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maddog wrote:I think the ahs coach needs to quit blaming everyone else for his teams shortcomings. Last year he blamed the prior coach and this year he is stooping to all time low by blaming the youth hockey coaches. What we see as fan is too much individualism--this team needs to start playing as a team. the coach needs to quit criticizing the team and maybe start coaching them.

Maybe the players need to start playing - or would that be too much to ask? You seem to be the type of whiner that will spend plenty of time in their ears telling them how bad their coach is. Of course, this will help them to listen to their coach and respond in a positive manner, right?

Here's the next question: who would want to coach in this program anyway? Be thankful you have a coach at this point. After the scandal, you should thank the heavens that the program wasn't dropped.

maddog wrote:I think the ahs coach needs to quit blaming everyone else for his teams shortcomings. Last year he blamed the prior coach and this year he is stooping to all time low by blaming the youth hockey coaches. What we see as fan is too much individualism--this team needs to start playing as a team. the coach needs to quit criticizing the team and maybe start coaching them.

Austin isn't the only program dealing with youth hockey issues. Years ago USA Hockey turned its focus to individual skills, not team play. Most of these kids can't pass the puck, can't figure out where to be or what to do without the puck. These kids havenow moved on to the high school level and the game is suffering. Look no further than JM, Century, Austin, etc. to see once very good programs humbled ( these teams have a combined 7 wins). It's not youth hockey's responsibility to develop high school players but at the same time it's alright for the high school coach to vent his opinion on what he needs to have a good team.

Most of these kids can't pass the puck, can't figure out where to be or what to do without the puck.


Exactly.

New Ulm 6, Austin 4

Goldy you are right about the diminishing level of play in MSHSL hockey. I can't believe how many teams have no concept of playing both ends of the ice, back checking or penalty killing, or offensive zone cycling or finishing your check on the forecheck. I've seen some pretty weak games this year.

goaler wrote:New Ulm 6, Austin 4

Goldy you are right about the diminishing level of play in MSHSL hockey. I can't believe how many teams have no concept of playing both ends of the ice, back checking or penalty killing, or offensive zone cycling or finishing your check on the forecheck. I've seen some pretty weak games this year.

What do you expect from Austin vs. New Ulm?

goaler wrote:New Ulm 6, Austin 4

Goldy you are right about the diminishing level of play in MSHSL hockey. I can't believe how many teams have no concept of playing both ends of the ice, back checking or penalty killing, or offensive zone cycling or finishing your check on the forecheck. I've seen some pretty weak games this year.

Travel north a little bit, stop in the cities. After getting a taste of the hockey here you can head up north and watch the real men play.

I've seen Denfield, Int. Falls, WBL, and Duluth East so far this year and Albert Lea is better than all of them.

This team is better than their record and their top line is better than about half of the other teams' top line.


That might be pushing it. I have seen all Big Nine teams play and to put Austins top group in the top half of the conference is a bit of a stretch. Swatgager is a nice player, Dooley is a role player and Kirby has picked it up lately. But they do not compare with the top lines from any other team, save East. I hope they can notch that first win soon.

Chalktalk wrote:This team is better than their record and their top line is better than about half of the other teams' top line.


That might be pushing it. I have seen all Big Nine teams play and to put Austins top group in the top half of the conference is a bit of a stretch. Swatgager is a nice player, Dooley is a role player and Kirby has picked it up lately. But they do not compare with the top lines from any other team, save East. I hope they can notch that first win soon.

Do you realize Kirby plays D & Dooley is out right?

You do realize Chalktalk that when I was letting you know that Austin's top line is better than half of the teams they play that this includes the non conference cames. I would agree that in the big nine the top line is not better than anyone but two or three of the teams, but in the non-conference schedule there are plenty they are better than.

Too bad about losing Dooley for the year.

Good Luck vs JM on Saturday they went to OT earlier in the year.

Also,

Congrats on to Kyle Swatfager on the hat trick. I heard he was like a one-man show last night.

The first line now is pretty much him, Merritt, and McMasters. Not as tough as if Dooley was in it, but with Swatfager , he does make a lot happen out there.

austinhockey wrote:Also,

Congrats on to Kyle Swatfager on the hat trick. I heard he was like a one-man show last night.

The first line now is pretty much him, Merritt, and McMasters. Not as tough as if Dooley was in it, but with Swatfager , he does make a lot happen out there.

You are right on with Swatfager - Merritt isn't real strong on the puck. Give him the room to work and he really moves the puck well - but get in his grille a little and he'll cough it up like a bad cold. There are a lot of kids out there like that though! He seems to work hard though - that is all you can ask.

Pitboss,

Good take on the situation. Hope to here more from you in the future. Good Hockey Mind.

goldy313 wrote:I've seen Denfield, Int. Falls, WBL, and Duluth East so far this year and Albert Lea is better than all of them.

I was out of the loop and just read all this. This is funny, in the 05-06 season Austin had a very solid team. That was the same season Mankato East went to state. Now those two teams are two of the worst in the state. Sometimes it happens where there are some classes that produce very very few quality players. They must have had 2 or 3 of those this year. How is Austin hoops doing?

I was not around on Saturday. How did the Austin vs JM game come out?

they lost 4 to 2. who r the top five players on this team?

The JV won....

hockeyplaya101 wrote:they lost 4 to 2. who r the top five players on this team?

