Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

Some Bentley stats after 12 games:
16th on PK, shutting down 85.9% (55 of 64)
PP not so good, 10.9% (6 of 55), not sure on rank, but worse than 40th Merrimack at 14.29% (9 of 63)
17th Pen Mins (78 for 189, so 15.75 avg/gm); last Friday's game against Canisius did not help
39th Team O (2.58 avg/gm)
31st Team D (2.92 avg/gm)
Calvi 20th save % at 0.920 (2.75 gaa, 252 sv)
1 SHG by Peterson

Another interesting stat is how mucht he freshmen have played. Bentley's been plagued by a lack of depth in the recruiting classes the last few years. The class that just graduated consistend of Preece (who was a human penalty) and Menzione, who was the best 2nd line forward I'd ever seen but couldn't make the jump to the top line the way Cloutier has. Two years ago, the team had some of the best lines in the conference. When Cloutier-Menzione-Peterson is your 2nd line, that's pretty solid. But when it's your first (and really only) line, it's not.

The freshmen playing this year have really exploded. I can already see a Breton-Campanelli-Koudys line being great in a couple of years. Rickord and Ledford have looked good, and Marginsky's already a shoo-in on the top defensive pairing for four years. Marginsky's actually been better than I think we could've anticipated, especially with his mammoth size. Seeing him in person is so much different because he's 6-6. You see it on film or on paper, and it's so much different than seeing it live and in person. And Komm, while unknown right now, was a good listed propsect.

I like what I've seen so far this year. They tied RMU in a game they should've won. They beat Canisius. They beat Holy Cross. I'm looking forward to seeing them against Air Force in a couple weeks. Right now, they're a really good 5-7-2 (4-4-1), and I'm excited for the rest of the way.

After the army game, I'll do a further first-half stat breakdown hopefully and look inside the numbers. Course I always I'll do something and then rarely get to it.

 

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

Another interesting stat is how mucht he freshmen have played. Bentley's been plagued by a lack of depth in the recruiting classes the last few years. The class that just graduated consistend of Preece (who was a human penalty) and Menzione, who was the best 2nd line forward I'd ever seen but couldn't make the jump to the top line the way Cloutier has. Two years ago, the team had some of the best lines in the conference. When Cloutier-Menzione-Peterson is your 2nd line, that's pretty solid. But when it's your first (and really only) line, it's not.

I agree that the Bentley frosh are very impressive this season. But, in all fairness to Menzi, he was without his center Dustin Cloutier and lw Erik Peteron for substantial portions of last season because of injuries. I also like the way that Soderquist is still experimenting with his line combinations well into the season looking for the right chemistry. I also like the fourth line of Robert-Stonacek-Trottier, who already have four goals, but more important play really gritty and tough. I am hoping that running four lines every night will pay off with a better rested team later in the season. Really important game at Army this Friday night; Bentley needs those 2 pts going into the break until Air Force arrives at the JAR at the end of the month (including New Year's Eve!).

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

I agree that the Bentley frosh are very impressive this season. But, in all fairness to Menzi, he was without his center Dustin Cloutier and lw Erik Peteron for substantial portions of last season because of injuries. I also like the way that Soderquist is still experimenting with his line combinations well into the season looking for the right chemistry. I also like the fourth line of Robert-Stonacek-Trottier, who already have four goals, but more important play really gritty and tough. I am hoping that running four lines every night will pay off with a better rested team later in the season. Really important game at Army this Friday night; Bentley needs those 2 pts going into the break until Air Force arrives at the JAR at the end of the month (including New Year's Eve!).

Last night was a case where Bentley played 40 great minutes but couldn't close. Army made the right adjustments and took it to Bentley in the 3rd, and they won that game. It wasn't Bentley losing it, it was Army winning it. So hats off to the Cadets, especially since Army is very high on my respected list, unlike Canisius (who I have a genuine dislike for).

Bentley heads into the halfway point at 5-8-2 and 4-5-1 in Atlantic Hockey. Not horrible, but I think there's room for improvement. Last year, the team played horrifically down the stretch and couldn't rebound from the injuries. So it'll be interesting to see what happens this year. They've been able to avoid the injury bug (knocks on wood) so far, so it'll be very interesting.

