The Tommies finished their season in Halifax with a 7-4 loss to the Saint Mary's Huskies. There is no way to sugar coat this folks, we miss the play offs for the second straight year and finish with a 7-19-2 record good for 16 points.
Scoring for the Tommies tonight were Jordan Scott with his first of the season, Scott Judson, Devan Praught, and Kenton Dulle.
Comments have been turned back on. STU fans, we are just like you...frustrated and tired but take a few minutes and think about what you are saying. Vent your frustrations but Please, if someone is an optimist, let them be. And for you optimists, let the frustrated fans be as well. We are all in this together. I don't think the powers that be read this anyway. It was just a fun way to support our hockey teams, it was never envisioned to be what it has become. Just getting tired, that's all.
So STU did not have the best year,but there is always next year.
ReplyDeleteOilslick
What's terribly frustrating is how poorly STU finished up, losing their last eight games. That says something about a team that pure out just quit on themselves. Too bad because they controlled their own destiny and even with their poor play near the end, could have made the playoffs because Dal and Mct were just as bad. But give credit to Moncton for hanging tough and making the playoffs. They'll give SMU a tough first round.
ReplyDeleteWell lets look forward to next season, It has to get better. We were the 2nd worst team in the country going by record just one point ahead of the Ottawa Gee Gees. Bad second half
ReplyDeleteNuff said about coaches and players. No one will show to watch unless something changes. Giant waste of money.
ReplyDeleteGive up St. Thomas fans. Your team recruited well but not better than 7 other teams. Last place team, with a coach who has won nothing, yes sir re that is where I would want to go.
ReplyDeleteBill Hunt reads it. Both coaches read it. Bill does not comment anymore, but i think he realizes the program will not grow beyond bottom of the pack, possibly make playoffs. Both coaches ignore it, because let's face...7 or 8 years of doing wharever you want leads to arrogance. yes they read it and disregard it.
ReplyDeleteProbably time to turn the blog site off.
ReplyDeleteOK ANON@ 8:39....you got me. I'll bite. You are a regular poster with the same message "both coaches". It isn't rocket science to figure out the logic behind the anti "Mike Eagles" sentiment but why coaches? Why Peter Murphy, I presume?
ReplyDeleteHe took a last place program and has propelled them upwards every year. The two best programs in the AUS (St-FX and Moncton) come prepared to fight the Tommies tooth and nail. We may not beat them every game but we do beat them. What's the problem? I think that most everyone on here respects what Murphy has done. Every time the Gleaner mentions him it is in high regard, the other coaches, and then you...did Murphy cut your kid? Maybe he ran over your dog? Tell us.
better to ask that of Jen Myers and past players?
ReplyDeleteTHE TRIED AND TRUE FORMULAE FOR DISASTER!
ReplyDelete-ignore the past recruiting practice
=learn nothimg from those past mistakes
-and perseverate in the tried and true ways for continued failure.
Now,who says that we had a good recruitng year? given the previous years failur and to only come up with 1 goalie.2 top 6 forwrds,and maybe 3 3rd liners and NO DEFENCEMEN to go with some overworked vetererns from the previous year,you consider that a good recruiting year? I don't think so!
An objective evaluation by anybody would reveal that there are still not enough quality players and the ones who are there are being misued and abused and are not benefiiting form being in an environment of higher learning and this has been going on for the majority of Eagles years and has only worsened since the A/D and mens coaching jobs have been combined.
Past mens hockey leadership at St.Thomas effecively collaborated with those friends who delieverd some of the best players to have ever played at STU,why is this not happening nowas far as I can see.
Recruiting is not rocket science but does require representatives on the ground pusueing candidates on a year round and antiisapatory basis,is this happening presently at St.Thomas? I do nor believe so and is unlikely to as I see no effective recruitng vision or modus operendum being put forth by the hockey leadership at STU.
St.Thomas has some well placed former Tommies,Al MacAdam,& Garth Joy to name just a couple who should be able to help but are they being used really or just being kept at arms length because of whatever dives the current coach and his inability to rally and effectively include those people in ressurecting the program.
And here is the zinger,and it's nothing personal,Mike Eagles is not the guy to have anything to do with running the hockey program .
His diciplining actions do not seem to include any meaningful discussions with his players about on ice conduct and his only responce is to send those players to the doghouse ( I am not condoning such on ice behavior) but to remove the opportunity from the player to make amends by sending him to the doghouse for the last 4 games of the season is just not proper conduct for a representative of am institution of higher learning,all of these young men need interventions ongoingly and from time to time as they mature and find their way and I belive that this recent banishment ofDietrich was illadvised and symmtomatic of someone who is just neitther prepared or equipped to deal with such problems,Dietich should have been given the opportunity to demonstrate that he is capable of making better decisions and how can he do that from the stands? he couldn't and there is another educational experience lost to him and his teammates orchastrated by a head coach who probably doesn't appreciate anything about what I have just written.
