Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic City!

[aweise]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

Speaking of which, anyone who was there, what happened on that game tying goal? The radio guys didn't seem to really know - shot from a sharp angle, then poof, into the net. Bad bounce? Bad play by Keith? Good deflection? Speaking of Keith, seems like a lot of talk about him going pro, anyone have any more information on that? Would be disappointing to lose him.

From my angle, it looked like Brisebois backhanded a sharp-angle shot that seemed harmless, but it hopped over Kinkaid's left shoulder (short-side). My guess is that it hit the Union defenseman's stick on its way to the net.

And the officiating - how bad was it? But regardless, Colgate found a way to neutralize the top power play. Don't go to the box. And they only went a couple times tonight (and last night). Radio guys were especially critical off the call that happened just before 'Gates third goal. But when you lead in the third period both games and can't get it done, you obviously can't lay all the blame on the officials.

I don't want to appear to be blaming the refs for the loss, but I thought the officiating was questionable at best. Hicks & Roy were also the refs for Game 2 and both nights they seemed to let Colgate get away with some clutching & grabbing. For the most part, the Union penalties were legitimate (and dumb), but a few were questionable. Over a 2-night period, that's not terrible. My biggest gripe was that they just seemed to let Colgate take a few too many liberties. However, Union had chances to put them away despite the officiating.

Matt & Brian were giving silver lining after silver lining on the postgame, but this still stings. Personally, I wanted Union to get the ECAC title...not just because of the NCAA auto bid (they'll likely get in, anyway), but for pride. I've attended the ECAC Championships since 1995, so I've watched the likes of Cornell, Clarkson, SLU, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, and (yes) RPI celebrate, but nothing for Union. The program is on the map now, but an ECAC banner would have cemented their place in ECAC history.

There will still be hockey to play, but this is near the top of the disappointments.

[SlyFoxMan7]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

Wow epic choke job. Interesting how this wasn't the worse case scenario as far as pairwise rankings go. Worse case scenario would have been to win this series then lose both games next weekend because those games would be TUC games. However it still hurts to lose to a team with four ECAC regular season wins all season and it would be a complete disgrace if a team with a season like that makes the NCAA tournament. So lets hope Yale puts them in their place.

Union can still salvage the end of this season if they manage a tournament win, representing another first for the team. That will be much easier if they can squeak out a 3 seed. I wouldn't want to play a top four team in the nation. This will also make going to the game much more difficult seeing as though they will likely be shipped out West.

Reffing seemed bad as usual. But that's expected at this level. The simplest cause to point to would be completely folding in period three of game two but it could be a good lesson for the Freshman: Taking one period off can completely spoil an otherwise great season.

[OsecnUC]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

part of the overhaul that Nate needs to pull off in the next 2 weeks includes getting Kinkaid back on track. IMO his last 4 periods have been a bit soft...not his fault entirely that we went down, but definitely a factor in the equation. All year long he has anchored a strong D, putting up impressive numbers, but now that push has come top shove, I think the young netminder may not have handled as well as we had all hoped and expected.

The energy and confidence that he exuded through the regular season seemed to go out the window Saturday night. Almost a bit of a "choke" factor. He's been in the limelight lately with talks of Hobey and possibly moving on to the pro ranks. Is the pressure getting top him? Here's hoping that Nate can get into his head, settler things down, and return his focus to the task at hand. Not asking much...just go back in time to where he was 6 weeks ago.

[MoFan]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

Good luck in the tourney. As a Cornell student ('88-'92), I witnessed Union's D-1 emergence. You have come a long way and I think it's great that there is another ECAC team positioned to be consistently competitive.

[SlyFoxMan7]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

I would have to disagree with your Kinkaid assessment. I saw at least a half dozen saves that were made in the third period and OT last night alone that saved sure goals that lesser goaltenders wouldn't have made.

As much as Union blew it, I would also have to say that Colgate actually played very well for half the series. They didn't look at all like a last place team.

part of the overhaul that Nate needs to pull off in the next 2 weeks includes getting Kinkaid back on track. IMO his last 4 periods have been a bit soft...not his fault entirely that we went down, but definitely a factor in the equation. All year long he has anchored a strong D, putting up impressive numbers, but now that push has come top shove, I think the young netminder may not have handled as well as we had all hoped and expected.

