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And Bueno stands back, rolls right, stops, fires across the middle to Nick Norr at the 50.
Player fell down, he's got to run his way down.
20, 15, 10, 5, touchdown Huskies!
Good morning to all of you out there.
Thank you for tuning in to mix 93 in the uber.
I am your host Sam Sears and this is this week in Huskies Athletics your way of keeping up to date with Michigan Tech Sports.
Michigan Tech had a successful weekend and they could have a busy weekend coming up.
The number 14 ranked hockey team had a pair of ties and shootout wins over number eight Augustana.
Tyler Miller, Luke Shipley, Laurie Raymond and Tayden Trembecchi scored the goals.
Olin Bartoskevich had a .938 safe percentage in the two games.
Tech is now 6-2 and 2 overall, 1-1 and 2 in the CCHA.
This weekend they're hosting Lake Superior State, Friday at 7-0-7 and Saturday at 6-0-7, both games at the John McGinnis Stone Ice Arena.
There will also be a skate with the Huskies Saturday after the game.
The No.
14 ranked football team overwhelmed No.
12 Devonport, not allowing a single touchdown and handing the Panthers a 37-6 loss on Saturday at Curly Stadium.
They improved 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the GLIAC.
The wrap of the regular season this weekend, hosting Wayne State on Senior Day, kickoff is set for noon at Curly Stadium.
The volleyball team split its home week, falling 3-1 to Northern Michigan on Tuesday and sweeping Roosevelt on senior day Saturday.
The Michigan Tech women's basketball team opened its 20-26-27 season with a 69-65 victory over Winona State back on Monday at the STC gym.
They'll now travel to Wisconsin Dells to play upper Iowa on Friday and Lewis on Saturday.
And the men's basketball team begins its season in Wisconsin Dells playing with Nona State Friday and Missouri St.
Louis Saturday.
So a very, very busy week for Michigan Tech.
So busy in fact that we only have two press conferences this week.
So let's get right to them.
The first press conference will be with Phil Milbraff, who's been the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator for the Michigan Tech football team for
10 years.
He was first asked how it feels to get the jump on Davenport.
It was a solid team win.
You know, we went into the week, obviously a highly anticipated matchup with with, you know, obviously Gliac ramifications as well as playoff possibilities.
So going in, we know they're good stopping the run and they rushed the ball at the top of the nation, right?
So
Obviously, the objective there was to be able to run the ball and stop their run.
And I thought that offensively and defensively, really complimenting each other, get some stops, then offense goes and scores or vice-versa offense.
The scores, then we get the stops.
So allowed for us to get out to an early lead there and then be able to play our game from there.
So overall, I think we're all very pleased with how everything started and then how we carried that out.
He was then asked how it feels to see the team play the way they did back on Saturday.
Yeah and you know we just talked about it playing complimentary football right and so there's been times throughout the year where we did a really good job of playing complimentary football and obviously to be able to put together the success we've had at this point but for a full game that was really what we challenged the guys to all week and to see them come out and perform the way that they did.
obviously gives us things to continue to build on, right?
But shows us that our guys are bought into peaking at the right time right now, and carrying that over to this week as well, right?
Because obviously, we've got to finish off the regular season here, defend home turf, send the seniors out the right way in our last regular season game here at Curly Stadium.
But at the end of the day, that's the same things we preach every week, right?
And to be able to see it come to fruition, I think that shows the guys what we're capable of, right, against a solid team like Davenport.
We look forward to seeing more of that as we head here into this week and then potentially the next few weeks.
Assistant head coach Mill Brath then goes over how the team will keep the momentum when they go against Wayne State this weekend.
Yeah, well, I think, you know, our whole mindset from the start of fall camp has been one day at a time, one week at a time, one opponent at a time, right?
And so our approach this week is no different.
Let's call it, I guess, the cliche, a faceless opponent.
No matter who's getting lined up across from us, we're not going to underestimate them.
We're going to treat them the same way we've treated every other opponent this week.
So I guess if you look at the numbers on the record, yes.
