This is Michigan Tech's Huskies on the voice of the Husky mixed 93 WK MJ the Huskies hockey show is sponsored in part by
All right, thank
you
very much.
Yes,
we are at the Bottleson Media Center in the John McGinnis student ice arena with head coach Bill McCall coming off a
Very exciting weekend of C-C-H-A hockey here at the Mac, and we've got another one all ready for you this weekend, Friday and Saturday against Lake Superior State University, 7.07 Friday night, 6.07 Saturday night here at the John McGinnis Student Ice Rida.
Coach, it's been a long time.
I wanted to tell you this right off the bat.
It's been a long time since people, fans have come to the John McGinnis Student Ice Rida, watched two games.
and that I've had that many people come to me and say, wow, how about that hockey this weekend?
Everybody's saying, two great games, two great teams playing.
It was just very, that hasn't happened in a long time where two games have just mesmerized the very intelligent hockey fan base that we have here at the John Beginner Student Ice Arena and here in the Copper Country.
It was really good hockey, wasn't it?
For sure.
I completely agree with you, Dirk.
I had the same experience from people in the community and our fans.
And just an awesome entertainment, just the venue from our band to the fans to the atmosphere here in the Mac.
And then got two great teams going at it.
It was just really good hockey.
The game was played the right way, and both teams played hard, but they played clean.
They played with sportsmanship.
I thought it was just an awesome weekend, a college hockey.
I mean, if you had never got a chance to see it or experience it, you're not going to find it better than this past weekend.
No, it was so even, so much of the weekend too.
And obviously the scores ended up tied 2-2 each night.
They were very similar nights in the fact that, you know, one night we never led, the other night we never trailed.
It just...
I don't know, it just was so much fun.
The chances, I think that was a lot of it, right?
There were some very circus-like chances for both teams that they didn't score on and had the crowd going ooze and oz.
And of course, the circus save that we'll talk to Bardo about later on in the show here today on Friday night, which turned into that late first period goal.
People are still talking about that whole play.
And really, that was a linchpin of the whole weekend.
for us.
I think that doesn't happen.
We might not have the success we had the rest of that game.
For
sure.
I mean, that sequence with that save by Bart was unbelievable.
It's one of the best saves I've ever seen.
You're not going to see a better save.
And then to turn around and get back down the ice.
And six, seven seconds later, the puck's in their net off a two on one with costs and trim.
Yeah, we had a lot of, we hit a lot of iron this weekend.
I
told the guys don't be afraid to hit the iron and go in instead of out, but we're getting some really good looks and chances and yeah, we just hit a lot of, I don't think we scored on our best chances.
Going back to the goal by Trembachy on that play, how smart was that of Koski to just shoot that on net?
To me, you could tell me if I'm wrong, but to me it looked like he was doing exactly what
Predict you what would happen the rebound and a chance to go in.
Well, it's so funny We worked on it last week in practice We've been getting a lot of two-on-ones in games and not executing and we try to make these cute saucer pass plays and You know, we just said hey, let's we're gonna deliver pox and we really we did a drill this week and and did it and started scoring and hitting the net and the games a game of habits, but
These goalies are good, you know throw it at their feet and go to the net and Rebounds are there.
You're not going to get a better better look, but I think it's a great play by Kosk and He's sure playing some great hockey for us
Lucas Brenton
you know, had his ups and downs maybe on the weekend, but can you talk a little bit about his play on the penalty kill and overtime Saturday night coaching?
He was as much of a goalie as Bartle there for a couple of minutes.
Well, just, I mean, soaking those shots and blocking those shots, it takes grit.
It takes, those hurt, right?
That puck's hard and it just speaks to his character and culture and just wants to lay it on the line for, and we got a lot of guys on the PK and
That are doing that for us consistently, but it's sure it's sure a big lift, you know, it goes a long ways
when you when you scouted The Vikings before coming in here and then you see the series and it's happened now It's over with how close were they to what you thought they were before the weekend
for sure as advertised I thought we had a great game plan just with that week off, but you know credit to their
their coach, uh, you know, they're extremely detailed.
