December 4, 2024 • 21 mins
Michigan State men's hockey head coach Adam Nightingale joins hosts Jim Connelly (@jimmyconnelly) and Ed Trefzger (@EdTrefzger).
Nightingale discusses the promising start to the season and the factors contributing to the team's early success. He highlights the unity and depth of the team, his approach upon taking over the program, and the importance of focusing on the present rather than past performances. Nightingale elaborates on the development of key players and addresses areas for improvement and upcoming challenges.
Nightingale also comments on broader changes in college hockey recruitment and the impact of Munn Ice Arena renovations on fan engagement. The episode concludes with insights into the support system and camaraderie within Michigan State's athletic department.
Nightingale discusses the promising start to the season and the factors contributing to the team's early success. He highlights the unity and depth of the team, his approach upon taking over the program, and the importance of focusing on the present rather than past performances. Nightingale elaborates on the development of key players and addresses areas for improvement and upcoming challenges.
Nightingale also comments on broader changes in college hockey recruitment and the impact of Munn Ice Arena renovations on fan engagement. The episode concludes with insights into the support system and camaraderie within Michigan State's athletic department.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Usccho dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Welcome to us CHO Spotlight for Wednesday, December fourth, four.
I met Trefsker alongside Jim Connolly. No program has advanced
as much as the one at Michigan State over the
last three seasons.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
And joining us now on us CHO Spotlight the head
coach of Michigan State, Adam Nightingale. Adam, what a fantastic
start to this season, it has been.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
What do you like about this team at this point? Well,
thanks for thanks for having me. We're you know, the
guys got here and July.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
I think what stands out as it's really a group
of guys who's still early, right, but that they are
bought into being a team, you know, And I think
that's the strength of our team is our depth.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
And also got a group of guys that are hunger
to get better.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
And you know, certainly we're happy with our start, but
we got a group of guys that understand we got it,
we had long ways to go, and it's been fund
being at the rink with them.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
You come into Michigan State when you took over this program,
and what did you feel like things were like when
you got there and what did you kind of recognize
as the head coach that you needed to maybe change
and improve.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
What was some of the biggest takeaways when you came in.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Yeah, I mean I think, you know, initially, I think
the day I got the the job that you know,
it was the day after the portal had closed, and
so you know, your roster was what your roster was.
And I think that now looking back, that was a blessing.
You know, we this was the group you have and
you got to try to coach from the best you can.
And we didn't spend any time. I didn't watch any
video on the previous time or team or really dig
(01:54):
into what was done in the past.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
We just tried to focus on how we wanted to
do things.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
And you know, and I think for us, you know,
we just a certain standard that as far as the
commitment it takes to be in a good hockey team,
and it doesn't.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Guarantee you're gonna be a good hockey team, but you got.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
To put your best foot forward and that's you know, obviously,
practice is a pretty easy one to you know, make
sure you're practicing hard and doing every rep, weight room.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
You know, you can I think you can really separate.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Yourself and that's a big reason why kids choose college hockey, right,
so we'd be willing to put the time in there
and then just lifestyle and you know, the commitment it
takes away from the rank between sleep and diet and
really just trying to establish that. And we had a
we had a great group of guys that first year
that bought into uh, you know, doing it the right way,
and you know, it made some strides that first year,
(02:39):
but that was the biggest thing is just not focused
on the past and just you know, really try to
establish this is how things are going to be done
around here.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Is that difficult as a coach to to just step
in and say, hey, I don't want to talk about
the past.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
I want to talk about the future.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
I mean, you have guys that have been there and
they've experienced a lot like Is that a difficult thing
as a coach to to kind of convince people it's
all about tomorrow and not today. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
I mean I think in the world we live in,
you can you can try to tell the transport and
go to the future or dwell in the past.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
And I mean all we can control is the now.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
And so for our staff, you know, you know, I
feel fortunate staff are put together.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
You know, they're kind of like minded that way, where.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
It's it's it's focusing on the now, and I think
players that's really what they want. They just want direction
and want to be shown a way to help help,
you know, their game grow.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
So they're there. Once their game grows, our team will grow.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
And so I don't really think I don't think that
was too much of a challenge as far as, like
I said, you're almost starting with a clean slate and
take advantage of it.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
I want to ask about certain players and Isaac Coward
and Daniel Russell. Isaac fifteen points in twelve games, Daniel
eight goals in twelve games.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Those are pretty impressive numbers.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Just kind of take through what their progression has been
both in the junior class, Like what has this been
like having those players?
