Grand Rapids

[grandindian]

This team has plenty of talent. What they are lacking,only the Wizard of Oz can supply. Heart.

While I agree with the lack of heart comment, I have to say, I don't see the plenty of talent. The players that should stand out won't and the players you want to stand out don't. It pains me to say that because I am all orange and black but I gotta call it like I sees it.

I would agree with you. Serviceable forwards but pretty lean team on defense. Expectations might have been a bit too high from some of the fans.

There has been alot of talk this season about this being a young team and the "what ifs" should they progress in talent and system. I think what we have seen is the failure to make that progress. Harsh but accurate imo.

[hawkenjonny]

Tough one for this THawks fan to understand but looking at some of the younger players in GR system I have to hope that they figure it out. Goes back to the old (but true) idea that talent is not enough and the pieces have to FIT and work together under the leadership on the team both coaches and players. Can't argue with the fact that coulda woulda shoulda isn't going to get it done.

[alcloseshaver]

The good news is that "we are young", the bad news is "we might finish 10-15".

[mnmouth]

Is Rothstien the man to lead this program back to prominence? Haven't heard alot about his role.

[elliott70]

Thu, Jan 8 at Duluth East
Tue, Jan 13 vs. C-E-C
Thu, Jan 15 vs. Hibbing/Chisholm
Fri, Jan 23 at Wayzata
Sat, Jan 24 at White Bear Lake
Sat, Jan 31 at Moorhead
Fri, Feb 6 vs. International Falls
Tue, Feb 10 vs. Duluth Denfeld

Currently 7-9-1
possible that they only win 2 more games...
9-15-1????

[Mouse in the corner]

This is fixable.

The biggest things that I see that need fixing are to keep driving down the number of penalties taken especially those dumb ones and to shoot the puck. Once again last night that team who wants to make that perfect last pass for that perfect shot showed up and got pounded. It is not their line combinations, their D combinations or their goaltending. It is that intangible "thing" that makes that player want to take that shot on net to see what happens (you can't score if you don't shoot the puck) in the hope that something good will happen which should result in some of those head scratcher goals going in. The best defense is a good offense.

All is not lost. I still think that they can and will handle East tomorrow night and will be able to make a serious run at taking 7AA for a trip to St Paul.

[boblee]

This is fixable.

The biggest things that I see that need fixing are to keep driving down the number of penalties taken especially those dumb ones and to shoot the puck. Once again last night that team who wants to make that perfect last pass for that perfect shot showed up and got pounded. It is not their line combinations, their D combinations or their goaltending. It is that intangible "thing" that makes that player want to take that shot on net to see what happens (you can't score if you don't shoot the puck) in the hope that something good will happen which should result in some of those head scratcher goals going in. The best defense is a good offense.

All is not lost. I still think that they can and will handle East tomorrow night and will be able to make a serious run at taking 7AA for a trip to St Paul.

I would argue this pretty hard.

Rapids allows 3.71 goals per game and has a 69.6% penalty kill. They have only stopped 85.5% of the shots against on the season. If a team gets 20 shots, they'll score 3 goals based on averages. Problem is, GR is giving up 25-30 shots per game on average.

The team averages 3.88 goals per game, which is a little bit low for a championship team. But, if they were giving up more like 2.00 goals per game, that 3.88 would seem impressive.

The team has struggled mightily on special teams and has been far from consistent on defense and in goal.

I won't be shocked if they beat East. I won't be shocked if they play in a section final. I also wouldn't be shocked if they lost to East by 5 and played in a section quarterfinal game on the road. The inconsistencies are mind boggling.

[Mouse in the corner]

This is fixable.

The biggest things that I see that need fixing are to keep driving down the number of penalties taken especially those dumb ones and to shoot the puck. Once again last night that team who wants to make that perfect last pass for that perfect shot showed up and got pounded. It is not their line combinations, their D combinations or their goaltending. It is that intangible "thing" that makes that player want to take that shot on net to see what happens (you can't score if you don't shoot the puck) in the hope that something good will happen which should result in some of those head scratcher goals going in. The best defense is a good offense.

