Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

[streaker]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

Streaker - appreciate the input, and I can only hope that your name refers to winning and not what I'll do through Bentley's campus if they beat Michigan.

I heard a rumor that Michigan is providing Bentley's team with tickets to the Saturday football game as part of goodwill for going out to the hockey trip. I think that puts Bentley in the Big House for the Michigan St. game? it's still a very classy act of goodwill if true by the Michigan athletic department towards the visiting team.

I know that Bentley is taking a much different approach. From conversations with different people associated with the program, the team is a little bit more numb to the atmosphere of a place like Yost, which is a far cry from the JAR. But what they might've gotten bug-eyes at last year is boiling down to the fact that it's still frozen water (and a bunch of chemicals from the Zamboni) and it's no different from JAR ice except that it's probably a little bit smoother and a lotta bit cleaner.

It'll be very interesting, especially since Michigan is smack dab in the middle of some big games out this way. i'm kind of excited that Bentley isn't playing UMass-Lowell on the 13th so they'll be better rested for Michigan. I also anticipate that Komm will play at Michigan but not against Alabama-Huntsville. He was too overtaxed next year.

Then again I could be wrong.

Hey, no problem. This is a secret now... but my nickname came about innocently as I am not very fleet afoot on skates. The boys I used to play with used to catcall as I skated by about how I could "streak" down the ice. Michael Ontkean I am not. I am an old timer around here, so I just never felt like changing it.

If what you say is true, and I have some moles checking it out, then you would indeed have your team see the MSU game. It will be a dandy.

 

[streaker]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

I really thought that our coaching staff had our guys totally relaxed last year at Yost. At least that is the way our players appeared to me as they got off the bus and walked by our 60-strong tail-gating greeting party outside Yost before the Friday night game.

Bentley's visit at Yost was definitely my favorite weekend of college hockey ever, which includes 10 Frozen Fours, four that included my alma mater UNH. Perhaps it is my long-time connection to U Michigan through their geology field camp in Wyoming and my tough decision to attend Maine instead of Michigan for my first graduate degree. I am really pleased that we got invited back to Yost for a game this season, and regret that I cannot attend this time around. Hope that the Falcons can hang tough for a full 60 minutes this year.

Thanks for the comments, Streaker. I do not know Humanoid, but if I hear of someone streaking across Bentley's campus around 10 pm on October 19th, I will know the reason!

I talked to some of your boys and they were calm/excited/ classy. Well represented Bentley. Looking forward to saying hello again. Glad to add to your thread.. safe travels guys and good luck this season.

One note though: Our freshmen netminder Rutledge apparently had some minor eye surgery and is having irritation with contacts, also. He is most likely out for the exhibitions this weekend/next week and may not play in the RIT series. Not sure if he'll be back for Bentley.

 

[eXcSports]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

Trent Bonnett has signed to play pro hockey with the Mississippi Surge in Biloxi in the SPHL. I know I'm a little late to the party in reporting this.

http://excalibursportspage.com/2012/10/04/surge-get-a-laser-beam/

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

I talked to some of your boys and they were calm/excited/ classy. Well represented Bentley. Looking forward to saying hello again. Glad to add to your thread.. safe travels guys and good luck this season.

One note though: Our freshmen netminder Rutledge apparently had some minor eye surgery and is having irritation with contacts, also. He is most likely out for the exhibitions this weekend/next week and may not play in the RIT series. Not sure if he'll be back for Bentley.

A hearty thanks. Sometimes we get emotional about the team, but Bentley hockey couldn't exist if teams like Michigan weren't willing to play them. In a way it legitimizes the program. It harkens back to a different era. There's something romantic about hockey where it can have a team like Michigan with all its glitter and glitz and rich history play a plucky little school like Bentley. It's an awesome opportunity, and I'm only sorry I can't go out there to witness it.

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

Trent Bonnett has signed to play pro hockey with the Mississippi Surge in Biloxi in the SPHL. I know I'm a little late to the party in reporting this.

http://excalibursportspage.com/2012/10/04/surge-get-a-laser-beam/

I got to talk to Trent a couple of times last year after games, and he is a very intelligent and gracious young man. Congratulations and hopefully, like Cloutier before him, he can work his way up and crack into the ECHL!

Too bad the lockout will send a number of NHL guys into the AHL (two way contracts), a number of AHL guys into the ECHL (two way contracts) and will put a guy like Cloutier on the fringe of going back to a place like the SPHL. Yet another reason to hate Bettman.

 

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

In case anyone missed Dan's final three capsule summaries for the top three teams at the end of the upcoming AHA regular season, here they are. Of course, I would be delighted if Bentley can finish in the No. 2 slot for a bye, but as I noted in an earlier post, I think that any of the top six teams can win the regular season this year, just like last year, thanks in part to the imbalanced schedule.

Dan suggested in his Mercyhurt capsule that their coach must not like playing games in Erie as they only have 14 out of 34 games at home this season. But, that is typical for any AHA team, as it is really difficult to get OOC games on our home ice. Bentley does have an OOC game at home against Huntsville this fall, so 15 home games for the season, and two years ago, Clarkson visited for two, after we had been to Potsdam for two the year before.

