University of Minnesota Athletics
St. Cloud State Postgame Quotes
3/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
St. Cloud State Postgame Quotes
St. Cloud State Head Coach Bob Motzko
Opening statement:
"First Wisconsin earned the victory from start to finish, they played one resilient hockey game tonight. You have to give our guys credit we made it interesting in a few moments. To battle back from three goals in the first period, it just too difficult to crawl back from but we almost did it. Think that if we look back at our play tonight, you just have to give Wisconsin credit on how they played. It is pretty quick to get us in here right now, it hurts pretty good. Our tank are on empty tonight and Wisconsin's is on full. We played a lot of hockey over the few weeks and we seen that in first period. Our guys tried to battle through it, we had some fatigue but we tried to battle through it."
On St. Cloud State's Goalies:
"Dan (Dunn) came in and did a great job. You will never know but Mike (Lee) has been very strong for us in the playoffs. He shutout Wisconsin last week but we were flat, the first period was a real struggle for us and we felt it on the bench and our guys felt it. We tried to get guys up but our tanks were empty. The biggest thing is that you have to fight through those moments. We made a change for a fresh body because Mike (Lee) did do that and Dan (Dunn) held the fort for us. The killer goal was the fourth goal. We had just killed a penalty, we started to dig our heels a bit and then there was a little bit of a penalty. Guys were coming out of the box for us a little bit and then they scored. They scored five or six seconds after the kill. We making a line change and they made a rush. We drew up on the board after the end of the first period that we were going to hold them to three but that was the back breaker."
On the University of Wisconsin:
"When we looked at Wisconsin on tape, with their strengths being seven senior forwards they are a very strong physical team. You have to have a full tank, and I felt that they won the battle along the wall they were able to chip a lot of puck in the third period. It was hard for Ryan (Lasch) and Garrett (Roe) tonight. There was dirty ice all over tonight but you have to be able to fight through the trees and the dirty ice. Festler (Jared) was able to do it there a couple of time and (Ryan) Lasch was able to get that one. We could not get Garrett (Roe) free tonight."
On the difficulties on the power play:
"Wisconsin changed it up, they were very aggressive to our power play. There were two things, they were very aggressive on our side, when wanted to pick it up the middle and try to give it to (Garrett) Roe but we just could not breathe when it comes to our power play. Then there was a fatigue on our team and we could not make the right decision. They were trying to fight through it but when you throw people in the fire and point them in the right direction, we just could not fight through it, we have to give Wisconsin credit they did a great job on their penalty kill."
St. Cloud State Senior Defenseman Garrett Raboin
On Wisconsin penalty kill:
"Our power play is most successful when we are on our toes, and if we are being quick, making plays and staying on our toes. We were not doing that tonight, we were not making quick decisions with the puck, and they were certainly forcing us to make plays, and we weren't doing that."
On effect of last night's overtime:
"It's tough to say, at this time of the year teams need to overcome stuff like that, you have to play through that, it happens to a lot of teams, a lot of games go into overtime. If you want to be the best team at the end of the year you have to play through adversity, and that includes overtimes."
On Wisconsin owning momentum:
"They did a nice job of answering everything we had. It seemed like once we got our head up out of the hole, they would knock us back down. We didn't run with the momentum very much at all, and the result is what you see on the board."
On season and graduation:
"This program is going to keep going up hill. I think me, [Ryan] Lasch, [Craig] Gaudet, Ammer [Jon Ammerman], and [Ryan] Peckskamp, we have to be happy with what we contributed to this program, and to be fortunate enough to play for St. Cloud State. They are going to keep making number 7's, and I'm sure coach already has somebody ready to throw out there next year. I can't say enough, it's a tough loss and it's sad that it is over, but, flashing back over the opportunity I've had and the great experiences I've had, it's tough to be disappointed with my career at St. Cloud, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. "
St. Cloud State Sophomore Forward Jared Festler
On Wisconsin penalty kill:
"They pressured us hard today, got to all the loose pucks and won battles. We didn't move the puck like we usually do and that is what cost us."
On two goals tonight:
"My linemates helped me out tonight, they worked hard. I went to the net and Lasch got me the puck, it was nothing special, you just have to have trust in your linemates, they work hard for you. The second goal was a shortie, their defenseman missed it, and I just went to the net and got my own rebound. It was hard and we had to battle we just came up short."
On difference of first and second games:
"Personally last night I didn't play my best, I definitely wasn't as working hard. It showed last night, I wasn't getting the pucks out I needed to. Tonight I came, and had a little more energy and it definitely showed compared to last night's game."
