S1E1 Pietila, Pietila, Pietila

Show Notes

Episode 1 of the Chasing MacNaughton Podcast from Tech Hockey Guide; "Pietila, Pietila, Pietila." This week Tim Braun, Dustin Lindstrom and Rob Gilreath discuss (times are approximate):  

• Coach Shawhan's handling of the goaltending rotation (2:15) 
• What to make of Ray Brice's captaincy and playing time (9:13) 
• What exactly deserves a major penalty (15:55) 
• How important the first goal has been for MTU (24:40) 
• The Huskies' upcoming series with rivals NMU (30:05) 
• Alabama-Huntsville filing papers to leave the WCHA (35:10) 
• WCHA predictions for this coming weekend (39:20) 

For additional information and more episode liner notes, check out our episode overview on Tech Hockey Guide. To make sure we can afford all this fancy equipment we purchased for the podcast, please check out our patreon page and consider joining. Patrons at our Black Level or above receive an authentic MTU jersey patch and access to extra podcast content including the unpublished “Episode 1”. Follow us on twitter at ChasingMacPod and you can submit questions through our email address, [e-mail]. Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Please rate and review which will help us reach more people, and tell your friends. Please check out Jonathan Zamaites series previews every Friday and Mike Anleitner's Old Dog in Texas column every Wednesday. Also, keep an eye out for new recruiting articles on Tuesdays. As always, special thanks to our patron saint Doc McResin for his generous donation to get this thing running, we hope you enjoy. Also, thanks to The Thank You Notes for all the bumpers in today’s episode. If you like what you hear, check them out at thethankyounotes.bandcamp.com

What is Chasing MacNaughton?

The Chasing MacNaughton Podcast is hosted by Tim Braun and various other contributors. We’ll discuss what’s happening with the Huskies, the CCHA and major stories throughout College Hockey. Typically the podcast will be a conversation of multiple topics plus interviews with former players, future players, opposing coaches, beat writers and others from around the CCHA.

I think and I hate shootouts.
I don't want to have to even

bother to try to predict one
because I think they're stupid

and Tizer fine so-called if I
let this happen for another day

because I agree with you.
Welcome to episode 1 of the

chasing, McNaughton podcasts.
And I'm your host.

Tim Brown with me today, are my
co-host from Tech hockey guide.

Rob Gilreath, you guys housing
on and Dustin Lindstrom, ATM.

Thank you for having me here
today.

Thanks for joining me today,
guys, as always, we'll be

discussing Michigan Tech hockey
and the WCHA are major topics

this week.
Our coach Sean's handling of the

goaltender so far.
This season Ray Bryce's captain.

What's a major penalty?
How important, the first goal

has been for the Huskies,
Michigan, Texas, upcoming series

with Northern Michigan, and
huntsville's filing papers to

leave the WCHA.
Plus, we'll have some

predictions for next weekend
series.

Let's do the thank you notes.
And we'll come back and start

with the goalie situation.
All right, guys.

Coach Sean has gotten a lot of
criticism for how he's handled

goaltenders as head coach.
What do you think about this

year?
So far?

Dustin, I think it's much
improved compared to what we've

seen in years past.
It seems to me like, he's got a

plan for what he's going to do
with goaltenders.

And that he's executing.
It's pretty well, it seems like

all the guys are getting a fair
shot at earning playing time.

And and it it I have it has a
feel that he is, he's trusting

his guys more, which I think is
is a good thing.

What about you?
Rob II, think, I think the few

times we've actually seen the
goalie changes made game this

year.
It's been it's been a little

more.
It doesn't feel as forced as it

has in the last few years, you
know, when I want to go leave.

Come out.
It's been a spark the rest of

the team, and it's it seemed to
have done that rather than

jumping jumping on the goalie
themselves.

Like it says, seem in the point
last past four years.

So no, I think, like Elsa said
the rotation seems to work.

Well, a guy gets any proves
themselves and then it's almost

as if it's his role to lose at
that point rather than coming

back.
Then next game with with jumping

around.
So, you know, we got three guys

that can definitely play in the
net play.

Well in the net and have shown
that.

Now, they do.
Well, especially after what

happened last weekend, with
Jurassic just ridiculous.

Keep us in the game on Saturday
night, but you have pietila come

in and play.
Well, you've had, they do

employ.
Well, it's a good situation to

be in.
So it makes makes it tough for

Joe to pick who to play.
Yeah.

I really appreciated the way
that Joe explained, the way that

his reasoning for getting
pietila in a couple couple weeks

ago in on the Joe show.
It was very thought out, I

thought it was a really well
done the way that he worked him

in and in the what was the low
pressure situation, but also won

against a good team and it was a
good way for him to get into a

game that first first first
first game.

Yeah.
I think it's been a good

situation so far.
It the appearance is that the

goalies are relatively happy
with how it's going and it

doesn't feel like any of them
are playing scared to keep the

job.
Even though you said, it's Job

to lose.
I don't I don't feel like

they're playing that way.
I think.