Wayne State doesn't have the amount of wins that some of those teams you just mentioned.
But at the same time, if you put on their film, there's a lot of good football players over there.
And we can't expect to just roll the football out and think that we're just going to walk all over anything.
That's just not the way we do it here.
At the end of the day, we're not looking so much at what their win losses is.
approach the same way that we have for every game this year.
And that's one week at a time.
Here's our opponent.
Here's how we game plan.
Here's how we need to execute against them to be successful this weekend.
He was then asked, what else is he looking for in the team?
Again, we talked about earlier with David's question about how we played complementary football and we were able to play a complete game this past weekend.
And that's the same thing we're going to look for this weekend.
And again, it's the expectation every week that we play a complete game.
And if we keep all 10 of our toes on our feet, we've got a good chance that.
that way.
And so it's the same thought going into this weekend.
Again, we want to play a complete game.
No matter who's in the game, we want to play a complete game.
We want to compliment each other with offense, defense, and special teams.
And that's really what we're looking for as we head into this last week of the regular season.
And then beyond that, we'll see where things line up, right?
But we've got to take care of this week in first and foremost.
Millbrath then talks about what the seniors on the team mean to him.
Quite a bit, right?
Obviously, any group of seniors that comes through.
And I've been back here coaching since 2017, right?
So there's been a lot of guys.
in and out through senior day.
And so everybody plays a significant role in what Michigan Tech football is.
And I think for us and this group of seniors specifically, they came in at a time where there was transition being made in the program.
They bought into everything that.
was being talked about, carried over some of the good and the habits that we had already established and really took things to the next level.
And I think that this group of seniors has done a great job, whether they were young and kind of waiting their turn and putting their time in the development and allowed their games to grow before getting too antsy, let's say, right?
Or thinking maybe they were supposed to be up before they were, right?
And so obviously all of them are contributing at a pretty high level right now because of
the work that they've put in over the past five years, not just this year, right?
So I think it's a special senior class.
But again, it starts when they're freshmen, when they come in, right?
It's right from the first day they get here.
They know what the expectation is and how they're going to go about their business.
And obviously, it's great to see that come to fruition at the end
here.
Lastly, the coach looks to the weekend.
He talks about Wayne State and what they do well.
Yes, so I guess I'll speak mostly for the offensive side and the special teams part of things.
They are
You know, they're going to give us some different looks and different things defensively and even on special teams where
We haven't seen those types of looks yet this year, right?
So some things are new to us.
They do do a good job of forcing turnovers and making offenses, you know, get into positions they don't want to.
And they've got enough athletes and good football players running around to, again, make plays.
And if we're not focused on what our jobs are each play at a time, right, that that's going to make us pay, right?
From the special team side of things, they've used a lot of different guys that punt and kick.
So a good mix of guys that we have to prepare for.
And then even offensively, I know they've played a lot of different.
guys and kind of finding their niche and their role.
So again,
You may look at a winless record, but on film they give you a lot to prepare for and a lot to have to execute on your own end Or else again, they're gonna be in the game.
They're gonna make it a game and and you know, they're good enough to upset anybody So again, the focus has got to be on what we need to do well and executing what we do and having a really good week of preparation here So that again, we can handle some of the different things that Wayne State's gonna give us that we haven't seen to this point in the year
Once again, that was assisting head coach and special teams coordinator of
the Michigan Tech football team, Phil Milbrath at his press conference this week.
Again, the Michigan Tech football team is taking on Wayne State and noon at Curly Stadium.
This is the last match of the regular season, so you should be there.
Go to buy huskiestickets.com or go to the SDC Central Ticket Office.
It's time for a break.
This week in Huskies Athletics is powered by MichiganTechHuskies.com.
Nick's 93 brings you Michigan Tech hockey from the Mac this weekend as the Huskies host the Lakers of Lake Superior State University.
Our exclusive WKMJ coverage starts at 6.30 Friday night and 5.30 Saturday.
Speaking of
Saturday.
