Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

[The Top Shelf]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Finally, time to forget about a rink on campus for now. Bentley is a basketball school (the women are undefeated this season, and going to the Elite 8 once again after a convincing win in the Div 2 NCAA regionals on Monday night), yet students really got behind the hockey team this year, traveled well the 2.7 miles to the JAR, and blew away previous attendance records by at least twofold. I think that the future of Bentley hockey is fine.

A rink on campus is something that I feel is just around the corner. That may sound ignorant or foolish to some people, but in talks with fans, students, faculty, staff and the administration, I truly believe that. We just need to get the ball rolling, we've got to provide that push. This year did wonders for the program. The wins at Agganis and Fenway were huge and now that the impressive season is over, we can't just forget about it. That's exactly why we don't have a rink. There have been lots of people with the "want" for a new rink in the past. There is a big difference between wanting something and making it happen. Obviously, as students we can play a much more direct role in the process. We're continuing to implement and work out our strategy, but we're making progress. This includes continuing to talk with the administration... and I can assure everyone, they are talking about it too. Sometimes I get the perception that people on here have it in their heads that the administration has abandoned the team to rot in the JAR. Maybe that was the case in the past, I wouldn't know. But I can assure you that they are talking about it, and it's something they'd like to do. Like I said, they just need that push. (A big check would help too) Regardless; seeing us (the students) starting the project on our own, trying to find a way to get it done or at least started on our own is enough to get them to take notice. Now that the impressive season is over, we've gotta keep the talk alive. The more people like you guys on here, fans and alumni, are talking about it the better. The school will notice. As talk from fans, students, faculty and alumni grows, so does the pressure on the administration. The rink is something that will happen, and it can happen soon.

To touch on the basketball game, I attended and for the first time at a Bentley athletics event, I was really impressed with the crowd. Even on senior night when we broke the attendance record, the crowd was seated and relatively quiet with the exception of a few people. That's the way every Bentley sporting event I've ever been to usually is. But not Monday. Wow. The crowd was fantastic and ROWDY! There were easily 1000 students alone, all standing and LOUD. Everyone was standing and chanting for the entire game and it was very easy to imagine something similar in a few years for hockey. If a women's basketball game can draw that type of crowd on a Monday, I see no reason why hockey wouldn't draw a similar or even a bigger crowd with an on campus rink on a weekend. Especially with the popularity of hockey in this area (which is still growing), and hockey being our only D-1 sports team. I've seen it many times on here: "If you build it, they will come". That's 100% the truth, and hopefully we'll see it come to fruition one day soon.

[Pk Specialist]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Don't mind him, Jeff. This happens. PK - you didn't post all year man! You come in at the end?

I'd argue that I've supported this team as much, if not more than anyone on here- though not through forum posts. My assessment of the program's future remains the same as it was years ago. Oust half the athletic dept (in terms of salary...), as well as soderquist, and get a rink. Until then, the program will be up and down every year without ever really gaining traction in d1 hockey. Some small victories have been won (i.e. BU, Mich, Harvard games, better attendance/ support). But fyi- there are a small # of AHA programs that carry a "name" outside of the confines of this league, so it can be done.

[lmg6841]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

That was just a fun season in general. All the way to the end. Even sitting through that 8-1 loss to Wisconsin, I had a ton of fun that weekend in Detroit.

That was an amazing run through the Pioneers and my Wildcats in Albany, 6841. We should be so lucky to get a rink on campus, eventually.

[Snively65]

While I understand your frustrations, at least you can point to a good season and a lot of progress in your program. I'm stuck sitting here wondering how RIT went from perennial powerhouse to bottom of the AHA barrel. Keep in mind that this is of course after a Frozen Four appearance, construction of a new arena, and overall good feels for the program.

That was an amazing run through the Pioneers and my Wildcats in Albany, 6841. We should be so lucky to get a rink on campus, eventually.

[lmg6841]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Instead we're left to watch another western team (again) hoist the trophy in Rochester and make it to the NCAA Tournament. This leaves the rest of the AHA complaining, once again, that the east high seeds are nothing more than paper seeds who make it to the home series based on the fact that they feast on bad teams.