They're structured.
They don't beat themselves.
They stay with it within themselves.
Uh, they're very good at, uh, you know, I thought when it, you know, if I had one, two things to take away that, you know, I'd like to take last penalties and then our Poc management at times, I thought when we managed to Poc well, uh, you know, we were.
dominant and then we started to turn some pucks over.
We kind of fed their, fueled their offense and I think they, they're very good at that.
I think they're, you know, a really good team.
Um, Owen Baumgartner, number 96, the senior defenseman for the Vikings.
Uh, we gushed about him all week and long.
To me, he was just mesmerizing with the puck.
What were your thoughts on him coaching?
Was he as good or better than you thought he was coming in?
Well, during the game, you're so focused as a coach on what we're doing and stuff like that.
But when we watched the tape back from this weekend, particularly Saturday's game, he was all over every.
offensive generating play that they had.
He was unbelievable and you could see him on the breakouts.
We kind of made a point in the scout that if F1 couldn't get him, F2 had to kind of contain him on the weak side of the net and kind of have a little bit of a zone four check on him because he's an elite skater.
Tremendous players having a great year for him, but you're bang on.
I thought he was unbelievable for him.
All right, coach.
Well, you've got a back-to-back home weekends.
Lake Superior State coming in here.
Going to be another tough task for the Huskies.
You've got to take care of home ice.
What's the preparation?
What's the thought going into this week of practice?
Yeah, we're a little banged up.
So we've got to kind of manage those minutes.
But it's all going to be about the, you know, we've got to match that same effort that we had, that same intensity.
that we've had.
They're a dangerous team, points are to premium.
You can tell how hard this league is every night.
We've got to take advantage of Friday night, but I think the biggest thing, you know, be disciplined and manage the puck.
And then, you know, if we can just miss it a little bit, maybe a half inch on inside the posts would be a good recipe for us right now.
But I really like our team.
I think we're growing and we're getting better and playing in these tough games.
You realize every night how how you know every play matters and and we just got to continue to stick together and continue to do a lot of things what we're doing and You know, it should be a great weekend.
Hopefully we get another great turnout from from our fans.
Our fans are so awesome.
I mean, it's just Just just love playing in this rink
I don't know if there's a better spot to play college hockey than the Mac.
And you were obviously happy that you got a chance to get some other guys in.
Not that guys got injured, but the fact that you got a chance to get some guys that had not played a whole lot or at all yet this season and they
produced.
such a fan of Laurie Raymond and, you know, he came in and not just the goal, how he played and he stuck with it and, you know, he's earning everything he gets and, you know, he keeps playing like that.
He's going to make a decision for somebody else to come out.
So good for him.
I thought Reed Davatilla came in, played well.
Morgan Brady came in, played well.
We got a lot of guys, you know, stepping up and obviously with Leppa, with Tom going down, you know, that's big shoes for somebody to fill.
So we're going to continue to need guys stepping up and that's really all you can ask for as a coach.
Tyler Miller named the defenseman of the week in the CCHA with his performances over the weekend.
We've already talked to you about him, but it just, I just thought he was really, really good this weekend.
For sure, you know, I good hats off to him scored the power play goal there to give us the lead on on Saturday night.
But his skating is just so he's such a fun player to watch.
He's got that glide on his his he almost, you know, he's gliding on the ice and it seems like he's picking up speed.
Yeah, where he's, you know, I thought him and Kalem Parker, both of them made a defensive play where they had a step and Kalem
back checked from the from the far end and Tyler did the same thing and they just got there in time to lift the stick and you know that's what speed and skating can do but you know that race for both of those guys started about 150 feet from our net and they both got there just in time and whereas I think if another player that isn't quite as great a skater as those two you know we're
probably pucks internet.
Coach two shootout wins.