Just a little over 10 days before the puck drops for opening night at the JAR!

http://excalibursportspage.com/2012/10/03/aha-capsules-3-niagara/

http://excalibursportspage.com/2012/10/03/aha-capsules-2-bentley/

http://excalibursportspage.com/2012/10/04/aha-capsules-1-air-force/

 

[streaker]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

A hearty thanks. Sometimes we get emotional about the team, but Bentley hockey couldn't exist if teams like Michigan weren't willing to play them. In a way it legitimizes the program. It harkens back to a different era. There's something romantic about hockey where it can have a team like Michigan with all its glitter and glitz and rich history play a plucky little school like Bentley. It's an awesome opportunity, and I'm only sorry I can't go out there to witness it.

Yep, wish you could come out. At least you see it for what it is, where some people choose to hate on Michigan because they don't "travel for non-conference series."

 

[eXcSports]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

In case anyone missed Dan's final three capsule summaries for the top three teams at the end of the upcoming AHA regular season, here they are. Of course, I would be delighted if Bentley can finish in the No. 2 slot for a bye, but as I noted in an earlier post, I think that any of the top six teams can win the regular season this year, just like last year, thanks in part to the imbalanced schedule.

Dan suggested in his Mercyhurt capsule that their coach must not like playing games in Erie as they only have 14 out of 34 games at home this season. But, that is typical for any AHA team, as it is really difficult to get OOC games on our home ice. Bentley does have an OOC game at home against Huntsville this fall, so 15 home games for the season, and two years ago, Clarkson visited for two, after we had been to Potsdam for two the year before.

Just a little over 10 days before the puck drops for opening night at the JAR!

http://excalibursportspage.com/2012/10/03/aha-capsules-3-niagara/

http://excalibursportspage.com/2012/10/03/aha-capsules-2-bentley/

http://excalibursportspage.com/2012/10/04/aha-capsules-1-air-force/

My comment was meant as a bit of dry humor; I never meant to imply Mercyhurst dislikes playing at home or that Rick Gotkin really doesn't like being at home.

In case you missed it, here's the USCHO preview for the AHA. Great job as always by Chris Lerch to go in-depth. Not as good as me though


http://www.uscho.com/2012/10/08/unp...c-hockey-for-now-while-teams-chase-air-force/

 

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

My comment was meant as a bit of dry humor; I never meant to imply Mercyhurst dislikes playing at home or that Rick Gotkin really doesn't like being at home.

Oh, I know that your comment was tongue in cheek, Dan. But, it gave me the opportunity to point out that Bentley does as well as any Atlantic Hockey team in obtaining rare OOC games at home, in our case at the JAR, which receives more than its share of insults.

 

[eXcSports]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

I'm feeling a mailbag coming up. Good responses so far, but I figured I'd open up to you guys too. Anyone have anything they want answered/asked?

 

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

I'm feeling a mailbag coming up. Good responses so far, but I figured I'd open up to you guys too. Anyone have anything they want answered/asked?

Hey, Dan, will you guys have a few extra media line sheets for us insiders who stop by your box at home games this season?

How do you think the lines and defense pairings will play out in Ann Arbor next Friday night?

 

[eXcSports]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

Hey, Dan, will you guys have a few extra media line sheets for us insiders who stop by your box at home games this season?

How do you think the lines and defense pairings will play out in Ann Arbor next Friday night?

There are almost always extra line sheets if you swing by up in the press box. They'll be on the ledge next to the opening. Shouldn't be a huge issue if you want to grab one or two for each team.

As for the pairings, it's funny you mention that because I just did the roster breakdown yesterday for the forwards (last night, actually) and just posted on the defense.

http://excalibursportspage.com/2012/10/10/the-falcon-file-forwards/

http://excalibursportspage.com/2012/10/11/the-falcon-file-defense/

 

[eXcSports]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

Hey, Dan, will you guys have a few extra media line sheets for us insiders who stop by your box at home games this season?

How do you think the lines and defense pairings will play out in Ann Arbor next Friday night?

The lines and stuff I'll further address both mailbag style and in the days leading up to the Michigan game. I'm taking a cue from sites like the ones on SB Nation and will do a Game-Day prep thing. Hopefully, I won't get lazy and do like 3 or 4 of them and then completely fall off the planet with it...

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

How bout them Tigers?!!! RIT comes from behind and beats Michigan in OT.

 

[RIT Winters]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

How bout them Tigers?!!! RIT comes from behind and beats Michigan in OT.

Maybe it's time to really start questioning the #6 seed projected by some here? This team is going to score more than an RIT team has in a while, and if Watson can stop 40 shots against Michigan on any given night..I'll take that action.

 

[schiegs]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

Not that we were going to sneak up on Michigan, but this doesn't bode well for any chances of catching the Wolverines off guard.

 

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

Congrats to the TIGERS!