They're I think Joe must be
doing a better job of

communicating at practice like
who's who showing the best and

what his plan is going into a
weekend instead of feeling like

he's winging it the whole time,
and doesn't really know what

he's going to do.
Like, he's got a rotation of

how, like, I think this weekend,
peel it traveled, you know, so

it's not like it's, he's given
guys different chances and

different opportunities, but
He's getting a chance.

He's rotating them.
It doesn't feel like anybody has

two short of a leash.
But you know, they're also all

playing well, so it's easier,
maybe to not criticize those

decisions because the team is
playing well in front of them

for defense and and and but you
were sick is standing on his

head.
Sometimes they all have made

some saves that, you might not
expect him to it.

Also feels like the three
goalies by into the rotation

system.
This year that's going on.

It doesn't feel like previous
years where that was an issue

from a Personnel.
Standpoint.

Let's say without going too, far
back, right?

I mean, there, there were people
that did want to, you know,

given that up and I would
honestly given it up, but I

don't think there are people
that expected to be on the bench

and four years past to say the
least, right?

I think it's I think it's fair
to say that we do.

There's maybe a little bit less.
A head cases going goalies.

Are notoriously headcases,
right?

But somewhat different levels in
others and it would be good to

have, maybe a little less drama
in the goalie room.

If you want to put it that way,
it does feel like there is less

this year for sure, right.
It definitely, it doesn't seem

that way this year.
No, I haven't.

I don't know as any of the goal
has been on the Joe show with

him.
Yeah, I don't think so.

Yeah, right today.
Actually, they had to stick on

and one out.
Listen to.

Yeah.
Yeah, the the Monday show this

week.
He was on and had a nice

conversation, talking about
balance.

And, you know, he was really
happy.

It sounded good.
Like he's, he likes where he's

at.
I mean, also, he's gotten the

majority of the playing time so
far, or close to it.

The plurality at least, I don't
know if he's gotten more than

them combined.
But, but he's also earned it.

He's the senior, he's playing.
Well, he's doing good.

Like, you can't fault Joe for
how the, for how the Defense in

the goaltending has been no
definitely a good situation Diaz

not to steal steal what dust
instead of the unaired episode

the DA has not been our problem
this year at all, right?

It it's it's definitely been
been the strong spot for sure,

which I don't know if that was
the expectation going in or not,

you know.
I think you could expect the

goalies to be good and you know,
Joe is focused on the defense.

So it it it shouldn't be a
problem.

But I guess we weren't sure what
it was going to be going in.

So, who knows?
I think we've identified what

the issue seems to be winning
games so far.

And like I said, it's just been
putting the puck in the net and

finishing chances.
So yeah, I saw that we are.

I think we are top 10 in the
country in scoring defense and

like 45th in scoring offense.
That's a, that's a bit

schizophrenic.
I like a balance of that,

please.
Yeah, we're seventh in scoring

defense and 45th in scoring
offense with a net.

Difference of .27 goals per
game.

I think we figured out why
there's not more wins right

there.
Yep.

Yeah, I need to find a way to
get like the middle of the pack

in the country for goals scored,
which would put us about, you

know, high 20s and then you
right there.

That's where you want, you know,
like almost a goal difference

between offense and defense
here, looking good.

Yeah.
Yeah.

I have a goalie rotation system
works.

Well, it's It seems to be
fostering competition between

the guys when they are in, they
know, you know, they know that

they've gotta perform on their
in, but, you know, it doesn't

have the, it does have the
randomness, the, that it felt

like it was a few years ago.
So, it's I don't have an issue

with it this year.
It's working.

Well with that that change.
Yeah, I think it is working.

Well, one of the other
situations with the team though

is Captain Ray Price and the
fact that he's played in three

games so far this year.
Did you pick the wrong?

Captain Rob?
I think has a little more time

to tell still at this point, but
it's definitely strange to see.

It's strange to see the seed,
not being out there on the ice.

I don't think it's necessarily
an issue.

But you know, it's it's
definitely weird.

It's odd.
I don't know.

Well, after the let it, let it
play out a little bit more and

see how it goes from there.
But you said, you didn't travel

this weekend, right?
Correct.

It's the first time that I have
confirmed that he did not make a

trip with the team.
Not sure if he went to North

Dakota, we could find that out
maybe at some point, but, you

know, that's something that's
been important to me, is that

he's still there for all the
practices on the road, and

traveling to set the set, the
state, you know, set, those

example on the road.
Not that there aren't other

leaders.
And, you know, in the show

today, Joe talked a lot about
The leaders that are on the team

and and maybe maybe it's just a
matter of he thought, Ray Rice,

that one of the better examples
in practice last year and was

the leader or the kind of
leader.

He wanted.
Even though he knew he wouldn't

play all that much.
And he just wasn't sure about

some of the other guys because
all the other drama they had in

the locker room last year that
he just wasn't comfortable

naming anybody else at Captain,
but it seems like Alex Smith has

been a great alternate.
Donaghy was a Good alternate,

I'm kind of surprised that Missy
acted and get a letter, but Joe

kind of made that clear in
today's zhoushan.