The
football Huskies hope to solidify a postseason game at home where the win against Wade Stathis Saturday to finish off the regular season.
Join us at 11 in the morning for our Huskies live tailgate broadcast from Curly Stadium with kickoff set for noon.
If you can't be there, be here.
Michigan Tech Home Hockey and Football this Friday and Saturday only on the radio voice of the Huskies.
Mix 93.5 and StreamGlive at TheMix93.com or on your free Civic Media app.
Come on!
Next for Michigan Tech, Kaden Krenbecki.
He's got a goal here tonight in his return coming off of injury.
He'll take his time coming down.
Left handed shot.
Krenbecki makes a move, and over!
Goes back down, and the Huskies go up 2-1.
Huskies can put it away with Isaac Gordon here if he can score.
Isaac coming down, right handed shot.
On launch event, makes a move, scores!
Welcome back to this week in Huskies Athletics on MIX 93 in the UPA.
I am your host Sam Sears.
The two clips you just heard were the game-winning scores from both Knights from Michigan Tech taking on Augustana from both of their shootout wins.
If you ever want to listen to both of those thrilling matchups again, you can always go to mix93.fm and click on the Sports Archive tab.
Now, getting back to our press conferences, we have the head coach of the Michigan Tech Huskies, Bill McColt.
He was first asked about how he feels about the two ties and the weekend as a whole.
For the league, they count, you know, get the extra point.
For the MPI, they count as ties.
So I thought the weekend was electric.
Hats off to Augustana.
Great hockey team, extremely well coached.
I thought just
Great weekend for college hockey the entertainment value was I think fans were on the edge of the sheets
I just love our band, love our fans, our students.
Just an awesome venue for college hockey that I thought the Mac was electric.
The coach then talks about how it was to have Tatin Trembachy back.
Yeah, I think Friday night's game was probably one of the best games, probably the best game I've ever seen him play that I've coached him.
You know, he scored a shootout winner, made a great play pass and assist and scored a goal.
But yeah.
He's a big deal for us.
He drives our offense.
When he's going, we're a better team.
And certainly seeing Shipley jump up and be involved in that three on one, that's what you're hoping on a kid like him, isn't it?
For sure.
He's got offensive instincts, and he won his race.
And I think it's just a great play by Tram, you know, to recognize that ship's coming and, you know, really well-played shot by ship, but a big goal for our team.
Coach McColl was then asked what he saw from Tyler Miller in the past couple games.
Yeah, CCHL, or CCHA, sorry.
defenseman of the week.
I thought it was fantastic.
You know, made a play Saturday night on on Laurie Raymond's first goal off a faceoff win.
Obviously scored a power play goal that was big to give us the lead on on Saturday night.
But his skating.
He kind of is one of those players that when he's gliding, he seems to pick up speed.
So he's such a smooth skater.
You know, he's he's a fun player to watch, fun player to coach.
He's doing some great things for for our program for our team.
He then goes over how the repairing for Lake State this weekend.
Yeah, it's just we know it's going to be a dogfight.
We know it's going to be a battle of war.
You know, they're a dangerous team, so we're going to have to to match the intensity.
And then we're going to have to continue to play within ourselves, manage pox and play discipline hockey.
So those will be keys for us and start on time.
Bill McCull was then asked to talk about Owen Butterskivic and his growth as a leader.
For sure.
work quarter of the way through the season now.
So, you know, there's definitely a bigger sample size for our group.
In particular with him, I think he's calmer.
He's more poised.
I think he's just...
He looks so comfortable back there.
And he's playing the puck better, all facets of his game.
He's obviously stopping the puck, but he's given us a chance every night.
Big believer in him, excited for his growth.
And yeah, I think our team has a lot of confidence in Bart.
And lastly, he talks about Laurie Raymond and his goal.
Yeah, I'm a big fan of Laurie Raymond.
He's really popular with the guys and the team.
He's got a lot of respect.
He's a team guy.
It's a great problem to have when you can insert a player into the lineup and not just score.
