JMU Ice Hockey Interview

I recently sat down with JMU Ice Hockey goalie Douglas Fordham for an interview (as far as I know the first ever interview about JMU Ice Hockey...go figure). I think it's about time they get some recognition. After all, they are THE ice hockey team...as varsity as it gets at JMU...

1) When did the Ice Hockey team begin at JMU?

The Ice Hockey team began in March of 2008. The team manager Meg Emery organized mostly everything, got all the necessary paper work done, and was the driving force behind getting this team off the ground. Since then the ice hockey team has been doing very well as an organization at JMU.

2) How is the team selected? Are there tryouts? How many players are on the team?

This past year it was based on if you could play, you could play for us. We’ve had an incredible number of people asking about the team this year, and we’re expecting around forty or fifty players to come out, so this year we are introducing a tryout system. And we are coed, so everyone is welcome. We will take twenty players (18 players, two goalies) and also three reserves in case of injuries or players not being able to play.
Funny...I figured they just pulled names out of a hat...

3) Who is the coach?

Coach Frank Ashby is a William and Mary graduate from Richmond, VA. He has been tremendous for our team; I can honestly say without him there was no way we would be as good as we were last season, nor as good as we’re expected to be this upcoming season.

4) How many games do you play each year? When does your season take place?

Last season we played seven games, this year we are looking to get in around fifteen games. Twenty would be amazing, but fifteen is ideal. The schedule is still not complete, and won’t be until July (so soon), but we have some key games already. The biggest of those is a weekend “home-and-home” series against the University of Virginia on September 25th and 26th. Everyone on the team has those games circled, as we lost pretty bad to them last year (11-3).
It also helps for the team to play away, because it cuts down on costs....similar to away Football playoff games

5) What schools do you play?

Last year we played Liberty University three times (D2 once, D3 twice), Northern Virginia Community College, Roanoke College, UVA, and also Sperry Adult Hockey based out of Charlottesville. This year we joined the Blue Ridge Hockey Association in the Atlantic Division, so we will be facing new opponents such as Catholic University (formerly in the Mason-Dixon conference), William and Mary, George Mason, VMI, Radford, and VCU.

6) Where is your home rink?

Our home rink is the Charlottesville Ice Park, located in scenic downtown Charlottesville. The website is http://www.icepark.com

7) What was your record last year?

Our record was 4-3, which for an inaugural season is amazing. Our first ever win in school history came against Roanoke College (5-4). We were down a goal going into the third, but managed to put two in the net and take it home.

8) Do you have any traditions or rituals?

Haha, well I’m sure a lot of people have heard of some crazy rituals like not washing/changing socks or other articles of clothing. Personally, I make sure I take care of myself the night before so that the next day I feel good. Before the game I like to go for a light run, do some sprints, and stretch a lot. I usually say a prayer too. The one thing we do as a team is the before-game speech. It’s usually given by a captain or team leader, and sometimes by Coach Ashby.
All I heard was...blah blah blah sacrifice to the hockey gods blah...

9) Does the Ice Hockey team have any merchandise?

As of now, we do not have any official merchandise for sale. Any merchandise we choose to sell must be approved by UREC (University RECreation, they run sports clubs at James Madison) but we are hoping for shirts of some kind, and quite possibly jerseys. I know a lot of people would love to get their hands on a JMU Ice Hockey jersey. I want another one!!

10) Is there anything else you would like the readers to know about the JMU Ice Hockey team?

Come out to a game and see us play. Admission is free, and after the game there is plenty to do downtown in Charlottesville. We’re expecting the team to be pretty good this year, and with Coach Ashby at the helm I know we’re going to make a run for nationals. We also have a website if you want to get some up-to-date info, and see our schedule. http://www.brhockey.com/jamesmadison
They're looking to make a name for themselves...so other schools...consider yourselves warned!

Coach Brady Interview #3

Here is the third interview of Men's Basketball coach Matt Brady by John Theobald (Feb 26):

1) What are the main differences between the MAAC and the CAA in your opinion in terms of fan support, gameday atmosphere, alumni support, etc ?

The biggest differences, to me, are the better resources, arenas and crowds that the CAA attracts to its venues. The other difference, and it is significant, is that most of the programs here in the CAA have a much larger and stronger demographic, in part, due to the very large alumni base each school yields. JMU really has state-wide appeal. In the MAAC, that is definitely not the case. It is more local community based.

2) Recently on the CAAZone there was a poll conducted asking who is the #1 player JMU could NOT afford to lose. In your opinion who is that player? (please find a large piece of wood to knock on after answering)

Well, we have already lost the two players, for significant time periods and CAA games, that JMU cannot afford to lose. Juwann James and Devon Moore. Hopefully, Devon could return by the CAA tourney and Juwann stays healthy. Two very big ifs, especially in light of the way the season has gone to date.

3) Assuming we will be playing from day 1 of the tournament, do you think our conditioning and preparationg has prepared us to make a long run?

Our backcourt is not very deep, our overall athletic ability as a team is only fair (in my opinion) and our health is still a major concern. That being said, our goal is to do whatever it takes in our game on Friday to play on Saturday. If we get to Saturday, we will use that same approach to advance to the next game. We have enough ability to advance but these other issues are real. We will need to play extraordinarily well to win games in Richmond. If we are healthy, I can tell you nobody we'll be excited to draw the JMU Dukes.