Our that misiek isn't the vocal
leader.

He's more of the lead, by
example, and a lot of the guys

to get out of it.
Yeah, so sure.

What do you think?
Dustin?

Well, I guess.
If the captain isn't going to be

traveling, that's a problem for
me.

Because like you said, I think
the captain needs to be there

for the road trips.
Road, trips are bonding time for

teams in a lot of, a lot of
cases, right?

That you hear about that, on the
Alaska trip in past years.

How that's?
That can be a time when teams

come together and I think it's a
big Miss to not have the captain

there.
He's supposed to be your leader

and I don't think he necessarily
needs to be playing in every

game because you can definitely
be a leader.

Off the ice.
And in that I don't think that's

an issue.
But in order to be a leader off

the ice, he needs to be with the
rest of his teammates and when

he's sitting in Houghton while
his team is on the road.

He doesn't, he's not, he can't
be a leader.

He's not given the opportunity
to be a leader.

So to me, it is an issue.
If he's not traveling with the

team.
All right, I agree.

I think that's that's the bigger
issue to me is, especially if If

they're not traveling, like I
don't like ice.

I can see that he's not.
Maybe a top top 12 forward, but

I don't think the gap between
13.

And however, many forward we
have is that far that if your

captain is healthy and and, and
maybe had a knock, maybe doesn't

maybe they don't want to talk
about that.

But if he's healthy and he and
he's doing what he's supposed to

be doing as Captain, there's no
reason he shouldn't be the 13th

forward.
That's traveling with the team

or they should spend the money
and travel the full of lat.

And what they're allowed on the
road so that he can be there and

participate in those things.
And and set the example not that

there aren't other leaders on
this team.

And I'm like I said, you made it
pretty clear on this week's

radio show.
That, you know, Jerusalem is a

big bleeder misiek stepping up,
any seeing it more.

Now, out of Brockman that he's
probably going to be a leader

out of that class.
And and that's good to see.

Well, it's funny that you
mention the sophomore class,

because I think it was a Miss to
not give a letter to an a, to

one of the players in the
sophomore class.

And I know they're not
upperclassmen, but I do think

that the sophomore class is the
future of this team.

We see, we have well that less
Cory's another from the that

goes without saying that stuff,
that's always true, right?

Off more classes at the
Freshman.

Class are always the future, the
see why.

And I understand what, An.
But I do think there's good

leadership in the junior senior
class.

I'm ninety percent convinced
that miss yakoobi, the captain

next year, but, you know,
bressman will probably have an A

and I think a lot of it comes
down to, you know, Joe talks a

lot on the show at least so far
this year about how you know,

the second half of last year was
kind of a lost period of

development.
So I don't I think a lot of that

comes back to He's going to pick
his upperclassmen because there

are more, you know, grunt guys.
That, you know, they have to

work hard to get there playing
time versus some of the younger

guys are more skill guys, and
maybe he just didn't get as

good.
A feel for who is leaders were

in The Freshman last year's
freshmen because of he's dealing

with all those other extra
curricular issues that he had

last year.
Yeah, that's fair, you know, so

who knows I think a good point
too that too is The senior class

this year is really small,
right?

You may not have someone that
has that leadership.

Has that leadership role where
you do with the with a bigger

class, right?
You've only got three guys there

to pick from.
You know, there may not be a

guy, you want to choose out of
those three and you don't have

like, maybe two or Sikhism,
really good leader, but he's not

Kowalski that you're going to,
he's going to be playing 95% of

the games for you.
So you can't really give my only

the see, either.
But then again, right Bryce

isn't playing that much.
So I'm not all that different, I

guess, but KOA Kowalski
reference and he was a captain

for Northern was I think
Northern Tanzania catch.

That's an order.
That's what I know.

That's like that's like back
during the start of Now the he's

the only goalie Captain I can
remember I'm sure there's

others.
I'm sure there are others but

that's the one that's the only
one I can really think of.

I feel like Denver had one, was
it.

I might be like Buerkle or
something like that.

One of those years that Denver
was really good with Rob.

I might just be completely
making that up to so, who knows?

All right, so onto the next
topic, what is a major penalty

earlier today on the Takaki
guide account?

I posted a couple videos that I
cut up out of off the flow.

Hockey feed Buckley's hit versus
Minnesota state last weekend or

two weekends ago.
And then the Henrickson hit by

LS it.
From Lake State against Michigan

Tech.
They both look pretty similar to

me.
There's a few differences but

they were called differently in
each game and it was nice to go

out and get some opinions of
fans.

Both mostly empty, you fans.
I'm sure from our Twitter feed

but on the board to we got a few
other people to talk and they're

both kind of all over the board
all over the place with what it,

what it should be.
But for the most part, it seemed

like everybody agreed that.
If one was going to be called

worse than the other, it should
have been opposite of what the

refs actually called that.
They either both deserved the

same penalty, which I've got 17
percent of our 58 votes.