Speaker 4 (04:06):
Yeah, I mean, I mean Isaac was was a transfer,
so I had coaching for two years at the national team,
so knew the player well.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
And he you know, he went to the portal. We're
happy that we were able.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
To get him, and he you know, he's a he's
a very offensive, you know, gifted player. You know, where
he needed to keep growing his games away from the puck,
and I think that's what he's he's really taking a
step even from last year to this year of and
he's still got a you know, room to grow for sure,
but I think it's good for him to see, you know,
you do things right way away from the puckt you know,
you can still create offense and and help our team
(04:37):
be a good team. And you know, Danny Russell I
a ton of respect for him. I mean, I think
if you evaluated all of our games in the two
and a half years we've been here, I don't know
if there'd be a game where you didn't say Danny
was one of our top three players. He's super consistent,
He's an everyday guy. And I think what I like
about Danny is, uh, you know, he didn't always have
it easy Rady, you know, and he he grew up
(04:58):
in Traverse City and kind I had to work his
way into junior hockey and you know, start in the
USA show, went down to the North American League, back
to the USAH and North American League, and so he's
he's got some he's got some miles on him where
he's had to fight through some things and you know,
I think he just took a really big step this
summer with one of the things I think created quite
a bit of offense, but his ability to finish needed
to improve. And you know, that was one of the
(05:20):
conversation we had this summer, really committing to you, Alb's
shoot the puck, off the pass and capitalize on your opportunities.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
And in so far, the shore is that he's been
able to do that.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Adam, you talked about improving in the team, wanting to
get better and knowing you have long ways to go.
Even as successful as you've been thus far. What are
some areas you really want to see the team continue
to improve in.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Yeah, I think that to that. You know, that's always
been the message to our group.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
That's all it's about is just be better at the
end of the day to day than we were at
the start of the day. So, you know, I think
just like any team, you know, you want to try
to control the game as much as possible. And you know,
I felt like early in the season, you know, whether
it be fifty percent of the game, I felt recontrolled
and you're leaving fifty to chance.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
And I think that's gotten better as the year has
gone on, and so that's me.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
You know, being responsible with the puck and making it
hard to get to the inside against our team. And
obviously we got we got some really good goalies, but
we got to do our part to to limit scoring chances.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
So our group, I.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
Think understands that that at the end of the day,
we want to try to try to control a full
sixty or sixty five, whatever it takes to.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Win a hockey game.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
And we're getting better at it, but we're you know,
we're still not there yet more.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
With Adam Nightingale in just a moment, we're back with
Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale, looking at the little
broader scope of things in college hockey. Right now, your
(06:49):
rosters made up largely of us HL and BHL players,
the top route to go through for college hockey up
until just a few weeks ago. Now things have opened
up with the HL. How do you see that affecting
how you recruit, where you recruited, where you're recruiting, maybe
even how prospects will lay out their path before college.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Yeah, I mean, that's obviously a big change in the
landscape here, and you're talking about adding I know what
the math is on a but roughly sixteen hundred more
players that are eligible for college hockey. So you know,
our job at you know, and then any coach's job
is to go after the best players.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
And so now there's there's sixteen hundred more players.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Available, doesn't doesn't mean that all those guys are better
than the places that we currently recruit, but we're going
to go after, you know, the top players. And I
think also going after the right players and the right families.
Like we're not a place if you're looking for promises
or guarantees or you know, this wouldn't be the spot.
If you're looking to come and earn it, you know,
this would be a spot. So I yeah, it's uh,
(07:51):
you know, it's exciting. I think for college hockey to
you know, you talk about those players to have an
option to come and play, and I think it may
take a little bit of time for the pendulum to swing,
and but I think once kids get in here and see,
you know, one how good the hockey is, and you
tie in the ability to train and practice them mount
they're able to practice, and then the education pieces, which
you can't put a price tag on. So it's an
(08:13):
exciting tign but our guys have already hit the ground, uh,
running out recruiting and like I said, trying to target
the top guys.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Another thing that we're waiting to see all the final
shakeout on is the House versus NCAA decision. I'm sure
for your administration, there's a lot more to deal with
when you think about revenue sharing and so forth as
a big ten program. But one of those items that's
talked about is a twenty six man roster. And if
I counted right, that's where you are right now. Do
(08:40):
you see roster limits anything like that as being a
restriction or having to change how you would approach things?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
No, I mean, I think that's the number we like.
We'd like a like a smaller roster, you know, I think.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
But you know, if I go back a year ago,
you know we added you know, I already left shoot
off in and that that pushed us to twenty seven,
we wouldn't have the ability to do that.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
At this point.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
So you know that's that all that stuff's above our
pay grade and or my pay grade, and we gotta we.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Got to sort it out.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
And you know it'll force you to you know, We're
fortunate in our sport, right if you're if you're talking
football or baseball, round they don't have a level where
kids can play another year if they need to, right,
So you got to be right at that number.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
And but yeah, it's.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Uh that that twenty six is the ideal number for me.