All is not lost. I still think that they can and will handle East tomorrow night and will be able to make a serious run at taking 7AA for a trip to St Paul.

I would argue this pretty hard.

Rapids allows 3.71 goals per game and has a 69.6% penalty kill. They have only stopped 85.5% of the shots against on the season. If a team gets 20 shots, they'll score 3 goals based on averages. Problem is, GR is giving up 25-30 shots per game on average.

The team averages 3.88 goals per game, which is a little bit low for a championship team. But, if they were giving up more like 2.00 goals per game, that 3.88 would seem impressive.

The team has struggled mightily on special teams and has been far from consistent on defense and in goal.

I won't be shocked if they beat East. I won't be shocked if they play in a section final. I also wouldn't be shocked if they lost to East by 5 and played in a section quarterfinal game on the road. The inconsistencies are mind boggling.

The stats that you quote are impressive but don't really get into the big picture. I maintain that it is fixable because all of this is tied together by one concept. In a series of posts on here the saying that there is no I in team was brought up (sort of) but it needs to be added onto with the "but there is a me" statement. This team is loaded with talent. They have very good skaters, lots of potential at D, a very good goalie and a very good coaching staff. The problem here is not the talent level, it is the over all team play. If this coaching staff can (and I believe that they can and will) get this team to buy into the old "one for all and all for one" thought process then they will be OK. The hurdles right now are actually rather simple (looking in from the outside) to solve. They don't have to teach anybody how to play hockey. You do not have to make the statement of "if only we had a goalie, or if only we had a guy who was fast and can handle the puck", Rapids has all of those puzzle parts in place now. The players are good. The D understand the concept and are getting better. The goalie has shown that he is good in a tough game and can take the heat. The problem right now is that they want to be the "next Shep or Avery" and are pursuing that line of thought. This bunch needs to come together as a team and to start to work as a team. If they can be melded into a True Team they will be OK and will tear the place up. If they continue to act like they are all a bunch of separate hockey players who at times have a common shared goal (as long as it does not interfere with them being singled out for praise) that they have the option to pursue if they so desire they are gonna stink it up and will go down with a whimper very very early on in the section playoffs.

This is fixable if the players want to fix it. If not, then this is not the beginning of great things for Grand Rapids hockey as this class of Bantams moves up into high school hockey, it is the end of the road for what looked like a very promising group of kids to go places at the high school level. The line of thinking that we will just wait until next year is dangerous for several reasons not the least of which is that we will wait for next year and then work hard is one small step from the old saying of why put off until tomorrow what you can delay indefinitely???

This can be fixed and I hope will be fixed.

[mulefarm]

If you say the players and PARENTS want to fix it, it sounds like there is a lot of problems off the ice. If that is so, I feel sorry for the coach.

[boblee]

This is fixable.

The biggest things that I see that need fixing are to keep driving down the number of penalties taken especially those dumb ones and to shoot the puck. Once again last night that team who wants to make that perfect last pass for that perfect shot showed up and got pounded. It is not their line combinations, their D combinations or their goaltending. It is that intangible "thing" that makes that player want to take that shot on net to see what happens (you can't score if you don't shoot the puck) in the hope that something good will happen which should result in some of those head scratcher goals going in. The best defense is a good offense.

All is not lost. I still think that they can and will handle East tomorrow night and will be able to make a serious run at taking 7AA for a trip to St Paul.

I would argue this pretty hard.

Rapids allows 3.71 goals per game and has a 69.6% penalty kill. They have only stopped 85.5% of the shots against on the season. If a team gets 20 shots, they'll score 3 goals based on averages. Problem is, GR is giving up 25-30 shots per game on average.

The team averages 3.88 goals per game, which is a little bit low for a championship team. But, if they were giving up more like 2.00 goals per game, that 3.88 would seem impressive.

The team has struggled mightily on special teams and has been far from consistent on defense and in goal.

I won't be shocked if they beat East. I won't be shocked if they play in a section final. I also wouldn't be shocked if they lost to East by 5 and played in a section quarterfinal game on the road. The inconsistencies are mind boggling.