While I understand your frustrations, at least you can point to a good season and a lot of progress in your program. I'm stuck sitting here wondering how RIT went from perennial powerhouse to bottom of the AHA barrel. Keep in mind that this is of course after a Frozen Four appearance, construction of a new arena, and overall good feels for the program.

[wwjg1158]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

I think I will take the Lakers to take the tourny this weekend. I wasn't that impressed with the Grifths seriously 80% of our points came from one line. It is a clear as the nose on my face. The rest of the team did not perform like they did over the season. The second line and third needed to chip in more than it did and that was the end. We should of expected some defensive lapse and we did. I think it went on a bit too long as each time it happen we couldn't get the puck out of the zone. Sadly they would score. One last thing Goalies win championships or in other words they generally stand on their head. Komm is great but Capo just a bit better. Losing Saturday was the end and how they gave up a 3 goal lead will only be known to the guys...pressure too much, too much time or not enough talent. Look at the plus minus from the weekend. Coach needs a better D maybe a bit bigger more aggressive guys. I believe the team played well all season and this team did not give up and played to the very end. For that I am proud of the boys. They did their best that is all you can ask for!

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

I nominate Snively to start and name the 2014-2015 thread.

I think that it is way too early to begin a new thread, as there appears to be lots of stuff to hash out in this thread.

From my own perspective, I pretty much agree with Jeff and Dan. I will not be surprised to see Canisius win it all in Rochester again next weekend, and I suspect that they will give some team another scare in the NCAA regionals, like they did to Quinnipiac last March. Just bad luck on our part to meet the Griffs again at the time when they have peaked the past two seasons, despite the Falcons being in a much higher position this year. Same thing happened to the #2 team in the country this past weekend; of course, the Eagles will still be a #1 seed in the Worcester regionals based on their body of work during the regular season.

I agree with PK that losing Marginsky was not the difference maker this season; we may have lost more +/- points in the six games in which Blomquist was out with an injury. But, I also agree with Jeff that the lack of depth showed this past weekend. But, more important, I think, is that Canisius got smart and stayed out of the penalty box on Saturday and Sunday, knowing that they might not be so lucky to escape without giving up any PPGs has they were on Friday night. I give the coaches all the credit in the world for Bentley's #2 PPG ranking this past season; they got the most that could be expected from the first PP unit of Gensler, Grieve, Gladiuk, Weinstein, and Blomquist. All but Gensler are back next year. Max French had as good a Freshman year as did Gensler four years ago, so I am not worried about the offense next season. Also, Switzer (+19) will be back as a senior. Weinstein and Blomquist were the best defensive pair in the country by +/-, and the younger D-men picked up a lot of experience this year that will pay dividends next year. Perhaps Reardon should be moved back to his natural position at RD? Obviously, the hardest guy to replace will be Komm in net, as he logged the second largest number of minutes of any goalie in the country this past season. But, Dougherty and Antoni came to Bentley with good credentials, just not good enough to displace Komm this past year. But, the two of them will have reason to compete with one another for time in the net next season.

Finally, time to forget about a rink on campus for now. Bentley is a basketball school (the women are undefeated this season, and going to the Elite 8 once again after a convincing win in the Div 2 NCAA regionals on Monday night), yet students really got behind the hockey team this year, traveled well the 2.7 miles to the JAR, and blew away previous attendance records by at least twofold. I think that the future of Bentley hockey is fine.

[Game On]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Don't mind him, Jeff. This happens. PK - you didn't post all year man! You come in at the end?

I respectfully disagree - PK is correct in his assessment. Coaches could not get out of the rink fast enough - they knew they blew it.

[eXcSports]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

It's hard to watch everyone beat around the bush. No, Marginsky was not the missing piece to a championship team. He put up 14 points and ~80 pims in 4 years as a 6'7" kid (not exactly a physical threat...). Dan, of all Soderquist apologists, said it after the game last night and I'm going to hold him to it.... something along the lines of "This team just finished its 15th year in Division 1 hockey, and they have yet to raise a banner." I'm sure you didn't mean to, but you hit the nail on the head.

As an alumni of this program, bowing out in the second round with this team is embarrassing. This was far and away the most talent a Bentley team has had. A little weak on the defensive side, but Komm more than made up for it. This was a better team top to bottom than the 2009 group that went to Rochester (in arguably a tougher league that year too).

