What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

rdf8585 said:
Recap/highlights: http://t.co/psPKd30FP7
Union is up to 4th in the PairWise.
Click to expand...

What moves us up was that Ferris State dropped a pair and St. Cloud lost and tied. They both faced tough league opponents. This is still a surprise because I thought Ferris State had one of the easiest league schedules going forward. I thought Ferris State would sweep the rest of its games. Going forward we still have to face 5 ranked teams in our own league. I could fill up this whole blog with positive things to say about this team. Constantly improving, learning from mistakes, developing, old fashion teamwork, selflessness, leadership. The upperclassmen constantly stepping up ..... stepping up to the next level when needed. Smart, tough hockey.

Back to work. Harvard & RPI next week.
 
Last edited:
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

It is clear that Union has now not only stabilized the program at a high level. But for some reason Union is not in the running for any of the top recruits. For example, when I looked at the NHL Central scouting list none of the players are committed to Union.

How does Union take it to the next level and start to be in on some of the top recruits in the country who are looking to play on the East Coast? I know a lack of scholarships are, on paper, an issue - but we know there are ways around that...
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

JakeMalloy said:
It is clear that Union has now not only stabilized the program at a high level. But for some reason Union is not in the running for any of the top recruits. For example, when I looked at the NHL Central scouting list none of the players are committed to Union.

How does Union take it to the next level and start to be in on some of the top recruits in the country who are looking to play on the East Coast? I know a lack of scholarships are, on paper, an issue - but we know there are ways around that...
Click to expand...

The recruits they are getting are fine and more importantly are developing throughout their college years. A lot of teams in The ECAC and for that matter, the NCAA, would not mind using the formula Union has for their recent run of success. On paper HE is getting these "top recruits" 3 to 4 times as much as the ECAC but over the last several years they have been equals as far as head to head results. As far as CSB ratings...... a lot of politics.
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

johnk said:
On paper HE is getting these "top recruits" 3 to 4 times as much as the ECAC but over the last several years they have been equals as far as head to head results.
Click to expand...
Right On !!!
2013-2014 Inter-Conference Records
HE vs ECAC thus far this regular season 21-19-8. Had QU beaten Merrimack yesterday, it would be tied. The sample size could be larger but while not perfect is fairly impressive. The last matchup betwen HE and the ECAC belongs to Harvard in the Beanpot. Harvard could tie it up. The bottom line is that there is league parity between the ECAC and HE. I picked HE because they have the best Inter-Conference Record in College Hockey and are loaded with draft picks. Keep in mind that currently the ECAC has 5-6 of the ranked top 20 teams. Fear not, whatever we are doing is working !!!!
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

johnk said:
The recruits they are getting are fine and more importantly are developing throughout their college years. A lot of teams in The ECAC and for that matter, the NCAA, would not mind using the formula Union has for their recent run of success. On paper HE is getting these "top recruits" 3 to 4 times as much as the ECAC but over the last several years they have been equals as far as head to head results. As far as CSB ratings...... a lot of politics.
Click to expand...
I agree 100%. Union's recruiting philosophy is to get players who are as talented as possible but also with room to develop and grow under Union's coaching system. They need to buy into Union hockey, first and foremost, and need to be "character" individuals. I think "coachabilty" is the key component. The kids who are highly touted on NHL wathclists or as draft picks can have heads as big as their talent and can poison team chemistry. This isn't sour grapes, it's just what's been working for Union and will likely continue to work.

Some observations from this weekend. Mission Accomplished! My first trip to "Lake" Whittemore. That is one huge sheet, for some reason it looks bigger to me than other Olympic size surfaces. The facility itself is a bit sterile, and has Messa-like scoreboards, but those are small quibbles. The sight lines are excellent and its a great place to watch college hockey. The students weren't back yet and the crowds were less than capacity so I'm guessing the place can really rock when packed. The sweep there was a huge positive in many ways. Another pair of games in a tough place to play in terms of environment, opponent and surface. I think this will serve us well down the road. A road sweep of a good HE opponent, not to be taken for granted. This was big.

Colin was borderline spectacular and kept us in it particularly last night when UNH came out uncharacteristically pumped early on. He took a nasty, though not in my view dirty hit, and I didn't think there was any way he could continue based on his movements with the trainer in the minute or two after the contact. He is one gritty kid who has taken his share of hard knocks this season. Bennett's goal was on the spectacular side. He flipped that backhander on a great feed from Cole while at full speed and possibly from behind the goal line. To me, Ghost looked less than 100% particularly moving laterally, but he played a very heady and contained game, in some ways maybe one of his better ones. I think our face off performance also improved significantly as the series progressed.
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

Wholin1 said:
My first trip to "Lake" Whittemore. That is one huge sheet, for some reason it looks bigger to me than other Olympic size surfaces.
Click to expand...