I know those points are huge come down towards the end of the season.
It won't be our last shootouts of the season most likely.
Is that something that the guys have worked to maybe a little bit more on this year or is it just go and see what happens?
Well it's it's funny we do the shootouts and practice at the end every Thursday and like off weeks we we key on it and guys shoot but you know
It was good to see Max Koski, like both those goals were big time goals.
He got him five hole the first night and then I think, you know, Langevin thought he was going back to it and he held it and then Tram's goal was, you know, he went to the well with the same move, worked the first time, didn't work the second time, but I thought Gordo's move on Saturday was amazing.
Came in and, you know, he's looking shot and kind of
pros them and then roofed it upstairs and then I think Miraman was the only guy to beat Bart on Friday with kind of that nifty little high glove kind of off speed.
Boy that was a
amazing shot.
Yeah kind of that but I Bart stared him down on Saturday and made sure to let him know he got that one but yeah I thought it was exciting you know just a exciting weekend hockey you know we got to continue to build and grow and
You know, I got some work to do.
Bowling Green's kind of got perfect 4-0, but they're playing Augie in two weeks, so something will give there hopefully.
But we just have to continue to take care of our business, control what we can control, and you know, it's getting better every weekend.
Skate with the Huskies Saturday night after the game, folks, and many more things going on during this weekend's contest.
7-07 Friday night, 6-07 Saturday night against Lake Superior State.
University.
Coach, thanks for your time.
Congratulations on a fun weekend and we'll get ready for another one coming up this Friday and Saturday.
Thanks, Dirk.
Appreciate it.
And Coach Bill McCulls, we've got much more coming your way, including when we come back, one of the goaltenders for the Huskies, Owen Bartoskevich.
What a weekend he had.
We'll have some highlights from him and his thoughts on his play.
It's the Michigan Tech Huskies Hockey Radio Show on MIX 93.
Our family likes to keep busy.
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Welcome back to the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey radio show on a Tuesday morning.
Our special guest this week is Owen Bartoskevich the reigning gold tender of the month in the CCHA for October and here we are in November.
Just a fantastic weekend of hockey between two really good teams last week and it's Augustana but you really stood out both nights.
Before we get to the whole circus save I wanted to just get your thoughts on the weekend and what it was like here at the back for you.
Down tight.
There's a shot.
Shoulder saved made there by Fulton or Bartoskowicz.
They get it right back again.
Blocked in shot.
Blocked again.
Hussies catch clear.
Yeah, I thought the team played really good.
I thought we limited their chances as much as we could They're a good team.
I mean they brought all they had and it just happened to work out in our favor
Alright, let's talk about the save at the end of the first period on Friday night that turned into a goal for us They made a couple of nice passes.
Can you just kind of take us through what was going through your mind?
Yeah, so they're coming down on two and one I saw the first pass.
I was like, okay, I'm gonna slide release, you know Make sure he shoots this and then he slides it back towards the other way.
I'm caught sliding.
I was like, well
All I got is my glove, so I just happened to reach out and by the grace I got it at my hand.
Did you go back and watch that several times and were you able to figure out why he went to the backhand and was he not expecting you to be maybe a little bit out of position, do you think?
Yeah, I
think a couple things.
I think it kind of handcuffed him.
It was a little close, so he had to touch it to handle it.
And I think also, I think he just kind of had it made up in his mind.
He's going to catch it and take it back for our side.
I just wasn't there, so worked out.
So
when you make that save and then all of a sudden Koski starts going back the other way and you're standing, there's a great shot of you from behind too, watching that play go down the other way and then eventually the puck goes in the net.
You don't have a big celebration, but I mean, that's got to be an incredible feeling when that happens.
Yeah, I mean, I didn't really know what happened.
I just thought we were on a two on one and I was just trying to stay mellow, not be too excited or anything, just trying to keep the emotions in check.
What about the
shootouts?
All right, Miriaman now, number 72.
Miriaman will bring it down with some speed.
