IMO, this team showed a lot of character and coaching in their games against Cornell and UMass and to finish at .500. Young team, have has some major adversity with defense at first and then scoring. I think they are poised to make a second half run. These kids have been at it, training as a team since July. A little break and some home cooking.....get their minds off the game for a short bit should do them all good. No one puts more pressure on them than themselves. So if we get frustrated with a certain area, its 20 fold in the locker room. And most have parents and advisers who are also sharing their bit of wisdom. I trust this coaching staff that they are developing what they have at the pace they can get long term results with. Very optimistic for a surprising second half.
My friends out west are telling me Ty Smilanic is the real deal, a true 1st round pick - - complete hockey player.
These were Notre Dame, Michigan guys and the only thing that raised my eyebrows is that they added to the exclamation on how good Ty is with "who's Quinnipiac!?"
That's interesting. You get the better part of these 22 freshman/sophomores all on the same hockey and life page - then add, finally, a big & very fast skater and the only think I would love to see is some depth on defense. If Keith keeps putting efforts across the 2nd half and carries into post season, he may not be around next season, so some defensive depth is needed since it will be first time in years we have some explosive offense added to the team. Karlis is gone next year and I do not see any other big, talented, offensive-minded defensemen and certainly not 3 or 4. Maybe QU AL has some updates in his pipeline spreadsheet or can just fill us in? Apparently, Ty is a game-changer in all aspects. His presence will cease spacing and scoring opportunities for the others, too bad Odeen is missing that element this season.
My friends out west are telling me Ty Smilanic is the real deal, a true 1st round pick - - complete hockey player.
These were Notre Dame, Michigan guys and the only thing that raised my eyebrows is that they added to the exclamation on how good Ty is with "who's Quinnipiac!?"
That's interesting. You get the better part of these 22 freshman/sophomores all on the same hockey and life page - then add, finally, a big & very fast skater and the only think I would love to see is some depth on defense. If Keith keeps putting efforts across the 2nd half and carries into post season, he may not be around next season, so some defensive depth is needed since it will be first time in years we have some explosive offense added to the team. Karlis is gone next year and I do not see any other big, talented, offensive-minded defensemen and certainly not 3 or 4. Maybe QU AL has some updates in his pipeline spreadsheet or can just fill us in? Apparently, Ty is a game-changer in all aspects. His presence will cease spacing and scoring opportunities for the others, too bad Odeen is missing that element this season.
Smilanic is the real deal, no doubt! Yet you can't count on a Fresh to really impact the w/L at the top ncaa level. It'll take him time to assimilate into the team and especially into the Rand structure (which is very unique). Seems like Wisconsin is the perfect example right now. 3 1st round draft pics and they cannot make it work. Very excited to have Ty come to Hamden, yet we still need a couple older players to step up and be the true leaders/rocks of this team.
Couple different topics:
1) watched most of the DU @ ASU game last night. After visiting a couple times in the past 2 years, I definitely feel there’s a serious home ice advantage at Oceanside. The ice is just different. Kudos to them for taking advantage of it. It will be interesting to see how different the game is played tonight at Gila River. DU fans were killing ASU on social media leading up to last night. Nice win by ASU.
2) I couldn’t be more happy for Dilly’s opportunity to play for Canada at Jr’s. But how much is it going to suck being without him for the next Month if he makes the team? He’ll miss Princeton (2) Dartmouth and Harvard. Plus all practices from now until Jan 6th.
After visiting a couple times in the past 2 years, I definitely feel there’s a serious home ice advantage at Oceanside. The ice is just different.
Does seem like an intimidating place. Maybe we need to play some games at the NIP or Hamden High?
I couldn’t be more happy for Dilly’s opportunity to play for Canada at Jr’s. But how much is it going to suck being without him for the next Month if he makes the team? He’ll miss Princeton (2) Dartmouth and Harvard. Plus all practices from now until Jan 6th.
