RPI 2026-27: Houston Field House, We Have Lift-off!

[tony/troy]

Bigger problem is the same old concrete walkways to the grandstands that used to be covered with rubber mats. Now they are bare concrete which in a perfect storm set of circumstances can sometimes get outright slippery when wet. A cooler building, the wrong foot attire and a layer of water from a rainy or snowy afternoon or night can combine to make concrete slippery. Just like my own garage!!!

Unlike my place where I can't sue myself, anybody who takes a tumble can sue them. Far cheaper to just replace that damned mats!!!

Either they must be reading this thread or the mats were slow to arrive. There are now mats and nice ones too. Not those solid black drab ones most municipal rinks have but black with reddish sprinkles. Not bad at all.

Otherwise, a win is a win no matter how dull. Allowing limited shots with few grade a chances is always noteworthy as is four goals allowed in three games. Besides that, the evenings only other highlight worth noting was Troy, NY in a rear view mirror on my drive home to North Greenbush.

 

[Waite21]

Some observations based on the results of the first few games, bearing in mind that it is still too early to draw meaningful conclusions.

I would think many RPI fans, including me, expected Ohio State to be really good, so most of us were probably favorably impressed with the fact that the team was able to gain a split against them.

On the other hand, we probably didn't have real high regard for Sacred Heart, to whom Ohio State has proceeded to lose in their next game. Maybe splitting with Ohio State wasn't as impressive as we may have thought.

I have a feeling that many RPI fans, including me, expected LIU to be a relatively easy opponent. They came in with a 1-3 record, having lost twice to UM-D and split with Canisius, and we probably didn't have real high regard for Canisius, either, so squeaking past LIU in this weekend's first game doesn't seem like something to be really enthusiastic about.

On the other hand, Canisius went up to Potsdam last night and beat Clarkson. Maybe Clarkson isn't going to be as formidable this year as they have been in the past.

 

[DrDemento]

Just maybe, there is a lot more parity in NCAA college hockey this year than in previous years? other than the true top tier few teams - the Michigans, the Denvers, etc, perhaps on any given night we could see any given result?? This may just make every game important and that you cannot take any club for granted??

 

[tanman]

Hey a win is a win. Team is still over-passing on the power play (which the TV commentators mentioned) but did seem to throw more pucks at the net so, progress. The game was a bit of a snoozefest, and I was surprised to hear each team finished with 31 shots on goal. Hoping for something a little more exciting tonight!

On another, random and completely unimportant note... with all the money spent to renovate the HFH, could they maybe spring for some new twine on the goals? They look dingy like practice nets. At least that's how it looks on TV...

 

[jmhusker]

Hey a win is a win. Team is still over-passing on the power play (which the TV commentators mentioned) but did seem to throw more pucks at the net so, progress. The game was a bit of a snoozefest, and I was surprised to hear each team finished with 31 shots on goal. Hoping for something a little more exciting tonight!

On another, random and completely unimportant note... with all the money spent to renovate the HFH, could they maybe spring for some new twine on the goals? They look dingy like practice nets. At least that's how it looks on TV...

Agreed on the nets. As for overpassing... that's not what I saw. What I saw was a lack of movement and as a result a lack of open lanes and looks to get shots off. This makes passing the right option but the solution is not just shooting for the hell of it as the color guy seemed to want to indicate. Hockey has changed. Everyone blocks shots now and it's pointless to wind up and fire pucks right into multiple layers of defenders. The solution for a lack of shots is more movement both with and away from the puck.

 

[rpi82]

Some observations based on the results of the first few games, bearing in mind that it is still too early to draw meaningful conclusions.

I would think many RPI fans, including me, expected Ohio State to be really good, so most of us were probably favorably impressed with the fact that the team was able to gain a split against them.

On the other hand, we probably didn't have real high regard for Sacred Heart, to whom Ohio State has proceeded to lose in their next game. Maybe splitting with Ohio State wasn't as impressive as we may have thought.