Left-handed shot coming out of Bartoskiewicz, closes it and hooked away by Bartoskiewicz.
Moskiewicz can put it away with Isaac Gordon here if he can score.
Isaac coming down right-handed shot on Lodzjewen, makes a move, scores!
We've been famously not great on shootouts in the last three or four years here at Michigan Tech.
We obviously are getting better at it.
And you were lights out for the most part, both nights, especially on Saturday night, obviously.
Is that a different mindset than in the regular game for a goaltender?
Yeah, I think we've kind of worked on it a lot.
coming here with Zach Richards, we kind of made it a point for me to play more aggressive, be out more in the white, not so much in the crease and just take away a lot of the net because I'm fast enough getting back to the post and everything.
So just trying to apply pressure and make the shooter make the first move.
And what about overtime too?
You need some different animals
in it with three on three and it's got to look different for the gold tender too.
Yeah, I know it's definitely there's a lot more room out there so you kind of have to take what you get and
trying to make your best saves.
Alright, well can you
talk a little bit about going forward now and what do you see out of this team after a tough weekend against August and like that?
Yeah, I mean...
They're a great team.
They showed it, and we played right with them.
I mean, I don't think there's any team that we can't play with on a good night.
And I think we just got to keep bringing our best every night.
Congratulations on a great weekend of hockey.
Good luck this weekend, and we'll talk to you soon.
Thank you.
Owen Bartoskevic, gold tender for the Michigan Tech Huskies, right here on the Michigan Tech Huskies Hockey Radio Show.
Got more coming your way.
Stay tuned on this Tuesday morning.
We'll be back right after this on MIX 93.
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Welcome back from the back Durkheim brought with you on mix 93 WK MJ the Michigan Tech Huskies hockey radio show continuing Michigan Tech hosting the Lake Superior State University and a big upper Peninsula rivalry weekend in the CCH a 707 Friday night 607 on Saturday night skate with the Huskies on Saturday night after the game So make sure everybody brings their skates and helmets if you don't have any or you forget that they do they will have some
Down in the rental area down at ice level after the game on Saturday night But it is skate with the Huskies brought to by Edward Jones financial advisors in Houghton and that will be after the game on Saturday night also Saturday night It is youth Jersey night.
What does that mean?
That means a youth who is three years to 18 years of age wearing a jersey to the game will get a coupon for a free
Small popcorn from the concession stands.
So pretty cool there.
So make sure you wear your jersey, make sure you bring your skates and helmet.
Lots to remember.
on for Saturday night's game.
Friday night's game, Copper Country Junior Hockey Association.
It's going to have some teams playing in between the first and second period.
So we're looking forward to that.
I always love that when the young kids get to play during the intermissions.
It's such a cool thing for the fans.
And I think the kids really enjoy it as well.
Plus all kinds of other great promotions, including another Milk Means More Powerhouse trivia night on Saturday night.
So lots of stuff happening.
Lots of things you can win and just lots of entertainment besides phenomenal, uh, CCHA hockey between the Huskies and the Lakers on Friday and Saturday night.
Don't forget Michigan Tech football coming up this weekend.
Their final game of the regular season and it has that curly stadium.
And we'll be against Wayne State.
The Huskies are in really good position to host the following week in an NCAA game.
So looking forward to that, gotta get by Wayne State and we'll have that game at noon, 11 o'clock pregame on MIX 93 WKMJ.
Okay, before we go any further, let's line up what we have coming up in the CCHA this week, besides the Huskies and the Lakers.
It is a full slate for the first time, I believe, this season.
Bowling Green will be at Northern Michigan
Michigan, playing at the Berry Event Center, same time, 7-07 on Friday night, and then Augustana will be hosting Ferris State at Midco Arena, and Bemidji State will be hosting Minnesota State, and those games will be 8-07 starts on Friday night.
