>>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

[komey1]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

Air Force was the best team to represent the AHC in the Tournament. They sealed the deal against Western Michigan, and easily could have won that Harvard game, came down to the last second. Good showing for Atlantic Hockey.

from the teams I saw, they did look like the best overall team in AHC.

[StimulisRK]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

Air Force was the best team to represent the AHC in the Tournament. They sealed the deal against Western Michigan, and easily could have won that Harvard game, came down to the last second. Good showing for Atlantic Hockey.

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Anyone paying attention still Michael Holland has signed with the Macon MAYHEM of the SPHL. Scored a goal the other night

Thanks for this Tom. Didn't see this on the elite prospects transaction page for RIT. Did you happen to see who the goalie is for the Macon Mayhem?

Here's a hint you might recognize the twitter handle.

https://***********/sinbinsphl/statu...57051524759558

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

Anyone paying attention still Michael Holland has signed with the Macon MAYHEM of the SPHL. Scored a goal the other night.

So was talking with a Canisius alumni today about Charles Williams not having his best game in the AHA Semi Final. And it lead to a conversation about other goaltenders named player of the year that did have their best game at Blue Cross in the AHA's version of the frozen four. There have been 3 player of the year goaltenders in AHA history none have won a game at Blue Cross (In the year they where named POY) and combine stats are 4.50 GAA average with a 0868 Save Percentage.

Here is what all the POYs have done at Blue Cross in the same year they were named POY. Not including Brick City Weekend.

2016-17 Charles Williams Goaltender Canisius 15 Saves on 19 Shots/ 4.00 Goals Against / .789 Save Percentage
2015-16 Zac Lynch Right Wing Robert Morris 1 Goal / 2 Assists / 3 Points
2014–15 Matt Garbowsky Center RIT No Goals / 3 Assists / 3 Points
2013–14 Jimmy Sarjeant Goaltender Mercyhurst 42 Saves on 47 Shots / 5.00 Goals Against / .894 Save Percentage
2012-13 Carsen Chubak Goaltender Niagara 38 Saves on 43 Shots / 5.00 Goals Against / .884 Save Percentage
2011-12 Tim Kirby Defenceman Air Force No Goals / 0 Assists / 1 Points
2010-11 Paul Zanette Left Wing Niagara Team Did Not Play
2009-10 Cory Conacher Left Wing Canisius Team Did Not Play
2008-09 Jacques Lamoureux Center Air Force 1 Goal / 0 Assists / 1 Points
2007-08 Josh Kassel Goaltender Army 23 Saves on 27 Shots/ 4.00 Goals Against / .852 Save Percentage
2006-07 Eric Ehn Forward Air Force No Goals / 2 Assists / 2 Points

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

Plus-minus is widely considered to be a garbage stat in today's hockey. It really does a poor job of indicating anything fairly and can be impacted badly by, say, a below-average goalie. Granted we don't have availability into things like corsi and fenwick in AHC but those are far better stats for how good or bad a player really is.

Top line players on a team where the goalie didn't even stop .900% of shots are going to struggle to have a good plus minus and you can't really blame them for that when Rotolo let soft wristers from the point go in the net once a game...

You are correct that the stat, like any other state can be miss leading, but you can make the same argument for all most any other stat in hockey. Just because a player has a minus rating doesn't mean he is a horrible player, two of the best players on this team are in the Minus area here. Very few stats tell the entire story. However I majorly disagree that it's a garbage state. Knowing how a player is doing 5 on 5 is valuable. Yes, sometimes a player is out on the ice and a goal happens because a goaltender let in a soft goal, or another player blow a coverage. That happens to everyone in hockey. Most of the time it balances out. Most teams will score on something like 15% to 25%, which normally pans out 1 one a game, sometimes 2. If you consistently out perform a team 5 on 5 you are going to win more often than not...

[RIT Winters]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

The plus minus stat is a crucial one in that it measures your performance with 5 on 5 play, removing all the overall points stat bumping that happens with PP points. If a player is on the ice for more goals against than goals for, then it tells a story. Teams generally line match during play-offs not regular season so that isn't a drastic issue for the plus minus stat. I will remove specialty team points for a players total, and coupled with the plus / minus get a better understanding of overall performance. Everyone has their own measures of what constitutes a great player, to me plus minus is part of that process.

Plus-minus is widely considered to be a garbage stat in today's hockey. It really does a poor job of indicating anything fairly and can be impacted badly by, say, a below-average goalie. Granted we don't have availability into things like corsi and fenwick in AHC but those are far better stats for how good or bad a player really is.

Top line players on a team where the goalie didn't even stop .900% of shots are going to struggle to have a good plus minus and you can't really blame them for that when Rotolo let soft wristers from the point go in the net once a game..

That is exactly what happened and another big reason why RIT finished with the record they did. Hard to win when the other teams scorers are scoring more points than your top goal getters...

See above, but also this comment seems to ignore the special teams aspect of the game. RIT has had a very deadly power play more often than not the last 5 years and it has been a big part of their success. Those goals don't factor into +/- but still count the same on the score board.

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

It doesn't appear that Coach does a whole lot of line matching. Aside from years where they have a clear # 1 line like the MGM line or the Favot-Brenner line, it seems like he rolls all four lines in order most of the 5-on-5 time.
Plus, I would hardly call Kerins and Valenzuela RIT's top scorers. They placed 4th and 6th. Even if Coach did match lines, they would not be paired against the opponents' top line. The best defensive forward line would normally be paired with the opposition's top line. I don't think they're on that line either.