Used to be a bit bigger. Three years ago they carved the corners in a bit. :)

Wholin1 said:
The students weren't back yet and the crowds were less than capacity so I'm guessing the place can really rock when packed.
Click to expand...

Come back Friday for Maine (if you could get a ticket), the crowd will be loud and rabid. :D

Wholin1 said:
Bennett's goal was on the spectacular side. He flipped that backhander on a great feed from Cole while at full speed and possibly from behind the goal line.
Click to expand...

Not quite behind, but right at the post. deSmith over reacted, leaving an itty bitty opening and Bennett found it. Great move with the puck and great shot.

Union looked very good this weekend - good luck from here.
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

just about a verbatim quote from a UNH player after the game at Q and A of coach and players. " Speaking of Union, "they are a hard working team, really physical, go to battle pretty hard, pretty tough to play against, not a lot of time and space with them, they are all over the puck, they hunt you down. Pretty much it, defensive minded, their goalie stood on their head all weekend, and you know they had a couple of power plays where they capitalized" UNH wildcats productions post game video
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

garnetfan said:
just about a verbatim quote from a UNH player after the game at Q and A of coach and players. " Speaking of Union, "they are a hard working team, really physical, go to battle pretty hard, pretty tough to play against, not a lot of time and space with them, they are all over the puck, they hunt you down. Pretty much it, defensive minded, their goalie stood on their head all weekend, and you know they had a couple of power plays where they capitalized" UNH wildcats productions post game video
Click to expand...

garnetfan:
You got it just about perfect. It was Kevin Goumas their sophomore forward and leading scorer at their post game. Here is the video. He was last to speak.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsB8pDCiLy0
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

sk8tronthepond said:
I would like to know what you are referencing with this comment.
Click to expand...

There is flexibility with financial aid packages as well as ways to help international (aka Canadian) students.

Or were you under the impression that players who come to Union forego full scholarships elsewhere only to pay their way in Schenectady because of their love for the Dutchman?

I do not want this to devolve into a debate on financial aid - my point is that Union needs to ramp up the talent it tries to attract. I am all for "character" players, and "coaching players up" happens at every school - or do you think players go to Michigan with no intention of getting top coaching? Point being - why cant Union attract the Johnny Gadreau's of the world?

Of course, this assumes you want a team that has more players on par with Ghost vs. not....
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

After the weekend sweep against UNH, Union is now 4th in the pairwise.

Also, Union comes in at #3 in the latest USCHO poll, behind only Minnesota and BC. #3 is the highest in school history.
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

JakeMalloy said:
There is flexibility with financial aid packages as well as ways to help international (aka Canadian) students.

Or were you under the impression that players who come to Union forego full scholarships elsewhere only to pay their way in Schenectady because of their love for the Dutchman?

I do not want this to devolve into a debate on financial aid - my point is that Union needs to ramp up the talent it tries to attract. I am all for "character" players, and "coaching players up" happens at every school - or do you think players go to Michigan with no intention of getting top coaching? Point being - why cant Union attract the Johnny Gadreau's of the world?

Of course, this assumes you want a team that has more players on par with Ghost vs. not....
Click to expand...


I think he was being sarcastic. Anyway, Congratulations. You're the first (recent) Union fan on here to publically acknowledge that this happens, instead of the usual "OMG Union is successful despite the lack of scholarships" crap that has been occurring.
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

jericho said:
I think he was being sarcastic. Anyway, Congratulations. You're the first (recent) Union fan on here to publically acknowledge that this happens, instead of the usual "OMG Union is successful despite the lack of scholarships" crap that has been occurring.
Click to expand...
No doubt there are some corners cut, but I know that there is nothing close to the equivalent of the full scholarship institutions. I also know personally of several players on this team whose families are paying full price, granted they are fortunate enough to be able to do so, but they could have gone elsewhere and gotten grants nonetheless. I'd venture a guess that the Ivies are a lot better at this than Union, but have no personal knowledge to back this up.
 
Re: 2013-2014 Union Dutchmen - Can U Three Peat?

Wholin1 said:
No doubt there are some corners cut, but I know that there is nothing close to the equivalent of the full scholarship institutions. I also know personally of several players on this team whose families are paying full price, granted they are fortunate enough to be able to do so, but they could have gone elsewhere and gotten grants nonetheless. I'd venture a guess that the Ivies are a lot better at this than Union, but have no personal knowledge to back this up.
Click to expand...

Union has nothing to apologize for and I do not consider this to be "cutting corners". If it were up to me I would just offer full scholarships. My point with all of this was not to discuss the nuances of the finances surrounding recruiting, but rather to make the point that, in my opinion, Union is now in a position to take the program up a notch by being able to compete for a higher level of recruit. In other words, whereas in the past Union was at the bottom of the ECAC and with no national presence, Union is now consistently at the top of the ECAC and gaining a well known presence nationally. Therefore, they should take advantage of this by going after better talent. In the end talent is what wins at the highest levels.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top