League for five years and helped arrange the trip thanks to his close ties to several German teams. He has been working with another former Husky, Jay Luknowsky, who is a player agent in Europe.
Private donations are funding the entire trip, including a sizeable contribution from Jordan Baker’s father, David.