Snives - Agreed on every point above. I think Menzione suffered last year by not having Cloutier and Peterson, but he was also hamstrung from having that talent level in front of him the year before. I expected him to be a Prewitt or Gumaer... which is probably unfair since those guys were lights-out the best scorers in years for the team. I expected him to play as a senior the way the top line before him did, which, again, is sometimes unfair given that the Prewitt-Canzoneri-Gumaer line ended as the most prolific in Bentley history.

One final note on the 4th line - you really can't discount what having 4 lines can do for a team. Brown University is garnering a lot of attention off of their playoff run a year ago in ECAC. They swept Cornell and Colgate on the road for the first time since 1996, and they tied both UNH and BU in their respective barns. But they played those games like playoff games early in the season, and they only really skate 2 lines. The top line logs A TON of ice time. The 2nd line logs a lot of minutes but doesn't produce the same way. And the 3rd and 4th lines are nonexistant (4th line isn't a full line either. it's 2 forwards with a 3rd cycling in from lines 2 and 3). If they sustain one injury to anybody on that top line, the season goes down the toilet faster than Bentley's 2nd half a year ago. If you have 4 lines that can play and compete, and do it well - then it's a whole other story. And for Bentley's upcoming schedule, you can't discount that.

I'm looking forward to the New Year's Eve Eve and Actual Eve tilts with Air Force. Always fun games with high energy. Always played in empty barn due to scheduling during semester break. AF always brings a lot of people as a major draw. Should be fun to watch and start my celebrating hopefully early!

 

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

I'm looking forward to the New Year's Eve Eve and Actual Eve tilts with Air Force. Always fun games with high energy. Always played in empty barn due to scheduling during semester break. AF always brings a lot of people as a major draw. Should be fun to watch and start my celebrating hopefully early!

While attending an event at Sam Adams Brewery in Jamaica Plain this past Wednesday night (roll out of new Infinium ale), I talked to an AF alum who is based at Hanscom. Nice guy, who will be attending both games with his AF buddies at the JAR on New Years Eve Eve and New Years Eve (good phrase), as will I. No doubt there will be more AF than Bentley fans at the JAR for these two games. AF fans are still talking about Lamoureux's GW PPG with 0.3 seconds remaining to beat Holy Cross 7-6 in the Springs on December 4th, after playing to a 1-1 tie against HC the night before. I think that Bentley can shut down Lamoureux if they stay out of the box, which is important because our Falcons have a non-existent PP of their own this year.

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

Hope everyone had a great holiday and got fat like me.

So now the season is turning into the 2nd half. The last 2 years have shown that a strong second half can propel a team to greatness, and a bad 2nd half can deep six a playoff run pretty much on the spot.

The 2nd half starts out with a very tough game against Air Force. As Snively mentioned, the Flyboys are coming in after sweeping Holy Cross at home in Colorado, including a 7-6 shootout that's what we can expect from AHA hockey these days.

Air Force as a program is a little bit of a shell of the team that dominated early in their AHA days. They're sub-500 and, with a long lay off and now trip out east, could be ripe for Bentley's picking. Bentley has the benefit of playing in their barn, even though nobody will show up given that's New Year's Eve, and air Force historically is a great draw from servicemen, servicewomen, and traveling fan contingencies.

The big hole for AF is the goaltending. AFter the departure of Andrew Volkening, they've struggled to find the right pieces. Jason Torf is starting to entrench as GK1, but he's only a freshman. Steven Caple is next on the list, but after being in Volkening's shadow for 2 years, it's been a tough go for him.

One thing that won't matter is points. Lamorieux is a beast and should be considered one of the finest forwards in D1. Kruse, Weisgarber, Mathis, and Burnett are back, and they're complemented by Tony Thomas and Jason Fabian. Bentley's defense is going to have it's hands full, but hopefully the layoff has invigorated them as opposed to what we saw at the end of the first half (when they relied a little bit too heavily on Joe Calvi at times).