I was so excited about how he contributed.
He played rock solid defensively, managed the puck, making plays, and getting rewarded like that speaks.
I mean, that's what you want as a coach.
Guys come in and make a difference and add value to our lineup.
And he's doing that.
And he keeps going like that.
It's going to make it hard to take him out of the lineup.
Michigan Tech Hockey Coach Bill McColt's press conference at Michigan Tech.
Now again, going over the weekend schedule one last time.
For Friday, Michigan Tech men's basketball begins their season taking on with known as State of Wisconsin-Dales at 4.
Women's basketball is also at Wisconsin-Dales taking on Upper Iowa at 6.
And the Tech Hockey team plays Lake Superior State here at home at the McGinnis-Stuana Arena at 7.07.
That game will be broadcast on MIX 93.5 FM WKMJ.
For Saturday, football host Wayne State at home at Curly Stadium at noon.
They'll broadcast on MIX 93 as well with an 11 AM pre-game.
Men's basketball then takes on Missouri St.
Louis at four, followed up by women's basketball taking on Louis at six.
And to wrap up the weekend, it's the second Michigan Tech hockey match against Lake Superior State.
This matchup at the McGinnis-Stu Nights Arena begins at 6.07 and the broadcast starts at 5.30 on MIX 93.
Skate with the Huskies will be after that game, so be sure to attend in person if you can.
You can get your tickets at BuyHuskiesTickets.com or go to the SDC Central Ticket Office.
And so that will do it for this week in Huskies Athletics.
I have been your host Sam Sears, have a good day and go
Huskies!
You've been listening to This Week in Huskies Athletics, here on the exclusive radio voice of the Huskies, Mix 93 and WMPL radio.
This week in Huskies Athletics is sponsored by MichiganTechHuskies.com.
Your go-to source for everything Michigan Tech sports, including scores, schedules, game highlights, coaches interviews, live stats, and more.
This week in Huskies Athletics is a presentation of Civic Media.
Well thank you Sam Sears and good morning everyone.
My guest today is again part of our high school hockey coaches preview show.
Second year coach at Hancock Boulevard Joe Burkart.
And coming up next Tuesday, well first year...
Head coach of the Cali McCopper Kings Glen Patrick in this past Tuesday a few days ago.
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And next time you head to Packer Land, USA.
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Through December, rooms available Thursday through Sunday.
Obviously, a non-hacker weekend.
And also, they've launched a holiday gift card promo.
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every one hundred dollar tenderloj gift card purchase you get two free water park passes next time you had to bring bagel in a tenderloj resort green bay wisconsin and i'll tell you what the lazy river is a beautiful place to be this time of year and we're gonna bring the head coach and handcock bulldogs joe birkark joe do you agree with my assessment of the lazy river at the tenderloj resort green bay wisconsin
i'd definitely agree to jimmy
the beautiful places in a joke
it is it's a very nice place it's been years since i've been there but uh... i i'm i recall it
It's very nice.
Well, Joe, we talk about lazy rivers, which means it's nice to be indoors once winter comes.
That also means another thing.
Our favorite time of the year.
Hockey season is upon us.
You're in your second year with the Hancock program.
Trying to resurrect it, sort of say, had a great fitness last year, especially.
Give me your thoughts coming out of your first year, Joe, before we get into the makeup of your club this year.
I thought we had a good year.
You know, overall, record-wise, we were 14, 11, and three.
We did a lot of good things throughout the year.
We did well in Trenton.
We played three games in Trenton.
Not part of the showcase, the first game, but we, in the Trenton showcase, we won 2-0.
We beat Houghton in the Wayne Dane, which was always a big thing for the Hancock School.
And besides the wins right there, it was just, from a coaching standpoint, it was fun to see the improvement of each player.
And as a team, it continued to get better as the season went on, which was really great.
That's what you want to do.
You want to improve as it goes on and you want to be playing your best hockey at the end of the season.
And I think overall we're happy how the season progressed, how the individuals progressed.
But we're looking for, we're looking to improve off of what we did last year.
