Norwich 2022-23 Back to Normal (ish)

[***JCB***]

Definitely wrote last week. It was a great win over Elmira no doubt about it. Finally played hard through the whole game. My only continuing critique is where are the fans especially the sudents?

[PuckVoice]

Definitely wrote last week. It was a great win over Elmira no doubt about it. Finally played hard through the whole game. My only continuing critique is where are the fans especially the sudents?

Agree about attendance ... think it is time for Norwich to begin a serious outreach to the students and to the Central Vermont! community.

[KrbFlint]

Funny ...
Great LOYAL fans dumping all over the team after some disappointing outings ...
Now after back to back wins over Babson and Elmira ... Crickets.
Where are you guys now?

They only scored three goals and still had tall guys so it doesn’t count

[KrbFlint]

Regardless of what happens in OT, great effort tonight.

[PuckVoice]

Regardless of what happens in OT, great effort tonight.

If there ever was such a thing as a moral victory that was it.
As to previous posts about dull boring hockey .... lol!

[Bartman]

Great game tonight as Hobart escapes with an OT tie. The friendly fire and rumors that Norwich is not up to snuff this year should stop. That third period was full of energy. Hobart needs to finish out the NEHC season and keep home ice in the playoffs , we don't want to go back to scary Keitzberg. Great goaltending by both teams. See you all later this year , hopefully at the Cooler.

[jerrynu26]

If there ever was such a thing as a moral victory that was it.
As to previous posts about dull boring hockey .... lol!

.

Although this is a reply to George’s post, it isn’t necessarily about his post, but comments in general.



Until the Babson game, it WAS boring for reasons previously brought up.

So, what changed? Instead of backing up across the blue line, the defense actually pinched at times, extending time in the offensive zone. The players actually played physically (somewhat), giving more control of the flow and the puck.
Forwards played, and shot, from in close instead of from the perimeter.
Less icings, at least until the Elmira game, keeping the lines fresher and able to play better in the defensive zone.

Nice changes, moves in the right direction. All things brought up earlier as problems. Not admitting those things is foolish. let’s see if they continue.

Let’s talk scorers. Elmira and Hobart’s top scorers have twice the point total of NU players. They play the same league teams, so it’s obvious they play better offensively. So scorers are still out there, but less likely to come to a team that over emphasizes defense.

Smaller crowds? Well, if students aren’t there in the same numbers, why? They were last year many times. Maybe they aren’t engaged as much in general. There certainly are fewer on campus. I remember not too long ago when players promoted the games as well as giving out tix.
Adults? Many of them are older and less likely to show up now. What pumps up casual fans? Like it or not, scoring and physical play, things that were in short supply for quite a while.

So far as I know, the maximum allotment for season tickets is still sold each year. Some sit in them, some stand on the rail, some stay home and watch. A lot no longer feel connected to the team. There certainly are less interactions between team and town.

As far as being loyal, I’ve watched games starting in the seventies off and on, then attending all the home games starting when the Simonetti’s played. Win or lose, I went. Some teams were good, others not as much. But they ALWAYS played hard and with heart. That isn’t always the case now.

It isn’t disloyal to recognize problems and comment on them. At least those commenters are watching.

Thats my take on it.

[***JCB***]

Amazing 3-point weekend against #1 & #2. I admit I was wrong because I didn't think this Norwich team was capable of having a weekend like this not by a long shot. I appreciate Jerry being a realist. Many things still need to change with this program both on the ice and the fan experience. Hopefully we can look back on this weekend as the time when things turned a corner.

[spwood]

Nice weekend…

[PrezdeJohnson09]

Amazing 3-point weekend against #1 & #2. I admit I was wrong because I didn't think this Norwich team was capable of having a weekend like this not by a long shot. I appreciate Jerry being a realist. Many things still need to change with this program both on the ice and the fan experience. Hopefully we can look back on this weekend as the time when things turned a corner.

Nit-picking here a little but it was a “four-point” weekend as the NEHC went to the 3 point format for wins, 2 for OT win, 1 for tie or OT loss.

Hard to be upset with 1-0-1 record against the #1 and #2 teams in the country. Especially with how Elmira was decimating teams over the last 6 weeks.

I unfortunately didn’t get a chance to watch more than the last 2 minutes of the Elmira game this weekend with my U-32 responsibilities but it was disappointing to hear/see that the crowds weren’t great considering who was in the building and first weekend back with students.

