Mike Kemp
Mike Kemp
aiming competing fact inception last level nine program proud reached since team time
We've been aiming for this day for a long time since the inception of the program back in 1996-97. So nine years in, we're very proud of the fact that our program has reached a level in which our team is one of the last 16 competing in the nation. For us, that's a very big step.
certainly compete frankly gratifying great hope hoping longer national opportunity selection stay step talked tournament
This to us is a gratifying accomplishment to be here. But it's certainly not the culmination of what we feel is our season, or the culmination of what we are hoping to do as a program. This is just the start. We talked about this after the selection show. It's great to have the opportunity to compete in the national tournament and be here to play. But frankly for us, it's one step in what we hope is a longer stay in the tournament.
action diminish northern period pressure saw second stood tables turned zone
You can't diminish the contribution (Kaufmann) made tonight. Northern really turned the tables between the first and second period We were hemmed in our zone a lot, so he saw a lot of action down there and under the pressure he stood up very well.
conference constant diminish ended improvement national player positives scoring season seeing taking teams top year
Obviously, we're taking away a lot of positives for the season. We've got a national scoring leader, conference player of the year and we're one of the top scoring teams in the nation. I think we're seeing a constant improvement in this team. The way the season ended doesn't diminish what the accomplishments were this year.
came guys proud took
I was really proud of the way our guys came out and took it to them in the first period.
gifted good group high parse profile top
We're a pretty good goal-scoring team, top to bottom. Parse is the high profile guy, but we've got a group of gifted scorers.
might point turning
I think that might have been a turning point in the game.
bowling career coaching course great green joe memorable national night played winning won year
Over the course of my career there's been many that have been memorable...without reservation, the most memorable night I've ever had coaching was not winning the National Championship, that was a great night. But it probably was the night we played Bowling Green and won here to go to the Joe in our first year of our program.
effect northern playing positive
I think it's going to have a very positive effect on our team. When we went up to Northern Michigan, we were really banged up. We were playing at about 75 percent.
certainly change feeling great huge momentum pleased relief
I was certainly pleased with the outcome, but not necessarily the process. It was a huge relief and a great feeling to know we can change momentum like that.
among best grit level player skill special toughness
He's a special kind of player. He combines the grit and toughness with a skill level that's outstanding. He give us a player that's among the best in the country.
bring continues kinds player reached talent
He's phenomenal. You bring a player of this talent and, in general, a lot of times they've already reached their peak. He's not one of those kinds of players; he just continues to improve.
awesome guys ice played quick
Those guys played awesome tonight. They were aggressive, they were quick - when they were on the ice they were threatening with frequency.
bench goal momentum score sudden took
We get it back to 3-2, and all of a sudden they come right back off that goal and score again. It took any momentum from the goal that got us back in it. Then it snowballs to 5-2, 6-2, and our bench sagged dramatically at that point.