And obviously Joe, the showcase, I think me and you talked afterwards.
I got a few calls when I was down there and on my way home are people who had a chance to see your group play.
We're impressed with the style of hockey they played.
They bought into your system, played a solid 51 minute game.
And I'm pretty sure you probably back one end of the back end of last year through to regionals into this season, correct?
Absolutely.
You know, and we were a young team last year, but also, you know, we lost some very good seniors last year.
But at the same time, we got a core coming back and, you know, the best part about it, the kids had fun last year.
From a coaching standpoint, you love to see that.
And again, I know I'm repeating myself, but they improved us.
individual players, but also as a team, as a whole, we improve.
So, you know, that's what you want to see.
You want to see these young kids have fun, enjoy the game that they love, and improve as the season progresses.
And that's what we're looking to build off of definitely this year.
As a second year coach, you're starting to take over some more responsibility to scheduling, which always can be a nightmare at times.
And you're getting some of these teams from downstate back on your schedule once you lost them.
A feature game, late near, you got Notre Dame or the Green Bay coming up, who's a powerhouse in Wisconsin.
I bought a team I covered years ago.
The last time I did a Northland Pines game, Muggsy the point was right around the hallway
in the
middle of Muggsy.
God love him, hey, Joe.
Yeah,
God, God love him.
You know, we do like our schedule.
And as a coach going into any season, you put a lot of thought and planning into how you want your schedule to be laid out and when you want to play.
I think it's fortunate that we got Notre Dame on our schedule.
And I'll thank Houghton and Micah.
They had planned to play them, but they added us as a second game.
So we'll definitely take that.
Last year, we worked out a good agreement with Eagle River, Wisconsin.
They actually won the state championship last year.
We'll have them at our barn this year, which is great.
And then the third Wisconsin team, we have Bayport coming up.
So we're looking forward to not only those three Wisconsin teams, but overall the schedule.
You know it, Jimmy.
You've covered this area for a long time.
You know the Cayama, Chepers, Houghton, Haycock teams, whoever comes out of here is going to do extremely well in the state finals as they move along.
So great competition for us throughout the year, and they'll prepare us for the
playoffs.
Joe, I think I told you many times, lateheartedly, they got my name in the Plymouth press box.
So I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing.
I guess that means I'm all up.
No, Jimmy, I'm going to say that's a great thing.
You're a solid veteran and you should have your name in there.
Well, Joe, before we get to Summoner Returning players, coming out of camp, tell us some of your newcomers and some of the new kids that really opened your eyes at you weren't expecting.
And just kind of in a few minutes to make up of the new additions of your club before we get to Summoner Stalwarts.
Yeah, sure.
You know, with the light camp and for this
Simple reason, you know, unfortunate reason.
Well, good and unfortunate.
You know, Lee Clinton football had a great run and unfortunate.
They lost last weekend, but there's four quality players that played football right up until last Saturday.
So we were missing them for tryouts.
And then the other part of that, we had four other guys out just due to injuries.
You know in the camp our trials we had low 20s for trials with you know eight guys missing so newcomers that we did add to our roster Up front we got rich carol nice nice freshman played a lot of travel hockey through the proper country junior hockey system double-a system Daniel sterles on the on defense another kid that's been in our system Hancock system for a couple years I had a few you know we practiced with us a lot February late January February So we got a taste of good little speed and and the strength of the varsity
the game.
Another nice freshman on defense is Deacon Kelpo, a big kid.
He's going to add size and competitiveness, toughness to our lineup, which we really, really like.
And then on the goal-tending, we have Henry Carey, and we have Blake Hellman and Connors, brother.
So pretty unique situation that we have two freshman goalies.
And again, another unique situation.
We had three senior goalies last year.
Yeah, it's, you know, I think with goalies over the years that I've experienced, it's Feaster Fam and we're very fortunate to have the two freshmen that we do.
Very happy to have them, the freshmen coming in.
And then going back to our veterans, Ben Karenin, just a solid athlete, baseball player, quarterback on the football team.