It is time,passes the time,where decisions must be made as I do not believe that this current travesty with mens hockey should continue.
So... we can't misuse or abuse players but yet when a player makes repeated bonehead cheap shots he should play more?
ReplyDeleteCRAZY HORSE, I don't get your logic.
I do agree with your point of the players being misused. I don't know if abused is the correct word. But it is clear the players aren't being used in roles they are accustomed to.
However, to call Eagles out as a coach for discipline in something that should go on behind closed doors is unfair, and I would like to see your sources as far as that goes.
Cheers,
Mike
Al MacAdam's team were as undisciplined as they come - but the players looked up to him and his ability to recruit and network with Friedns of STU was first rate. I always thought if he could have harnessed some of the guys, they would have been even stronger in those years.
ReplyDeleteThis is a multi-faceted job. There is a debate whether Eagles is the guy to do it. And there should be.
Dietrich, Dulle, others - bad, selfish penalties all year. You can't pick up that many PMs and not have selfish moments - all teams fact it, but it is the timing that is most critical. Perhaps coach should have reigned in "Wild West" and others, but these are not 10 year-olds -- these are young men playing a team game, and if they can't accept it......
PS.
ReplyDeleteDietrich was hurt the last two games, and was suspended the two games before that.
With regard to the two coaches mentioned above. probably the two biggest egos in hockey.
ReplyDeleteMurphy, I will give credit too, he truly has brought a good program together from the bottom up. Mike well the record speaks for it self
ReplyDeletewhat 2 coaches are everyone talking about....about 5 were listen. Eagles, McAdam, Joy, Smith, Murphy...which ones.
ReplyDeleteCrazy Horse, where were you when people were talking about Eagles not making people accountable for their action, unlike UNB. You want to REWARD Dietrich with ice time after coming back from already sitting two games for a gross misconduct and in his first game back, gets a 5 minute major, a 10 and a game. I think it sent a message out to the team that behaviour like that will not be rewarded with ice time. Even with 4 games to go. He makes Dietrich accountable by sitting him, but now you and some are in uproar by that decision. Tommies Nation, make a decision.
another thing too horse, if you going to use big words, use them to make sense and spell them properly.
~Tommies Video Guy~
I did not elaborate much last night,but will tonight.
ReplyDeleteSTU did not have a good year,but not the fault of the coaches and not always the fault of the players.
There were some turning points that could have made an unsuccessful season one of success.There was the blown game vs STFX at the first of the season,perhaps not getting the extra points in OT vs the Squirrels.Not being able to win the crucial games down the stretch.
There were some badly refereed games and some players who made bad decisions during certain games.
Not every year will be a bad one and next will bring a new beginning and better success.
Oilslick
Oilslick, take off the blinders and smell the coffee. The STU hockey program is in disarray and only a major shuffle will right the wrong. Otherwise, it will be more of the same. Eight losses to finish the season and nine losses in 10 games is embarrassing. Not even the most "green'' of Tommie supporters can find positives in that. It's time for the school to act and find out what needs to be done. It's a threehold moment for this program. Unless there is a legitimate effort made to compete, STU might as well follow the Mount A lead and bail out now and put the resources elsewhere. For instance, would love to see the school compete at the AUS level in women's basketball. Maybe even men's basketball as well. Scrapping the hockey program would free up those resources. Maybe it's something the school should look at doing.
ReplyDeleteA fresh start for everyone would be the most beneficial for everyone involved here.
ReplyDeleteChanges need to happen.
I haven't said that all year, but now it's more true than ever.
Losing 9 of your last 10 can't be acceptable, regardless of the circumstances.
The penalties the players took in the last 10 games are unacceptable. Major brain cramps. This needs to be fixed. Motivation? Fatigue? Pressure? Something.
They need a big recruiting year. They need a rock on the back end, someone who can make a good breakout pass. Even two above average defencemen who can make that pass. We couldn't get out of our end all year, and it's a big problem. They also need scorers. The character guys are here if you let them fall back into those roles. The talent is spread so thin you can't see the topping on the bread. We need to get deeper offensively.
The only position we are fine in is goaltender. If they don't have to face so many shots, and if Lavigne doesn't burn out like he did later on this year, we are fine there. MacFarlane should have had more starts, especially in the first semester, but hindsight is 20/20.