I have a feeling that many RPI fans, including me, expected LIU to be a relatively easy opponent. They came in with a 1-3 record, having lost twice to UM-D and split with Canisius, and we probably didn't have real high regard for Canisius, either, so squeaking past LIU in this weekend's first game doesn't seem like something to be really enthusiastic about.

On the other hand, Canisius went up to Potsdam last night and beat Clarkson. Maybe Clarkson isn't going to be as formidable this year as they have been in the past.

Sacred Heart also beat Penn State. I think opening the new CHL talent pool has created more balance. There’s still a 5-10 dozen or so in the top tier (and with NIL they may be further separating themselves from the field) and a similar number at the bottom, but games between the middle 40 or so are very competitive.

Edit: I just realized that Dr. D beat me to the same conclusion.

 

[tony/troy]

100% agree. The best thing they could do to reverse this trend is to start winning and being competitive in the conference. The increased social media engagement is highly encouraging, and Marty, being well-liked, is a great ambassador. His enthusiasm and support for the program is hopefully infectious. After so many years of the program being treated as an after-thought by the administration, it's hardly surprising the students and fans followed suit. And that's not even getting into the active sabotage of the COVID era. I feel optimism and hope around the school and the team for the first time in a long time. I hope we can get some young'uns to feel the same.

If they ever show up and give it a try, those young'uns better like non stop shrieking screaming at the top of their lungs PA announcers. Two and a half hours of this guy piercing eardrums non stop virtually every whistle, every media break and between periods is just plain and simple too much. He was still screaming not only after the game ended but even after the players and referees left the ice and the crowd was filling out!!! You can't even get a word in edgewise to somebody sitting right next to you. Less than two feet away and they simply can't hear you and vice versa. The young'uns would not find this much of a date night. It is totally ridiculous and headache inducing if not outright stomach turning.

This kind of stuff was actually pretty entertaining back when the likes of Hogan, Flair, The Rock and The Warrior were screaming their 60 second wrestling promos but even those guys would not have been able to sell this garbage non stop all freakin night.

Cool it. Tone it down a couple of notches and just go the hell away every so often.

 

[DrDemento]

Sacred Heart also beat Penn State. I think opening the new CHL talent pool has created more balance. There’s still a 5-10 dozen or so in the top tier (and with NIL they may be further separating themselves from the field) and a similar number at the bottom, but games between the middle 40 or so are very competitive.

Edit: I just realized that Dr. D beat me to the same conclusion.

i may be old but I am still pretty quick!!

 

[DrDemento]

Agreed on the nets. As for overpassing... that's not what I saw. What I saw was a lack of movement and as a result a lack of open lanes and looks to get shots off. This makes passing the right option but the solution is not just shooting for the hell of it as the color guy seemed to want to indicate. Hockey has changed. Everyone blocks shots now and it's pointless to wind up and fire pucks right into multiple layers of defenders. The solution for a lack of shots is more movement both with and away from the puck.

Bingo!!! Saw all 3 games so far and we have a lot of talent but for the most part they are just not moving into and out of positions. lots of standing around in the same positions and as you point out, we pass the puck around but then virtually no movement. Rather easy to design a defense for that and most teams will block the shots and the shooting lanes and then take the puck out of the zone and move up ice. Could not agree with you more.

 

[tanman]

Agreed on the nets. As for overpassing... that's not what I saw. What I saw was a lack of movement and as a result a lack of open lanes and looks to get shots off. This makes passing the right option but the solution is not just shooting for the hell of it as the color guy seemed to want to indicate. Hockey has changed. Everyone blocks shots now and it's pointless to wind up and fire pucks right into multiple layers of defenders. The solution for a lack of shots is more movement both with and away from the puck.

Yes, I agree. The passing was because there were no shooting lanes. As you say either they need to move around more to open up space, or be quicker on the draw when receiving the puck so the defender doesn't have time to get in the way. Things I expect Lang to address as we go forward, and I'd rather be improving on 2-1 this year than 0-3 at this time last year.