So far said, they should have
both been minor penalties 7%,

both majors and seventy-four
percent of the people said Lake

States.
Penalty should have been worse

than Minnesota, Michigan.
Tex.

What do you guys think?
I think you get the benefit of

Little bit of a better angle
from the hit at Lake State

compared to the hit at in Odin.
The Lakes State hit you really.

You get the exact point of
impact and it's up high.

It's definitely the start of the
hit, is to his head in Lake and

the Lake State game.
I can't tell from the ah, nice

angle with Buckley's hit.
If its head first chest first,

you can't see.
The angle is not correct to see

it.
So you get that giant benefit of

the right angle to review the
hit in slow motion, and stopped

it frame by frame.
And see that the they hit, they

hit this weekend.
The Lake State hit was actually

impact right on the head to
start with it.

Didn't hit his chest and go.
Hi.

It hits him.
Face right away and this is the

exact opposite of what my
reaction was.

When watching it live.
It's only after watching it,

slow down like you posted
earlier today that I could see

it that way.
Watching it live.

It looks like it starts on his
chest and goes up which doesn't

necessarily, you know warrant on
a major with it.

Right?
It's not necessarily doesn't

need to be called a major for
indirect contact to the head

which I think is something that
not a lot of people realize in

Direct Hit.
The head.

The it doesn't even need to be
penalized, with an indirect hit

to the Head.
The rule doesn't say that you

have to immediately jump to 5
with it, like direct contact.

So it's a little different in
the rulebook depending on how

the head actually happens.
The Buckley hate.

You can't tell.
You just don't have the right

angle for it.
But they reviewed it, right?

Yep.
So you and they reviewed it.

What were they looking at that?
They are looking at it and said

they saw, they were looking at
the same videos as it's not like

they have additional camera
angles to look at it.

What do they?
What do they see in that video?

That makes it a 5 because I
didn't see anything.

Then the video.
Let me look like a 5-2 me,

especially, I don't.
Well, I guess you don't really

know what because Tech is
usually pretty quick about

putting penalties on the board
as a minor, even though it's

not, maybe not.
They didn't get that from the

ref yet.
They just know there's a

penalty.
So you don't know if they went

into it going.
I think it's a five, but I want

to make sure and then there's
nothing in that video that says,

it's not, you know what I, you
know, per se because you can't

see the, you don't have the
right angle.

Like you said, Rob, you know
what I do want to see though,

and I don't think there's any
reason why it's not.

There is the mic'd up, refs?
Like, the nchc is doing this

year.
It takes so much of the

confusion of what the review was
for.

What it was duck for, let's then
explain the call.

It doesn't take that much time.
And I think it adds a ton to the

one, the in-game experience.
It feels like it's a, it's a

bigger event to get the ref to
come out there skate in the

middle, Papa's, Mike on, let you
know what happened, but it takes

away so much of the confusion
from a fan perspective as to

what's actually going on and
what they looked at.

Just let the rough explain
themselves.

I think that solves a whole
bunch of the, you know,

Grumpiness and confusion from a
fan side.

If you just have that simple
that simple little bit where

they talked with the mic.
I mean if you could have an

arena announcer but this but
this puppet ship really want to

have his riffs talking to us.
I don't think so.

What happened the last time, the
WCHA ref was in front of a mic.

I believe it was we just make
this shit up as we go along,

well, to be fair.
Well, do the head of the refs in

the nchc now, so he's probably
the one that put the rest of

them on Mike's but you know, if
we can have an arena announcer.

Or we can have interviews in
between the periods, and almost

every, it feels like every
Stadium.

Does this where it's someone
runs down to the ice and talks

on the broadcast.
There's no way we don't have the

ability to put a mic on a ref
and let them actually, you know,

explain what's going on.
No, it's the NHL NFL style.

Like it's not that hard to
explain you just say.

Like, because the other thing
that's weird is like, I don't

know how you look at the Lake
State one and don't see, Like

direct contact with his head and
the fact that he's already

engaged with another player and
the puck is gone right by the

time you guys like actually it's
not there anymore actually

reached a puck in that in the
lake Stadium.

He's bent down low, Reaching
Forward, trying to get to the

puck and he never gets to it.
So interference is the right

call.
Their solar interference is a

great call, but the fact that
it's interference with contact

to the head.
I don't know how it's not a

fight.
I've their aspect, and then one

of the guys, I think that are
our friends over at Bowling

Green BGSU, hockey, Drew.
I think he posted on the boards.

After I posted the tweet that
they're both fives because

they're trying to get rid of
those hits in the game and and I

don't fault the league for
trying to do that, but I don't

understand how you look at the
hit by Lake the Lake State

player unless the league looked
at the Buckley.

One and said that shouldn't have
been the five and they're now

they're correcting.
Like, I don't understand how how

this Lake State hit wasn't a
five.

I don't care if he gets kicked
out of the game or not, but I

don't understand how it's not a
five this mean.