Same for Saturday, Bowling Green at Northern Michigan, Ferris State at Augustana, Minnesota State at Bemidji State, so that's your
schedule for CCHA coming up this weekend.
Not a whole lot of huge games in non-conference play.
Minnesota is hosting Alaska Anchorage, Lindenwood at Denver, UNH is hosting Union and RPI at UMass Lowell, but a Big Ten action Penn State visits Michigan, and Wisconsin will host Ohio State.
Hockey East,
UMass is at Boston College this week in northeastern Connecticut, Maine at Vermont at Providence at Merrimack.
And in the nachos, St.
Claude will host Minnesota Duluth.
We'll keep an eye on that game.
Huskies, of course, have already played St.
Cloud.
North Dakota is at St.
Thomas, former CCHA member.
Western Michigan, a team Michigan Tech, will be playing in the Great Lakes Invitational.
We'll host Colorado College and Omaha is at Miami.
But again, the big games for Michigan Tech this weekend against Lake Superior State University.
It's been two seasons since the Lakers have made their way up here to the Mac.
And so game time, 7.07 on Friday night, 6.07 on Saturday night.
And again, Copper Country Junior Hockey.
teams playing in between periods on Friday night.
And it is Jersey night for the kids.
Youth 3 to 18 on Saturday night.
Milk means more powerhouse trivia.
And of course, Skate with the Huskies, branched by Edward Jones, financial advisors of Houghton.
That is after the game on Saturday night.
So don't forget your skates and helmet.
2-2 overtime ties this past weekend against number 8 Augustada.
The Huskies remained at number 14 Augustada, dropped to number 9.
But both teams still right in the heart of the top 20 standings and it won't be too long We'll start seeing some of those rankings Computer rankings coming out and be out on more of a consistent basis instead of all the other Off brands that we see
leading up to that time.
That's going to do it for our show here today.
Thanks again to Owen Bartoskevic and Coach McCault for being on the show.
And Sam Sears back at our studios, engineering the program.
Thanks to all of our sponsors here on the Michigan Tech Huskies Hockey Radio Show.
And if you are a business owner, would like to be a sponsor, all you need to do is call our studios during the week at 483-405-4 or 423-700 and Civic Media WMPL MIX 93 WKMJ.
That'll do it again.
this weekend Michigan Tech at home 707 Friday night 607 Saturday night make sure you get to the games before you head to the hunting cap.
We'll see you there.
Michigan Tech's Huskies Hockey Show on MIX 93 was brought to you in part by Turbo Agency, Hederland Distributing,
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The Huskies Hockey Show is an exclusive presentation of Michigan Tech Athletics on MIX 93 WK&J.
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We're going to have our high school hockey coaches previews today to head coach at home.
Gremlins, Micah, stick with us to join me.
Thursday to head coach at Hancock.
Bulldogs at Joe Birkar will join me.
And next Tuesday to new head coach at the County McCopper Kings, Glenn Patrick will be on board.
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Our preview this week is high school hockey and early next week we'll add with that as well.
Today my guest is going to be the head coach of division three defendants state champs, Micah Stipp, it's a Houghton Gremlins.
Good morning Micah, how are you doing?
Good morning Jim, doing
well yourself?
Ah, Micah, another day in paradise and I know before I got on here I wanted to confirm you were a Packer fan.
So you must be feeling pretty good about the Packers but a question I got to ask you on the light side, how much longer can they
keep doing this without any running game to speak up it's mind-boggling uh... love is playing but well sooner or later you got to get something on the ground
yeah i mean you know early in the season it looked like uh... their season was almost over where you know it was very discouraging and now they're finding ways to win and that's all you can do uh...
So good for them.
Once our hockey season starts, I don't follow them as closely.
So I didn't watch much of the game last night, but their conference, boy, the central there, they're sure doing well.
All the teams are, aren't they?
Yeah, they sure are in a big game next Friday, or next Monday.
Next weekend, Green Bay and Minnesota.