It'll be very interesting to say the least, and hopefully Bentley can get the gears going on a good run. Bentley stands at 10th in the standings, but are only 3 points back of 5th. The standings are extremely jumbled, with RIT and RMU in position to start breaking away. But Bentley is right there, and they're on Holy Cross's heels for the lead in the East. It'll be a very fun, very interesting stretch run starting this week.

 

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

I do not like to complain about the refs, but Bentley was robbed tonight by the refs. Bentley dominated the first period holding Air Force to three shots, AF came out and dominated the second, but Calvi stood on his head stopping all 19 shots, and Bentley managed to go up 2-0. Both teams played pretty evenly in the third, AF rang a post about half way through, then scored their first goal a couple of minutes later. When AF took a stupid cross-checking penalty with about 2.5 minutes left, I thought that was the game. But, then the refs sent two Bentley players but only one AF player to the box for a skirmish in front of Calvi, in which Blake Page threw a blatant punch that did not get called. So, that gave AF the advantage when they pulled their goalie for the extra attacker and scored the equalizer. Bentley seemed completely demoralized at that point and gave up the winner a few seconds into OT. The refs played to the AF fans tonight, who outnumbered the Bentley fans at least 20 to 1 (say 300 to 15, I am guessing). But, most amazing was that Bentley outplayed AF for most of the game without four regulars: Cloutier, Gensler, Nudy, and Robbert (not sure what was up with that; flu?). Tough way to begin the second half for Bentley.

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

I do not like to complain about the refs, but Bentley was robbed tonight by the refs. Bentley dominated the first period holding Air Force to three shots, AF came out and dominated the second, but Calvi stood on his head stopping all 19 shots, and Bentley managed to go up 2-0. Both teams played pretty evenly in the third, AF rang a post about half way through, then scored their first goal a couple of minutes later. When AF took a stupid cross-checking penalty with about 2.5 minutes left, I thought that was the game. But, then the refs sent two Bentley players but only one AF player to the box for a skirmish in front of Calvi, in which Blake Page threw a blatant punch that did not get called. So, that gave AF the advantage when they pulled their goalie for the extra attacker and scored the equalizer. Bentley seemed completely demoralized at that point and gave up the winner a few seconds into OT. The refs played to the AF fans tonight, who outnumbered the Bentley fans at least 20 to 1 (say 300 to 15, I am guessing). But, most amazing was that Bentley outplayed AF for most of the game without four regulars: Cloutier, Gensler, Nudy, and Robbert (not sure what was up with that; flu?). Tough way to begin the second half for Bentley.

I tried posting before, but USCHO apparently deleted me. Or I screwed up.

The refs in the first game flat out gave Air Force the end. I wasn't there, but I listened online via AmericaOne (the former B2). Dan Rubin (covering the game) said, "I never bash officials. But all you can hope is that the refs don't affect the outcome of this game and that it can be decided between the players on the ice."

Sure enough - the refs cost Bentley the game. They caved badly to Air Force, and they gave the game away. Don't get me wrong, from the video it looked ticky-tack all night, but the end of the game, when there was ZERO hitting after the whistle to begin with... that's atrocious. Apparently, it's okay to kick shavings on the goalie if you play for Air Force.

The 2nd game was just bad in the first period and a half. The roof caved in on Bentley very badly, and they trailed 3-0. They made a mad dash comeback, but they couldn't get anything going on the 5-on-3 and that hurt. I wasn't impressed by Air Force, and Bentley should've come away with points this weekend in some form.

A couple of thoughts - #1) Brandon Komm is as advertised. I caught the 2nd game at the JAR before closing out my 2010 in Boston. Komm was great. The 3rd goal wasn't his fault, and the first 2 resulted in him being hung out to dry by the defense. He is the real deal, and from what I hear, Yale and RPI both recruited him (definitely Yale, unconfirmed on RPI) this year, assuemd he'd play juniors, and Bentley staged a massive coup to get him when they were coming off a year with both goalies in the 88% save pct range. I'm going to say that by year's end, Rank will be the #3 and Komm will be the #1 next year.

2) Peterson and Cloutier need to start scoring. They're the upperclassmen and captains,a nd they're not putting points onthe board. Stonacek and Campanelli played line 1 minutes, and they deserve it. They're the ones who are playing the best. The freshmen have looked good, too, but Bentley doesn't have a good scorer right now. They need to wake up, and they need to do it soon.

