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Colgate 2025-26
- Thread starter sshablak
- Start date
iowabasedtraveler
Well-known member
I am hugely into Shots On Goal, which is why I always try to post them along with Goals scored. But, being at last night’s Clarkson 2-1 win over RPI (where Clarkson led SOG, 33-22) and tonight’s Colgate 3-2 win over Yale (where Colgate dominated SOG, 40-24) reminded me that one hot goalie can upset the apple cart. Last night, RPI’s Nate Crawchuk stood on his head. Tonight, Yale’s Noah Pak was doing the same for the vast majority of the game.
As a Colgate fan, I would have taken tonight’s GWG any way we could have gotten it past Noah Pak. But, as a college hockey fan, I am really glad that the GWG by Simon LaBelle was a clean one. Just him against Pak, and Simon put it away fair-n-square. Poetic justice.
I have learned not to get too anxious if Colgate gets down by a goal. Even two goals doesn’t really bother me anymore. And clearly our comeback tonight, evening the score at two, bore that out. But goals were so hard to come by, our apparent lack of urgency in the third period finally did rattle me. I figured that we were headed to an OT loss. But, the boys must have more confidence than I as they nonchalantly made it seem like they knew that they were going to pull it out in regulation. Sheesh!
Like Barb, I am very happy for Mike Harder and the entire team, especially the Seniors.
As a Colgate fan, I would have taken tonight’s GWG any way we could have gotten it past Noah Pak. But, as a college hockey fan, I am really glad that the GWG by Simon LaBelle was a clean one. Just him against Pak, and Simon put it away fair-n-square. Poetic justice.
I have learned not to get too anxious if Colgate gets down by a goal. Even two goals doesn’t really bother me anymore. And clearly our comeback tonight, evening the score at two, bore that out. But goals were so hard to come by, our apparent lack of urgency in the third period finally did rattle me. I figured that we were headed to an OT loss. But, the boys must have more confidence than I as they nonchalantly made it seem like they knew that they were going to pull it out in regulation. Sheesh!
Like Barb, I am very happy for Mike Harder and the entire team, especially the Seniors.
iowabasedtraveler
Well-known member
2025-26 Dartmouth Season To-Date (19-7-4):
first ten games: 10-0-0 (including 4-1 win over Colgate in Hanover)
middle ten games: 4-5-1
final ten games: 5-2-3 (including 5-2 loss to Colgate in Hamilton)
first ten games: 10-0-0 (including 4-1 win over Colgate in Hanover)
middle ten games: 4-5-1
final ten games: 5-2-3 (including 5-2 loss to Colgate in Hamilton)
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ColSkate65
Signer of '65 Arena first beam.
IBT - that gives us some hope.
iowabasedtraveler
Well-known member
Honestly, I think it really does.
I didn't want to face Quinnipiac nor Cornell until Lake Placid.
I think Dartmouth or Princeton would be tough, but definitely doable.
And Zach Lamont got me looking at Dartmouth's season this morning.
11 straight wins at the start, or in the middle, or at the end of the season is wickedly impressive.
And regardless of when they come during the season, they all count the same for NPI and ECAC Hockey standings.
But I would much rather face a team in March that started their regular season with that streak, than one that just completed it.
I think we will match up well against them. Reid Cashman deserves a lot of credit for lifting up his program.
But Mike Harder is also part of their new, younger breed of ECAC coaches.
It will be tough, but I think it will be an entertaining series.
And doable from a Colgate standpoint.
Go 'Gate!
P.S. - I just booked my room in Quechee, Vt., for Friday and Saturday, and I bought my ticket for both nights, too.
TheGreenCoat
Registered User
Marmot says it all: survive and advance...I thought we played well overall and, although Labelle can drive you nuts sometimes, he's the guy I want with puck on a breakaway...the young man has great hands...congrats to all the seniors...
He also has "great wheels" and looks like he has one more gear sometimes ! He's one of the fastest skaters in the league.
iowabasedtraveler
Well-known member
What game, Shabby?