So you know, we're we're good with it, Adam.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
I want to get to Wisconsin here, which is the
upcoming series. But I before I get there, I have
to go back to Monarena And how does It's a
place I've been to twice or three times maybe in
my broadcasting career, and I there's something special in that building.
And I know you did a little bit of an
upgrade before last season, and now obviously some of the
(09:56):
crowds there this year have been fantastic.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
What type of home ice advantage does mom give you?
Speaker 1 (10:03):
And what do you just kind of think about it's
a it's an old building, but it's a great building
in college hockey.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Yeah. No, super thankful to plan.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
And I mean, you know you mentioned the renovation, so
they did like a thirty million dollar renovation. We feel
fortunate to have and for our player space and weight
room and all the different things that they're going to
helping them develop. But you know, I think you look
at the tradition here and and you know, East Lanston
really is a hockey town and that goes back to
Ron Mason, and you know, all all those winning years
(10:33):
that he had here and winning teams and great players
in great moments, and you know, obviously we had a dip.
And you know, that was one of the things we
talked about to our marketing And I'm not a marketing person.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I don't know much about that side of things, but I.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
I did tell them, you know, we're not going to
give away free tickets and fake a crowd here. It's
not going to bring you know, buy a ticket and
bring six friends. Like we got to be a good
hockey team. And and that was my only ask. And
so I think at first that first month and a half,
if I was like, I don't know if this was
a good idea, we might have had fifteen hundred people
at our games. But you know, we started to win,
(11:06):
and and not that we won every game, but I
think that our fans, it's again it's a hockey town.
They respected that we played team hockey. You know, our
group never gave up if we were down, We played hard,
We played an exciting brand, and about December, our first year,
the rink filled up and every game has been sold
(11:27):
out since.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
So, yeah, we were fortunate for the feel like it
is a.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Homeleice advantage, but you can't assume it and go in
and you know, we got to make sure that you
know they're choosing to use the harnered money to come
watch our team play. We got to make sure that
we go out and play our best hockey at home.
Two weekends left until you take a short break. Really
it really is a short break only about fourteen days
(11:50):
or so. Then you'll get the GLI after Christmas. But
you start with Wisconsin on the road. It's it's two
weekend series back to back.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
This is probably the difficult part where you're heading on
the road for a couple of bats back weekends. As
a coach, what are you thinking about? What are you
approaching these two weekends with?
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Yeah, we're excited to get on the road.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
It was the first big ten road games, and you know,
I think we you're talking about those venues and those
programs and the coaching staffs and players. I mean, we'll
we'll definitely, you know, have our hands full and you know, regardless,
so obviously you want to try to win every game
you play in, but I think it's about you know,
learning about your team and opportunities to grow. So you know,
when you talk about trying to trying to win on
the road in college.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Hockey, it's it's it's not easy.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
And again you talk about the Coal Center and Mary Ucci,
those are those are really tough buildings to play in.
So you know, we'll have to learn how to you know,
manage some momentum. And you know, we got some guys
that have played in those buildings before, but we got
some new guys too, and.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
It's an exciting, exciting test for our group.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
You know, heading into Christmas, what wouldn't you think about tests?
Speaker 1 (12:54):
And tests are I think what make teams probably a
little bit better is this kind of you know, the
four games that you can kind of look at and say, hey,
this guys, this is where we're going to develop a
lot about our character.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Big, big time, and that's what we want with our
with our program. You know, again, thankful to be part
of our conference. We get to we get to go
through the tough schedule and even non conference, you know,
as we're still playing out ours, but our you know,
our vision. I look at our coaches or how he's
done basketball, it's, you know, the approaches anybody, anytime, anywhere,
and that's you can fit, but you're you're you feel
like you're a good team and maybe not play the toughest.
(13:31):
We want to play the toughest schedule we can and
so this so this will be really good for our group.
And obviously again we want to we want to go
there and try to win hockey games.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
But I also it's.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
About growing and getting better, and you got to put
your teams in these spots to find some things out
about them.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Before I let you go, I have to ask you
because you just kind of hit on our same basketball.
But what's it like being around some legendary head coaches
in various sports in a school like Michigan State.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's our athletic department is.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
You know.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
I haven't worked at any other place, so I can't
say that it's it's different, for sure, but it does
feel that way with the relationships we have with all
of our coaches, and Michigan State has always been about
the people they're you know, they're like minded, their they're humble,
they're hard working, their team, there's no ego and you know,
coaches o is is Michigan State and you know, even
look at our facility. I think he donated one point
(14:24):
five million for our facility. He's at all our games,
he travels on the road to watch our team play.
