Eaves Talks at Monday News Conference
November 06, 2006 | Men's Hockey
Head coach Mike Eaves made his weekly appearance at Wisconsin's Monday news conference. Eaves answered questions on the team's injured players, travel to Alaska, the team's effort last weekend and having patience with the freshmen, among other topics. A full transcript follows.
To view archived video footage of the news conference, click on the audio/video link on the left task bar.
EAVES: Actually, I have a question. What was that word that Coach Ryan used at the beginning of the press conference, proclivity, or anybody pick that up Whats Bo been reading lately The coaches in the back didnt know what it was. And that was Dr. Doolittle that had that study about obsessive-compulsive behavior with the text messaging.
QUESTION #1: Mike, is there more of a possibility Ross will be back in the lineup this weekend And if so, what kind of energizer do you think he can give this team right now
EAVES: Well, its a good chance Ross will be back in, and I think the timing is right for Ross to come in. And what he brings us as an athlete is something that we could use right now. It would be like getting a B12 shot, so we look forward, you know, hes going to practice today full board, and he has this whole week to prepare for the weekend.
QUESTION #2: Mike, after the long haul up to
EAVES: In the past, we have, Deb, in terms of you have to take into the equation how travel went yesterday, and travel was pretty good. We left the hotel at . We got back at quarter to last night. But everything went smooth, and its just a long stretch from
QUESTION #3: Mike, what have you missed without having Ross in the lineup, but aside from the obvious, his ability to score And where is Jack on the recovery road
EAVES: Well, Ross is one of our seniors, and obviously, he has an offensive flair, but you miss that senior leadership on the ice and in the locker room. Ross is an old soul. If you watch him walk, you know, hes got an old body, but hes an old soul in terms of his contributions and being around guys.
So thats why we took him on the trip. One of the reasons was to help him. We did two-a-days with him, and being around the younger guys, so that was good. But, you know, just to have him back in the lineup, and the whole thing that he brings, its funny how you miss just two guys. Youre talking about two guys, but the chemistry that they provide helps make the, you know, if you want to make the analogy, the soup tastes good, so were looking forward to getting him back in.
QUESTION #4: Mike, after Saturdays game, you mentioned effort, at least in passing as, you know, at least maybe in some quarter being lacking a little bit. Is that disturbing, disappointing that you have to bring that up
EAVES: Well, I think we just spent a good part of the morning talking again about our team identity, and it seems that we have been inconsistent in that area. We chart a lot of things, and the way that we played Saturday was little not to the identity that we want to have. And we talked about it this morning as a staff that this is something that we need to once again address.
I came across a great quote that said infinite patience produces immediate results, which is a very paradoxical statement, but in the world of sport, you know, youve got to have a certain mentality of how you have to play and play to a certain identity. If you want to be a championship team, theres an element of effort in heart that has to be your foundation. Well, were building a framework right now. We certainly dont have the cement poured in that area, and this is something that we continue, we will continue to address as we move forward in this young season.
QUESTION #5: Mike, not to belabor the previous question, but is Jack, where is Jack
EAVES: Oh, Im sorry.
MAN: Thats okay.
EAVES: Yeah. As a matter of fact, I talked to trainer Andy this morning, and he was going to see the doctor here early in this week and get an update. Hes on the ice with us skating, puck handling, passing. The next test, I think, for him will be his ability to shoot the puck because thats put to our gun, his injury, and if he can pass that test, then well be closer to getting him back. So this week is doubtful. But hopefully, the next week, well be looking at probable.
QUESTION #6: You were talking about the element of patience, and youve talked about the process, and things of that nature with this team. Yet theres, youve heard some of the upper classmen talk about you cant be freshmen anymore that that process is over with. You played enough games that that should be out of your system. Wheres the middle road there
EAVES: Quite honestly, Andy, thats on an individual basis. It depends on about the young men youre talking about on an individual personality thing. So I just think that quote is such an interesting quote because of the fact that its such a paradox. And yet in our world as athletics, you always have to push the envelope. So how do you do that as a coach and understanding that time will be an ally at some point, having infinite patience in trying to get immediate, well, that says that the results will be there in their own time. And yet you as a coach have to push that envelope to have them grow, and that becomes your challenge as a teacher and as a coach.
QUESTION #7: In the first month or the early goings, theres been some struggles. You start 4, 4, and 2. You lose guys like, you know, Ross and Jack. How important has it been to have guys like Andrew Joudrey, Jake Dowell, Brian Elliott
EAVES: Well, its, theyve kind of kept the ship together here going through these times. I mean, of I dont, because of those young men that got hurt and were out of the lineup that those were guys that you were going to rely on, and now you have to rely on younger people. So I think its put more of the onus on Jake, and Andrew, and Jeff to kind of carry the load and make sure that the ship stays together here.
And theyve done a pretty good job. I mean, we havent broken apart here. Weve stayed together. Weve got some points, which has been really important that we get points through this stretch, not only playing tough opponents, but being a long road trip with a bunch of young kids. So the fact that weve put some hay in the barn is really important during the stretch, and theyve done a nice job of kind of keeping the ship together.
QUESTION #8: You mentioned order and consistency before. I was just curious who would you pick as your most consistent players so far this season
EAVES: Well, you know, I think, Ill actually lean on a couple guys there. I think that Mr. Drewiske and Mr. Ollinger as a pair have played pretty well together and have really stabilized the defense. And then I think if you talk to Coach Os that he would agree with that. Theyve done a nice job back there. And kind of not only have they played at their strengths, but actually they stepped outside and picked up their game a little bit. So that, when you ask that question, thats what comes to mind.
QUESTION #9: How similar or dissimilar would you say your coaching style, your teams philosophy is with that of George Gwozdecky in
EAVES: Well, George has won a couple national championships, and I think that if you were to talk to George about what his plan is that it would be similar. Youve got to have a group of people that have ability, and they have to play hard. They have to play intelligently, and they have to play together as a team. I dont think theres any secret to that. And I think if you went and talked to him about it, that, those thought processes would be solidified by going through a couple of national championship runs.
QUESTION #10: Last season was such a big time series with
EAVES: Its just another big series. I mean, if you remember correctly, we had young Shane in the net. That was part of his induction to college hockey by not, just dropping him in the deep end, like the
DOHERTY: Deb, and then one more.
QUESTION #11: Your upper classmen may be saying they either cant play like freshmen anymore, but given six weeks into the system now, can you give your assessment of what that freshmen is like now Is there somebody thats really come on in the last couple of weeks that have, are getting now that theyve played some tougher opponents
EAVES: Again, the first young man that comes to my mind is young Benjamin Grotting. I think that he has, you know, he wasnt in the lineup, and then he keeps working his way into positions where every time we give him a challenge or put him playing with different people, hes able to get the job done. Big, strong guy that can skate, he gives us that physical. He gives us that hard that we need. And because of that, he gives himself a chance to be successful. So, you know, I think of all the young men that Ben has come a long way.
I think Aaron Bendickson is getting more comfortable. Andy Bohmback, you know, has made some strides. He played well up at
QUESTION #12: Mike, its kind of odd to be talking about going into the second half already here, but youve got eight games before the break, and theyre all against ranked teams. Is this next stretch thats coming up important for you to set up the rest of your season here getting, you talked about hay in the barn before. Obviously, theres some points out there that are going to be pretty important if youre in a race at the end of the season here.
EAVES: I think the mentality is, just what we talked about last year, its what the football uses to go on to be 1 and 0. They want to be 1 and 0 every weekend. We want to be 2 and 0, and ultimately, you know, we have to continue to put points on the board. And that gives us a chance to help set up the second half of the year.