He's returning for his fourth year as a senior.
Teddy Coppola Jr., Luciano Piolli, Nolan Hanner, and then we'll get a couple of the Oxford boys back.
Brady Oxford and Tyler Oxford are healthy, so they'll be playing.
right now.
Another one, Connor Hellman and Blake's brother.
He's back for his third year.
So we have in and in the back end, we have Jack right here.
Chase Karen and Tyler Axford.
Trent Pieddle is a returner.
He had a cup of coffee at the end of the year.
He had a couple of games with us.
Earned, I should say, a couple of few games.
So he's practiced with us in Blade January, early February due to injuries last year, but earned the right to be there.
So we've got a good core coming back.
You know, practices this week.
We've finally had a full, I should say a full roster.
I would say three quarter of a roster to practice on ice.
So
It was kind of nice to see and we'll hopefully get good things to follow.
And you mentioned, Joe, you know, you're dealing with now, excuse me, Kelly Middell with Over the Years, with the co-op with Lake Linda and obviously the outstanding football program they got, where you got to push everything back a couple of weeks.
And the triplets, I love the Atchfords.
Now, one is still going to be out with the significant ankle injury separate of football.
what's the timeline for him coming back if you had to just guess i've been told by brector bay uh... even uh... like when the coach and i've been dealing with them with some of my personal stuff that probably after the calendar turns and you know that that that's that's something that you're probably during for going forward correct
yeah i would be that they'd be safe to say that i mean what would look at that for them i don't want to forget mentioning uh... force the court he's another one that to break into our watches right now that
I think, you know, at Lucas, if we see him after the first year, that'll be tremendous force.
You know, unfortunately, he just had surgery a couple weeks ago, so his timeframe for coming back is, you know, we can cross our fingers, I wish for the best.
And we sure miss him, especially these two kids who are seniors.
We'd love to have him on the ice right now, but, you know, the timeframe is extended.
So cross our fingers, we get him back.
You mentioned your goal-tending.
From what I hear and talking to the other coaches, a lot of people have you guys tabbed as possibly the favorite here.
But tell us about the two freshman gold tender.
I understand you're very positive about them, obviously.
There's a pretty good upside there, isn't there?
There really is.
I mean, you know, as freshmen, you know, you can be while you got freshmen.
We can be worried about that.
But honestly, from a coaching standpoint, they're young kids.
They're going to be fine.
Their mentality is they're got a smile on their face.
You know, they had a summer workout program that, you know, they went through.
days a week.
Each week in the summertime at 6.30 to 7.30, those kids are there every day working out.
They did a lot in the fall to pair themselves.
So both of them are ready for this next step.
And in their practice, they compete at a high level.
So whether you say they're freshmen or seniors, to the point, if we have a good team in front of them to support them, like anything, we're going to be fine.
And great example is that the Frozen Four Jimmy last year, four freshmen goalies.
You know, you can throw that out the window.
And we were walking the streets of Vegas.
That was an absolute riot down there.
And you look at that, so yeah, maybe it's not apples or apples, but at the same time, I like our freshman.
We like our freshman.
I don't want to say the word I. We like our freshman.
I like their mindsets, their competitiveness, their attitudes.
You could ask for anything else.
So we're very happy about those two.
Well, Joe, I'm big on poultry, you know.
Louis?
I
know, Jimmy.
The late Notre Dame football coach, he always had a say in it.
There's two good things about freshmen,
they're
eager to learn and by the time you're happy through the season, they're actually sophomores.
And you know what?
I mean, there's a lot of truth to that.
By the halfway through the season, they're going to be experienced.
That is for sure.
So that includes our other new guys.
They're going to be experienced by Christmas time.
So we're going to protect them best we can as coaches and take care of them.
But at the same time, we're going to give them that experience up front and let them run with it.
And Joe, yeah.
Continuity, that's one thing you want to get over in Hancock, what you have now.
I've seen it firsthand how the kids bought in your system from the start of the year to the end of the year.