The energy and confidence that he exuded through the regular season seemed to go out the window Saturday night. Almost a bit of a "choke" factor. He's been in the limelight lately with talks of Hobey and possibly moving on to the pro ranks. Is the pressure getting top him? Here's hoping that Nate can get into his head, settler things down, and return his focus to the task at hand. Not asking much...just go back in time to where he was 6 weeks ago.

[Wholin1]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

Well after sleeping on it, I don't feel much better.

First, I won't get into the reffing debate, it is what it is and certainly something we, meaning all ECAC fans, have come to expect and since it's not likely to change any time soon if ever, we all have no choice to but to move on.

Second, I am reluctant to single out an individual player but at the risk of doing so, I think Keith Kinkaid for a pro prospect let the team down. He is talented no doubt, but his team needed a lift all weekend which great goal tenders sometimes need to provide, and frankly I don't think he did. Some goalies (and the guy in Troy, among others comes to mind) when they give up one or two will seemingly say "that's it, no more, get the *** out of here" but I at least felt he was vulnerable all weekend, especially for not facing a lot of rubber.

Third, Union still struggles in the postseason We still have only 2 playoff series wins in D-1 history, and so far as I can remember, no OT playoff wins. I know this team can't be visited the sins of its predecessors, but they looked tight, generally lacked their usual physicality and only showed glimpses this weekend of the team that absolutely dominated the league after the first of the year.

As I read the above I am sounding awfully negative which I don't really mean to be its just an outgrowth of disappointment. I'm seeing the glass as way more that half full as the positives are big ones. This program has developed way beyond my previous expectations especially in view of the inherent limitations on the program of which we are all aware, and its future remains positive. And oh yeah, we are still a seeming lock for the NCAAs. Maybe if we get there, the team can look at it as a second chance, and seize the opportunity much as Colgate did, as a "nothing to lose" opportunity.

[UnionHockeyRadio]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

Hey Fans, quick reminder we WILL still be having a Coach's Corner Live show from Bomber's in Schenectady both this week and next, both shows at 6pm. If you can't make it down - You can listen online at teamline.cc and on radio in the area WABY/WVKZ, same stations as the games. When we find out when/where we're playing in the NCAA tournament, I'll update you as to the broadcast plans.

If you have any questions for the Coach, feel free to drop us an e-mail, UnionHockeyRadio@gmail.com - and we'll get them asked for you on the show. Also, you can join the Live Chat during the show by going to UnionAthletics.com and clicking on the coach's corner link. This week's show will obviously focus on this series, the end of the ECAC playoff run, and how the team prepares for the NCAAs.

For professional reasons, I try to withhold any sort of commentary/opinions about the games/team while off the air. Obviously a tough loss to the team's playoff run, but as one of you pointed out, we're trying to look for the silver linings. What can you do otherwise? And the great news is there is still more Hockey for the Dutchmen to come, continuing this incredible season for them. It's going to hurt this week, but I think next week when the attention focuses on the regionals, we'll all start to feel a little better.

The ECAC Playoffs are incredibly difficult to get through, and Colgate was definitely the best 12th place team you're probably ever going to see. I plan on asking Nate a bit about the playoff format and his thoughts on it. Next weekend's field of 4 teams are going to take a lot out of each other.

I would like to mention how amazing the crowds have been not only this season, but at the rink during this series as well. It's been a long road for Union fans, and the energy and excitement level at the rink was unreal. Hundreds of fans already in there when the team was out for warm ups exploding was surreal. Gave the small school a big time feel, and it was a ton of fun to be around. I think you could feel the nervousness last night, but fans still got chants going and did what they could. Just an amazing atmosphere. Makes for good radio as well, thank you

It's feels strange that a playoff loss doesn't end our season, but that's the bonus of the great year the team has had.

Alright, don't forget to e-mail those questions for Nate - UnionHockeyRadio@gmail.com! Coach's Corner Live, both this and next Tuesday night, 6pm.

-UHR

[aweise]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

I would have to disagree with your Kinkaid assessment. I saw at least a half dozen saves that were made in the third period and OT last night alone that saved sure goals that lesser goaltenders wouldn't have made.