I'm sure it's hard to oust an alumni from the head spot, but if after this season you can't start to question it, when can you? The program has certainly grown under Soderquist, there's no doubt. But there's no reason the athletic dept should accept a lifetime of mediocre results, after allowing him 15 years to win a title. You can say "keep your heads up, there's always next year" but the fact is, teams like this for Bentley do not come around that often.

Don't mind him, Jeff. This happens. PK - you didn't post all year man! You come in at the end?

[Game On]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

Well- what's next after the best senior class in some time!

Wishing the senior class well, they will be missed.

This team could have gone deep into the playoffs with a different coaching staff IMHO.

[wwjg1158]

I nominate Snively to start and name the 2014-2015 thread.

Well- what's next after the best senior class in some time!

[wwjg1158]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

I have no skin in whether coach is the problem as I am not sure! What I do know is the team had one line all weekend! Look st the stats! The defense seem to get lost each game for a long time ( 10 minutes or more). I feel bad for the guys they all played but losing two lines of fire power hurt! Glads not scoring, French, Breton..... This just hurt the overall play. Gensler , Grieve,and Switzer did all that they could ! It was a great team fun to watch! I leave the coach stuff to all of you! They need a rink!

[CollegeHockeyRinkReport]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

It's hard to watch everyone beat around the bush. No, Marginsky was not the missing piece to a championship team. He put up 14 points and ~80 pims in 4 years as a 6'7" kid (not exactly a physical threat...). Dan, of all Soderquist apologists, said it after the game last night and I'm going to hold him to it.... something along the lines of "This team just finished its 15th year in Division 1 hockey, and they have yet to raise a banner." I'm sure you didn't mean to, but you hit the nail on the head.

As an alumni of this program, bowing out in the second round with this team is embarrassing. This was far and away the most talent a Bentley team has had. A little weak on the defensive side, but Komm more than made up for it. This was a better team top to bottom than the 2009 group that went to Rochester (in arguably a tougher league that year too).

I'm sure it's hard to oust an alumni from the head spot, but if after this season you can't start to question it, when can you? The program has certainly grown under Soderquist, there's no doubt. But there's no reason the athletic dept should accept a lifetime of mediocre results, after allowing him 15 years to win a title. You can say "keep your heads up, there's always next year" but the fact is, teams like this for Bentley do not come around that often.

I'm in no way affiliated with Bentley, but I've enjoyed covering a few Falcons games this season for SBNation. I grew up playing hockey and have seen thousands of hockey games to be able to "nitpick" some coaching decisions. I could argue that not rolling four lines hurt the Falcons towards end of season, but the lack of depth was noticeable so maybe coach Soderquist had no choice.

With that being said, Soderquist and his coaching staff deserve tremendous credit for getting players like Gensler, Grieve, Gladiuk, Weinstein, Blomquist, Komm, French, Switzer, etc. The administration at Bentley needs to step up and build a UConn-size rink on campus. Just a nice solid rink that will hold 1200-1800.

That's where the blame is - the administration, not on a head coach and his staff that work hard with little in the way of financial support.

[Pk Specialist]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

It's hard to watch everyone beat around the bush. No, Marginsky was not the missing piece to a championship team. He put up 14 points and ~80 pims in 4 years as a 6'7" kid (not exactly a physical threat...). Dan, of all Soderquist apologists, said it after the game last night and I'm going to hold him to it.... something along the lines of "This team just finished its 15th year in Division 1 hockey, and they have yet to raise a banner." I'm sure you didn't mean to, but you hit the nail on the head.

As an alumni of this program, bowing out in the second round with this team is embarrassing. This was far and away the most talent a Bentley team has had. A little weak on the defensive side, but Komm more than made up for it. This was a better team top to bottom than the 2009 group that went to Rochester (in arguably a tougher league that year too).

I'm sure it's hard to oust an alumni from the head spot, but if after this season you can't start to question it, when can you? The program has certainly grown under Soderquist, there's no doubt. But there's no reason the athletic dept should accept a lifetime of mediocre results, after allowing him 15 years to win a title. You can say "keep your heads up, there's always next year" but the fact is, teams like this for Bentley do not come around that often.

[eXcSports]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2013-2014: No offseason. No excuses.

I nominate Snively to start and name the 2014-2015 thread.

I'm all for it.