Let's not pretend that this is a
WCHA issue.

This is doesn't matter, even
what sport it is.

It seems like some further down
the rabbit hole of instant

replay Sports Go.
You see it in football, you See

it in baseball.
You see it in hockey, the actual

officiating seems to get worse
in it.

I don't know if that's just
anecdotal and it seems like in

it just feels that way, but it
sure does feel that way that it,

I don't know.
I think it's just the whole lot

easier for each of us to have an
opinion because we all got to

watch it in slow motion 12 time.
Well, that's what that's what

they're doing.
They're doing.

But my point is that, like, and
we're trying to be objective and

we've talked about how I hate
this kind of feels like whining

because act that we are, we were
punished more on our hit than

the other guy, but it's two
different games.

Like I don't fault the call in
the Minnesota State game.

It didn't well, I could have
changed the outcome but I highly

doubt were were not losing that
game.

Just the way we played even
absent that hit like it.

It's not, that's not what this
is about.

It's just a matter of like it's
about consistent.

We look at these things.
It's really hard to be, to be to

not let our biases, come into
it.

And I try very hard whenever
these hits happen in any sport

to look at it objectively and be
like, do I think that should

have been called whether it's my
team or not?

And I don't think those calls
were right there.

Either, to me.
They're both minors.

Or they're both Majors because I
think they're very similar.

I think they're close enough
that that I have.

No problem with them.
Both being Majors.

I just find it really odd that
the the Lake State hit was not,

so going into that series.
Michigan Tech was winless when

not scoring first.
So now, after a sweep there, now

five and two, when scoring
first, what do you guys think?

Why is the team playing like
that?

Yeah.
I personally think it's a

symptom of being young in the
scorers on the team.

The I would say the all kinds of
Talent on the team.

The high talent for words are
all young and it's not being

able to come back from behind as
a mental thing.

And that's something that
hopefully comes with a little

bit more experience and having
that ability to recover and not

let one goal turn into two
goals.

And yeah, it's It's a sign of
maturity to give up a goal and

then come back out and pressure
and get it back.

I think teams that are immature.
Let It Snow Ball.

I'll hook.
But look what happened with Lake

State this weekend.
We scored the first goal and

they came back down.
What was it?

14?
S like.

So anyway, I was ridiculous
under 30 seconds.

They came back in and as far and
like you're saying that's a sign

of almost a more mature team at
that point, right?

Not Lettin one goal or Or a goal
lead to a lapse.

I think is important.
Yeah, and then the same on the

other token that that's the sign
of text youth that like they

weren't ready for that first
shift after the goal and then

had it made a mistake and allow
to go.

All right away, but the other
side of the coin is you can see

that.
The when they do get the lead

they and they and they're
playing good hockey.

They are talented.
They definitely belong.

And I think it's a sign that the
future is bright.

We just need to develop some of
them experience and maturity

side of the game and that will
come with time.

Like you said, these players
that were talking about are

freshman.
And sophomore they have got more

time and a lot of them are
younger than a lot of freshmen

and sophomores.
We brought in recently.

They're not they're not 20 year
old freshman.

I mean, the PA De le twins are
19 or 18.

So, to go on a little of a side
there, which which pronunciation

is it for them, guys, which one
is?

They?
Don't be going to go bipedal

everybody say but it's the up'.
So they're open to be people.

So Southern piano on their
patellas, but they go by P to

look because they're in the you
pee now.

See you even saying it different
than I would just start with.

How do you say she at the
Catalyst?

Yeah, speed it up a little bit
more of a.

Yeah, the down state when I
first heard that when they came

up, but like what was weird too,
because I could have sworn you

per year.
It sounds so, so wrong, you

know, and it's obviously,
however, you want to pronounce

your own name, right?
Yeah.

I just found out how to say your
name, right?

The first time after knowing you
for 12 years or so.

So yeah, from the from our first
fight Cast recording was like,

oh, it's brown.
Yeah, I actually had no idea.

I was going with the steroid use
for me.

So I know that.
Yeah.

Because I remember when we had
Chad and Blake, and who was the

third way of all that, all three
of them were staring, right?

Chad like an errand and two of
them are brothers, and they were

two of them and all three of
them.

Had different pronunciations.
All use the different.

One of them was he had a love,
ya Priscilla, and patella or

yeah, and then they finally,
Lee, I settled on fertilizing

announcers, it is.
Opposing it out, you just having

to deal with that for at all,
then you tell me this name that

spelled the exact same way.
I'm going to say it.

Three different ways as just
throw your pronunciation sheet

out.
Give up.

So back to the other subject.
I think one other sign of the

youth is the half tricks that
you've got there on like fire

one game and then they can't
write all the next game that

they just and I mean, like,
Grassman totally deserve

recognition.
This His snipe for that second

goal was sick.
I posted that it wasn't the most

is the one that was in a spin
around in front like this.

Yeah, the second goal where he
like, yeah, speaks the guy, and

then like, just wrists it, when
he's already kind of, like

hunched over.
It's so still the goals this

weekend were top-shelf snipers
for both to.