I saw those saves, too...but at the same time, he let in a couple of softies. The tying goal on Saturday and Colgate's 3rd goal on Sunday I think could have been stopped. I realize that game 3's tying goal could have been deflected by a d-man's stick, which is usually difficult to stop, but the shot was a backhander from a pretty sharp angle, plus he looked like he might have been cheating to anticipate a centering pass. Keith has to be focused on the guy carrying the puck and trust the defense to keep the front of the crease clear of Raiders.

As much as Union blew it, I would also have to say that Colgate actually played very well for half the series. They didn't look at all like a last place team.

They were picked #4 preseason and lost a lot of 1-goal games. It kinda sucks (for RPI and Union) that they figured things out late in the season and became the team people expected them to be, but that just shows you the competitive level of this league.

As someone alluded to, let this be a lesson to the underclassmen...don't stop competing in this league.

[UnionHockeyManiac]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

Stings even more today.

[sshablak]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

Union hockey maniac....Might be able to save your butt. If you can't get a refund maybe I'll take the house, as we're prob going now. sshablak@aol.com

[Wholin1]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

Stings even more today.

It's supposed to.

[SlyFoxMan7]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

I don't know. I still say Kinkaid played about as well as he did all season. Which is to say very, very well with some fantastic saves but not completely lights out. So far, I have always thought people were a bit over enthusiastic when saying Kinkaid is NHL caliber and looking to leave. Maybe he will leave, but I don't see him in the NHL anytime soon. Overall I thought the difference was weaker team defense and less dominant offense. Of course lack of power plays hurt part of that.

[ADK11]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

I don't want to appear to be blaming the refs for the loss, but I thought the officiating was questionable at best. Hicks & Roy were also the refs for Game 2 and both nights they seemed to let Colgate get away with some clutching & grabbing. For the most part, the Union penalties were legitimate (and dumb), but a few were questionable. Over a 2-night period, that's not terrible. My biggest gripe was that they just seemed to let Colgate take a few too many liberties. However, Union had chances to put them away despite the officiating.

My biggest problem with the reffing was that they let way to much go the last two nights and it was very lucky nobody got seriously hurt out there. There were 4-5 very scary hits on Saturday that resulted in only one penalty called, and that was an elbowing on Welsh that probably should have been a 5-minute major for contact to the head. It also seemed to me that the series turned when Gate figured out they could basically run Union players with impunity. Not saying that Gate didn't deserve to win, because Union is known for tough play and can more than protect themselves, but was unfortunate that a change in reffing philosophy seemed to have an impact on the momentum in the series.

As for Kinkaid, IMO he is 100% NOT to blame for what happened. He was simply outstanding last night and U could have and probably should have been behind much earlier in the game. The 3rd goal was pretty obviously a deflection off of someone's stick or leg and those are very tough to defend. If it looks like the puck is going to the front of the crease (which is where Gate was putting it all night), why wouldn't you move in that direction? The last two goals on Saturday were perfectly executed bang-bang plays to the far post, which 99% of NHL goalies never stop. And the rest of the goals were pretty much from within 10 feet of the crease. I thought KK was more than adequate and gave U every opportunity to win - U's skaters just couldn't put enough rubber by Mihalek.

Finally - thank you BaggySweater for such a well written and thoughtful post. Couldn't agree more and need to keep things in perspective that this team & staff have accomplished much this season and there is actually more to come. The players have much to be proud of and need to refocus on next task at hand, which will be even bigger. Would also add, that the school is in final exams so now the players can focus on that and have a clean slate in 2 weekends.

[GRussinko]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

Sorry to see you guys go out like that on Sunday. I was rooting for Union to go the distance as watching Yale really didn't do much for me. We RPI fans also know what a kick in the junk it is to get knocked out in that exact fashion.

Look on the bright side - you guys are in the tournament regardless of other outcomes and don't have to spend the week wringing your hands like we do.

[rdf8585]

Re: Union College Dutchmen Hockey 2010-11: There's one way and that's to Atlantic Cit

"Highlights" @ http://www.ecachockey.com/men/video/...rs-desktop.flv

A better look here than I saw at the game, but W.Simpson was just pushed down to the ice right before Colgate won it.