Wayne does line match at times. He commented on air to Ed and I that he was surprised that RMU coach Derek Schooley kept Ferguson and Leavens away from Valenzuela. Really depends how good your top two are and how deep all 4 are.

Trying to figure out what to do with Valenzuela next year. Think I'd like to keep Kerins with Powell. And imagine this 6 Foot 1 Abbot Girduckis on the Right Wing, Centered by 6 Foot 6 Jordan Peacock with 6 foot 4 Freshman Bryson Traptow on right wing. I am think seriously that a MGM like line could be made of Brown, Powell, and Kerins. That could leave 3 Right handed Shots to Cameron, Kruper, Valenzuela, could mix in any three with Left shooting Freshmen Jacob Hamacher, William Calverley or Alden Dupuis.

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

Kerins and Valenzuela were -8 each that year. Top scorers might not get good +/- if they are paired with opposing teams top lines.

It doesn't appear that Coach does a whole lot of line matching. Aside from years where they have a clear # 1 line like the MGM line or the Favot-Brenner line, it seems like he rolls all four lines in order most of the 5-on-5 time.
Plus, I would hardly call Kerins and Valenzuela RIT's top scorers. They placed 4th and 6th. Even if Coach did match lines, they would not be paired against the opponents' top line. The best defensive forward line would normally be paired with the opposition's top line. I don't think they're on that line either.

[Blitz]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

The plus minus stat is a crucial one in that it measures your performance with 5 on 5 play, removing all the overall points stat bumping that happens with PP points. If a player is on the ice for more goals against than goals for, then it tells a story. Teams generally line match during play-offs not regular season so that isn't a drastic issue for the plus minus stat. I will remove specialty team points for a players total, and coupled with the plus / minus get a better understanding of overall performance. Everyone has their own measures of what constitutes a great player, to me plus minus is part of that process.

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

r

Kerins and Valenzuela were -8 each that year. Top scorers might not get good +/- if they are paired with opposing teams top lines.

That is exactly what happened and another big reason why RIT finished with the record they did. Hard to win when the other teams scorers are scoring more points than your top goal getters...

[komey1]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

No signings I have heard of, which I can't recall a year where we didn't have anyone sign by now. But speaking of the Seniors, I looked at their career plus/minus stats today at lunch and throw up. Not pretty combine Minus 55...

Caleb Cameron Plus 7
Garrett McMullen Minus 20
Todd Skirving Minus 23
Danny Smith Minus 13
Michael Holland Minus 1
Perron-Fontaine Minus 5

Looking at the rest of the lineup, again this is career to date.

Juniors: Plus 19, Leading is Brady Norrish Plus 17

Sophomores: Minus 25, Leading is Abbott Girduckis Plus 5, trouble here is Kerins and Valenzuela are a combine Minus 24 that has got to change!!

Freshman: Plus 17, A very nice Plus 11 by Ryan Kuper

So add it all up at the end of the year the Tigers had guys that were Minus 44 for their college careers.

Remove the Senior class and it becomes Plus 11

r

Inside the numbers ....

In the 2015-16 season, which RIT made the NCAAs
Skirving -13
McMullen -12

The whole team was a +1

Kerins and Valenzuela were -8 each that year. Top scorers might not get good +/- if they are paired with opposing teams top lines.

[Ed Trefzger]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

Congrats to Adam Brubacher, named AHC rookie of the year: http://www.ritathletics.com/news/201...-the-year.aspx

[Tom Naeger]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

Speaking of Pros, does anybody know if any of our seniors are thinking about trying to sign a try out contract to play a little more hockey before they hang up the skates? I read a few tweets about a couple of SHU and AIC players giving it a try. Haven't seen anything yet from any of our guys.

No signings I have heard of, which I can't recall a year where we didn't have anyone sign by now. But speaking of the Seniors, I looked at their career plus/minus stats today at lunch and throw up. Not pretty combine Minus 55...

Caleb Cameron Plus 7
Garrett McMullen Minus 20
Todd Skirving Minus 23
Danny Smith Minus 13
Michael Holland Minus 1
Perron-Fontaine Minus 5

Looking at the rest of the lineup, again this is career to date.

Juniors: Plus 19, Leading is Brady Norrish Plus 17

Sophomores: Minus 25, Leading is Abbott Girduckis Plus 5, trouble here is Kerins and Valenzuela are a combine Minus 24 that has got to change!!

Freshman: Plus 17, A very nice Plus 11 by Ryan Kuper

So add it all up at the end of the year the Tigers had guys that were Minus 44 for their college careers.

Remove the Senior class and it becomes Plus 11

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Injuries, injuries, and more injuries. They lost something like 234 man-games to injury in this last season alone. Even for those of us who don't believe in making excuses when it comes to injuries, this would be the exception. Those kind of numbers are impossible to overcome, especially in college where it's not like the pros where you can just go out and sign guys mid-season.

Speaking of Pros, does anybody know if any of our seniors are thinking about trying to sign a try out contract to play a little more hockey before they hang up the skates? I read a few tweets about a couple of SHU and AIC players giving it a try. Haven't seen anything yet from any of our guys.

[TigerFan86-87]

Re: >>> RIT Tigers 2016-17: That was fun; let's go for three!

The last three seasons success has been a little more difficult which I cannot really put together a reason,

Injuries, injuries, and more injuries. They lost something like 234 man-games to injury in this last season alone. Even for those of us who don't believe in making excuses when it comes to injuries, this would be the exception. Those kind of numbers are impossible to overcome, especially in college where it's not like the pros where you can just go out and sign guys mid-season.