[PuckVoice]

.

Although this is a reply to George’s post, it isn’t necessarily about his post, but comments in general.



Until the Babson game, it WAS boring for reasons previously brought up.

So, what changed? Instead of backing up across the blue line, the defense actually pinched at times, extending time in the offensive zone. The players actually played physically (somewhat), giving more control of the flow and the puck.
Forwards played, and shot, from in close instead of from the perimeter.
Less icings, at least until the Elmira game, keeping the lines fresher and able to play better in the defensive zone.

Nice changes, moves in the right direction. All things brought up earlier as problems. Not admitting those things is foolish. let’s see if they continue.

Let’s talk scorers. Elmira and Hobart’s top scorers have twice the point total of NU players. They play the same league teams, so it’s obvious they play better offensively. So scorers are still out there, but less likely to come to a team that over emphasizes defense.

Smaller crowds? Well, if students aren’t there in the same numbers, why? They were last year many times. Maybe they aren’t engaged as much in general. There certainly are fewer on campus. I remember not too long ago when players promoted the games as well as giving out tix.
Adults? Many of them are older and less likely to show up now. What pumps up casual fans? Like it or not, scoring and physical play, things that were in short supply for quite a while.

So far as I know, the maximum allotment for season tickets is still sold each year. Some sit in them, some stand on the rail, some stay home and watch. A lot no longer feel connected to the team. There certainly are less interactions between team and town.

As far as being loyal, I’ve watched games starting in the seventies off and on, then attending all the home games starting when the Simonetti’s played. Win or lose, I went. Some teams were good, others not as much. But they ALWAYS played hard and with heart. That isn’t always the case now.

It isn’t disloyal to recognize problems and comment on them. At least those commenters are watching.

Thats my take on it.


Ec

First off , Jerry I would NEVER question your loyalty... you were there long before I showed up !
And yes I too miss the hell bent for leather teams of the McShane years.
But remember our last GREAT team ... the nine straight shutouts team done in by Covid in March of 2020 ... was an Ellsworth team ... playing a tight defensive style that helped Tommy Abrun to post those amazing numbers!
I too would love to see the Cadets blowing out opponents 8-1 every night, but the world has changed ... the other teams are too good.

[Steve Day]

Hobart 1, Norwich 1 F OT1

NEHC Game
At Kreitzberg Arena (Attendance: 1180)

The attendance was terrible considering who was there. Let's hope better in 2 weeks when Castleton and Skidmore in.
Tied with Skidmore with 25 Points in League Standings

Steve Day
NU 71

[jerrynu26]

First off , Jerry I would NEVER question your loyalty... you were there long before I showed up !
And yes I too miss the hell bent for leather teams of the McShane years.
But remember our last GREAT team ... the nine straight shutouts team done in by Covid in March of 2020 ... was an Ellsworth team ... playing a tight defensive style that helped Tommy Abrun to post those amazing numbers!
I too would love to see the Cadets blowing out opponents 8-1 every night, but the world has changed ... the other teams are too good.

I wasnt intending to say you questioned me, I apologize if it came across that way.
Still, that was more of a McShane team than an Ellsworth team. And while playing stellar defense, they still scored 4 goals a game, slightly more than 3 per game over opponents ( on average). A couple 30+ point scorers, and several 20+ point scorers.
there are no point-per-game scorers now.

[PuckVoice]

Attendance; has been slowly bleeding away for years .. not just at Norwich, but at Middlebury, Plattsburgh and Castleton as well.
Let's face it, students have not been a big part of the crowd at Norwich in a long time. Students who do go seem to be civilians ... It seems most of the Corps could care less.
The townies used to pack Kreitzberg ... They are not doing it anymore.
Why?
Blame some of it on season ticket holders who sit on their tickets and don't show up.
Then there is the local media ... It used to be that if there was a big D-3 game the local TV's would be all over it. And fans would see and hear all about it.
Not anymore. One local TV at the Elmira game ... NONE at the Hobart game.
And more importantly no mention in the days earlier in the week that #1 and #2 we're coming to town.
Hey I am a UVM grad and love to see coverage of their teams, but someone has to remind the kids who are running our local TV sports department that the Catamounts are NOT the only game in town!

[dwb]

one reason for lower attendance is the cost of the tickets-it wouldn't surprise me if Norwich has the most expensive tickets in all of D3