Yeah.
They were, it was, it was

everybody was going.
Yeah.

That first and Rollins going up.
Yeah.

I posted his Awards recognition
post on our on that.

Hockey guide today and then that
I've got the highlight video

with the tuned up to Bronson's
first goal of the weekend and it

is just sick.
Like, I tweeted about like I

stopped what I was doing at
intermission and tweeted about

how sick that goal was great.
The first castle that was that

was nice.
Yeah, they were, they were all

pretty goals and it's nice to,
it's nice to see those kind of

goals, you know, instead of just
the graded, the grade, he wants

to have their place, right?
It's from in front of the net

where the fuck gets in, but, and
we need more of those but we

also need to finish more.
When we get the chance for the

good goal, the pretty goals,
right?

There's something about watching
a guy, come down and snipe top

shells, and watching the goalie
just look behind him.

Like, oh, shoot.
There's just something.

Something better about that.
It's a satisfying.

The satisfying way to see a goal
scored.

That's for sure.
Alright, so Tech is playing

Northern Michigan.
This weary, this weekend in a

home and home of the guys want
to say about that mean northern

sucks.
We can start with that.

Yeah, that's always a good start
there.

I mean, I don't think there's
any anybody will be surprised by

that attitude coming over the
three of us know, but I don't

think would be a good series.
These Northern been playing

pretty well this year.
They they they held on with

Saint Cloud for a pretty decent
series with them coming back in

a couple of games, you know,
being down 0.3 done by three

goals in both their games right
there.

At least one came out.
They were down in both, but they

were down by three in the first
for sure.

I watch the end of that, right?
So it comes, you know, it it's

the same typical crew over
there.

John are no.
The first thing they were up by

three and choked it away.
Didn't they?

Or was it the other way around?
That was the Was the SS Bemidji

a juror, think cloud.
That Momiji.

Almost choked to the way amid,
you lost the one?

Yeah, that was earlier in the
year.

Yeah.
So, Northern Minnesota, state

are tied for first, on the win
percentage in the conference,

both five, and one so far.
It's always been doing a great

job up there.
Yeah, it's good.

I like having it's nice to have
it be competitive.

It makes it a lot more fun.
When you win you win.

There's no doubt about that,
right?

You know, it's it's let itself
to some some decent moments over

the last few years, not that
attack.

Northern series needs to be
built up in any way.

It's, you know, going to be a
good time, no matter what you

got going on, even just the
atmosphere around town, whether

it's Marquette or Oten, you
know, when the games on you,

it's everywhere, right?
So, you know, we've all been a

part of that.
We all had a good time going on

around town with detector Ease
on Down to Marquette, you know,

so it's fun to have that rivalry
actually actually lead to good

hockey for a change to.
Right?

So, The Holmen home format of
it.

I like that to you.
I'm a big fan of splitting it.

Not having it having to go back
and forth like that.

I think is really nice for the
Rivalry series.

It works real well, and it's a
good trip for the Misfits to get

everybody.
And not have to worry about

hotels, so much and get as many
people as I can to go.

I think that's good.
It's good for the Rivalry to I

never liked those types of games
because then well, I like travel

for the weekend, but that's a
little different when you're I

do, like I agree.
I like to go for the whole

weekend.
If I go, but I can see when it's

a local rival like that, two
hours away to, it makes a lot of

sense to have.
And I think that right there,

that right there makes Marquette
the exception, right?

It's it is only two hours.
You can't get home in a

reasonable time.
Otherwise, yeah, I agree with

you a college hockey weekend
should be.

Friday, Saturday's Series, where
you travel for the whole

weekend, right?
Otherwise, it doesn't doesn't

feel normal to me.
I look at like East Coast games

where they play on, like a
Thursday and then go home.

And I just play like, one game
on the weekend.

I mean, I think it's also wait.
What if weird now?

What is that?
Crap when we play Minnesota

state down in Mankato and like,
I make two trips down to go to

games.
Just feels weird that I'm not.

I don't have the overnight and
the crazy after our stuff

because I got to get home.
Yeah.

Well, we're also not 21, 22
years old.

Anymore of all things are a
little different can tell like

to take that like to take my
daughter to the games now and

she has fun them.
Can't quite make it till the

end.
Yeah, that's the road trip.

Being a road trip for a weekend
is I think what makes what makes

Western Hockey works so well.
And it's what makes the current

footprint.
Unfortunately, at this point,

right, makes it tough.
When we're like, Dustin an

island and you too, like the
closest games are in Houlton

this.
Aren't they?

I guess North Dakota.
I don't think so.

He or at Minnesota State this
year.

Now the North Dakota home game
in North Dakota has been the

closest.
So that's that's not good.

I mean I live in the college
hockey waistline in Wisconsin.

So yeah, what is one team for
the entire state?

So I just unfortunate got to
start following a, we act team

and go to those games are go
watch the gamblers soon.