He brought my wife and I to Spain with with
their basketball team, and you know, he's really helped me
grow as a coach. And I'm still I still got
a lot of room to grow, for sure, and but
to have someone like that that's invested, I think coaching
is coaching and his wisdom.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I mean it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
You can watch our team or he'll come to practice
and his feel for what's going on with our team
is spot on and just his coaching instincts. So, you know,
we feel super fortunate to have a legend like like
coaches oh and a big time resource for.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Us at Tuba is one of the greatest college basketball
coaches what appear to have. Adam Nightingale. We so appreciate
your time. Congratulations. Had a good start to the season
and I'm sure if things keep going this direction, we'll
talk to you again later in the season.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
Awesome, thanks, guys, appreciate him.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
That's Michigan State's Adam Nightingale Jim. I love to hear
coaches talk about wanting to get better, getting better in July,
getting better in December.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Hey, listen, this is a coach who really has watched
his program get better.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
What he has done.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
In the three years he's been at Michigan State is remarkable.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
This is a very proud program. And I remember.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I've been in college hockey for thirty three years, and
I think it was ninety four twenty six, I was
working for a team that went played NCAA tournament games
at Monterena in Michigan State. Was in both of those
events and the crowds were unreal, and I was with
you mass all at the time. They won both games
(16:15):
against Michigan State. But I will tell you there's so
much pride for that program. There's something to love about
that building too. I was hinting at that when I
mentioned when he said the thirty million dollars renovation. I
haven't been there since it's been done, but it is
such an impressive place to go and see what this
(16:36):
team is like and now to watch this team come
back be the number one team in the country.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
It's different.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
It's just it's so incredible for a market that loves
their college hockey, and I'm very happy to watch Adam
Nightingale and what their team has done with it with
with their players in the last few years.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I imagine Michigan State, like just about every other program,
is buying plane tickets and renting cars and places they
didn't think they would be going because of the major
junior eligibility. It's still something to shake out, and he
was upfront and saying, hey, we still have to see
where it's going to go. But when you look at
(17:23):
programs like his, who've drawn proli predominantly from the USAHL
and the BCECHL, and to have some of that talent
end up spread across three leagues in Canada, it has
to change how you recruit, especially a program like that's
attracting the very top talent.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
It certainly will good or bad.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
I'm not going to I'm not going to have an
opinion on this for a few years. I take the
end end of what we're going through. I don't want
to see the USAH. I'm sorry the USHL, the BCHL.
I don't want to see those teams those leagues take
massive steps backwards. I think the North American League in
some of the smaller leagues in the United States will
(18:09):
have really difficult times in the coming years because of
the college development route.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
But let's be.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Honest, you have to if you're the best programs, you
have to go after the best players, whatever league they're in.
And he said it adds about sixteen hundred players to
the player pool, but it doesn't mean that there's sixteen
hundred Division one college hockey players. Maybe it's only one
hundred or two hundred that are the best that end
(18:38):
up in Division one college hockey. But that will definitely
serve supplant good players from very good leagues like the USA,
the BHL, the USHL. I do have concerns about that,
but at the same time, you still want the best
(18:59):
talent playing your sport. I think that's what college hockey
at the end of the day, will still get the
best talent.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
And lastly, the twenty six man roster question, he's one
of those in the camp that thinks that's an ideal number.
You're talking fifteen forwards, eight defenseman, three goalies. There are
others who'd like a few more or many more. It
seems like it's a doable setup. They're the number one
team in the country with that model right now, correct.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
And I also think that when you really do math,
the less players.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
You have in a program, I know, injuries happen.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Injuries will change the way your course of your season
play out. I get that, but you also think about
the transfer portal and if you have thirty or thirty
one or thirty two players in a program, how many
unhappy players are there going to be sitting outside of
(19:58):
the bench on a front and Saturday night. They're not playing,
They're not getting put in the lineup, they're going to lead.
And that is so I think that the less the
lower number of players probably can help at least in
terms of keeping players out of the portal. Is there
(20:21):
going to be an issue when there are eight injuries
on one team in a given season, if you only
have a max of twenty six, yes, massive, you're talking
about having eighteen players. What if three of those players
are goaltenders. Now you're talking about dressing three lines in
(20:41):
five defensemen.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Potentially not the ideal situation.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
We'll see how it plays out, but understand that coaches
are not that scared of twenty six because of the
fact that you can keep every one of those twenty
six players happier.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
With That will wrap up this edition of us Cho Spotlight.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
We'd like to thank Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale
for his time for Jim Connolly. I'm at Trefsker and
this has been us Cho Spotlight.