Great opportunity for him. As for the team, guys will need to step up to fill the hole. I think we'll be ok.
I'm optimistic that we will see a very different team in the 2nd half.
QuinnipiacBobcats 2023 National Champions ECAC Regular Season Champions: 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2018-19, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 ECAC Tournament Champions: 2016 East Regional: 2013 (Champions), 2014, 2016 (Champions), 2023 (Champions), 2024 Northeast Regional: West Regional: 2015, 2021 Midwest Regional: 2019, 2022 Frozen Four: 2013, 2016, 2023 (Champions) Pass complete. Lipkin has a man in front! Shot... SCORE!!!
Does seem like an intimidating place. Maybe we need to play some games at the NIP or Hamden High?
Great opportunity for him. As for the team, guys will need to step up to fill the hole. I think we'll be ok.
I'm optimistic that we will see a very different team in the 2nd half.
We already are seeing different KP. Defense, the achilles heal of this team to date, was starting to get it together, also giving KP better angles, familiarity. With Peter gone, this will be big gaping hole. They get tiny and young fast. No depth.
It will force the offense to actually be aggressive, so let's see what happens. They will practice without Peter as you say, so there will be some time for new players to step their offensive game up.
Couple different topics:
1) watched most of the DU @ ASU game last night. After visiting a couple times in the past 2 years, I definitely feel there’s a serious home ice advantage at Oceanside. The ice is just different. Kudos to them for taking advantage of it. It will be interesting to see how different the game is played tonight at Gila River. DU fans were killing ASU on social media leading up to last night. Nice win by ASU.
2) I couldn’t be more happy for Dilly’s opportunity to play for Canada at Jr’s. But how much is it going to suck being without him for the next Month if he makes the team? He’ll miss Princeton (2) Dartmouth and Harvard. Plus all practices from now until Jan 6th.
I think I might have posted something similar after our games there -- back when we played at the NIP, opposing teams didn't even know how to react. They just froze up there. That place had a listed capacity of 1,000, we had to have at least 1,500 people there for the few conference games we had there. We took out Dartmouth and Cornell there, neither team seemed to be able to handle it. Quinnipiac's all-time record in that place was pretty ridiculous, so there's something to it.
I think I might have posted something similar after our games there -- back when we played at the NIP, opposing teams didn't even know how to react. They just froze up there. That place had a listed capacity of 1,000, we had to have at least 1,500 people there for the few conference games we had there. We took out Dartmouth and Cornell there, neither team seemed to be able to handle it. Quinnipiac's all-time record in that place was pretty ridiculous, so there's something to it.
Looking at the standings is scary at first, seeing bobcats at bottom but a few strong weekends and flip-flop things pretty quickly.
Wyatt Head is no longer with the program and went back to the BCHL.
Karlis, Nick & Alex Whelan the only 3 Seniors
Odeen, Joe Connor & KP the only 3 Juniors
20 Sophs & Freshman . . . baby bobcats not quite a mature, prime-time pride but when this all comes together, we should see the depth that has killed this club on their last 2 Frozen Four shots....I am fine with a rebuild, growth year!
20 Sophs & Freshman . . . baby bobcats not quite a mature, prime-time pride but when this all comes together, we should see the depth that has killed this club on their last 2 Frozen Four shots....I am fine with a rebuild, growth year!
Have a nice holiday season everyone -
Wow, that really is incredible. That's a lot of underclassmen.
Wow, that really is incredible. That's a lot of underclassmen.
Happy Holidays to everyone, as well.
If Bobcats could have a 4 - 5 win run, the standings could flip quite a bit, but I am not expecting this and I am pretty sure the rest of the league would not expect this, either - but, beating expectations has always been a Rand, Bill & Joe hallmark!
My 10-2019 prediction:
1. Clarkson
2. Cornell
3. Quinnipiac
4. Dartmouth
5. Harvard
6. Brown
7. RPI
8. Yale
9. Princeton
10. Union
11. Colgate
12. SLU
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