 

[RPEyeofthetiger]

Sacred Heart also beat Penn State. I think opening the new CHL talent pool has created more balance. There’s still a 5-10 dozen or so in the top tier (and with NIL they may be further separating themselves from the field) and a similar number at the bottom, but games between the middle 40 or so are very competitive.

Edit: I just realized that Dr. D beat me to the same conclusion.

I agree the whole level of college hockey, but especially the bottom teams, are levelling up thanks to the influx of CHL players. That said, I think SHU is legit. They brought in a ton of good players this off season.

 

[Ralph Baer]

FWIW, RPI is #18 in the NPI list.

https://www.uscho.com/rankings/npi/d-i-men

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

I think that we covered all of our shortcomings, but isn't that why we play ooc games at the beginning of the season.
We have already made some critical adjustments.
Like not sitting back with a lead in the third period.
Also, our passing was much better last night.
And while LIU was able to enter our zone easily, they were kept to the outside consistently on their rushes.
We still have much to work on, but we are learning with every game.
The coaches are doing a great job so far.

 

[DrDemento]

Early odds for next week have us even with RIT on the road. We need to prove everyone is underestimating us!!! Football has us 18 point favorites over Rochester and I believe that to be a bit too generous.

 

[Engineers]

I think that we covered all of our shortcomings, but isn't that why we play ooc games at the beginning of the season.
We have already made some critical adjustments.
Like not sitting back with a lead in the third period.
Also, our passing was much better last night.
And while LIU was able to enter our zone easily, they were kept to the outside consistently on their rushes.
We still have much to work on, but we are learning with every game.
The coaches are doing a great job so far.

Exactly! The coaches made the adjustments and the team responded well last night. Plenty of work to do but so far I’m impressed with this team. We’re 3-1! Coaching staff has done a great job. Coach lang is great

 

[RPIcrank]

I think that we covered all of our shortcomings, but isn't that why we play ooc games at the beginning of the season.
We have already made some critical adjustments.
Like not sitting back with a lead in the third period.
Also, our passing was much better last night.
And while LIU was able to enter our zone easily, they were kept to the outside consistently on their rushes.
We still have much to work on, but we are learning with every game.
The coaches are doing a great job so far.

In four games, RPI has been outshot 46-27 in 3rd periods and has only one goal (an empty netter).

 

[vicious]

2nd period of Friday night (allowed 2 shots) and 1st period of last night's game (allowed 5 shots) is the kind of hockey Lang wants this team playing. 7 shots allowed in 40 minutes. That's a testament to really strong puck possession and dictating the flow of the game. Would like to see more of that. PK was 8/8 on the weekend. Both goalies played really well. In both games LIU played desperation hockey the last several minutes of the third period and had several really good looks. Both goalies played really well under sustained pressure. Another good sign.

 

[DrDemento]

Even better - 4 games under our belt and we have allowed a total of 6 goals.

 

[Engineers]

Even better - 4 games under our belt and we have allowed a total of 6 goals.

That’s the Eric lang system. Make it easy on the goaltending

 

[cinnamoroll]

shoutout to Ethan McCallum on first college win, always a good sign when your backup can grab some games. this was probably a good first start in case krawchuk gets injured or pulled against say... a quinnipiac. talk about trial by fire. krawchuk has proven enough to be the starter but shit happens, so it's good for McCallum, the staff, and the team to know they can trust him to give them a chance at a minimum

agreed on the parity with CHL players- one of the best players in last years QMJHL playoffs is at Sacred Heart now, Emmanuel Vermette. he was the captain of Q champs Chicoutimi Saguenéens. some teams who lost long-time stud goalies are filling it in with former CHLers like Colorado College, Augustana, Omaha, and UMass. tied in freshman scoring are two former chlers- Western's Adam Benák (not surprising) and Lindenwood's Caden Brown (extremely surprising). transfer portal is also helping now that things have settled. other players who were being pushed out of higher end rosters trickle down and get ice time. fun times for parity, i love the chaos.