Coach Brady Interview #2

Here is the second interview of Coach Brady by John Theobald. This further proves that Brady is definitely the man for the job:

1) It is no secret that JMU basketball had fallen on tough times and had been terribly mediocre to flat out terrible for the last 12-13 years. When you first came to Harrisonburg, did you feel there was a losing culture embedded in the program, or did the holdovers from the Keener administration and the athletic administration genuinely feel it was perhaps a player or two and true leadership away from turning the corner?

I didn't believe there was a losing culture at JMU, just losing. Teams, and programs, lose for different reasons. I firmly believe that winning can happen in any program. We have added some good freshman, our players have payed attention to what we need to do to get better, and they have all gotten better since we since the season began. I think we will get better each season, as well.

2) Before the Mason game, Shickman said that it was take an absolute perfect game from JMU to win the game. Was that about as perfect as possible in your opinion? Or are we at a level where we can compete night in and night out with top CAA teams?

I felt strongly that in the Mason game, our effort had to be outstanding. We could not afford to take plays off. Not one. In that game, we were very good in that respect. I don't think we played a perfect game. In fact, there were some facets we were not very good. However, we did make shots, played very hard and got some loose balls. We certainly can play better. Indeed, we will need to moving forward.

3) Who has the most underrated team in the CAA right now?

I am not sure who is the most underrated team in the CAA. However, Drexel's win at Northeastern was impressive.

4) With all the illnesses and injuries lately, is it possible that the CAA powerhouses are scared and putting something in our water supply?

I can assure you that JMU scares nobody and our water supply is safe from our opponents' contamination. But I am thinking of getting some holy person to come to the Convo and do a blessing of our players! I am considering all possibilities so let me know if you someone in mind. Freebies only...you know how the economy is right now.

Coach Brady Interview #1

Recently, JMU grad John Theobald ('07) got our own Coach Brady to agree to doing a weekly phone interview where questions posted by CAAZone posters are asked. Here is week 1's interview:

1) This season we have 2 kids from Ohio and next year you have 1 signed from Ohio. Do you focus on certain high school hotbeds? And do you see you and your staff looking at more players from the Hampton Roads/Richmond/DC/Baltimore area? What specific facet of JMU sells the school to these recruits from so far away?

We are trying to attract kids that can play, and eventually start, for any team in the CAA. My two Ohio frosh start for us, are 3rd and 4th in scoring, and will both likely make All CAA Rookie Team. In fact, they might be 1, 2 in voting by the league's coaches.

The 3rd kid from Ohio is Travon Flores and has more potential then the other two, arguably.

Our recruiting base, as you refer to it, will be the Middle Atlantic region. We are, and I always have recruited, this are very hard.

What people do not have any ability to recognize is that the players we need to get from this area would rather go to VCU, George Mason or ODU because they have won. Now that we have PROVEN we will win, players are interested. It doesn't work the other way around. You have to win first. Now that we have arguably the best recruiting class in the league playing for us (Andrey Semenov, high school in Va.), it is somewhat less complicated to get Middle Atlantic kids to JMU.

By the way, we just took a transfer from Texas A&M, named Denzel Bowles, who was a Top 75 player in the senior class nationally.

We signed an outstanding prospect in the Fall from Danville, Va., named Darren White.

2) Swanton's 3pt shooting is becoming an anomaly. He was red hot earlier this year and lately hasn't been very successful behind the arc. Has he changed his approach? Are you using different offensive sets? Are conference opponents guarding him differently than the OOC opponents were?

Kyle Swanston is going through a really difficult stretch. We don't do anything differently now than when he was shooting almost 50% from 3 in the non conference portion of our schedule. We are conscience of trying to get him more open shots, if anything. Hopefully, he will have some good games by season's end.

3) While on-court success is obviously the primary factor when looking to generate fan interest, bringing premiere competition to campus is also a major influence in creating the necessary buzz to get JMU where it needs to go. What level of OOC teams do you want to bring in ? Would you consider bringing in an AP Top 25 type program?

Top 25 programs rarely, if ever, leave their home arena to play a non conference game. If television will pick up the game, they would CONSIDER a road game.

If you were thinking Georgetown a few years back, I can assure you it was because they felt very strongly that they could pick up a road win with little chance of losing.

You need only go to the BCS schedules to verify what I and every other Mid Major Coach realize. We play Top 40 teams on the road for a guarantee check, or we enter into Neutral arena tournaments with the hope of beating them there.

4) In regards to football, do we need to pass more (long standing fan joke)?

As far as passing the ball more in football, I am a big fan of Kurt Warner. I am a bigger fan of Mickey Matthews record and his seasons of 10 wins. Sorry.

5) Based on the fact that Seton Hall beat VT, who beat #1 Wake Forest, should JMU be the #1 team in the nation?

As far as the fact that the polls have so far failed to give the JMU hoops team its proper place NEAR the top of the Top 25 polls, that only shows that they just don't get it.

Of course we should be in top 5. Bring on Wake. Or Duke. Whoever. Let us prove it on the court."

Thanks again to JMU Men's Basketball coach Matt Brady for the great answers!