Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

[NorthernLite]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

bigmrg74 – You ain’t kidding! Reloading is certainly the proper description for this team. Adrian played very well, and the scary part is – this team has a whole year to gel and improve. In a word – “Yikes”.

As a “neutral fan”, this game was truly a pleasure to watch. From where we were sitting, there were plenty of highlight-reel plays, especially around the goal... many spectacular saves, and just as many missed opportunities. Geneseo seemed to control play for the first half of the game, but then something “clicked”, and the ice tipped the other way. Geneseo did not fall apart... Adrian just took it up a few notches.

We sat amongst the Adrian faithful, with a smattering of Geneseo fans (all good). Met the family of one of the Adrian players and let me tell you, without question these folks are some of the classiest hockey fans I have ever met. Applauding not only during the Adrian intros, but also for the Geneseo player intros. Made me re-evaluate my own actions, despite my proven belief that being a ‘classless’ hockey fan is a very effective stress-release mechanism (when done properly, of course).

You were missed, NorthernLite! Nice write-up, btw. I’d hate to pin-point any one player, but to add to your list of honorable mentions, there was one that seem to “fly under the radar” almost all game, and in the final minutes forced me to utter the words “Who the hell was that!??!?” Come to find-out by looking at the box score, he finished the day at +4... and I just never noticed him. That Ranalli boy has skills, man!! An extremely valuable player, and one to watch for sure. The Adrian hockey future is very bright, indeed.

Appreciate the kind words, and your take on the Geneseo game. Sorry I missed the opportunity to get together. I'm sure there will be more.

Good luck, and enjoy the season !!

 

[Hammer]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

Hi there.

Yep. The circus is back in town.

Well, what we've lost in size has likely been made up for in goaltending and defensive responsibility, I think. The U-18 team was not bad at all, relative to (many) years past. The kid we put 6 on allegedly committed to Michigan on Thursday night, and two more Michigan recruits (both defensemen) both played tonight. Adrian still beat the U-18 team 6-4, and led the whole way, leading 3-0 before the goaltending switch.

I think we're gonna be just fine.

 

[Hammer]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

As for that circus...........I think the big top fell on someone's head tonight.

All right. Let’s deal with this.

MSOE knocks off Adrian 3-1. Congratulations. You outplayed us, and you earned it. Plain and simple. No ifs, ands, or buts. No excuses allowed here.

Now. To address us.….ugh. Not a good game at all, even if it wasn’t as one-sided as the MSOE PBP made it sound (and that’s all I’m going to say on that). The penalties killed us. Normally you could write that off to inexperience, file it away as a teaching moment, and move on. But this one is different. The two biggest penalties, the 2 majors taken, were taken by upperclassmen (Barczuk and Graham). These two know better, and that can’t happen again. Two more game misconducts (I think) in the last minute, both by upperclassmen, again, while they didn’t hurt us any, didn’t exactly help matters either. The discipline must improve.

Tomorrow is a crucial game for this young season. A split and we’re no worse than where we started this weekend. Another loss and we’re behind the 8-ball with no room for error as far as a 5th MCHA crown is concerned, and we’d be forced to get some help along with a sweep of MSOE in January. A mortal threat to Adrian’s MCHA dominance now stands squarely in front of this team.

In the past I have been supremely confident that our team would make the necessary adjustments, as we clearly had the most talent in the conference, and had proven that we could make those adjustments, time and again. This team is different. These guys now must prove that they can adjust.

Last year is over. The next move is ours.

 

[AC09]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

Well, they lost one early on last season too (vs. Marian). Yes, there are lots of new faces this year, but let's hope they can learn from this early stumble, adjust, and have another successful season.

 

[NorthernLite]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

This is what I would call a character win. Although the season is still young, this was a huge victory, that in the end may be the difference between these teams in conference standings. MSOE truly are a team on the rise. Considering the momentum they had after their big win last night, our guys responded with a gutsy effort to steal one on the road.

The bottom line for this weekend....discipline was the determining factor in both games, and the Bulldogs learned valuable lessons as a result.

Well done !

 

[Hammer]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

UWEC 2
Adrian 1

Not a good effort whatsoever. Outskated, outplayed, and it showed on the scoreboard. That was easily one of the 2-3 worst games I've seen Adrian play in 4+ years.

Nothing more to say. The scoreboard tells the story, like always.

 

[hockey1985]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

Can someone explain how a boarding/DQ occurred after a goal was scored? From reading a couple news articles, it sounds like a dirty play. The 2 times I've seen Adrian play this year, I have been disappointed with their class, which from what I saw, is nonexistent in a program with such a rich 4 year history.

 

[seaturtle]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

I saw the play, it was prior to the goal. The penalty was called at the next stoppage, which was the Eau Claire goal

 

[Hammer]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

St. Thomas 3
Adrian 1

2 goals in 2 games is no one's idea of how to win hockey games. The defense was fine. The goaltending was just fine as well. The passing, puck handling and scoring took the weekend off.

Inside the last minute, with the score still 2-1, Adrian scored the apparent tying goal. The referee waved the goal off, stating that the puck did not go into the net. Following the game, I spoke with the goal judge (and I'm guessing about a hundred others did the same). The goal judge saw the puck hit the inside bar of the net (not the inside of the cross bar, mind you), and come right back out. Meaning, the puck was indeed in the net.....

 

[joecct]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

Inside the last minute, with the score still 2-1, Adrian scored the apparent tying goal. The referee waved the goal off, stating that the puck did not go into the net. Following the game, I spoke with the goal judge (and I'm guessing about a hundred others did the same). The goal judge saw the puck hit the inside bar of the net (not the inside of the cross bar, mind you), and come right back out. Meaning, the puck was indeed in the net.....

