Question and answer with LSSU head coach Jim Roque

Special thanks to Lake Superior State University’s Hockey Head Coach for taking the time to complete the Q & A with LSSU Hockey.com. LSSUHockey.com: What where your general impressions on your first season as a head coach? Roque: The graduating seniors did a great job of allowing me to grow and never put me in any tough or bad situations. LSSUHockey.com: What is the one thing that you learned this season about being a head coach that surprised you the most? Roque: If the players feel you care about them, they will do anything you ask of them. LSSUHockey.com: Of the 12 seniors you lost this past spring who will the team miss most, and why? Roque: Colin Nicholson, unsung hero and quiet leader. He made a lot of clutch little plays. LSSUHockey.com: Trent Campbell and Troy Schwab really had breakout seasons last year who do you expect to have a breakout season next season? Roque: Jeff Rainville, Derek A. Smith, Josh Sim LSSUHockey.com: How disappointing was the last month of the season, and do you think the scheduling affected your team's performance in the playoffs? Roque: Very disappointing. I don't blame the schedule. I needed to give Jeff a night off but didn't. I also think that is the next step for the program to take - winning in late February and March LSSUHockey.com: What or who should Laker fans be most excited about for next season? Roque: I feel our skill level and skating will be better again next season. It will allow us to play up-tempo. LSSUHockey.com: What do the Lakers need to do to get past their current playoff slump, 1-18 in their last 19 games? Roque: Keep knocking on the door. It will open eventually. LSSUHockey.com: LSSU was 9-3-0 against sub .500 teams but where 6-9-7 against teams that where greater than .500, how do you take the next step up? Roque: Again, we need to keep improving and play better down the stretch. LSSUHockey.com: What are some of your thoughts on the roster you have assembled for next season? Roque: Better skill, better skating, not as big, leadership needs to surface right away. LSSUHockey.com: What should Laker fans expect to see from the incoming recruits? Roque: Patrick Inglis-Big goalie, athletic, will play some games Roque: Patrick Aubry- A lot like Colin Nicholson Roque: Mitch Edmondson - Raw, needs time to grow Roque: Jason Blain - Leadership, hard worker, honest player Roque: Matt Martello- Excellent skill - good offensive instincts Roque: Steve Kaunisto-Very good skill, local kid Roque: Nik Sellers- Good two way player - Jeff Rainville like Roque: John Scrymgeor -Excellent speed, hard working, aggressive, tenacious Roque: Simon Gysbers - Pro prospect, good size defenseman, skills Roque: Nathan Perkovich - New Jersey draft pick, big upside, late bloomer Roque: Michael George - Saskatchewan kid, Trent Campbell type Roque: Ryan Baird - Troy Schwab on Defense LSSUHockey.com: What should we expect to see with the goaltending situation for next season, do you expect Jakaitis to carry such a heavy load, or should we expect to see Inglis or Edmondson get some playing time this season? Roque: Pat Inglis will play and help Jeff Jakitis shoulder the load. Mitch will progress towards being a Division 1 goalie. LSSUHockey.com: What are the team's goals next season? Roque: Go to Joe Louis. LSSUHockey.com: LSSU looks to have a pretty touch schedule this season, being in arguably the toughest cluster in the CCHA, what are your impressions of the schedule? Roque: Hard to say, teams change all the time. Chemistry, players turning pro, but you are right. We are in a tough cluster. LSSUHockey.com: Bemidji State isn't on the schedule this season, after we where told to expect last season to expect this old rivalry to be rekindled, what happened? Roque: We are skipping one year and will be playing them in 07-08. We just could not find a weekend we both had open and we wanted to go the Badger Classic. LSSUHockey.com: Any personal thoughts on traveling back to Clarkson this season? Roque: We were supposed to play them this season but again we could not match up off weekends. Nothing personal. LSSUHockey.com: The home and Joe series, with the University of Michigan, this year is a Friday-Sunday match up, is there a reason for the change in days from the normal Thursday-Saturday? Roque: We have GLIAC basketball on Thursday this year at home and we did not want our fans to have to choose. LSSUHockey.com: We have several alumni that watch junior hockey games regularly, is there anything that they can do to assist you in your recruiting efforts? Roque: As alums, you must be careful because of NCAA rules. All you can do is send us names of good players. LSSUHockey.com: Any chance you can get Doug Weight to bring the Stanley Cup to the Taffy Abel Arena for a game? Roque: They only get the cup for one day in the summer and Doug will dedicate his day to his father.