Usccho dot com.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Welcome to us CHO Spotlight for Wednesday, December fourth, four.
I met Trefsker alongside Jim Connolly. No program has advanced
as much as the one at Michigan State over the
last three seasons.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
And joining us now on us CHO Spotlight the head
coach of Michigan State, Adam Nightingale. Adam, what a fantastic
start to this season, it has been.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
What do you like about this team at this point? Well,
thanks for thanks for having me. We're you know, the
guys got here and July.
Speaker 4 (00:46):
I think what stands out as it's really a group
of guys who's still early, right, but that they are
bought into being a team, you know, And I think
that's the strength of our team is our depth.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
And also got a group of guys that are hunger
to get better.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
And you know, certainly we're happy with our start, but
we got a group of guys that understand we got it,
we had long ways to go, and it's been fund
being at the rink with them.
Speaker 1 (01:10):
You come into Michigan State when you took over this program,
and what did you feel like things were like when
you got there and what did you kind of recognize
as the head coach that you needed to maybe change
and improve.
Speaker 3 (01:25):
What was some of the biggest takeaways when you came in.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Yeah, I mean I think, you know, initially, I think
the day I got the the job that you know,
it was the day after the portal had closed, and
so you know, your roster was what your roster was.
And I think that now looking back, that was a blessing.
You know, we this was the group you have and
you got to try to coach from the best you can.
And we didn't spend any time. I didn't watch any
video on the previous time or team or really dig
(01:54):
into what was done in the past.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
We just tried to focus on how we wanted to
do things.
Speaker 4 (01:58):
And you know, and I think for us, you know,
we just a certain standard that as far as the
commitment it takes to be in a good hockey team,
and it doesn't.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
Guarantee you're gonna be a good hockey team, but you got.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
To put your best foot forward and that's you know, obviously,
practice is a pretty easy one to you know, make
sure you're practicing hard and doing every rep, weight room.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
You know, you can I think you can really separate.
Speaker 4 (02:19):
Yourself and that's a big reason why kids choose college hockey, right,
so we'd be willing to put the time in there
and then just lifestyle and you know, the commitment it
takes away from the rank between sleep and diet and
really just trying to establish that. And we had a
we had a great group of guys that first year
that bought into uh, you know, doing it the right way,
and you know, it made some strides that first year,
(02:39):
but that was the biggest thing is just not focused
on the past and just you know, really try to
establish this is how things are going to be done
around here.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Is that difficult as a coach to to just step
in and say, hey, I don't want to talk about
the past.
Speaker 3 (02:53):
I want to talk about the future.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
I mean, you have guys that have been there and
they've experienced a lot like Is that a difficult thing
as a coach to to kind of convince people it's
all about tomorrow and not today. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
I mean I think in the world we live in,
you can you can try to tell the transport and
go to the future or dwell in the past.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
And I mean all we can control is the now.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
And so for our staff, you know, you know, I
feel fortunate staff are put together.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
You know, they're kind of like minded that way, where.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
It's it's it's focusing on the now, and I think
players that's really what they want. They just want direction
and want to be shown a way to help help,
you know, their game grow.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
So they're there. Once their game grows, our team will grow.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
And so I don't really think I don't think that
was too much of a challenge as far as, like
I said, you're almost starting with a clean slate and
take advantage of it.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
I want to ask about certain players and Isaac Coward
and Daniel Russell. Isaac fifteen points in twelve games, Daniel
eight goals in twelve games.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Those are pretty impressive numbers.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
Just kind of take through what their progression has been
both in the junior class, Like what has this been
like having those players?
Speaker 4 (04:06):
Yeah, I mean, I mean Isaac was was a transfer,
so I had coaching for two years at the national team,
so knew the player well.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
And he you know, he went to the portal. We're
happy that we were able.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
To get him, and he you know, he's a he's
a very offensive, you know, gifted player. You know, where
he needed to keep growing his games away from the puck,
and I think that's what he's he's really taking a
step even from last year to this year of and
he's still got a you know, room to grow for sure,
but I think it's good for him to see, you know,
you do things right way away from the puckt you know,
you can still create offense and and help our team
(04:37):
be a good team. And you know, Danny Russell I
a ton of respect for him. I mean, I think
if you evaluated all of our games in the two
and a half years we've been here, I don't know
if there'd be a game where you didn't say Danny
was one of our top three players. He's super consistent,
He's an everyday guy. And I think what I like
about Danny is, uh, you know, he didn't always have
it easy Rady, you know, and he he grew up
(04:58):
in Traverse City and kind I had to work his
way into junior hockey and you know, start in the
USA show, went down to the North American League, back
to the USAH and North American League, and so he's
he's got some he's got some miles on him where
he's had to fight through some things and you know,
I think he just took a really big step this
summer with one of the things I think created quite
a bit of offense, but his ability to finish needed
to improve. And you know, that was one of the
(05:20):
conversation we had this summer, really committing to you, Alb's
shoot the puck, off the pass and capitalize on your opportunities.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
And in so far, the shore is that he's been
able to do that.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Adam, you talked about improving in the team, wanting to
get better and knowing you have long ways to go.