I could notice it, especially when I wanted to see you for a couple weeks.
You could see the growth, practice by practice, day by day, week by week, month by month.
and uh... again you've got some uh... party your your leadership you've got a really good staff with you
we do it and can't say enough about them and and uh... you know personally feel fortunate uh... i think for a hankhawk in general the sports uh... that we have the football uh... more currently at the volleyball good friend of mine right now you know they're playing in a big game toward against uh... crystal balls but you know you look at our hockey program uh... that marcia has been with me he's back again this year with uh...
But that's for a long time.
I mean, if you take that back further, I actually recruit him to Finlandia.
a long time ago, and he's a big part.
He brings a lot to the table.
Kids love him.
Kyle Hosworth's another guy.
Been in the Hancock program.
He's an alumni.
Been there forever.
Another person that brings a lot to the table brings a lot to the kid.
And then also we have Camp Burgerby.
He's a former St.
Thomas division one goalie.
Played in the Little Caesar Youth Program.
All three of these guys just absolutely love helping us out.
So it's been fantastic having him.
Part of the staff and a lot of good coaches, a lot of good knowledge that they can share with our young guys.
And Kyle has been around the program.
Like you mentioned, I can't tell you how much he's helped me and a great asset along with everything else.
The former Divisional 1 player there, that's a solid staff.
Joe, we've got a couple minutes left.
Just quickly, what do you see locally?
Obviously, Mike has got a good group, Defending State champs.
Glenn Patrick, back at Caliament, new coach, but not a heck of a lot's going to change.
Aaron up to Hill at Jeffers.
Our good friend, Ducky, I was down the road as well.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Every one of these teams is ultra competitive.
What I see early on on paper anyway.
Absolutely.
I think even before I took this job last year, just watching a lot of high school hockey.
It's very competitive.
There's a lot of parody, but you know, you go back to, you know, you, you mentioned that with coaches or their quality coaches or quality people, um, they do, they do the right thing for hockey.
They, they coach the right way.
They teach the right way.
Um, they bring the best out of their players and, you know, for us going into this year, it's, it's, um, you know, we got to knock off.
Oh, they're, they have the title.
They're the defending champs.
And I think everybody in Michigan wants that title.
So that's going to be, that's going to be the goal.
I think of anybody that you talk to is, um, you know, we want to, we all want to be.
part of that.
We want to be a state champ, but first and foremost, you can think about those lofty goals, but at the same time, one of the hardest parts is getting out of our region.
So we've got to do that, and as the scenario goes, you're going to take game by game, week by week.
For us, more importantly, we want to get some guys back healthy.
We've got a good core, but we'll be better as we get more people back.
But a lot of guys are standing up right now and helping us out as we go.
Yeah, you mentioned start to finish.
It's an absolute gauntlet.
Our first game with you now, Joe, as we all know, Joe, these skills are very fluid right now.
Okay, our first game we'll have game one at a Copper Island Classic November 27th and the following day we'll be in Marquette for the Houghton and Marquette game and we open up on the 20th I believe with the Hull and Houghton game but Copper Island Classic again another tradition and you're really looking forward to that as well but I always great to talk to you Joe and everyone's looking forward to seeing your group this year my friend.
Well thanks Jimmy I always appreciate the time talking here it's always fun and enjoy it and look forward to seeing you at the race
All
right, as usual, Joe, I ask Mike of this, make sure you have people to help me go up and down the bleachers with my equipment as things are a struggle right now, okay, Joe?
Jimmy, that's the considerate done.
We'll take care of you when you get to our barn, okay?
All right, thanks, Joe.
Talk to you down the road and have a great season, okay?
I appreciate it, Jimmy.
Take care.
You bet.
Head coach of the Hancock Bulldogs, Joe Birkar joining us, can't thank him enough.
Next Tuesday, we'll have the head coach of the Calamity Copper Kings first year coach, but he's been around that program forever as well, Glenn Patrick.
We're going to send it back to Sam in the morning.
Thanks, Sam.