I am assuming that the goal judge turned the light on?

 

[Hammer]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

Oh, yes, she certainly did.

The solution to things like this is actually quite simple and inexpensive, and no, it does not include stoning of the referees. There is white padding on the pipe that runs down the middle of the net. Put that same padding around the back pipe of the net as well. It's going to make a distinct sound, and the puck has got to be much less likely to pop out of the net like it did tonight.

No team to my knowledge does this. Perhaps this needs to be looked at.

 

[joecct]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

Oh, yes.

The solution to things like this is actually quite simple and inexpensive, and no, it does not include stoning of the referees. There is white padding on the pipe that runs down the middle of the net. Put that same padding around the back pipe of the net as well. It's going to make a distinct sound, and the puck has got to be much less likely to pop out of the net like it did tonight.

No team to my knowledge does this. Perhaps this needs to be looked at.

Back in the olden day (and this waaayyyyy back) I believe there was a piece of netting hanging about 1/2 way down from the middle of the top of the net. I think that would prevent the problem.

 

[ADRdogs]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

Inside the last minute, with the score still 2-1, Adrian scored the apparent tying goal. The referee waved the goal off, stating that the puck did not go into the net. Following the game, I spoke with the goal judge (and I'm guessing about a hundred others did the same). The goal judge saw the puck hit the inside bar of the net (not the inside of the cross bar, mind you), and come right back out. Meaning, the puck was indeed in the net.....


Plus Adrian put the puck back in the net before the whistle.

 

[AC Bulldog]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

The goal would have been nice as it would have tied the game with very little time left. It was frustrating but also the Bulldogs did not play their normal game and did not really deserve the tie or win whichever may have occured. However it would have been nice to have some little success as the entire weekend was without many highlights.

I thought the official could have at least talked with the goal judge and gotten her opinion on what she saw. He NEVER even asked her anything. What's the use of having goal judges if the officials don't even confer with them if there is a question about a goal or no goal. It just appeared to be a very poor way to handle a questionable goal.

With all that behind them now it's time to take care of themselves and get their game back together. They have league play coming up and with the league now having the AQ it's all up to them to make the run towards the NCAA's. They are still a very young group that are learning to play together. They will only get better in time.

Also on a side note: Thank you Jeff Young for your contributions to Adrian College hockey. Jeff played his last home game for AC as he will be graduation at the end of the semester.

GO DOGS

 

[Hammer]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

I've never been a fan of CCHA officiating across the board, whether at Ferris as a student, Michigan as a season-ticket holder, or the first few years at Arrington.

With all that behind them now it's time to take care of themselves and get their game back together. They have league play coming up and with the league now having the AQ it's all up to them to make the run towards the NCAA's. They are still a very young group that are learning to play together. They will only get better in time.

I think that's going to be the theme of the 2nd half of the season. We're going to be a cross between "DAMMIT!!! WHAT WAS THAT?!?!" and "they're just freshmen, they're just freshmen". And in the end, we'll be fine. I think...

I just have one wish for this season. I'll reveal it in due time.

 

[altazo]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

Maybe it isn't entirely the referee's fault?

After all, I believe Adrian is 2-6 against non-MCHA western region opponents over the last three seasons.

edit: 2-7

 

[Hammer]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

No, this weekend certainly wasn't the fault of the officiating. The fault for that lies in our locker room. But I've been watching most of those officials for roughly 20 years, and I've never been overly impressed. I'm certainly not the only one.

 

[NorthernLite]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

Maybe it isn't entirely the referee's fault?

After all, I believe Adrian is 2-6 against non-MCHA western region opponents over the last three seasons.

edit: 2-7

I don't think anyone here is faulting Adrian's losses on the officiating. I thought the officiating was decent. I've seen a lot worse.

Adrian lost primarily because Eau-Claire and St. Thomas were well prepared, and shut them down.
With that said, the scores were still close, and the Bulldogs very nearly tied things up with a desperate effort in the last minute of both games.

Eau Claire are worthy champions, and were clearly the best team in the field.

These games are building blocks for post season play......and what happened 1,2 or 3 years ago doesn't define this team.This group are now winless vs. non MCHA west region opponents. They will get an opportunity improve their record when they travel to Stevens Point. Hopefully they will play better, and the games will provide positve momentum for the stretch run , and for the playoffs.

If you believe it's important to remind those at home of the program's record in region over the past 3 years feel free to keep us up to date.....but you should try to get the numbers right.

For Adrian hockey fans, this season's results. and the upcoming schedule,... are all that really matter.

 

[altazo]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

For what it's worth, I'm a fan of the Adrian program too.

I just think they should continue to embrace the underdog role when facing out of conference competition. NCHA schools in particular are very good at making highly skilled teams play disjointed and ugly.

That said, I very much like Adrian's chances when they head to Stevens Point.

 

[AVFC]

Re: Adrian 2011-12: The Next Generation

I don't understand the point of a goal judge if you aren't going to use them. As an MCHA fan, I was hoping for two MCHA wins in Adrian, a pair at the MCHA/NCHA party and a split by Lake. Things obviously turned out different as goaltending let down LU against CSS, Marian let SNC get away with a tie (I can't believe I am saying that), Adrian didn't play their best and Lake could not keep up with St Olaf. At least Northland split with Bethel and Concordia managed a draw with St Johns.

I am very excited to see how the MCHA teams continue to develop as the season progresses. Adrian v. Marian, MSOE and LU could all be good weekends.