Whenever an organization hires a new leader, it’s seen to a certain extent as a chance to start anew with fresh blood and equally fresh ideas.
That’s what Denver is banking on with Jim Montgomery, the school’s new head coach that was introduced to media members in the Colorado capital April 15.
Pioneers fans are weary following the controversial firing April 1 of George Gwozdecky, Denver’s head coach of 19 seasons who won back-to-back national championships in 2004 and 2005. As for the school’s acquisition of Montgomery, however, there’s short-term bad news and long-term good news [read entire article].
20 comments:
From both this and his D.U. intro interview he sounds like a no nonsense, decisive kind of guy. We might have a keeper here.
The new Pioneers coach hopes to get the team to buy into his system quickly.
So what type of system is it? What style of play?
Seems the article should have told us, but I don't see it.
In one interview, he described it like this: if you're watching DU play on TV, you should see all five players on the screen at all times. Pressure hockey, everyone getting involved in all aspects of the game, apparently. He mentioned 3 NHL teams that are examples of this style of play, I can't remember which ones.
Blues, Blackhawks and Detroit, I believe.
I believe that was in an interview he did with Mitch Hyder, DU's staff interview and non-hockey play by play guy.
Kings
all five inside the blue line when puck in deep.
I think what he meant was the system is based on puck pursuit and quick transitions across all 200 feet of the ice surface. So all five players are spaced in support of each other, so when the camera pans to the view of any of three zonea - offense, neutral or defense, you always see all five players.
it will be an up tempo exciting type of hockey to watch.
Gwoz's firing was asinine. And DU's handling of the whole debacle was a bungled mess. But it's time to get behind Montgomery and give our 100% support. I can't wait to see the 2013-14 Pioneers on the ice this fall.
If he were to win a few more games and maybe come to Colorado carrying a fresh USHL Championship, I think that pretty much will shut everyone up, and it sure would get his DU players' attention mighty quick.
Personally I think he needs to be here right now. Stop coaching in the USHL and get here now . Pretty dumb that he is doing this.
@ Anon 2:58...
Personally, I think that sentiment is patently ridiculous.
Jim made a commitment to the team he's coaching now to see them through the season, regardless of how it plays out.
The fact that he has accepted a new job does not absolve him of that commitment.
His choice to see his current team through to the end of their season makes me respect him as a coach, a mentor, and a leader FAR more than I would if he had cut and run to the Ritchie Center as soon as the ink was dry on his signature.
I am behind Montgomery .08%
3:11, amen. Agree with everything you said.
2:58, I can't believe you would make such a statement unless you are a troll from another school like 4:05.
Gee whiz. I don't know much about all this numerical crap; 1:32, 11:99, 2:22 or whatever the hell. But I do know, that 19:57 means that CC SUCKS! And I also know that you hardcores who post here better get over your hardships; or else you'll be home watching "The Voice" and CSI Miami or "2 Broke Girls", while the rest of us are inside Magness Arena in about 7 months, paying out the ass for draft beers and half-cooked-hot dogs, cheering on these college kids; wondering if we should have went to the Cutthroats in the coliseum instead!
So, what's the deal around getting a goalie to back up Brittain? None of the 2013 recruits listed on CHN are goalies, so what gives? Is there another Jussi out there somewhere looking for a great opportunity?
The incompetence at DU these days is not restricted to the firing of Gwoz and the hockey program. But for me there is a silver lining. Instead of just mindlessly continuing to contribute to the hockey program and DU in general, I realized that there are better things to do with my time and money.
I wish you all the best, but will leave you with this poem from Robert Frost:
The Road Not Taken
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
5 players in the offensive zone sounds like a lot of fun, but there's a reason not everyone does it. It works better if you have a clear edge in talent (having Paul Kariya at left wing probably didn't hurt). Monty's going to need some A+ recruiting to back it up.
But even if he gets it, there are going to be times to dial it back. When you find yourself in the NCAAs, playing a team like BC that has slick-passing defensemen and speedburners to spare, that kind of aggression is a recipe for transition goals against.
On the plus side, it sounds like Monty is dead-set against getting sucked into defensive games against teams with inferior talent. No complaints there.
Perhaps the players and alumni should vote on PBD’s performance.
http://www.uscho.com/2013/04/24/former-players-issue-own-no-confidence-vote-of-alaska-anchorage-ad-cobb/
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