We're going to see a lot there, and I don't think Green Bay will have an easy time with Minnesota's defense as in the wingman.
i'll tell you what if uh... gonzales uh... new england's all-pro uh... cornerback of that's all they got i'm starting to think they might overpay them but you mentioned like a high school hockey uh... the season is here our first game at this year's be friday november twentieth we'll have the game when you host howl high school will be at the d stadium six thirty pregame that game will be on wimple radio
Mike, coming out of camp, coming out of the state championship year and every year is different.
Yesterday's history, today's a mystery.
I had to run one, say and I love from the late, Mike, you lost an awful lot of firepower.
Going into this season, Mike, first off, give me your thoughts coming out of camp and any surprises, obviously a couple tough decisions with cut day and so on and so forth.
What's the makeup of your club going into this year coming off that magical year last year?
Yeah, thanks, Jim.
You're right.
We did lose a lot of firepower.
96 goals is what we lost.
Guys that are no longer here, and we returned 50, so we're going to have to find some scoring from somewhere, and guys are going to get their opportunity to step into those spots.
I feel pretty good about our group coming out of camp.
A lot of good things.
I just watched our film from the scrimmage the last two days though and I have to remind myself of this year, this time every year there's so much to fix and I just see where we're at and we're so far away right now.
But that's high school sports and starting every year but right now we've just got, we've got a lot of improvement to do.
We're not close right now and so being coached at Kino are working overtime here to get us up to speed before our first game.
But as far as the character in the room, we have a great bunch of kids, hardworking.
I think we can be scrappy and tough to play against.
We're just going to have to find a way to get connected with what we're doing and then our identity and how competitive Houghton Hockey hangs its hat on.
That's something that we're going to have to get out of guys.
Right now, we didn't see enough of it in the scrimmage, and that's our standard that we have to play to.
That's what made us successful last year and in the past.
And so that's what we've got to get going.
And before I get to some of the regulars coming back, the seniors and juniors, in a couple of minutes, Mike, tell us about some of your newcomers.
Okay.
We, a lot of the players that made our team to fill those spots were part of our taxi squad or, you know, had dipped their toes into some games last year on forward.
We moved Kale Rep from defense to forward and at the end of last year, so he's got a little bit of experience there.
He's a big thrown kid.
Chad Holland is a kid who played a few games of this last year.
He's a junior.
uh... reminds me a lot of his brother jay's work ethic and toughness and it's computer off the chart uh... stewart rising in the defensemen of sophomore defensemen who
we
really really like you the young guy who can make plays and uh... there's a lot of things while he was a taxi squatter last year uh... and man and then the kid that moved into town late his parents are from here here is that played for holding in hankhawk i believe
And a familiar name in our area.
He's a big strong defenseman who was played out in Maryland.
He's a sophomore, and so we're learning about him, and he's acclimating, but he's got a promising future there.
In addition to those guys, we've got two goaltenders who are new.
Gavin Ross and Brandon Van Carson.
Brandon was on our JV last season, Junior Gavin.
sophomore is coming from with plain ban on the time last year so those two are filling in and in their first live action coming up uh... they've had great attitudes and are really cold to ball and um... we're feeling good about where they can get to by the end of the season kind of think if i'm missing anybody uh... but that wasn't in our lineup last year i don't think so from that the quick rundown
while returning obviously you got uh... brody domi up front uh...
tell us about uh... nuclear-climbed uh... leadership group and obviously in metal uh... your gold tender is out for uh... probably a good part of season with a significant injury and you mentioned your gold tender situation but tell us about uh... but tell us about some of the guys you got coming back that you're gonna lean on really really heavy going in their first month month and a half season
But we've got the strongest defensive core I can ever remember having.
We had eight defensemen that any four of them could have been a top four D other years that I've coached.
Really remarkable.
One of them we moved up to forward Ian Hembroff.
He's valuable either at either location and right now he's been playing on our first line.
with Brodie Donnelly and Brayden Curry.
Those two guys are the two top six forwards.
