Norwich 2024-25-Is this the year it turns?

[jerrynu26]

It was good to see some fire from the team last night. Nice effort getting the equalizer mid third.
the OT was fairly even, except for one breakdown that Molu covered for.
AND first shooter out was Kerner! He was stopped, but second shooter (another forward!!) fired a wrister from 8 feet or so for the extra point.
a more difficult team tonight.
The Plymouth Hamilton game was influenced by the refereeing. Yeah, Plymouth committed a couple bad ones, but it was the ones not called against Hamilton that were so bad. Plymouth player hit in the face shield by a stick hard enough to push his helmet back, no more than 6 or 7 feet in front of a referee. An obvious boarding call that wasn’t called, in fact they almost called one on the player run into to boards for asking why there was no call.

[***JCB***]

It was good to see some fire from the team last night. Nice effort getting the equalizer mid third.
the OT was fairly even, except for one breakdown that Molu covered for.
AND first shooter out was Kerner! He was stopped, but second shooter (another forward!!) fired a wrister from 8 feet or so for the extra point.
a more difficult team tonight.

Spoke too soon. This is just a very average middling hockey team that will be lucky to finish .500. Its pretty bad when everyone in the arena was ecstatic that they were buzzing hard for the first five minutes of the Williams game. Something needs to happen quick before this turns into a middling team in the little east.

[Bog Hockey]

The decision to play for a certain program isn’t always driven by finances. If prospective athletes lack confidence in the coach and AD, don’t subscribe to the “system” being played, [how many more times will we hear that this season], fail to see / feel the energy, enthusiasm, and potential of a program, don’t value the school’s education, etc., they will play elsewhere. An improved financial aid environment will likely not overcome the aforementioned, especially for a program in a nosedive.

[802Hockey]

1.64 Goals per Game honestly seems like best case for this team. *** is Norwich doing?

[AmericanCadet]

We got to see Norwich vs a ranked team Saturday. Hamilton is historically a .550 club, and this year, they are having a great year. You can see the difference. Passes are fast, accurate and received well. Norwich did look decent for the first couple of periods. Their pass acumen is simply not as good as Hamilton. Norwich had opportunities, but the pass was off just a little bit or not received well. Can they focus on these basics once a week and improve or is this the talent level of the team? Domina dominated the face-off circle against Williams. Seems like a future asset.

Ellsworth may have checked out….don't be surprised if he is looking elsewhere. He doesn’t even give on of his lame quotes at the end of each game anymore. He is not the right fit in Northfield for sure. Hopefully I am wrong? The next 4 games are huge. To get a home playoff game, we need 3 WINS, not 1 win and three ties or worse. UMass and Castleton have to be beaten.

Anarumo did no favors to the institution. Cost them hundred of thousands in legal costs and ruined a stellar reputation.

The challenge is finding a new coach that wants to live in conservative rural America.

[Fishman'81]

The challenge is finding a new coach that wants to live in conservative rural America.

Interesting comment.

I suppose that in our current political climate, such a thing might be more of a factor than it was, say, 9 years ago. (Insert winky face.)

But isn't VT still solidly Centrist..?

[PrezdeJohnson09]

The challenge is finding a new coach that wants to live in conservative rural America.

It's interesting you write that when Northfield voted blue in the last election unless I'm off base on what you are insinuating.

[Bog Hockey]

We got to see Norwich vs a ranked team Saturday. Hamilton is historically a .550 club, and this year, they are having a great year. You can see the difference. Passes are fast, accurate and received well. Norwich did look decent for the first couple of periods. Their pass acumen is simply not as good as Hamilton. Norwich had opportunities, but the pass was off just a little bit or not received well. Can they focus on these basics once a week and improve or is this the talent level of the team? Domina dominated the face-off circle against Williams. Seems like a future asset.

Ellsworth may have checked out….don't be surprised if he is looking elsewhere. He doesn’t even give on of his lame quotes at the end of each game anymore. He is not the right fit in Northfield for sure. Hopefully I am wrong? The next 4 games are huge. To get a home playoff game, we need 3 WINS, not 1 win and three ties or worse. UMass and Castleton have to be beaten.

Anarumo did no favors to the institution. Cost them hundred of thousands in legal costs and ruined a stellar reputation.

The challenge is finding a new coach that wants to live in conservative rural America.

To answer your question, yes, this is as good as it gets. Wins will be rare; ties will be infrequent. Folks, this is not an intriguing political issue; it’s one of talent. The team lacks speed and skill and will for many years. If the coach is in fact miserable, then show him the door. Throwing the puck at the goalie hoping it will find the back of the net after multiple caroms is not a method for success. But with no quality shooters, that’s the best hope can offer.

[***JCB***]

This weekend and next are absolute no doubt about it must win games for this team. Because the final four weeks of the season could be a 0-fer

[AmericanCadet]

Let’s all have a shout out to Cam and the team. This weekend we saw solid performances both nights! Some good news as well. This is not their peak. Passing was much improved, but can get better. Positioning was good, but can get better. They put themselves in position to score goals. Keep up the good work Cam. Keep up the good work team. Domina is really looking good.

[***JCB***]

Let’s all have a shout out to Cam and the team. This weekend we saw solid performances both nights! Some good news as well. This is not their peak. Passing was much improved, but can get better. Positioning was good, but can get better. They put themselves in position to score goals. Keep up the good work Cam. Keep up the good work team. Domina is really looking good.

They had a good weekend... against the 8th place team in the league. Lets not get ahead of ourselves here come on. I have been at every home game cheering and I will continue to be at every home game cheering but they still are only averaging 1.85 goals per game or 81st ou of 87 DIII teams. Lots of work to do. Like I said I'll be there rooting them on every game but lots to do.

[AmericanCadet]

Yes UMass is not good. The results against Southern Maine and NEC were horrifying. Hopefully what we are seeing is a relatively young team growing in confidence. Can 5-7 for the rest of the year lock in a top four? Maybe….can they win five more? Let’s see how they look this weekend.

[jerrynu26]

Yes UMass is not good. The results against Southern Maine and NEC were horrifying. Hopefully what we are seeing is a relatively young team growing in confidence. Can 5-7 for the rest of the year lock in a top four? Maybe….can they win five more? Let’s see how they look this weekend.

Hobart, Babson and Skidmore are away. Hobart is 2 losses, Babson and Skidmore are a split (at best). Salve is at home, but can they win 2 and not split? Castleton is a must win both games, but a decent goalie for CSU can put that in danger. Is NU improved? Yes, they show flashes of what could be, but aren’t there yet. They really only have one scorer, but they don’t seem to be able to get him the puck in great scoring areas. ( but that was a great goal last weekend!).
plenty of room for improvement, but running out of time. Hobart is not a game that is likely to allow that.
this weekend seems to be the last chance to make a turnaround.

We’ll see. Like JCB, I’ll be there cheering whenever there is a chance, and hoping for wins.

But you do have to be a realist, just the same.

[Bog Hockey]

Again, wins will be rare; ties infrequent. Relying on “room for improvement” and showing random “flashes” are not methods for success. Scoring will not suddenly improve. The program has been in trouble / decline since McShane’s retirement. How much room is needed?

[Bog Hockey]

The breakout is so one-dimensional and predictable and won’t work against a smarter, better skating team. I do not see a reason to celebrate. Castleton is not a good team and nearly all teams are beating them. NU will have a very brief stay at 3rd.