Dartmouth website and CHN have games at 7 p.m. on Friday, 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 4 p.m. on Sunday (if necessary).
The Dartmouth Athletics website indicates 7 PM (ET) Friday, 7 PM Saturday, and if necessary, 4 PM Sunday.
Can confirm it's at 7.
What Colgate team shows up tonight, hopefully the team that beat Dartmouth 5-2 in Hamilton a month ago. Hey...that's why they play the games ! Seniors have one last shot, nothing would surprise me. Posters or imposters absent from this thread. Iowa, you ok ? In the 5-2 win, we were outshot 43-14, ouch !
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iowabasedtraveler
Well-known member
Shabby, I am less than 90 minutes from Thompson Arena right now, after spending the night at my sister’s place in Queensbury, N.Y.
iowabasedtraveler
Well-known member
From the College Hockey News (CHN) ECAC Tournament weekend preview…
2. Dartmouth (19-7-4, 13-5-4 ECAC) vs 7. Colgate (13-8-4, 9-10-3)
Even though it appears that Dartmouth is a lock for its first NCAA Tournament in 46 years, the Big Green have big aspirations in the ECAC and are looking for a first conference title in their history. Reid Cashman has spent six years making the Big Green a contender, and this year might just be their best chance to make the next step.
"It has been so much fun for our coaching staff to walk in the locker room this season," Cashman said. "This team has never been satisfied and they are constantly pushing each other. Now, we want to have a good playoffs. The regular season built towards what we want to do in the playoffs. We have not talked about the national landscape, we are all in on winning the ECAC Tournament."
After a raucous 11-game winning streak to start the season, they have fallen on tougher times over the past few months, going 8-7-4 since. Still, with 19 wins already in the bank, a series win would give them 21, which would be a program record. This would eclipse the 20 that Bob Gaudet last achieved in 2004. The Big Green have played on the road a lot of late, which has done a number on the overall record. They are 14-1-2 at Thompson Arena this year.
"The Upper Valley has been great all year and they have really supported us well," Cashman said. "There is just a level of comfort for us when we are at home and can have a routine. We are excited that we get to host this weekend and hopefully we can take advantage of it this weekend."
When the Big Green are successful, all aspects of the game are clicking and Hayden Stavroff is scoring. The winger's 27 goals is the most in the country and the most by a Dartmouth skater since Ross Brownridge scored 30 in 1979-80. Interestingly, that was also the last time the Big Green made the NCAAs.
"It is a simple game," said Cashman. "You have to attack before they can gain structure and take advantage of your second chance opportunities. It is more about how fast we can play, how fast can we transition and can we create turnovers?"
But the Big Green aren't just Hayden Stavroff. Hank Cleaves has 25 points, CJ Foley is one of the best defenders in the ECAC, and Emmett Croteau has been consistent in goal. After a long battle for the net, Croteau seems to have won it. The junior is 11-4-4 with a 2.13 GAA and a .914 save percentage.
For Colgate to have any success in this series it will need to get its unique run-and-gun style going. This style has made for some success for third-year coach Mike Harder, but he has largely struggled to get it going in the ECAC Tournament. Harder picked up a first ECAC Tournament win against Yale last weekend. Before this season, he was 0-4 in the league's tournament, losing four home games after picking up a bye.
"(Colgate's) transition from defense to offense is as good as anyone's in our league," Cashman said. "It will be important for us to communicate, not get beat by the puck in transition and defend well in the defensive zone. When you give that team space, they are really good at taking advantage of the opportunities."
In the last meeting of the teams, Colgate picked up a 5-2 win. Jacob Napier and Max Nagel gave the Raiders a 2-0 lead and they never looked back. Simon Labelle is the team's leading scorer with 27 points and 12 goals.
Freshman Reid Dyck has been the guy in net for Colgate since taking over for Andrew Takacs early in the season. He has a 10-13-3 record in the 26 games and a 3.13 GAA.
