Re: 2011 Division III Commitments
In regards to the argument about Emery and Rice - Two very different coaching styles, but they're two different coaching styles that we have seen time and time again on every level of hockey. Neither has been more successful than the other. The one constant, though, is that the coach has to stick to his style or it will all go to h.e.l.l.
Why is that? Well, quite simply put, because each coaching style needs players who fit in with the atmosphere it creates. Every player needs a different style of coaching. We cannot say that players who thrive in the "Emery style" are any better because of it, or vice versa. I'm sure any ridiculously lengthy statistical analysis of a number of levels of hockey and many coaches over a long period of time would show the two groups (those who need to be yelled at and those who need to be gently criticized) have roughly equal on-ice potential. (NOTE: I don't characterize them as being 'treated like men' and 'treated like babies', because I think that devalues the latter group who have just as much potential under the right circumstances as the former) The important part is matching the players with the coach (and, of course, to the players on the team). I believe that, to a large extent, that is why the two styles exist. Chances are Emery was one of those players who preferred a coach who yelled and had visible intensity when he played.
Now, anybody who looks at Plattsburgh Hockey for even a second knows that Emery has a reputation for being a hothead. Let's be honest here... the players know what they're getting into when the agree to go to Plattsburgh. Sometimes the parents don't, and that can create problems, but for the most part there should no surprises about Emery.
I will also throw in there that the suggestion that facilities and administrative help are the reason for Plattsburgh are, to me, "garbage". Emery, McShane, and a number of other coaches use the resources available to them to turn good/great players into a team, just like any other coach, certainly. What makes them great coaches, what changes the program, is that these men know how to consistently, with constantly changing groups of people, do it to make a WINNING team. (Not to mention the fact that Emery's support from the administration has, in recent years, been significantly less than some people seem to believe, but Emery keeps the program running at the elite DIII levels nonetheless).
In regards to the turnover rate at Plattsburgh - Certianly, there is a lot of turnover.
-Players like Wilson and Greene graduate early. Good for them, they can now move on into the next important phase in their lives. Not the coach's fault, but it certainly adds additional responsibility to the coach's recruiting.
-Galan transferred to Geneseo because he was changing majors and his new desired program wasn't offered at Plattsburgh, and Geneseo was willing to take him. Again, not coach's fault but an extra recruiting responsibility to him.
-Hince couldn't afford to continue at Plattsburgh so decided last-minute to turn Pro. Same reflection on coach.
-Smith got hit in the head more than a few times by opposing players, still not coach's fault. In fact, this one reflects very nicely on coach because he kept Ward on as a student-assistant coach for the senior year, allowing the student to continue to make an active contribution to the team and glean any value fromt he experience he could. Plus, ncie thing to have on his résumé, especially if he ever went into coaching or management.
Now, yes, there are the situations like the Kavanaugh, DeLong, and Devereaux of this year. They weren't earning the ice time they wanted and felt like they could contribute more elsewhere, so coach encouraged them to go when they suggested them might want to leave. Coach is hired by the school to be a coach. He recruits and develops the student-athletes to represent the school, he provides to them a medium in which they can continue to develop teamwork and other real-life skills, and he encourages an atmosphere which instills the necessary prioritization of school before hockey. But above all, he coaches a hockey team and tries to make them a winning team. I find it hard to believe that there is anything in his contract or job description that states he must give all recruited players x% of ice time. That would be absurd if the coach's goal were to field a winning team. Players need to earn their ice time. On a top-level team like Plattsburgh, Norwich, etc, that's going to be a difficult task. Emery is ALWAYS going to give every student-athlete on the team ample opportunity to earn their ice time at any given practice, but if a player simply doesn't play to the level of the rest of the team perhaps he IS better off at a slightly lower-level team (not in any way meant to belittle Curry's program). Emery's job is to provide all of the players the opportunity and means to demonstrate their value to the team, but it lies solely on the players to do so. I don't see how this can be construed to reflect negatively on the coaching. Perhaps over in the NESCAC with their uppity attitudes toward their egalitarian and high-class educational philosophies coaches are expected to include EVERY recruited player regardless of whether they earned it or not, so this concept of Emery not giving players ice time seems "unjust", but out in the real world that crap don't fly. You want something, you earn it. Plain and simple.
Coaches (with the obvious exception of the likes of Jim Tressel hehe) are generally honest to their players. The coach of Siena's ACHA team, my coach, coaches a lot like Emery. He's very intense, in-your-face, and he yells a lot or makes you feel stupid when you've done something stupid. But he's also very honest. I've heard him say to players at tryouts "Look, I'm coaching this team to win. So I'm not going to promise anybody ice time. I can promise you the opportunity to earn your ice time, but that's all I can promise you." And guess what? Even at the ACHA (club) level, we have certain players who see a lot of games from the stands because they don't properly utilize their opportunities to earn ice time. Coach is still fulfilling his only duties... to coach a winning team and to foster an environment of school-first mentality. To try to field a winning team while giving adequate ice time to everybody regardless of the work they put in for the team, well it just doesn't work, I'm sorry!
Now, back to Emery... Why does this reflect positively on him? Simply put, it's because he still succeeds despite all of it. Losing Belanger, Hince, Smith, Wilson... those were all huge losses to the team. But the team didn't skip a beat, they just kept going. And why is that? Because Emery had created a great TEAM, not just great individual players. As a result, he was able to go out, find the right guy to fit in where the outgoing player was, and put the new cog into the machine and achieve very similar results. Dealing with a high turnover that results from Academic, Financial, and Athletic concerns without losing the effectiveness of the team as a whole is a talent possessed by great coaches. Disagree with me if you want, I don't care. It's true of all sports on all levels. I respect a great coach when I see one, even o teams that I absolutely hate.