RPI 2023-24: In Our 200th Year, We're Getting It Right

[Wicked Slappaahs]

He seems to have an extensive hockey background which I think has to be a big positive for us. I would hope he has retained a large number of contacts in the sport both here and abroad which might help with recruiting.

Any coach that did time with the Shreveport Mudbugs is ok by me ! Hah !! But I agree Doc, it should certainly help us in unearthing some talent from abroad.

[Ralph Baer]

Sezenack's ECAC preview
https://thefieldhouse.substack.com/p...medium=reader2

[DrDemento]

Sezenack's ECAC preview
https://thefieldhouse.substack.com/p...medium=reader2

Just fabulous work by Sez as he has done for some time now. His explanations for how he has arrived at the predictions are carefully thought out and well presented. Cannot disagree with much. His top tier is a lock. The bottom 4 similar. it is that middle tier of 5 teams that will be so hard to predict and I agree that there could be a tremendous amount of variability and movement in there. I had seen RPI as anywhere from a 4th place to 9th before reading the article and now feel I understand better why I felt that way. His discussion of Princeton ( a team that we have followed down here for so many seasons) is spot on. They are always hard to figure and often exceed expectations as often as they disappoint. One interesting item almost never mentioned is that they play in a rink (Baker) that opposing teams can often find difficult to adjust to and it offers Princeton an advantage that is hard to quantify.
In any case, a big thank you to Sezenack for the comprehensive review and predictions. We are very fortunate to have him to enlighten us on this thread along with our master statistician Ralph!!!

[rpi82]

….. I had seen RPI as anywhere from a 4th place to 9th before reading the article and now feel I understand…..

That’s the same range I specified in an email to Sezenack complimenting his analysis. I have a feeling what we are going to get up front and in the d corps. I have no clue what we are going to get in net. If we get frosh Watson we will compete for a bye. If we get soph Watson we may struggle for home ice. He’s an excellent talent but something was off last year. I have no idea the cause (could have been injury, confidence, personal issues, misalignment of biorhythms with phases of the moon, etc.), but he wasn’t at the level we know is within him. If necessary let’s “Trae Turner” him (Google his season and the fan reaction in, of all places, Philadelphia), because he’s that critical to the team.

[jericho]

Football retains the Transit Trophy as they defeat the Engineers of WPI 25-0. Union also defeats Springfield 34-7, letting in a touchdown on a punt return so the defense still has yet to surrender a TD. Both teams 3-0.

On a side note, I don't think the new Union coach can blink his eyes. It makes him look very intense and creepy.

[Ralph Baer]

In honor of Isabelle Hardy, today is 16 September 2023. There are 21 days (3 weeks) until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 7 October 2023 for the start of next season.

[DrDemento]

That’s the same range I specified in an email to Sezenack complimenting his analysis. I have a feeling what we are going to get up front and in the d corps. I have no clue what we are going to get in net. If we get frosh Watson we will compete for a bye. If we get soph Watson we may struggle for home ice. He’s an excellent talent but something was off last year. I have no idea the cause (could have been injury, confidence, personal issues, misalignment of biorhythms with phases of the moon, etc.), but he wasn’t at the level we know is within him. If necessary let’s “Trae Turner” him (Google his season and the fan reaction in, of all places, Philadelphia), because he’s that critical to the team.

Yup - but it also could have been difficulty in communicating with the defense and even the play of forwards coming back to help on defense. A couple of really good pairs of defensemen and a few defensive forwards coming back to help defend can often make a mediocre goal tender appear to be a super star. I agree totally with what you posted. Watson has shown the potential to steal games (frosh Watson) or give some away (soph Watson). personally I think he is more the former than the latter and can be a real presence in net. He will only be able to do so much if the defense in front of him is like a piece of Swiss cheese. You can only do so much to stop clean break aways or odd man rushes where you are left hanging out to dry. If our defense can put it together and our special teams are reliably consistent and good, his job in net becomes far easier. He just cannot be expected to stop everything if the shots are coming from right on his doorstep or if they are coming and he cannot see them by being blocked out.

[DrDemento]

Football - nice win last night at WPI 25-0. But did not start out like it would be easy. We made several mistakes early (taking a few early self inflicted penalties) and having to settle for just an early 3-0 lead. WPI seemed to be moving the ball well offensively when perhaps their best running back got injured on a play and either fumbled or we stole the ball for a TD return. That one play seemed to turn the game into a much easier affair. Our defese against the run was incredibly solid and we made some big offensive pass plays to add to the lead . Now 3-0 overall with one more game before the league season starts.

[sezenack]

Appreciate the compliments on my post DrD and rpi82! They are appreciated. Should be a good season

[Ralph Baer]

In honor of Nathan Sullivan, today is 17 September 2023. There are 20 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 7 October 2023 for the start of next season.

[engineerhockeyfan]

Appreciate the compliments on my post DrD and rpi82! They are appreciated. Should be a good season

Well deserved. Great work and plenty of food for discussion. I think that the only thing that can move us up is the goaltending. I think that we will see a lot of improvement on defense and that will help.
JMO.

[rpi82]

Yup - but it also could have been difficulty in communicating with the defense and even the play of forwards coming back to help on defense. A couple of really good pairs of defensemen and a few defensive forwards coming back to help defend can often make a mediocre goal tender appear to be a super star. I agree totally with what you posted. Watson has shown the potential to steal games (frosh Watson) or give some away (soph Watson). personally I think he is more the former than the latter and can be a real presence in net. He will only be able to do so much if the defense in front of him is like a piece of Swiss cheese. You can only do so much to stop clean break aways or odd man rushes where you are left hanging out to dry. If our defense can put it together and our special teams are reliably consistent and good, his job in net becomes far easier. He just cannot be expected to stop everything if the shots are coming from right on his doorstep or if they are coming and he cannot see them by being blocked out.

I agree completely Doc. It works the other way too. When the team has a goaltender that it is confident will bail them out they can get more aggressive pushing the play up ice. We saw that when Savory emerged as a stone wall in net. We also saw it at times in Watson's freshman year. His play in the Harvard playoff series and the way it impacted the team's overall play showed he has the potential to be that guy too. Our tough early schedule, particularly after last year's road struggles, will tell us a lot.

[DrDemento]

I agree completely Doc. It works the other way too. When the team has a goaltender that it is confident will bail them out they can get more aggressive pushing the play up ice. We saw that when Savory emerged as a stone wall in net. We also saw it at times in Watson's freshman year. His play in the Harvard playoff series and the way it impacted the team's overall play showed he has the potential to be that guy too. Our tough early schedule, particularly after last year's road struggles, will tell us a lot.

That tough early schedule you mention looms large especially with much of it on the road. I have gotten used to the past several years of a much easier schedule early and always had expectations of a very positive start. personally I think if we are a .500 team after 10 games I will be a happy camper. What do others think?
I also agree that a confident goal tender can affect the entire flow of the team and we have seen in a few times in the past as you mentioned and also with a season from Joel Laing and a playoff run ending in Lake Placid by Mike Tamburro.

[Ralph Baer]

In honor of Sutter Muzzatti and Asiah Taylor-Walters, today is 18 September 2023. There are 19 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 7 October 2023 for the start of next season.

[Ralph Baer]

https://x.com/Homeicemn/status/1703514983781306559

Isn't the one on the right in the second row the HFH? It seems odd that it is included in something about Minnesota hockey.