3) There is no scoring defenseman. Last year, despite Preece's attempt to spend more time in the penalty box than the bus, locker room, bench, and ice combined, he couls till score. This year, Bonnett isn't a scoring threat, and Marginsky is well... a 6-7 monster but isn't supposed to be a scoring threat. They need the forwards to overcompensate, and that's hurting.

4) The freshmen are playing great, but the team can't rely on them. They're freshmen... they shouldn't be doing what the seniors should be doing. I can't reiterate this enough... if the seniors bust out of the slump, this team gets very dangerous very fast.

And 5) The AHA is really jobbing Bentley with the schedule. A 10 day layoff between games before traveling to AIC. Seriously - they can't get rhythm because they play so few games in so many days. And there was a ton of travel in the beginning to Niagra, RMU, Clarkson, RPI, Quinnipiac... Bentley plays 10 home games in the 2nd half of the season, against beatable teams. Less travel = better play.

 

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

If there were ever a must win for Bentley, their game at AIC next Tuesday is it. A loss could put the Falcons in the AH cellar all alone if Sacred Heart manages two points against visiting Air Force, making their second 4000-mile road trip in less than two weeks this weekend. Need a lot of quality shots on net. New Year's weekend was a huge missed opportunity to pick up some points against the only team to beat the #1 team in nation. After AIC, the schedule toughens again with five games against RIT, Mercyhurst, and Lowell, with three of those away.

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

If there were ever a must win for Bentley, their game at AIC next Tuesday is it. A loss could put the Falcons in the AH cellar all alone if Sacred Heart manages two points against visiting Air Force, making their second 4000-mile road trip in less than two weeks this weekend. Need a lot of quality shots on net. New Year's weekend was a huge missed opportunity to pick up some points against the only team to beat the #1 team in nation. After AIC, the schedule toughens again with five games against RIT, Mercyhurst, and Lowell, with three of those away.

The major excuse for Bentley's subpar play in the beginning of the season has been that "easier games are coming." Yes the team played UConn and Holy Cross in one weekend and swept both, but then came right back Canisius and Robert Morris on back-to-back weekends. The time off hasn't allowed them to get traction and momentum. They were playing well but ran into better opponents without a rhythm. They had minor injuries to overcome. It was always some excuse.

There is no excuse for losing to AIC. These are the games we've been patiently waiting for. We always say "we will wait for the winnable games because these are the games we will win on." For Bentley, that time is here and now. So the team cannot lose to AIC. It's my assumption that they'll beat AIC to set up a weekend set at RIT three days later, which they will get swept in. Then they come back the next weekend at home against Mercyhurst and maybe take one of the two games (a 2 point weekend would be great). Then it's the home stretch and a bunch of games Bentley shouldn't lose. This is the way I've predicted it for the majority of the season, and it's the way I've seen it.

If they steal games from Mercyhurst and RIT, it becomes a bonus. if they're beaten by Holy Cross, AIC, and UConn - we get to eat the 12 seed. Now would be a good time to break out of the funk and get the wheels rolling.

I'm a little excited and nervous at the same time!

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

Unfortunately, the unraveling of the 2010-2011 season has begun. Couldn't beat AIC (which AIC always plays everyone tough but still...) and then only tying RIT in one game, when you probably should've beaten them. I think I'm so frustrated from the Patriots game that my ability to think rationally is out the window. Who knows what happens from here - Mercyhurst this weekend... hopefully a turnaround somewhere.

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

Was up at the EJHL All Star Game this weekend, and I saw a goalie who is committed to Bentley next year. Blake Dougherty (sp?) of the Bay State Breakers. Here's a link to the story:

http://jrbreakers.com/news2.php?news_id=356520&lang=

From what I saw, this kid is the real deal. Dougherty made some really great saves playing the last period and a half of the game. Acrobatic, spine-tingling moves. Kid is unbelievable. He did give up a few goals at the end, which resulted in the Southern Division surrendering a 2 goal lead and losing by 2. But, it's an exhibition so it can't be taken seriously.

