Has Owens Lost his touch?

I wrote about this subject last Spring. The topic has not changed nor has the coaching style. Colorado College holds a pedigree of players that have come through this system. They all are very smart off the ice, and they often put great numbers on the ice. This is a staunch launching platform for any NHL team. The character and discipline required by CC students is not something found at most schools. The problem is how CC runs their schedules. The block program is a set of 6 week time periods where students are shoveled information in and expected to regurgitate that same info on tests, reviews and the like. Not many coaches can handle this proposition, and most that do are often looking for a way out. One cannot possibly understand the complexity of the CC block plan unless they have been a part of it. Just ask Don Lucia, former CC skipper and current Minnesota shot caller.
Enter Scott Owens. The perfect coaching style with a Colorado College degree and a firm understanding of the block plan. He's got an awesome win percentage and has had over 500 games under his belt. The advantages to having someone so experienced at the helm are enormous. One cannot grasp the gravity of how difficult a coaching job is, never the less finding a reasonable coach who understands the school. Just ask the current Alabama-Huntsville coach. Although I cannot tell you his name off hand, he has often had troubles recruiting because of the lack of hockey anywhere in the state of Alabama.
However that is not the proposition of this blog, it's to gain answers from a man who this blogger feels has lost his touch. I have watched the tigers play some great games. One thinks back to the days of Bachman, Sweatt, and Testwuide to name a few. Staunch players who were gritty and good. All three are now in the NHL, all three can say the same thing: None of them brought home the broadmoor' trophy or the national championship. They did collectively win the McNaughton cup, but ask Alexander Ovechkin or the Sedin twins how much the regular seasons best team trophy(presidents) means to them in light of the towering stanley cup. They will probably not say too much about it. In fact, the last time I heard any talk about CC's last McNaughton cup was while picking up my souvenir cup at the concession stand. Had a picture of that glorious day right on it.
So what do all of these former CC players have to do with this season's roster? Simple: They were all destined to do something higher than college level and their seasons all ended with a disappointing loss. My records my not be correct, but I do not think that B. Sweatt, Bachman, or Testwuide ever touched playoff blood. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, CC was in the playoffs once over these players careers and the loss was to Michigan State on home ice while the National Championship was in Denver.
Most of the current roster tasted blood over the Boston College blowout from last season. One would think this would be plenty to keep the players motivated to dominate the league. This appears not, even as the WCHA's powerhouse teams, DU,UND,WI, falter under the midnight moon while Michigan Tech and other small unknown teams try and catch this seasons come from no where team: Minnesota. This was supposed to be the chance for CC to knock the conference out of the water and dominate every aspect of the game. Instead we are left with sweeping losses by sub .500 teams and blowout wins where our goaltenders get pulled in less than 45 minutes.
This problem reminds me of the final years of Bobby Bowdens career as head football coach at Florida State. He was a coach there for around 40 years and did remarkable things. Led the 'Noles to championships and conference glory in the early to mid 90's. Infact when I graduated from high school in 2001, one of my friends who went on to play D1 college ball had three choices for football: Michigan, Wisconsin, and Florida State. Then, as time passed, Bowden lost his touch and his teams began a downward spiral towards the lower ranks of college football. Recruiting was down and it didn't help that the ACC was crumbling itself. Four years ago, Bowden left. The transfer of power was nothing short of tragic and hopeless. Many seminoles fans found the game nights to be too much of a heartbreaking for them to attend. The this year the coach got them back on track and what do you know....a top 5 ranking midway through the season. A loss to the #1 ranked team in the nation changed that, but still this appears to be progress for them.
As the same was for bowden, I feel the same is for owens. He appears out of touch. This year's team never seems prepared for a game and it's not any individual's fault. Howe takes quite a load for the losses because his only job is to stop the puck. Well my friends, you can't stop rubber when you can't see it. He's worked hard but at this point I am convinced that no amount of goalie carousel will change the situation. This team lacks the motivation they had last season. I don't know why, but they do. It's a day in and out process that was only overshadowed by the DU overtime win.
I am nothing more than a writer who see's this team from my seat. I watch the game and I analyze the plays that are made. The players can work really hard and don't seem to try and use the elevation to their advantage(although the arena staff does....see the opening video board shots). The players work the puck and use solid coaching all around. However when the time get's tough, they make constant mental mistakes and breakdown. Our defense has been at the forefront of this onslaught and I think they have had enough coals thrown at them. It's time we take a look at the skipper and see if something is not correct with him. After all, we still have a winning record but we are not playing like a team that wants to win a national championship. And I for one do not want to see such a talented team be denied the best thing that could ever happen to this program: Another pretty white banner at the top of the CSWA.
My advice (take it how you want it):

Put Owens on notice. People pay prices to see these games. Anchorage is a junk team this year and we should have pounded them.

Get to know the goaltenders. As a former goalie, I would expect owens to understand each of his goaltenders very well. Develop a system set to them.

Create a faster defensive change system. 5 man changes rarely work anymore. The key will be to get control of the offense and defense so that they both change at separate times. This will keep any opponent off balance.

Preparation, Preparation, Preparation: This is a very difficult subject to go out and say. It's like a boiler plate for anything that is going wrong. Every week Owens gets tapes and I am sure he spends quite a few hours in the evening watching them. Make your roster prominent upon what you see from the other teams end. Play to their disadvantages.

Break up the Schwartz connection : I know everyone will say I have written the worst, most disgusting and distasteful, yet disrespectful blog at some point on this. If they have not said so yet, this will finish them off. I feel this is improbable. Owens has to do it. I believe Rylan is such a good goal scorer than anyone could feed him for the goals. He can also "undress" the goalie pretty well to get his own peanut butter. Jaden is the best set up man I have ever seen. Yes a pure passer and a pure scorer equals a pure goal, but we have so many pure scorers. Guys like Jaden come once in a blue moon. My advice would be to put him on a line with players who are struggling to get the puck. Jaden can get the entire opposing team to cover him, zip a pass to a wide open guy and even Ken Landeau could score that.

What is working:
Owens building confidence in his young goaltenders. No amount of practice could ever prepare a goalie for the real deal. Keep this rotation going.

The constant insertion of young players. Does anyone have a guess at when the majority of last year's UMD and Michigan teams began to get their primary minutes? It was early on in their careers. Everyone got a chance to play and represent the product on the ice. Eventually those players culminated their respective programs into National Championship contenders last season. We have such a young team with a good amount of young players getting solid minutes. I feel sorry for the NCHC during it's first year of play. These young kids are going to be highly mature snipers who will destroy the best of those teams.

Making the world arena a difficult place to play. People are showing up in good numbers this year. Absolutely fundamental to the success of this program.

Players sticking up for their team mates.

CC playing an outstanding dump and chase game. Look for this to be a bi-product of their speed game.

I know this blog will make some people mad.

But for those who can read this objectively and take some of my thoughts away from them......GO TIGERS!!!!