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Eagles show youth and inexperience in 5-1 loss to in-state rival Central Michigan University

Ann Arbor, Michigan- The Eastern Michigan Eagles on Friday September 27^th, 2002 were out muscled, outworked and outplayed by the Central Michigan Chippewas by the score of 5-1. Frank Garcia scored the lone Eastern Michigan goal of the evening. It was a game filled with mistakes and sloppy play by the Eagles.

The question truly is, Was this really the Eastern Michigan hockey opener? After all, I can't remember the last time EMU lost their home opener in front of a large, supportive crowd. Watching the game brought back memories of the EMU-Toledo Football game in which Eastern was embarrassed and just plainly destroyed by Toledo. Tonight was also the night of the Ann Arbor Pioneers(2-1) vs Adrian High in a key SEC Football matchup up in Adrian. Perhaps, I should of gone to that.

The Eastern Michigan Eagles made several mistakes throughout the game that ultimately led to their demise. First of all, being a young team leads to the fact that the timing and chemistry is not quite yet developed. Open ice or a Central Michigan player would find the plays that the Eagles attempted to set up. I can see this developing in time as the players start to find their own individual niche on the team. Second, the Eagles looked totally disorganized on the ice and looked very hesitant to act. Again, I can see this as the basis of the development of the team, they are a young team. However, I can’t excuse everything based on youth. Third, the Eagles play with the puck was really horrendous. The Eagles at times throughout the game couldn’t even get the puck out of their own end of the ice, or even out of the neutral zone for that matter. The Eagles also turned over the puck way too much in their own side of the ice. Playing the game in your own end of the ice will lead to defeat way too quickly. Due to this lack of control as well, the Eagles couldn’t control the puck for long at all as Central Michigan just plainly out muscled them to their positions on the ice.

The Eagles however did have their opportunities throughout the game to get into it, but failed to score a single Power Play goal. This included as well a pair of 5v3’s, in which the Eagles power play looked as if they were playing in slow motion, very lackadaisical, and the same each set. Again, the power play will also probably improve over time as the Eagles continue to develop and continue to get the feel of each other and their positions. To express the evening as well, the Eagles had the Central Michigan goalie Andy Madden beaten with an open net, but failed to score. It was just not the Eagles night, and quite frankly it could have been their night had they taken advantage of these opportunities. On the converse, I don’t believe the Eastern penalty kill gave up a single goal, I suppose that’s the one positive I could see out of this game so far.

Give Central Michigan some credit though, they played much better than the inexperienced Eagles. Also as a forewarning to the rest of the Division II Hockey Programs, the Central Michigan goalie Andy Madden is one of the better goalies that I have seen in person. He made a lot of great saves and just showed the kind of composure that you need. Although I could probably also admit that Eastern didn’t exactly show a lot to worry him either, but he was solid. Central also probably should have had a few more goals in this game as well considering the way they were playing and how little support the Eagles were giving their new young freshman goalie Tom Gresham.

Central Michigan dominated this game due to taking advantage of all of Eastern Michigan’s mistakes. That is really the ultimate storyline of this game. The Eagles looked awful tonight, and things really need to improve soon, or this could be one long year of reporting on Eastern Michigan hockey for me.

The Next Eastern Michigan Home Games are Next Friday and Saturday at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube. Next Friday evening the University of Buffalo comes into town at 7:00 PM on the Stadium Rink, and on Saturday comes the Michigan State University Club Team at 3:00 PM Saturday Afternoon. Come on out and support the Eagles, they need you.

-Kevin

C – 
Very anemic. The Eagles need to be able to control the puck much better in the offensive zone, so they can play a little more aggressive and put more pressure on their goalie. They were looking for rebounds tonight and quite frankly the CMU goalie wasn’t giving them any. The Eagles need to attack, but without the puck that’s hard to do.

C-  
Some very good plays occurred in the defensive zone. I saw some great effort from a few individuals by getting down and sacrificing themselves to prevent the shot from going on net. Then, there is the other side of the story. Turning the puck over in the defensive zone, not supporting the goalie, and letting CMU skate around them at ease. Just a mistake filled defensive evening.

Power Play: 
Inexistent- I won’t bother to grade this. The power play just didn’t take advantage of much tonight.

Penalty Kill: B+ 
Actually, the Penalty Kill might have been a high point. However, killing penalties can show some lack of discipline. At least CMU didn’t score a single goal this way.

A-
Eastern Michigan's Goaltending this season has been outstanding in my mind, despite what the hockey101 forums might mention. Pruss and Horton have helped to keep Eastern in all of their games over the year, and won a few themselves too. The goaltending needs to keep this up for Eastern to make a lot of noise in Laurel.

C – 
The performance as a whole to this extent in my mind was embarrassing. A mistake filled game by the team in which they couldn’t seem to control the puck at all. However, I understand that they are young and I give a lot of credit for their effort to keep trying even when they fell behind by 4 goals. It shows some class. However, this youth needs to mature, and mature quickly before the season flies by them. The EMU Band was excellent as always and I was impressed with the fan base, I don’t remember seeing that many fans for EMU and for CMU. However, with a band, and fans, we need the hockey team to show up too.

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