Chasing MacNaughton S3E6: Rand McNally
By Nick Holmes
Season 3 Episode 6 of the Chasing MacNaughton Podcast from Tech Hockey Guide; Rand McNally. This week, Fearless Leader Tim Braun was under the weather so Rob Gilreath, Dustin Lindstrom and Matt Cavender took control of the show. They discussed topics including their season predictions for Michigan Tech Hockey, the bottom teams of the CCHA, their predictions for the weekend's series at Clarkson and the Fantasy Challenge.
Michigan Tech Season Predictions
Though already a couple games into the season, the guys offered up their thoughts about where Tech will finish the season. Dustin was pretty optimistic about this team as they are an experienced, deep, and talented team. He thought it was a recipe that should result in a conference playoff run followed by a berth and a win in the NCAA Tournament. Matt loved hearing the positivity out of Dustin. Matt thought the huge roster will play a factor into the season as Tech can play the best players each night. He thought that Tech can be an outright second place in the league behind Minnesota State and agreed with the NCAA Tournament berth. Rob was also pretty high on the team and thought that this weekend against Clarkson will be a big test.
The guys also discussed that it is extremely important that Tech does not have stinker game against one of the bottom teams in the league as this would destroy their tournament chances. Dustin talked about how he liked Minnesota State and Bemidji playing the NCHC teams because they can actually beat them which helps the conference overall. Matt added that Western Michigan beating the University of Michigan puts them on the national radar as well.
There was a discussion about the NCAA Tournament and how it may look this year, specifically regarding where Tech may play should they make the Tournament. Dustin thought there are three to five teams that can already be counted on to be there at the end and this will result in Tech not playing in Loveland, Colorado. Matt didn't care where Tech played adding that any trip from Houghton sucks but that he'll find a way to make it. Rob talked about being frustrated that another western hockey team doesn't step up and host a tournament site. This lead to Dustin mentioning Augustana opening up the possibility of hosting in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
CCHA Bottom Feeders
Rob asked the group what they think about Ferris State and St. Thomas. Matt thought that Ferris should be embarrassed about their performance against St. Thomas this weekend. He thought that St. Thomas will be successful in the next five years, but this year any team that loses to St. Thomas will need to do some soul searching. Dustin thought that in the long term St. Thomas will elevate the league, but they're not there yet. In the end, he thought that Ferris State will finish ahead of St. Thomas. Rob agreed with this sentiment and added that a team doesn't build a new stadium and hire a coach like Rico Blasi without wanting to get good in the long run.
The conversation then switched focus to Ferris State. All of the guys expressed surprise and the collapse of Ferris State in the last three to five years and it was noted that they were in the national title game only nine years ago. Matt and Rob didn't like the fact that Ferris State is the only CCHA overlap with Atlantic Hockey; they would feel more comfortable with a team who had a better chance at winning. Overall, Rob also thought that it will only help the CCHA when they play teams from out east.
Fantasy Challenge
Last week Dustin lead the week with six points, the Ghost came in second, and Rob, Tim and Matt all only got one point each. The current standings are Tim leading with 21 points, the Ghost with 12 points, Rob with 10 points, Dustin with 8 points, and Matt has dug himself out of the negative points and now sits at zero points. This weeks theme was "Scoring Spree" and featured five forwards with the potential to put up a high scoring weekend. The players this week come from Nebraska-Omaha, Quinnipiac, Arizona State, Minnesota State, and Michigan.
Clarkson weekend prediction
Rob discussed that he wanted to see Tech get back on the right foot and this weekend needs to be at least a split. Matt smashed the homer button and picked a Tech sweep. Dustin agreed with this based on Tech's performance at Wisconsin. It was confirmed that this weekend's games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Cut for time
This week's cut content for patrons is approximately 5 minutes long. Matt talked about visiting his sister in Colorado if Tech plays in Loveland. There was a discussion about the content available on ESPN+, including the tag world championship. The longest segment was Matt defending Joey Chestnut as the greatest athlete of his generation.
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About Nick Holmes
Old Dog: CCHA Whip Around
Series Preview: Michigan Tech @ Clarkson