Soon to be casualties in the
state of Wisconsin.

The gamblers have have a
different crowd that I don't

again.
Large crowd is interesting.

Let's put it that way.
I'm not a fan of yelling at high

school students to punch himself
in the face.

That just doesn't seem after
four beers.

Yeah, my style.
That's not my style watching

hockey.
I want to watch hockey.

Not, you know, kids.
I wish we had a yearly killdeer.

Go talk to each other.
It's a good thing.

You're not Canadian.
Well, so it's the gamblers are

there and st.
Norbert's is here too, which

isn't too far.
We've gone to a couple of their

games, but it's not the same.
You know, I'd rather go to a d.

What do you want game?
Of course, right.

So, beyond the tech Northern
Series this weekend, probably

the biggest news.
That's come out, was actually

broken by me on Tuesday.
That Alabama, Huntsville is

filed papers to leave the WCHA
much, like the other seven

schools that already did it back
in.

In June guys, have any thoughts
on that Rob?

I think it's just Huntsville
making sure that they're ready

as well.
I think that's That's what they

need to be doing, right.
Making sure that they're at the

same point, everybody else's.
But it seems, it seems strange.

That that we've basically got
just two teams that are going to

stay.
Is the WCHA going to continue to

live on with the actual to
Western or schools and you take

a name that's been historically,
a footprint in the midwest with

the Colorado schools.
And now it's all that's left.

Is those guys way out there.
Do they keep the name and just

be like, hey, we're running with
this, you left it to us.

I don't know what happens.
Right, if we're leaving the WCHA

and of Huntsville is leaving the
WCHA.

Does the name die at this point?
That's awful.

If you ask me.
I don't know what's going to

happen with the name.
I I'm half convinced that what's

going to happen is either
they'll go for the see accha

mean.
Because Bowling Green has access

to it or they will just buy out
the name and keep it the others.

Whoever's Left Behind.
If there is still a conference

with whatever configuration, you
know, those School those teams

will have to come up with a new
name.

I think it's all so we just need
to remember that.

Just because the seven teams,
all submitted the papers at the

same time to leave the
conference.

That does not mean that those
seven teams are going to go off

and create their own conference
and all stay together.

I think there's a pretty good
chance that it's just a it's

just a sign that there's going
to be another reshuffling of

some kind and those seven teams
and eight if you include

Huntsville are going to end up
in two or maybe three.

Different conferences and maybe
a new conference forms.

And some sort.
I think it's a bad assumption to

think that it's just these seven
schools that are all just going

to leave and start going
conference.

I think, I think that's like
plan, b or c for these teams and

I think that's for Huntsville.
Like, I think they are filing

because with the changes that
have been made at Atlantic

hockey with the full scholarship
availability there, that maybe

they're more comfortable now
that they can maybe get A seat

at that table with their, maybe
with their travel subsidies,

that they been doing in the
WCHA, or a smaller one.

Because there's more teams that
they don't have to go as often,

and there's no Alaska issue
there.

Mmm.
Sure Air Force is kicking in

something to help those schools
get out there, but I think

that's one of their options and
I think they want to get out.

So that if the seven teams leave
and the other things don't

happen, whether it's st.
Thomas, or Arizona, State or

some other school.
You're there.

They're available to be that a
team as a backup and I'm not

sure they're upset about that.
You know, I mean from Huntsville

standpoint.
It's just giving themselves

options mean that's all it is.
Yeah.

Yeah.
I think it's due diligence,

right?
It's what they ought to be doing

at this point now, whether or
not Whether or not they end up

with everybody or not, you know,
who knows?

Right?
Right, and I think they're just,

they're just filing to give
themselves options without

paying penalties because they
can't afford penalties, you

know, just takes away money.
That could go towards that new

Arena.
If it's actually going to happen

or or coaching staffs or buyouts
to get a different coach, if

that's the direction they want
to go, because they're not

looking good this year.
And I know some of my Alabama

friends have talked about change
being needed, despite how much

We thought they were headed in
the right direction, but that's

not what's happened.
So far this year.

Anything else, good.
No, I think that that hashes out

that pretty well, so I guess we
got one segment left to talk

about predictions.
What do we think is going to

happen this weekend between Tech
and lhordern Dustin?

I'm going to do let's say let's
I'm going to say split.

We're going out on a limb there.
I'm going to see a split and

because it's the WCHA and we
know they're going to play

shootouts if they have to.
Let's just go with how many

points out of the six.
Yeah, like so it's you're going

3333 and I know it and I don't
think this will really count but

I'm gonna throw an extra
prediction out there and I think

each team wins on the road.
Okay, Rob, where do is it is

Mark at first or is it Houghton
first this weekend?

It is in Houlton first on ago of
the sweep then just because I

don't want to be like Dustin and
play it safe.

You're going for the taxi.
I'll go for a text.

We the I think the team of
starts the weekend at home.

Get some momentum and carries it
on.

You know, we've had some decent
success down there in the very

recently.
It's been a good time.