Even as successful as you've been thus far. What are
some areas you really want to see the team continue
to improve in.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
Yeah, I think that to that. You know, that's always
been the message to our group.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
That's all it's about is just be better at the
end of the day to day than we were at
the start of the day. So, you know, I think
just like any team, you know, you want to try
to control the game as much as possible. And you know,
I felt like early in the season, you know, whether
it be fifty percent of the game, I felt recontrolled
and you're leaving fifty to chance.
Speaker 3 (06:02):
And I think that's gotten better as the year has
gone on, and so that's me.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
You know, being responsible with the puck and making it
hard to get to the inside against our team. And
obviously we got we got some really good goalies, but
we got to do our part to to limit scoring chances.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
So our group, I.
Speaker 4 (06:17):
Think understands that that at the end of the day,
we want to try to try to control a full
sixty or sixty five, whatever it takes to.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
Win a hockey game.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
And we're getting better at it, but we're you know,
we're still not there yet more.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
With Adam Nightingale in just a moment, we're back with
Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale, looking at the little
broader scope of things in college hockey. Right now, your
(06:49):
rosters made up largely of us HL and BHL players,
the top route to go through for college hockey up
until just a few weeks ago. Now things have opened
up with the HL. How do you see that affecting
how you recruit, where you recruited, where you're recruiting, maybe
even how prospects will lay out their path before college.
Speaker 4 (07:12):
Yeah, I mean, that's obviously a big change in the
landscape here, and you're talking about adding I know what
the math is on a but roughly sixteen hundred more
players that are eligible for college hockey. So you know,
our job at you know, and then any coach's job
is to go after the best players.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
And so now there's there's sixteen hundred more players.
Speaker 4 (07:30):
Available, doesn't doesn't mean that all those guys are better
than the places that we currently recruit, but we're going
to go after, you know, the top players. And I
think also going after the right players and the right families.
Like we're not a place if you're looking for promises
or guarantees or you know, this wouldn't be the spot.
If you're looking to come and earn it, you know,
this would be a spot. So I yeah, it's uh,
(07:51):
you know, it's exciting. I think for college hockey to
you know, you talk about those players to have an
option to come and play, and I think it may
take a little bit of time for the pendulum to swing,
and but I think once kids get in here and see,
you know, one how good the hockey is, and you
tie in the ability to train and practice them mount
they're able to practice, and then the education pieces, which
you can't put a price tag on. So it's an
(08:13):
exciting tign but our guys have already hit the ground, uh,
running out recruiting and like I said, trying to target
the top guys.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Another thing that we're waiting to see all the final
shakeout on is the House versus NCAA decision. I'm sure
for your administration, there's a lot more to deal with
when you think about revenue sharing and so forth as
a big ten program. But one of those items that's
talked about is a twenty six man roster. And if
I counted right, that's where you are right now. Do
(08:40):
you see roster limits anything like that as being a
restriction or having to change how you would approach things?
Speaker 3 (08:49):
No, I mean, I think that's the number we like.
We'd like a like a smaller roster, you know, I think.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
But you know, if I go back a year ago,
you know we added you know, I already left shoot
off in and that that pushed us to twenty seven,
we wouldn't have the ability to do that.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
At this point.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
So you know that's that all that stuff's above our
pay grade and or my pay grade, and we gotta we.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Got to sort it out.
Speaker 4 (09:11):
And you know it'll force you to you know, We're
fortunate in our sport, right if you're if you're talking
football or baseball, round they don't have a level where
kids can play another year if they need to, right,
So you got to be right at that number.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
And but yeah, it's.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
Uh that that twenty six is the ideal number for me.
So you know, we're we're good with it, Adam.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
I want to get to Wisconsin here, which is the
upcoming series. But I before I get there, I have
to go back to Monarena And how does It's a
place I've been to twice or three times maybe in
my broadcasting career, and I there's something special in that building.
And I know you did a little bit of an
upgrade before last season, and now obviously some of the
(09:56):
crowds there this year have been fantastic.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
What type of home ice advantage does mom give you?
Speaker 1 (10:03):
And what do you just kind of think about it's
a it's an old building, but it's a great building
in college hockey.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
Yeah. No, super thankful to plan.
