Thanks to everyone who sent in questions. So without further
ado ...
From crossjcek: Do you see Phil Cook getting playing
time this season to gain some confidence back or do we see Karambelas get time
to prep for next year? I am excited about Williams but I was also about
Murdock. Hopefully we will get to see Murdock play in the building when LSSU
join the WCHA.
Crossjcek, the line chart last week listed Karambelas as the
backup to Lee, and Karambelas also went to Minnesota as the No. 2. I’m really
not sure right now what the Mavericks will do if Lee struggles or needs a
break. Jutting has said all the right things in regards to Cook, that he’s a
good goalie, that he needs to get back on track mentally, etc. Games are too
important to simply test a goalie’s confidence, so they’ll have to be convinced
from practice and in talking to him that he’s good to go. As for Stephon
Williams, I’ve heard good things about him. Currently, he has a league-leading
.924 SV% as well as a 2.46 GAA for Sioux Falls of the USHL. Meanwhile, one-time
Mav Kevin Murdock is now at Lake Superior. He’s played just two games behind
fellow sophomore Kevin Kapalka, but he stopped 51 of 54 shots in those games
and is 1-1.
From Dave: I like the way the
guys have been playing lately, how much does being healthy have to do with that
or is just growing into college hockey? Also, other than CC this weekend and
UMD, UND at the end, the remaining schedule looks favorable. How do you see the
boys finishing?
Dave, I think health is huge. Getting Tyler Elbrecht helped
the team in so many ways. Besides providing depth on defense, he’s the team’s
vocal and emotional leader. It’s hard to be that guy while wearing a suit and a
cast. You could see what he brought in those Minnesota games. But I also think
that you’re seeing a team that is led by young players. They have a lot of
talent and have showed it, but the next step is figuring out how to win games.
We’ll see if the Huntsville games can carry over into conference play. As to
predicting how they’ll finish, I think with a more favorable second-half
schedule, especially with a lot of home games, they have a good chance to climb
out of the cellar. How many teams they’ll pass, though, I’m not sure yet.
From MSU Grad 97: Who do you
see as the next Maverick to play in the NHL, and how many Mavericks are out
there professionally not in the NHL right now? It would be good to get updates
on who is still out there playing either in the minors or in Europe.
MSU Grad, Of the current players, I think the next MSU
player to get a banner up in the VWC for playing in the NHL is probably Eriah
Hayes. I think there’s some intrigue about him as a free agent, whether it’s
after this season or next. Then there’s Tyler Pitlick, who is one of the
Oilers’ top prospects. Who knows? Maybe Ben Youds will get a cup of coffee for
the Blackhawks. He’s playing for their top minor-league team right now. As for
how many pros are out there, the latest MSU weekly press release shows 24 alums
playing in the NHL, the minors and Europe. I’ll try to put an update on the
blog about them next week.
From MSU Grad 97: Another question - is there any real
plans of action they have to help get people back in the Wireless after this
season? The schedule, as you have mentioned, with weekends without students and
having to go at the same time as basketball, is killing the atmosphere there. I
am hoping there is a plan for making sure that they're leagues do not
intertwine this much again and a plan to get people back interested in the team
and the Civic Center other than better performance.