This is a definitely find for Bentley. With the addition of Komm, who is ultra talented but a little injury prone (been hurt twice this year already), Falcons are shoring up the crease. Calvi graduates this year, and Kyle Rank has lost the edge a little bit. This addition ensures Bentley's goaltending should be strong in the coming years.

I fell in love with the kid almost immediately.

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

Here's a nifty webpage to take a look at...

http://www.playoffstatus.com/index.html

 

[Gainzo]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

You will beat us next week so all is good.

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

Friday night's game was an absolute atrocity. Saturday...much better. Bentley back in the win column!

Will hopefully post a more complete update tomorrow.

It looks like there's already a recap from uscho online..

http://www.uscho.com/recaps/2011/01/22/koudys-goal-helps-betley-top-mercyhurst/

 

[UML]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

Any Bentley fans coming up to Lowell Tuesday?

 

[HOCKEYGUY23]

Any Bentley fans coming up to Lowell Tuesday?

All five are going

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

All five are going

You stay classy Hockey guy.

 

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

I have been out of the country the past two weeks, although following the results, which have not been pretty for the Falcons. But, given that the Falcons have upset Maine and UMass at about this time the past two seasons, I predict an upset win tonight over the River Hawks, which are having an even tougher season than the Falcons. I missed those two upset games, but will be at Tsongas tonight. I realize that the 2 pts would not mean anything in the AHA standings, but the Falcons need some momentum as they head into the final 10 games, all of which are winnable.

I really wish that the six eastern AHA teams had performed better against their western AHA counterparts this season, but that was not the case. However, many of the lost games by eastern AHA teams were close and I do not think that the disparity is that great. I do agree with those who feel that the post-season seedings are a joke; the eastern AHA teams should prove themselves worthy without the contrived tourney scheme.

 

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

Well, that UML game was a huge disappointment. Totally winnable for the Falcons, as UMLs goalie is not very good. But, stupid untimely penalties and anemic power play of their own did in the Falcons. So, no upset win over a Hockey East team this season.

The Falcons need to get back on track this weekend when Army visits the JAR; I will be there for both games. Go Falcons!

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Falcons 2010-2011: Reclaim The Pride

Well, that UML game was a huge disappointment. Totally winnable for the Falcons, as UMLs goalie is not very good. But, stupid untimely penalties and anemic power play of their own did in the Falcons. So, no upset win over a Hockey East team this season.

The Falcons need to get back on track this weekend when Army visits the JAR; I will be there for both games. Go Falcons!

Agreed wholeheartedly. I had high hopes for the game, but I think I'll put it into perspective heading into tonight.

I'm not sure that Bentley took the game with the seriousness they would've earlier int he year. It's a nonconference game against a decent opponent sandwiched between CLUTCH conference games. To an extent, I think they sent out their lines but treated it like a glorified scrimmage. UML would be guilty of this too. An 8-5 game is a positive because it included the first PP goal in over 10 games. And even though it's the 2nd snowman in 3 games for goals allowed, I think at some point, Bentley just decided they'd done enough and probably packed it in (they were guilty of this against Mercyhurst).

This weekend they come out with some huge games ahead. If Bentley expects to finish top 5 in the elague, they'll need some help. Instead of a close league, they'll essentially need RIT and someone else to start running away from the rest of the league, followed by collapses by Canisius and Mercyhurst. They control their own desitny to finish for the first round bye, and I think it's huge that they a) beat Mercyhurst and b) played well against Lowell.

Potential pitfall is the goalie situation. Kyle Rank has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff and hasn't seen the ice since he got dominated by Mercyhurst. He is the #3 goalie now behind Calvi and Komm, who's always hurt. I think Komm is the real deal, as he would've been in a Yale uniform next year had he gone to Juniors this year instead of college. But he can't stay on the ice. If Komm comes back, it'll shore up the defensive end. With Calvi, there's some concern, but I think they have enough in the tank to finish strong.

All winnable games from here on out. At the end of this weekend, we'll know if we can raise the expectations down the stretch. Two home games against a strong opponent who always comes ready to play.

Hopefully a decent crowd will come too with a big draw in Army and the students back on campus.

Snively - how was the rest of the world? You missed out on about 50 inches of snow.