Anyway, just musing at this point. If the talent is here, Eagles is a better coach. If the talent isn't here, Eagles is terrible. Is he responsible? Yes. However, he doesn't play.
another discusted fan. What I have said all along it true. Why is hockey the sport to dump money into? Look at the success of vollyball etc operating with no money. Consider the million dollars going into the new rink for hockey rooms alone??? How long would a million bucks float other sports. mne and womens hockey is too expensive for twenty atheletes and 300 fans. female same thing. STU only climbed out of the basement when unlimited dollars became available. Paid coaches, state of the art new rink investment. Get real
ReplyDeleteThe previous post is speaking weird talk. What's this million dollars he keeps harping about at the new rink? STU has some input because they're going to be the main tenants there. It's hardly a million dollars. Hockey is the no. 1 sport in this country, it's the no. 1 sport at the university level in this region. STU has a rich tradition in Atlantic men's hockey, and now women's, too. It's great what STU volleyball is doing "without any dollars,'' as the previous post is saying, but they're playing in the ACAA and in front of friends and family. And they do get some financial help to cover travel costs, etc. I do agree, however, STU needs to get serious about its hockey programs or get out. This halfway stuff is starting to annoy what was at one time a pretty solid fan base.
ReplyDeletei, for one, would love to see a million dollar dressing room! It would be like a palace with a consierge in the washroom and natural running rain water.
ReplyDeleteAnother Tommies debate. People are mad when the mens team spends dollars on a new facility, trying to win. People are also mad when the girls win, we spend too much money so its tainted. Make a decision!! You cant have both.
~Tommies Video Guy~
They did not have a good year ,but they will next year.To the guy who wantsme to smell the Coffee,I drink tea.
ReplyDeleteI believe in what I wrote and am sticking to it.
Oilslick
Hey figure out the cost on two dressing rooms, coaches rooms and equipment room, plus equipment etc. Look at the floor plan, watch cable 10 and do some math.
ReplyDeleteso what your saying is that you dont want your team (since everyone here is a STU "supporter" in a nice dressing room for them to feel comfortable? With a nice weight room for workouts (that will probably be open to all athletes). You dont want Eagles to watch game film in his office where he wont be bothered by the noise of the O'Keefe gym or the LBR public? You dont want STU to have nice gear? fickle supporters!
ReplyDeleteIts probably not a million dollars, but people bitch here about them not winning, but if we do things that will help towards winning, people bitch. If anything helps, I am all for it.
~Tommies Video Guy~
I like your informed response.."it's probably not a million dollars" have you been to Saitnt Mary's rink, Dal, or Moncton? You wanted the facts, I gave them to you. They have a tenents fee in the new rink. You challenge everyone and we know our facts. Argue they Tommies are a good team, at least it takes less typing time to prove you wrong.
ReplyDeleteWhat if it's a million when all is said and done? Still can't believe the city has scaled down the seating from 2,500 to 1,500. It should be 4,000 at least. Then maybe the city could attract a major tenant like the Quebec Major Junior League. Think of the money to be earned from such a venture. Local restaurents, hotels, etc. Instead, we watch Saint John and Moncton get all the goodies and we're stuck with zilch. Thank God STU has committed to the rink. Otherwise, who would play there?
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, the QMJHL wouldn't work here.
ReplyDeleteIf UNB can't commit to more than 3000 a night with the team they have, how can a rebuilding team of 16-17-18 year olds that has no present goals attract any more than 2000?
The honeymoon wears off quickly for a junior team unless the marketing is HEAVY. The league just isn't that good as a whole unless your team is good.
Stu only gets 300 fans!!! Are you thinking "if we build it they will come"? Plus, the rink is a bit away from the current spot. But, you know what? i think i agree with bill hunt. i don't want to play on this site anymore either. it appears to be a site for three people to say things like"ya man, whatever, tommies rock" or "i think a million bucks would give these players a nice place to hangout". The mentality is the same as the blue collar worker making 6 bucks an hour thinking A Rod got shafted at 22 million over three years(sic). I am not certain how good this blog will be with 0-3 comments after each game, but go to it video guy. get your name in print. I think last place is great for our team. i think 8 years is a good transition time for a coach to learn the ropes and then establish building blocks for a successful team etc etc.
ReplyDeleteover and out.
So, instead of just talking about the positives of the team and how a rink could help the team, you attack me and my fandom towards the team. Why wouldnt you want "your" (questioning your support for the team) team in the best conditions possible. I never said last place is great, but we still have a young team that will get a year older next year and we have Mathieu Melanson and probably some better guys to come along.
ReplyDeleteA-Rod did get screwed. haha
~Tommies Video Guy~
stu being stu will only win in the rink they play in now, that is there best chance, people say biggeer nicer rink will help, no not for hard working stu teams, there all 3rd or fourth liners yes their coach is prepared but he is not a good coach, yes he wants to win but no he doesnt not have coaching skills to relay that to the troops, so be cheaper and smarter to keep them there, get new coach,
ReplyDelete