The stats that you quote are impressive but don't really get into the big picture. I maintain that it is fixable because all of this is tied together by one concept. In a series of posts on here the saying that there is no I in team was brought up (sort of) but it needs to be added onto with the "but there is a me" statement. This team is loaded with talent. They have very good skaters, lots of potential at D, a very good goalie and a very good coaching staff. The problem here is not the talent level, it is the over all team play. If this coaching staff can (and I believe that they can and will) get this team to buy into the old "one for all and all for one" thought process then they will be OK. The hurdles right now are actually rather simple (looking in from the outside) to solve. They don't have to teach anybody how to play hockey. You do not have to make the statement of "if only we had a goalie, or if only we had a guy who was fast and can handle the puck", Rapids has all of those puzzle parts in place now. The players are good. The D understand the concept and are getting better. The goalie has shown that he is good in a tough game and can take the heat. The problem right now is that they want to be the "next Shep or Avery" and are pursuing that line of thought. This bunch needs to come together as a team and to start to work as a team. If they can be melded into a True Team they will be OK and will tear the place up. If they continue to act like they are all a bunch of separate hockey players who at times have a common shared goal (as long as it does not interfere with them being singled out for praise) that they have the option to pursue if they so desire they are gonna stink it up and will go down with a whimper very very early on in the section playoffs.

This is fixable if the players want to fix it. If not, then this is not the beginning of great things for Grand Rapids hockey as this class of Bantams moves up into high school hockey, it is the end of the road for what looked like a very promising group of kids to go places at the high school level. The line of thinking that we will just wait until next year is dangerous for several reasons not the least of which is that we will wait for next year and then work hard is one small step from the old saying of why put off until tomorrow what you can delay indefinitely???

This can be fixed and I hope will be fixed.

Not that I disagree, but we are 17 games into a 25 game season. There isn't a whole lot of season left to get it right. I bolded the one thing in your discussion that there is absolutely no proof to. I won't comment any further.

[TheHockeyDJ]

Sam Gerth has proven he can play a quality game, I think we was good vs Lakeville North, and great vs Hopkins. Sometimes I can't help but wonder though how freshman Zach Stejskal would do. All indications are he's going to be an elite goaltender at the HS level.

[CreaseMonkey]

Sometimes I can't help but wonder though how freshman Zach Stejskal would do. All indications are he's going to be an elite goaltender at the HS level.

I think this problem this year in Grand Rapids is way beyond being a goalie issue. That is the first place people look, or lay the blame when a team is not having success, but it is largely unfair to the kid in net.

If a team is not shooting the puck, struggles to score, can't stay out of the penalty box or keeps giving up high percentage scoring opportunities, no change of goalie is going to fix that. Grand Rapids had Mr. Hockey and the Brimsek winner on the same team last year and it did not get them to state. I doubt their salvation is going to be found in a freshman goalie.

If everything else was clicking, looking at a different tender might be worth considering, but the problem in my opinion is between the ears of the boys on the ice, not between the pipes.

[stromboli]

Sam Gerth has proven he can play a quality game, I think we was good vs Lakeville North, and great vs Hopkins. Sometimes I can't help but wonder though how freshman Zach Stejskal would do. All indications are he's going to be an elite goaltender at the HS level.

You have at least three players on a very good bantam squad that could play varsity now on many other teams, and certainly will next year. Stejskal, Hain, and McLaughlin are the ones I'm familiar with. Each is an elite player for their class - and by elite I mean statewide. Your current bantams are 29-3-2. Their only losses are to Edina, Wayzata, and Minnetonka. Nothing to sneeze at.

If GR has enough good players to have the luxurey of letting kids like the three above spend another year maturing as bantams, I'd say the future is still pretty bright. Plus you have some talented young players who are getting a good dose of what it means to play varsity this year.

Just one guy's semi-educated opinion,,, from not quite far enough outside the 494/694 loop for comfort. GR will be fine.

[TheHockeyDJ]

Sometimes I can't help but wonder though how freshman Zach Stejskal would do. All indications are he's going to be an elite goaltender at the HS level.