1. Kyle Swatfager- Very good skilled player. Many will not agree because of the season Austin is having, but if he gets a shot at Great 8 he will contribute.
2. Aaron Dooley- Goalie, sees 50 shots a game usually, solid for his age, gets frustrated at times and lets in a softy...but who wouldnt seeing that many shots a game
3. John Kirby- Solid D with offensive ability and hits well, a few turnovers each game but that is because he is trying to make something happen
4. Cameron Dooley- Good scorer, lost for season do to knee injury
5. Josh Merrit- has some moves but needs to get stronger and more physical

Yeah I've seen Swatfager play, I think he needs to pass a little more! Since Dooley is out, who are the other starters? what are they like?

ahs grad is that all you have to say about your brother kyle he needs to start shooting more also he is trying to make things happen on his own i seen a couple chances he could have shot against jm and probably scored against that weak goalie great player helps his team with his hard work but needs to use his team more cant do it all himself
also dooley does le in the occasional softy but you cant put any blame on him cause the goal usually doesnt matter cause they are already losing at the time kirby has come along but he is still making those blind passes needs to play more positional hockey he scored the only 2 goals against jm then merritt needs to stop stick handling and start skating not very hard worker but give him and open shot theres a good chance he will score doley same when he could play he needed to stop stick handlin behind the net the packers are better then there record but when they keep it close there is always about a 5 minute period when they garp it up and let in about 4 or 5 goals

futureeagle wrote:ahs grad is that all you have to say about your brother kyle he needs to start shooting more also he is trying to make things happen on his own i seen a couple chances he could have shot against jm and probably scored against that weak goalie great player helps his team with his hard work but needs to use his team more cant do it all himself
also dooley does le in the occasional softy but you cant put any blame on him cause the goal usually doesnt matter cause they are already losing at the time kirby has come along but he is still making those blind passes needs to play more positional hockey he scored the only 2 goals against jm then merritt needs to stop stick handling and start skating not very hard worker but give him and open shot theres a good chance he will score doley same when he could play he needed to stop stick handlin behind the net the packers are better then there record but when they keep it close there is always about a 5 minute period when they garp it up and let in about 4 or 5 goals

First off...your wrong if you think that Swatfager is my brother. Take a look at the '05 graduating class roster and take another guess.

Aside from that pretty much stated what I said before.

The Austin Herald quotes coach Wolfe as saying that it was an extremely poor performance by everyone but John Kirby. When he speaks of everyone, is he including the coaching staff?

There are things about Wolfe that I like. I think his weak point is the fact that the boys don't think he is one of them. I wonder if after the game he lets the boys know that they are in this boat together, that the team losses together, including the coaches. That they all need to work together, players and coaches, to improve performance. That NO ONE will quit until they get it done.

A coach surely needs to point out mistakes and lack of effort...but there is a big difference between cheering somone on by saying that you know that they can do better and degrading comments about their poor performance. I hope Wolfe cheers the team on.

One of my daughters favorite coaches had the mix just right, she knew when she did not meet his expections and it upset her because she wanted to play well FOR HIM. Do these boys play FOR Wolfe or UNDER him?

Suntzu couldn't of said it better, sounds like the parents need a W more than the kids.. too bad the coach doesn't sugar coat everything the way our soft PC society expects it... hey pittboss you must of been a heck of a player/bad coach......bad player/good coach?? Wow, this site is great....Austin can't be losing games from lack of depth and talent...it has to be the coaching..oh, and conditioning?( how many weeks remaining in the season) wake up and smell the coffee. I could coach and win at Edina. Wolfe has guts taking over a program like that, he will turn it around in time, but it has to start at the youth level. I hope it happens for the coaches and players, not for the whiners that can't handle losing.

Problem is they are not very good and at the varsity level you need some very good players to have success. Coaches cannot win the race to the puck or make plays. They can condition the team and prepare them to do thier best but they cannot play for them.

Mike Wolfe is a fine coach and a good player. He probably cannot believe what has happened to the program that a few years ago had represented Section 1 at the state tourney and did a very good job.

Nick Bowe was a part of that team and is a positive kid and both of em knew how to score. I hope they can get back to the roots of the youth program and make it inexpensive to play and not waste money on traveling. With two indoor rinks I thought hockey would get stronger not weaker in my hometown.

Being a member of the last Austin team that didn't win a game I do want to point out that we didn't have Winona, Waseca, Mankato East on our schedule...

We played B'vlle twice JM Mayo Simley Wayzata Albert Lea and Owatonna.

We actually were in some games and could have won with a break or two.

This team is just plain weak. Eligibility issues and not developing enough players is the problem. I think if they could just have games in town all weekend for the youth hockey players and pick an all star team to go to two or three tourneys may be an answer to get the numbers back up.

I think all the travel and costs are not important as having the kids on the ice playiing for hours on the weekend. Maybe they can have open hockey for free at the indoor rinks on Saturdays and Sundays for the kids from 7:00 AM until 1:00 and than have the bantams and 2nd year pee wees form A teams to compete in the districts.

I think that if the cost was lowered that they may get more players.

Maybe they could send out a questionaire to all the parents of the kids 5-12 in Austin and find out if they would be interested in playing in a shaw gym like pick up hockey league all winter. Kids could pick teams every Saturday and Sunday and play all day. could have weeknight games too!!

Anyone think this would help.