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

Not that we were going to sneak up on Michigan, but this doesn't bode well for any chances of catching the Wolverines off guard.

I'm going to go ahead and say that over a longer body of work, Michigan is going to end up as the better team. But on one night, in an OOC, on the first game of the year, RIT came in hungrier and more prepared. I fault Michigan for losing but give all the credit to RIT for winning. Michigan really does have a habit of losing to weak conference teams (isn't that right, Appy State??) hehe.

RIT Winters - as for the prognostication, I obviously can't pontificate for the press, but one game does not make a season. It does, however, give you guys the most marquee victory on the year by far. It legitimizes the AHA somewhat, especially after Niagara got smoked by Colgate. Unfortunately, though, Michigan gets 24 hours of rest and a chance to come back on Saturday against y'all. I'm raising an eyebrow to see how Red Berenson gets the boys ready. If they lose again, their RPI rating later in the year is going to take a beating.

 

[streaker]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

I'm going to go ahead and say that over a longer body of work, Michigan is going to end up as the better team. But on one night, in an OOC, on the first game of the year, RIT came in hungrier and more prepared. I fault Michigan for losing but give all the credit to RIT for winning. Michigan really does have a habit of losing to weak conference teams (isn't that right, Appy State??) hehe.

True on your first point, not so sure on your second. RIT gets credit for overcoming their own sloppy play in the first period. They forced the play and our defense and goaltending was subpar in the last 41 minutes of the game. The SOG alone were an indication of the pressure that Michigan exerted offensively. Credit RIT for stealing the momentum and winning the game, but I doubt that they were better prepared. Hungrier? Maybe. Emotion is a tough thing to recover once a team relaxes on a lead and suffers from the lapses Michigan did. I thought for sure after the 3rd RIT goal that Berenson would yank Rutledge.He was fighting easy shots all game and never looked comfortable. Losing is losing, no matter who it is to. In that regard, I would say that you are insulting your conference, when it fact you shouldn't be. The Appy St thing is a poor example. That was a lower Div team that was a NC and had D1 talent. They weren't Savannah state. Luckily that Michigan team also sent out LC out by beating Florida, who happened to win the NC the following year. So, poke fun all you want. It's early. I gave another example in the game thread that was more appropriate regarding Niagara in 1998.

RIT Winters - as for the prognostication, I obviously can't pontificate for the press, but one game does not make a season. It does, however, give you guys the most marquee victory on the year by far. It legitimizes the AHA somewhat, especially after Niagara got smoked by Colgate. Unfortunately, though, Michigan gets 24 hours of rest and a chance to come back on Saturday against y'all. I'm raising an eyebrow to see how Red Berenson gets the boys ready. If they lose again, their RPI rating later in the year is going to take a beating.

The game is actually Friday, and there will probably be lineup changes, although that is limited since 3 of the 5 players that were scratched last night for Michigan are injured. The other is a walk on goaltender that won't see the ice unless there are a rash of injuries to the netminders. That leaves a sophomore forward that may be inserted for a senior forward- both 4th line checking types- unless one or both the injured freshmen can play. I can almost say with confidence that there will be a different goaltender in tonight.

As far as RPI, that is a stretch also. The conference strength should more than offset our OOC schedule. It's never good to lose, especially the way they lost last night, but today is a new day.

 

[Snively65]

Re: Bentley Hockey 2012-2013: The New Era of JAR Pride Begins

True on your first point, not so sure on your second. RIT gets credit for overcoming their own sloppy play in the first period. They forced the play and our defense and goaltending was subpar in the last 41 minutes of the game. The SOG alone were an indication of the pressure that Michigan exerted offensively. Credit RIT for stealing the momentum and winning the game, but I doubt that they were better prepared. Hungrier? Maybe. Emotion is a tough thing to recover once a team relaxes on a lead and suffers from the lapses Michigan did. I thought for sure after the 3rd RIT goal that Berenson would yank Rutledge.He was fighting easy shots all game and never looked comfortable. Losing is losing, no matter who it is to. In that regard, I would say that you are insulting your conference, when it fact you shouldn't be. The Appy St thing is a poor example. That was a lower Div team that was a NC and had D1 talent. They weren't Savannah state. Luckily that Michigan team also sent out LC out by beating Florida, who happened to win the NC the following year. So, poke fun all you want. It's early. I gave another example in the game thread that was more appropriate regarding Niagara in 1998.



The game is actually Friday, and there will probably be lineup changes, although that is limited since 3 of the 5 players that were scratched last night for Michigan are injured. The other is a walk on goaltender that won't see the ice unless there are a rash of injuries to the netminders. That leaves a sophomore forward that may be inserted for a senior forward- both 4th line checking types- unless one or both the injured freshmen can play. I can almost say with confidence that there will be a different goaltender in tonight.

As far as RPI, that is a stretch also. The conference strength should more than offset our OOC schedule. It's never good to lose, especially the way they lost last night, but today is a new day.

Good stuff, Streaker. I was hoping that the Tigers would soften up the Wolverines, but not get them too mad before the Falcons travel to AA next weekend.