We return that we are going to really rely on them to bring a lot of offense and compete.
Brodie's been excellent.
This is fourth year on the team.
very good he leads by example with his work ethic.
It's second and none.
He won our hardest worker award last year named after Roger Louis Hussle award and he's that kind of kid and he can score and make plays.
So he's a real leader on the front end.
The back end, we've got a lot of guys returning.
Porter Markham was a kid that we relied on down to the stretch of big strong kid last year, the senior.
uh... you remembered uh... west madeline jake mattin were a younger duo last year that now that will have a bigger role this year and one kid that uh... really has stood out that is stepped his game up from last year gunner flax i mean he's a six one two hundred pound defenseman who was injured for most of the season and he's really been on a mission his compete level and uh... work ethic is
has been very good.
He can be a physical presence.
We've got other guys, but those are some of the guys that have stood out so far.
In your schedule, obviously, loaded with the traditional rivals, Hancock, Marquette, Jeffers.
The team's coming in, and obviously, you've got Gabriel and Charlotte coming up.
and uh... holiday classic we've got four downstate teams you've got birmingham brother rice coming up that can be at the sdc as well the uh... or the brother ice game will be at the d up right in the game will be at the sdc the area reps at jackson united uh... game i'm looking forward to at the back end of the year no today in green bay that's where you wrap your season up with and people are going to have to work hard when all heartland decided not to come up this year they're going to make cut their two hundred miles after a trip
They're going to play Marquette Nescanaba.
That's one game I'm going to miscover and sadly they're not coming back.
I'll tell you what, you filled in those blanks on top of I think your first trip to Minnesota coming up December 4th and 5th, correct?
That's right.
You know, I feel really good about our schedule and could talk endlessly about why we do what we do, but you know, we've got a tough opener here against Jeffers who I think were very evenly matched on Friday will be a great game.
the whole game next week.
That's one of the circle.
I think it's going to be a really physical hard-flocking that was last year.
They beat up on us.
It is hard to play a team like that early in the year.
The downstate teams are generally ahead of us.
They have been playing there in mid-season form.
Those kids have been playing in whatever leagues they're playing down there and practicing and our kids have been playing football and hunting and doing other stuff.
They get a jump on the season, and so that's going to be a battle at the D this year.
The Marquette series, I think we have a growing rivalry there with Marquette, especially now that we've been meeting in the playoffs, that they are a Division III team.
So I know that that is going to be a big weekend there over Thanksgiving.
He mentioned our trip to Minnesota.
So happy we could finally make this work.
We're excited to head down to, we're staying in Litchfield.
There's a lot of local connections there, boy.
I know we've got kids on our team who have relatives there.
and everybody knows somebody that lives in that area and in the Copper Country so that's going to be a blast looking forward to that.
You know the tail end of our schedule and you mentioned Notre Dame but we have work through Lake St.
Mary coming up here late January.
That will be a rematch of the state finals and Bay Reps is a rematch of the semi-finals.
Some big games to look forward to in addition to our local rivalries.
And obviously, Micah, my first game this year, and I like to call my bucket list to her, okay?
I never covered Howell, so that's, ironically, that's the first game on my dock at this year, November 20th.
They're a traditional power.
And you mentioned Orchard Lake, St.
Mary with the new coaches that the team
used
to beat last year in the finals.
Boy, a couple of signature games right off the bat.
Again, you're not in the conference.
Next year, you're going to join the conference.
But in a minute or so, Mike, maybe two minutes, just your quick thoughts on the local competition you're going to be facing.
Yeah.
You know, I mentioned that they were the other day that I thought Hancock was a team to beat.
They returned the most.
They've got a really good group there.
uh... and then uh... and jeffers were evenly matched they've got a couple high and max north from his uh... is going to be one of the better right forward in the state in my opinion um... and and i think it's played calm in their defenseman a third-year kid who's got a ton of experience are two of the kids that you know we are going to have to be aware of the start with them and from young guys there i really like this a little reddit rendel kid uh... and and they've got some other players there
Callimet is a big question mark.
