Thanks to Alex and Dave
[If this is too snowflake for its own thread, I'll take my downvotes. I was too disappointed right after the game to post it, and I didn't want to just post a random comment on some other article days later. I felt Alex and Dave deserved the attention.]
Just wanted to post a note to express my thanks to Alex and Dave for the fantastic hockey content this season.
I've been a middling hockey fan for a number of years. Living in Mississippi (born in MI, but moved away when I was young), the Red Wings' resurgence was my intro into hockey fandom, but it waned as they slipped back into mediocrity in the post-Datsyuk/Zetterberg era. I had zero attachment to Michigan hockey, despite being an avid football and basketball fan. I may as well have not known it even existed.
The coverage provided over the last couple of years, but especially this season, made it so easy to build a serious Michigan hockey fandom. With scarce to almost nonexistent coverage from other sources, MGoBlog and the MGoPodcast were a font of in-depth but easy to consume information about the Michigan roster, the narrative arc of the last few seasons, the landscape of college hockey, and, of course, another season ending in gut-wrenching fashion.
While it's hard to top Seth's contributions over the last couple of years keeping things afloat, I'll at least say that Alex and Dave might be my favorite new MGoBlog thing in some time. The articles are fantastic, and the hockey-specific podcast episodes are really enjoyable.
So, thanks again. Onward to next season.
April 11th, 2022 at 11:30 PM ^
Co-sign. I know very little about college hockey but their coverage definitely made it easier and more enjoyable to follow this year's team.
April 11th, 2022 at 11:49 PM ^
Agreed.
We appreciate the kind words as always. I'm pretty proud of the hockey coverage we put together this season, as I think it was improvement on last year in terms of depth, breadth, and quality. There is always room for continued growth and hopefully we can keep building that into next season.
you guys earned the praise. great job.
Thanks Alex! A suggestion for offseason content: Would you guys be able to do a couple recruiting round up posts over the offseason? Kind of like how Seth does for football and MattD does for basketball. As I’ve recently started to get into Michigan hockey, it seems like the only place where you can get that kind of information is Neutral Zone which costs $30 a month. Would be a great series!
Only problem you’ll run into with recruiting roundups is that things are in a constant state of flux. Guys will sign, but not join for another year or two. Strictly depending on the current state of the roster and who leaves for the NHL and who stays.
Adding to the fun, you can have guys get drafted and then decide to sign with their pro team instead of going to college. You can have guys get drafted and it be decided (by themselves or their pro team) that playing juniors is better for them (Sasha Pastujov was committed to play at ND this year but decided after the draft to play with the Guelph Storm in the OHL instead for example).
Michigan fans may remember Jack Campbell’s late decision not to sign his LOI, and then John Gibson’s decision to sign his LOI, and then immediately go to the OHL following getting drafted. This of course happened in back to back seasons and both are now starting goalies in the NHL.
With all of these players coming and going, and then last minute departures, it can be difficult to have a write up on who is coming and when. Some are obvious, guys like Adam Fantilli are no brainers to join this upcoming season, though a possibility remains that he decides to go play in the OHL. Others are stuck in a “wait and see how the roster shakes out” mode. If a player unexpectedly leaves, it opens the door for someone who was told to wait a year.
tl;dr: recruiting roundups for hockey would be pretty pointless until the season is about to begin, at which point the info would likely be covered within the season preview.
Agreed. It's filled a nice void in my life that Yost Built and Michigan Hockey Net left. Not that Brian didn't cover hockey well before, but I'd say this is the most hockey coverage the blog has had with the consistent write ups and the HockeyCast than Brian was able to do on his own in the past. I actually learned a few things on hockey strategy too with some of Alex's(?) write ups. Thanks guys - awesome work
I'll concur here...
Brian's coverage, while fun, informative, and well written, always felt like it was something he just had to share because he loved the game rather than an essential part of UM sports. Sort of like how he just has to share his political opinions at various times... LOL!!
But the coverage this year was comprehensive. It's easily become the #3 sport the Blog covers (football = 1; mens bball = 2), and there isn't much difference between the three within their respective seasons. This was the most hockey related news I've ever seen for college hockey!
Thank you Alex and Dave for the outstanding coverage! And thank you Seth and Brian for allowing them to do it...
I think one of the great strengths on this site has always been the thoroughness and accessibility of coverage across several sports, even beyond the once traditionally deemed "major". Alex and Dave did much to contribute to that with hockey coverage, and I would like to thank them as well.
Cheers lads. *raises a pint*
Agree completely
April 12th, 2022 at 12:53 PM ^
Completely agree
Agree completely
April 12th, 2022 at 12:53 PM ^
Completely agree
April 12th, 2022 at 10:52 AM ^
Agreed! In a sport covered almost exclusively by blogs, their coverage reigns supreme!
April 12th, 2022 at 10:52 AM ^
Absolutely enjoyed your coverage this year and looking forward to more. Well done!
April 12th, 2022 at 12:13 PM ^
Agreed! David and Alex did a fabulous job for a excellent team.
Great work all year and awesome frozen four season to chronicle.
The quest begins anew next fall!
April 12th, 2022 at 12:46 PM ^
Absolutely outstanding coverage. I shared several posts with other folks here in Colorado leading up to the tournament. The coverage for Michigan was off the charts, but the college hockey coverage was also superb!
For years it was so hard to get decent coverage, now we have the best!
I'm a huge college hockey fan and have been appalled at the lack of coverage since Yost Built stopped doing his blog. Alex and Dave have been great!
1 hockey lose and nobody works except Alex and Dave.
Agree. Made me a bigger fan. (Though all the draft picks didn't hurt.)
Great in depth commentary and fun podcast. Can you do this for baseball and softball?
Co-signed from an alum in California who wouldn't have nearly as much coverage or connection to the team out here without their excellent contributions.
Thanks!