Speaker 4 (10:11):
And I mean, you know you mentioned the renovation, so
they did like a thirty million dollar renovation. We feel
fortunate to have and for our player space and weight
room and all the different things that they're going to
helping them develop. But you know, I think you look
at the tradition here and and you know, East Lanston
really is a hockey town and that goes back to
Ron Mason, and you know, all all those winning years
(10:33):
that he had here and winning teams and great players
in great moments, and you know, obviously we had a dip.
And you know, that was one of the things we
talked about to our marketing And I'm not a marketing person.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I don't know much about that side of things, but I.
Speaker 4 (10:44):
I did tell them, you know, we're not going to
give away free tickets and fake a crowd here. It's
not going to bring you know, buy a ticket and
bring six friends. Like we got to be a good
hockey team. And and that was my only ask. And
so I think at first that first month and a half,
if I was like, I don't know if this was
a good idea, we might have had fifteen hundred people
at our games. But you know, we started to win,
(11:06):
and and not that we won every game, but I
think that our fans, it's again it's a hockey town.
They respected that we played team hockey. You know, our
group never gave up if we were down, We played hard,
We played an exciting brand, and about December, our first year,
the rink filled up and every game has been sold
(11:27):
out since.
Speaker 3 (11:27):
So, yeah, we were fortunate for the feel like it
is a.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Homeleice advantage, but you can't assume it and go in
and you know, we got to make sure that you
know they're choosing to use the harnered money to come
watch our team play. We got to make sure that
we go out and play our best hockey at home.
Two weekends left until you take a short break. Really
it really is a short break only about fourteen days
(11:50):
or so. Then you'll get the GLI after Christmas. But
you start with Wisconsin on the road. It's it's two
weekend series back to back.
Speaker 1 (11:59):
This is probably the difficult part where you're heading on
the road for a couple of bats back weekends. As
a coach, what are you thinking about? What are you
approaching these two weekends with?
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Yeah, we're excited to get on the road.
Speaker 4 (12:12):
It was the first big ten road games, and you know,
I think we you're talking about those venues and those
programs and the coaching staffs and players. I mean, we'll
we'll definitely, you know, have our hands full and you know, regardless,
so obviously you want to try to win every game
you play in, but I think it's about you know,
learning about your team and opportunities to grow. So you know,
when you talk about trying to trying to win on
the road in college.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
Hockey, it's it's it's not easy.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
And again you talk about the Coal Center and Mary Ucci,
those are those are really tough buildings to play in.
So you know, we'll have to learn how to you know,
manage some momentum. And you know, we got some guys
that have played in those buildings before, but we got
some new guys too, and.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
It's an exciting, exciting test for our group.
Speaker 4 (12:50):
You know, heading into Christmas, what wouldn't you think about tests?
Speaker 1 (12:54):
And tests are I think what make teams probably a
little bit better is this kind of you know, the
four games that you can kind of look at and say, hey,
this guys, this is where we're going to develop a
lot about our character.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
Big, big time, and that's what we want with our
with our program. You know, again, thankful to be part
of our conference. We get to we get to go
through the tough schedule and even non conference, you know,
as we're still playing out ours, but our you know,
our vision. I look at our coaches or how he's
done basketball, it's, you know, the approaches anybody, anytime, anywhere,
and that's you can fit, but you're you're you feel
like you're a good team and maybe not play the toughest.
(13:31):
We want to play the toughest schedule we can and
so this so this will be really good for our group.
And obviously again we want to we want to go
there and try to win hockey games.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
But I also it's.
Speaker 4 (13:41):
About growing and getting better, and you got to put
your teams in these spots to find some things out
about them.
Speaker 1 (13:45):
Before I let you go, I have to ask you
because you just kind of hit on our same basketball.
But what's it like being around some legendary head coaches
in various sports in a school like Michigan State.
Speaker 4 (13:59):
Yeah, I mean, I think that's our athletic department is.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
You know.
Speaker 4 (14:04):
I haven't worked at any other place, so I can't
say that it's it's different, for sure, but it does
feel that way with the relationships we have with all
of our coaches, and Michigan State has always been about
the people they're you know, they're like minded, their they're humble,
they're hard working, their team, there's no ego and you know,
coaches o is is Michigan State and you know, even
look at our facility. I think he donated one point
(14:24):
five million for our facility. He's at all our games,
he travels on the road to watch our team play.
He brought my wife and I to Spain with with
their basketball team, and you know, he's really helped me
grow as a coach. And I'm still I still got
a lot of room to grow, for sure, and but
to have someone like that that's invested, I think coaching
is coaching and his wisdom.
