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Re: Colgate 2010-11
It's a little difficult to start any assessment of the current state of our hockey program when your first thought is the following: IF the Krach ratings were available right now would we be ranked ahead or behind Bentley? First of all, any musings from contributors that Coach V is going somewhere should be shelved. It ain't gonna happen. Secondly, my personal view is that Don has done a solid job as the 'Gate's head coach over his tenure as regards his coaching of kids both on and off the ice in Hamilton. I'm sure this year's team is driving him nuts. Through the 2005-2006 season his numbers were solid and our final four ECAC appearances were quite good (despite never winning any semi-final game at the ECACs). These are quality kids who are, by and large, solid academically and take an interest in contributing to the Colgate community (Ethan Cox stands out, but there have been others). On the downside, note that I previously said "coaching of kids...in Hamilton." The issue for me pertains to the recruiting side of the isssue, especially since (as stated many times) Moore and Dickson departed. In the last five years the college game has changed and so has the recruiting process. It would appear the program's adjustments in these two areas was late in coming. We are further handicapped each year by what seems to be a university-imposed restriction on the size of our overall roster. Competition for playing time - especially for 18, 19 and 20-year olds - is not a bad thing. Healthy scratches for the 'Gate number (not counting goalies) in the four or five area. We've been lucky that over the past decade - with the possible exception of the 2008-09 season - that the impact of injuries has been better than most other teams in the ECAC. The talent level is now middle-of-the-pack at best (please don't get caught up in NHL draftees on the team; 5th, 6th and 7th round picks are gambles at best) and, despite middling goaltending over the last few years, we've benefitted from Shep Harder, Steve Silverthorn, and especially Mark Dekanich for almost one decade. Let's face it: Dekanich was the major reason we advanced to Albany in the springs of 2006 and 2008. Another help to our reasonably good ECAC records through the 2006 season was (and continues to be) the fact that we have Cornell as a travel partner. Our very lackluster non-conference and playoff records may be evidence of this in-conference benefit. The bottom line is that everyone - including those who provide funds for the Silver Puck Council - have to step it up NOW. Roster expansion may be a non-starter, especially when AD leadership is probably tepid and ineffectual. I've been a member of Silver Puck for over 30 years and have NEVER been asked to squeeze additional dollars out of my checking account. Now I know there are NCAA rules surrounding these programs, but, like our development office overall, if you don't push the envelope...let's just say Silver Puck raises $75K each year in contributions. (obviously the figure does increase each year, although it seems to be incremental in nature). There's no reason - even in this economic environment - why this figure can't be moved above $100K and beyond. The pedigree of donors is relatively impressive so access to additional $ is doable. If you don't ask...this money goes to a vareity of needs, including travel costs for recruiting. Ultimately, Don is responsible for bringing in quality players and, no doubt, the process begins when these kids are only 16 and 17. Are the assistant coaches targeting the right areas (although we seem to be going back into Canada, our BCJHL presence is waning, the USHL doesn't exist for us) and, secondly, making the right decisions on kids coming in 2012 and 2013? I was very pleased to see the twins from Cornwall commit the other day, in part because they visited the campus, but also due to Jesse Winchester's guidance. If I felt we were moving in the right direction, including support from the very top of the administration down to a re-energized Silver Puck I'd gladly double my annual contribution. In sum, I want Don here for a long time, but it doesn't mean that reactive steps to improve the status quo are sufficient. I'd like to think that current AD Roach and even the new president, Jeff Herbst, would be receptive to, or even initiate steps themselves, to address the question: what can we do to make our men's ice hockey team a nationally-competitive program in the future?
It's a little difficult to start any assessment of the current state of our hockey program when your first thought is the following: IF the Krach ratings were available right now would we be ranked ahead or behind Bentley? First of all, any musings from contributors that Coach V is going somewhere should be shelved. It ain't gonna happen. Secondly, my personal view is that Don has done a solid job as the 'Gate's head coach over his tenure as regards his coaching of kids both on and off the ice in Hamilton. I'm sure this year's team is driving him nuts. Through the 2005-2006 season his numbers were solid and our final four ECAC appearances were quite good (despite never winning any semi-final game at the ECACs). These are quality kids who are, by and large, solid academically and take an interest in contributing to the Colgate community (Ethan Cox stands out, but there have been others). On the downside, note that I previously said "coaching of kids...in Hamilton." The issue for me pertains to the recruiting side of the isssue, especially since (as stated many times) Moore and Dickson departed. In the last five years the college game has changed and so has the recruiting process. It would appear the program's adjustments in these two areas was late in coming. We are further handicapped each year by what seems to be a university-imposed restriction on the size of our overall roster. Competition for playing time - especially for 18, 19 and 20-year olds - is not a bad thing. Healthy scratches for the 'Gate number (not counting goalies) in the four or five area. We've been lucky that over the past decade - with the possible exception of the 2008-09 season - that the impact of injuries has been better than most other teams in the ECAC. The talent level is now middle-of-the-pack at best (please don't get caught up in NHL draftees on the team; 5th, 6th and 7th round picks are gambles at best) and, despite middling goaltending over the last few years, we've benefitted from Shep Harder, Steve Silverthorn, and especially Mark Dekanich for almost one decade. Let's face it: Dekanich was the major reason we advanced to Albany in the springs of 2006 and 2008. Another help to our reasonably good ECAC records through the 2006 season was (and continues to be) the fact that we have Cornell as a travel partner. Our very lackluster non-conference and playoff records may be evidence of this in-conference benefit. The bottom line is that everyone - including those who provide funds for the Silver Puck Council - have to step it up NOW. Roster expansion may be a non-starter, especially when AD leadership is probably tepid and ineffectual. I've been a member of Silver Puck for over 30 years and have NEVER been asked to squeeze additional dollars out of my checking account. Now I know there are NCAA rules surrounding these programs, but, like our development office overall, if you don't push the envelope...let's just say Silver Puck raises $75K each year in contributions. (obviously the figure does increase each year, although it seems to be incremental in nature). There's no reason - even in this economic environment - why this figure can't be moved above $100K and beyond. The pedigree of donors is relatively impressive so access to additional $ is doable. If you don't ask...this money goes to a vareity of needs, including travel costs for recruiting. Ultimately, Don is responsible for bringing in quality players and, no doubt, the process begins when these kids are only 16 and 17. Are the assistant coaches targeting the right areas (although we seem to be going back into Canada, our BCJHL presence is waning, the USHL doesn't exist for us) and, secondly, making the right decisions on kids coming in 2012 and 2013? I was very pleased to see the twins from Cornwall commit the other day, in part because they visited the campus, but also due to Jesse Winchester's guidance. If I felt we were moving in the right direction, including support from the very top of the administration down to a re-energized Silver Puck I'd gladly double my annual contribution. In sum, I want Don here for a long time, but it doesn't mean that reactive steps to improve the status quo are sufficient. I'd like to think that current AD Roach and even the new president, Jeff Herbst, would be receptive to, or even initiate steps themselves, to address the question: what can we do to make our men's ice hockey team a nationally-competitive program in the future?
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