You know, it's always always fun
to watch that game down there.

So I think and I hate you don't.
So I don't want to have to even

bother to try to predict one
because I think they're stupid

and ties her fine.
So if I let this happen after

another day because I agree with
you.

I think I refused to even
acknowledge.

They exist with my predictions
going forward this year.

I will not call at I shoot up
prediction once I might get it.

I think they're the worst
things.

Well, here we go.
I'm going with tech with the

five-point weekend.
But I think they'll score three

on three. 30 30 worse than she
goes.

That is both disgusting ways to
solve a hockey game.

You need to you need to get with
the future, man.

Yeah, it's all about, it's all
about the, the, the random fan

that just buy the ticket to
check out hockey.

That's, that's what it's all
about.

You think you think it's too
hot?

We're doing so three deciding,
you know, an extra point in a

regular season on a shootout, go
to the IIHF and there's each

deciding gold medal games and
shootout.

Yeah.
Yeah, the problem I have with

that is you have three on threes
with when you watch like an NHL

three-on-three.
It's good, crisp, fast movement.

The guys out.
There are all high-end Talent

skating, guys, right?
You don't watch a lot of wild

games.
Do you?

You you watch it in the end at
the college level and it's high.

It's just it's grading.
I can't three on three is dumb.

Just don't like it.
Let him play play five minutes

and then if no one scores,
they're even hi.

What's the problem?
I don't get it.

Not everyone needs to win and
everyone needs to lose.

Sometimes, the teams are just
even Okay, let's let's get on to

the next prediction.
So I predict I still hate

another Series.
This weekend is like State at

Bowling Green.
Anybody want to start on that

one?
I think Lake state is grumpy

about the way that they
completely dominated us for

approximately 30 minutes and
they come on real strong on

Friday.
When the first one Bowling Green

comes back and then I'll go with
the split on the second one, but

I like State deserve to win on
Saturday Jurassic.

Basically, stop that from
happening.

I think, like State wins their
starts it off with the, with the

win on Friday, Dustin.
Yeah, I think Bowling Green

rolls.
Two plus goal wins.

V.
Nice.

I think Friday is a close game,
but I do think bowling Green's

going to sleep because I just
think they're that much better.

I do like Lake State and I think
they'll come out.

And I think, Bowling Green will
probably give up some goals, but

I think they'll find a way to
win a dino 32 or something on

Friday and Saturday, they'll
roll.

That's what I think those ones
are dead.

Those are down in Ohio, right?
Yeah.

I think you get the road, the
road went on Friday, then.

And let's always what's your,
should I pick?

How about Ferris State at
Alaska.

The late game.
So hopefully we'll get to watch

it in your right, isn't it?
What was it?

What else should I say?
We do first and I do Alaska

Anchorage versus Minnesota
state.

That's a sweep.
And then we got Huntsville at

Bemidji.
So we could do the who hates

Huntsville series, but I don't
think that one's all that.

And I'm longing, I love the fact
that that's actually a rival.

Yeah, that cracks me up and I
think it's awesome.

It is it's a great rivalry from
the D 2 days.

Right.
Now, the fact that that's

actually a thing is fantastic.
You got two teams that couldn't

be farther apart from each other
geographically, you know, with

the exception of the ego, a
school's, I'm pretty sure but

maybe is the farther.
The farthest north, aren't they

main?
Just discounting the Eastern

schools because of dummy and
really doesn't count till

playoffs.
And anyways, right?

Isn't Houghton further north of
Bemidji.

No, well, they're North of
Highway 20.

Probably, isn't it?
No way.

There's no way to be sure is
true.

Pretty sure holton's for the
north of Bemidji.

Pretty sure.
The look now.

And and since you said that,
we're keeping it in the podcast

to you.
All right, so that makes You

Weep.
Let's pick that series The Hunt,

The Who hates Huntsville series,
Alabama, Huntsville, and Bemidji

State.
It's super close, but veggie as

far they're okay.
I guess highway to must drift

that far north from Duluth,
humble Grand Forks.

I'll Grand Forks as farther
north to.

Holden's.
A bottom, the same level as

Grand, Rapids minutes.
Okay, the keeps drifting North

from there.
Gotcha.

All right, Riven, I'll start
even though Huntsville has been

terrible this year because of
the Rivalry.

I'm going to go with a split.
Well, judging what Bemidji did

to Lake State, right?
That was those The Vig that

experience sweeper about two
weeks ago now.

Yep.
I can't.

Imagine that Bemidji is able to
not keep a little bit of that

rolling and Sweep.
I think Bemidji is going.

But when you take something
over, which is going to take

five points with your winning in
a shootout, one of the nights or

worst.
Just, I mean, they did split

with Ferris last weekend, but
granted that was at Charis.

So, yeah.
All right, everybody gets a

little claustrophobic from the
have to play at Ferris and just

throws your game off.
They're worried about the

ceiling falling on you.
All right, I guess that's enough

for predictions.
That should do it for this

episode of the chasing
McNaughton podcast.

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