Speaker 3 (14:45):
I mean it's amazing.
Speaker 4 (14:46):
You can watch our team or he'll come to practice
and his feel for what's going on with our team
is spot on and just his coaching instincts. So, you know,
we feel super fortunate to have a legend like like
coaches oh and a big time resource for.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
Us at Tuba is one of the greatest college basketball
coaches what appear to have. Adam Nightingale. We so appreciate
your time. Congratulations. Had a good start to the season
and I'm sure if things keep going this direction, we'll
talk to you again later in the season.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
Awesome, thanks, guys, appreciate him.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
That's Michigan State's Adam Nightingale Jim. I love to hear
coaches talk about wanting to get better, getting better in July,
getting better in December.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Hey, listen, this is a coach who really has watched
his program get better.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
What he has done.
Speaker 1 (15:45):
In the three years he's been at Michigan State is remarkable.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
This is a very proud program. And I remember.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I've been in college hockey for thirty three years, and
I think it was ninety four twenty six, I was
working for a team that went played NCAA tournament games
at Monterena in Michigan State. Was in both of those
events and the crowds were unreal, and I was with
you mass all at the time. They won both games
(16:15):
against Michigan State. But I will tell you there's so
much pride for that program. There's something to love about
that building too. I was hinting at that when I
mentioned when he said the thirty million dollars renovation. I
haven't been there since it's been done, but it is
such an impressive place to go and see what this
(16:36):
team is like and now to watch this team come
back be the number one team in the country.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
It's different.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
It's just it's so incredible for a market that loves
their college hockey, and I'm very happy to watch Adam
Nightingale and what their team has done with it with
with their players in the last few years.
Speaker 2 (17:03):
I imagine Michigan State, like just about every other program,
is buying plane tickets and renting cars and places they
didn't think they would be going because of the major
junior eligibility. It's still something to shake out, and he
was upfront and saying, hey, we still have to see
where it's going to go. But when you look at
(17:23):
programs like his, who've drawn proli predominantly from the USAHL
and the BCECHL, and to have some of that talent
end up spread across three leagues in Canada, it has
to change how you recruit, especially a program like that's
attracting the very top talent.
Speaker 3 (17:41):
It certainly will good or bad.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
I'm not going to I'm not going to have an
opinion on this for a few years. I take the
end end of what we're going through. I don't want
to see the USAH. I'm sorry the USHL, the BCHL.
I don't want to see those teams those leagues take
massive steps backwards. I think the North American League in
some of the smaller leagues in the United States will
(18:09):
have really difficult times in the coming years because of
the college development route.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
But let's be.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Honest, you have to if you're the best programs, you
have to go after the best players, whatever league they're in.
And he said it adds about sixteen hundred players to
the player pool, but it doesn't mean that there's sixteen
hundred Division one college hockey players. Maybe it's only one
hundred or two hundred that are the best that end
(18:38):
up in Division one college hockey. But that will definitely
serve supplant good players from very good leagues like the USA,
the BHL, the USHL. I do have concerns about that,
but at the same time, you still want the best
(18:59):
talent playing your sport. I think that's what college hockey
at the end of the day, will still get the
best talent.
Speaker 2 (19:05):
And lastly, the twenty six man roster question, he's one
of those in the camp that thinks that's an ideal number.
You're talking fifteen forwards, eight defenseman, three goalies. There are
others who'd like a few more or many more. It
seems like it's a doable setup. They're the number one
team in the country with that model right now, correct.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
And I also think that when you really do math,
the less players.
Speaker 3 (19:32):
You have in a program, I know, injuries happen.
Speaker 1 (19:37):
Injuries will change the way your course of your season
play out. I get that, but you also think about
the transfer portal and if you have thirty or thirty
one or thirty two players in a program, how many
unhappy players are there going to be sitting outside of
(19:58):
the bench on a front and Saturday night. They're not playing,
They're not getting put in the lineup, they're going to lead.
And that is so I think that the less the
lower number of players probably can help at least in
terms of keeping players out of the portal. Is there
(20:21):
going to be an issue when there are eight injuries
on one team in a given season, if you only
have a max of twenty six, yes, massive, you're talking
about having eighteen players. What if three of those players
are goaltenders. Now you're talking about dressing three lines in
(20:41):
five defensemen.
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Potentially not the ideal situation.
Speaker 1 (20:45):
We'll see how it plays out, but understand that coaches
are not that scared of twenty six because of the
fact that you can keep every one of those twenty
six players happier.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
With That will wrap up this edition of us Cho Spotlight.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
We'd like to thank Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale
for his time for Jim Connolly. I'm at Trefsker and
this has been us Cho Spotlight.
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