I think this problem this year in Grand Rapids is way beyond being a goalie issue. That is the first place people look, or lay the blame when a team is not having success, but it is largely unfair to the kid in net.

If a team is not shooting the puck, struggles to score, can't stay out of the penalty box or keeps giving up high percentage scoring opportunities, no change of goalie is going to fix that. Grand Rapids had Mr. Hockey and the Brimsek winner on the same team last year and it did not get them to state. I doubt their salvation is going to be found in a freshman goalie.

If everything else was clicking, looking at a different tender might be worth considering, but the problem in my opinion is between the ears of the boys on the ice, not between the pipes.

My comment on the young goalie doesn't mean I don't know all of the items you mentioned, or that I think a goaltender switch is a cure-all.

[CreaseMonkey]

Sometimes I can't help but wonder though how freshman Zach Stejskal would do. All indications are he's going to be an elite goaltender at the HS level.

I think this problem this year in Grand Rapids is way beyond being a goalie issue. That is the first place people look, or lay the blame when a team is not having success, but it is largely unfair to the kid in net.

If a team is not shooting the puck, struggles to score, can't stay out of the penalty box or keeps giving up high percentage scoring opportunities, no change of goalie is going to fix that. Grand Rapids had Mr. Hockey and the Brimsek winner on the same team last year and it did not get them to state. I doubt their salvation is going to be found in a freshman goalie.

If everything else was clicking, looking at a different tender might be worth considering, but the problem in my opinion is between the ears of the boys on the ice, not between the pipes.

My comment on the young goalie doesn't mean I don't know all of the items you mentioned, or that I think a goaltender switch is a cure-all.

Not inferring that you were calling for that DJ. Sorry if it came off that way.

I was trying to make a broad point that more often than not, a team that is struggling has issues well beyond their goalie. Unfortunately, I hear that solution being offered by parents and fans way too often. I have been around goalies for the last 24 years, and know it is much easier for people to point the finger at one guy than the other 18. In many instances, it comes down to whether a team would rather lose by 4 or 5 goals.

Grand Rapids is smart letting those Bantams develop one more year before bringing them into their high school program. The benefits of the season the bantams are having will go well beyond the 3 guys who may have been able to contribute this year.

[boblee]

Here is our preview of Duluth East vs. Grand Rapids tonight (should weather hold):

http://grhshockey.com/teams/default.asp ... wsID=34404

[Mouse in the corner]

Here is our preview of Duluth East vs. Grand Rapids tonight (should weather hold):

http://grhshockey.com/teams/default.asp ... wsID=34404

The weather held.

[boblee]

Grand Rapids beats Duluth East for the first time in 11 tries. Two days after losing to Hermantown 10-2. Because it makes no sense at all.

http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/de ... wsID=34413

[Immigrant Fan]

WTH?! Not sure where this GR team has been since early December, but it was gratifying they made an appearance tonight. Who knows if we will see them again, or when. But, for now, I think I will mix another batch of orange Kool-Aid and celebrate.

[TheHockeyDJ]

Sports Issue on KOZY radio (kozyradio.com) is 8-10 am, and 9-10 this morning they'll be talking Rapids hockey with player interviews and and interview with Don Lucia, if you're looking for a hockey fix this morning.

[Nuts&Bolts]

I actually agree with DJ that we need a hockey fix. Maybe The Don retires after this year and returns to GR to lead the HS team to glory. Embarrassing for the Gophers to be ranked #3 or 4 of course that's of the 5 teams that play D1 mens hockey in the state of MN.

[boblee]

Cloquet game preview:

http://grhshockey.com/teams/default.asp ... wsID=34453

[boblee]

Grand Rapids stomps Cloquet-Esko-Carlton in rematch, gains leg up in race for 2 seed in 7AA:

http://grhshockey.com/teams/default.asp ... wsID=34478

[boblee]

Grand Rapids skates to a 3-3 tie with Hibbing/Chisholm

http://grhshockey.com/teams/default.asp ... wsID=34506

[boblee]

Predictions and analysis of this weekend's upcoming games at No. 7 Wayzata and No. 11 White Bear Lake.

http://grhshockey.com/teams/default.asp ... wsID=34576