They just started.
They were late because of football and have a lot of holes filling in new coaching staff.
But we know that at the end of the year that they'll be right there competing for a regional title like they always do.
Those are my thoughts.
I think Marquette always will, you know, they have so many kids in Marquette.
They're always going to be a deep team that has deep at every position and have great coaches and they are going to be a threat and, you know, could be the best team in the UPS here.
We'll, we'll see how that goes.
Um, I know Askinob is down, but they have some good young players coming along.
So again, I think it's similar to last year, a very evenly matched group of teams that are going to do well in the state.
here in the U.P.
And I believe I'm going to have your Marquette game down on Marquette as well.
I love the afternoon games, Micah.
I think I told you that a million times.
Well, we're happy to be playing that one earlier to get back home at a good time as well.
Part of the reason is that they have Northern plays right after us and they kind of work out a doubleheader there for Marquette Hockey fans.
Oh, perfect.
You mentioned a new coachy staff up in Caliment.
Well, someone's lost and somebody's gained.
You've got Daniel Kino on your staff.
what a welcome addition uh... that is obviously tell us about the rest of your staff like it before you let you go and get ready to uh... take care of tomorrow's youth up in your regular job at the elementary school
yeah yeah i've got a safety patrol meeting here at noon today together at work uh... we've uh... you know we won the lottery with Dan it's just fantastic to have him one of the best coaches in the state and i just so thankful and in just a minute
an incredible person.
First and foremost in our defense group he's been working with already and that's been a great fit.
Very thankful to have him.
Will Steyer and Andrew Lampinen are continuing to work with our goalies.
Our goalies are very fortunate there and Brian Conkel is another coach that's been volunteering, stopping in several times a week and we're really fortunate to have him.
He worked with our guys over the summer as well.
Fred Ganey, we've got an excellent JV coach.
Our JV team is strong this year.
We're really fortunate to have such an excellent coaching staff of committed guys here at Holton.
And I'm sure overseeing the whole thing is the unofficial advisor hockey.
I'm sure Coach Markham sticks his body in the locker room every now and again for so much.
We're communicating on top.
You know, it's road trials.
He's back and forth already today.
And yes, sort of said that he is unofficial advisor for sure.
And so grateful for his wisdom and oversight and sounding board and everything else.
Well, Mike, as you do, it's been a blast having you with us and can't wait to get the season going.
And basically, Mike, in closing...
Your team, every year is different.
I know me and Corey talked about this, me and you talked about it.
I know Coach Buracar, I know Aaron at Jeffers, Dougie Garrow, every year is different.
Your team this year, you might be challenged a little bit offensively coming out of the gate, but man, teams are gonna have to work hard against you to get some goals because you lock it down at the back end with intensity three, maybe four, number one is correct.
Yeah, I sure hope so.
That's the plan.
And like I said, we've got a long way to go right now to get there.
But I think that the group is determined and we can get there.
So I think you'll see real physical, hard-working style from us when we get to where we want to be.
Well, Micah, just keep in mind, I'll be reaching out to you before my game on the 20th.
I get to meet your new trainer because, as usual, you're going to get someone in the lobby to help me bring some stuff up the stairs.
with my body that has more artificial parts and real parts in it, so I hope I can still utilize that mulligan.
Yep, we've got some managers that are, we've got some muscle that will help you out,
Jim.
Alright, Mike, as you as well, it's been a blast, and thanks for joining us.
We'll get you back throughout the season, okay?
Thank you very much.
And as the head coach at Holm Gremlin's Micah Stippett joining us on our High School Hockey Coaches preview, we'll have Joe Burkard of Hancock Bulldogs Thursday, and also new head coach at the Kelly McCopper Kings, Glenn Patrick, will join us a week from today.
We're going to send it back to Sam in the morning.
Thanks, Sam.