2. Dartmouth (19-7-4, 13-5-4 ECAC) vs 7. Colgate (13-8-4, 9-10-3)
Even though it appears that Dartmouth is a lock for its first NCAA Tournament in 46 years, the Big Green have big aspirations in the ECAC and are looking for a first conference title in their history. Reid Cashman has spent six years making the Big Green a contender, and this year might just be their best chance to make the next step.
"It has been so much fun for our coaching staff to walk in the locker room this season," Cashman said. "This team has never been satisfied and they are constantly pushing each other. Now, we want to have a good playoffs. The regular season built towards what we want to do in the playoffs. We have not talked about the national landscape, we are all in on winning the ECAC Tournament."
After a raucous 11-game winning streak to start the season, they have fallen on tougher times over the past few months, going 8-7-4 since. Still, with 19 wins already in the bank, a series win would give them 21, which would be a program record. This would eclipse the 20 that Bob Gaudet last achieved in 2004. The Big Green have played on the road a lot of late, which has done a number on the overall record. They are 14-1-2 at Thompson Arena this year.
"The Upper Valley has been great all year and they have really supported us well," Cashman said. "There is just a level of comfort for us when we are at home and can have a routine. We are excited that we get to host this weekend and hopefully we can take advantage of it this weekend."
When the Big Green are successful, all aspects of the game are clicking and Hayden Stavroff is scoring. The winger's 27 goals is the most in the country and the most by a Dartmouth skater since Ross Brownridge scored 30 in 1979-80. Interestingly, that was also the last time the Big Green made the NCAAs.
"It is a simple game," said Cashman. "You have to attack before they can gain structure and take advantage of your second chance opportunities. It is more about how fast we can play, how fast can we transition and can we create turnovers?"
But the Big Green aren't just Hayden Stavroff. Hank Cleaves has 25 points, CJ Foley is one of the best defenders in the ECAC, and Emmett Croteau has been consistent in goal. After a long battle for the net, Croteau seems to have won it. The junior is 11-4-4 with a 2.13 GAA and a .914 save percentage.
For Colgate to have any success in this series it will need to get its unique run-and-gun style going. This style has made for some success for third-year coach Mike Harder, but he has largely struggled to get it going in the ECAC Tournament. Harder picked up a first ECAC Tournament win against Yale last weekend. Before this season, he was 0-4 in the league's tournament, losing four home games after picking up a bye.
"(Colgate's) transition from defense to offense is as good as anyone's in our league," Cashman said. "It will be important for us to communicate, not get beat by the puck in transition and defend well in the defensive zone. When you give that team space, they are really good at taking advantage of the opportunities."
In the last meeting of the teams, Colgate picked up a 5-2 win. Jacob Napier and Max Nagel gave the Raiders a 2-0 lead and they never looked back. Simon Labelle is the team's leading scorer with 27 points and 12 goals.
Freshman Reid Dyck has been the guy in net for Colgate since taking over for Andrew Takacs early in the season. He has a 10-13-3 record in the 26 games and a 3.13 GAA.
TchrBill
Go'Gate...
I've thought Dartmouth has been overrated all season. Other than Cornell, their first 11 opponents have losing records (Clarkson is 16-16-3). Some of those wins were over Stonehill, Vermont, Merrimack, SLU, Army, Brown...a woeful contingent of (expected) victories. In games 12 & 13, they then lost to UNH (14-20-1) and ASU (14-21-1). I agree that Colgate's best path forward is through Hanover, but I have been unimpressed with goaltending all season. Dyck ranks 12th of 14 ECAC goalies. The PP is actually decent (3rd), but our PK is 8th. Do not know the stat, but it seems like we give up the first goal more often that we score it!
iowabasedtraveler
Well-known member
Prior to last Saturday’s tourney game vs. Yale…
34 games: 12-18-4
Non-Conference; when Colgate scored first, 1-3-1; when opponent scored first, 2-5-0
In-Conference; when Colgate scored first, 5-1-2; when opponent scored first, 4-9-1
P.S. - And last Saturday, Yale scored the first two goals, but we won.
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iowabasedtraveler
Well-known member
Reid Dyck led Colgate out onto the ice for tonight’s pregame warmup at Dartmouth.