Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

[Humanoid]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

Got to get it back against RPI tomorrow, though second game in the weekend, quick turnaround with 4 p.m. start, and an emotional Engineer squad after last year's playoffs could conspire against us.

That's a program that can't admit that they were outplayed last year by a Brown team, and they accused Brown ad nauseum on our board of being cheap shot artists. They were sore losers to the max last year, and you can bet they don't want to taste a loss to Bruno again. I fully expect to get ripped on by an RPI guy for making this comment. But the team, too, doesn't want to admit they lost to Brown, so you can bet they're going to come out and have a TON of fire. Verry dangerous game based on revenge alone.

 

[LTsatch]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

The RPI goalie York injured his back making a save late in the third period last night. I would not be surprised to see him sit today. Should be a very physical game, your teams are very similar in their approach to the game.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

That's a program that can't admit that they were outplayed last year by a Brown team...

One of about a hundred quotes from RPI crediting Bruno following their series win last spring...had you bothered to look:

"...Credit to Brown,” Appert said. “They earned the win. They were physical and tough."

 

[kdiff77]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

That was the worst weekend of hockey I have seen since the Grillo era. Brendan had better drill it into the players' heads that they can't simply waltz into an arena and come away with a victory. As Herb Brooks said (paraphrased), you think you can win on talent alone? Gentlemen, I've got news for you- you don't have enough talent to win on talent alone.

Interesting fact: we're 3-1-2 away and 0-3-1 at home. Good thing we have 17 away games and just 12 at home.

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

One of about a hundred quotes from RPI crediting Bruno following their series win last spring...had you bothered to look:

"...Credit to Brown,” Appert said. “They earned the win. They were physical and tough."

I also seem to recall you calling us a subrate program and your color radio guy telling us to have sexual relations with ourselves in a sideways manner.

In any event... very tough weekend to swallow if you're a Brown fan. The Bears took 4-5 major steps back after the UNH-BU week, and now head into Providence on the cusp of letting a good run start to get away from them.

If Brown loses to PC, it would take a 2-0-2 run against Cornell, Colgate (remember Bruno hasn't swept that weekend since a young Arkansas fellow named Clinton was president), UNH, and BU and ruin it. Brown would then go 0-3-0 heading into a New Year's Day matchup with BU, who will be out for revenge after the first game. The reward for BU is either Mankato or Notre Dame... needless to say the Bears are at a crossroads heading into the PC game.

 

[kdiff77]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

Boy, do we have some defensive/goaltending issues. We're conceding 3.8 goals a game (thankfully, we're scoring 3.4 a game to counteract it). Clemente's GAA is 4.06. His save percentage is well below .900. Borelli looked encouraging tonight, but nothing special. I wasn't impressed very much with DiFilippo in the home Princeton game, though his numbers are by far the best on the team (2.52, .921).

However, we can't blame the goalies completely- we're being outshot by a good 6 shots a game (33-27, on average). Yes, the goalies need to be better, but so does the defense. We were outscored 10-5 this weekend. That's unacceptable. 5 goals a weekend isn't great, but it should at least get you a point. To let in more than that number is pretty bad, but to let in double? That's just appalling. Brendan Whittet was hired because of his defensive expertise, and yet the only area that's thriving is the offense. Don't get me wrong; I'm infinitely grateful for what he's brought to the table offensively, but he's supposed to be a defensive specialist. Why hasn't it shown on the ice yet? He has some solid defensemen and a very talented goalie in Clemente. The pieces are there, but what's puzzling is why they haven't been put together yet.

 

[Onion Man]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

Weak effort last night vs RPI. Holding those Hockey East teams the way they did and givng up half a dozen to RPI at home? Young and inconsistent team but I expected a better effort las night

 

[burgie12]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

Weak effort last night vs RPI. Holding those Hockey East teams the way they did and givng up half a dozen to RPI at home? Young and inconsistent team but I expected a better effort las night

Yea, only giving up 5 and 4 goals to UNH and BU is quite the accomplishment and is much, much better than giving up 6.

 

[Onion Man]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

Yea, only giving up 5 and 4 goals to UNH and BU is quite the accomplishment and is much, much better than giving up 6.

Considering they gave up 4 and 5 goals to legit teams like UNH and BU on the road, it was disappointing to give up 6 at home to RPI. I guess I need more practice at being disappointed by hockey like "Hotel Management" fans have been for all these years.

 

[bruno]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

Interesting fact: we're 3-1-2 away and 0-3-1 at home. Good thing we have 17 away games and just 12 at home.

Not to presume this is anywhere near an answer for the Bears' abysmal record at Meehan over recent years, but it is far different to come out of the chute and find 350 people in the stands at your barn than it is to be motivated by the challenge of playing before 2,500-5,000 hostile fans at practically every road venue we visit.

 

[BrunoFan00]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

Not to presume this is anywhere near an answer for the Bears' abysmal record at Meehan over recent years, but it is far different to come out of the chute and find 350 people in the stands at your barn than it is to be motivated by the challenge of playing before 2,500-5,000 hostile fans at practically every road venue we visit.

With the exception of 08-09 (when the Bears didn't beat anyone, home or away, until Harvard in the playoffs), Brown has typically been somewhere around or above .500 at home, including last year. The crowd picked up as the Union game went along, but it's nothing like the UNH or BU fans.

Of course, one could argue that, after the abysmal performance against RPI and Union, coupled with a poor performance against Princeton, why would the fans come out? It's a chicken-egg argument. Does success bring the crowd, or vice versa?

The PC game, which could have been one with real storyline had both teams come out of the weekend successful, now takes on a play-for-city pride storyline, with Brown on the verge of losing a third consecutive going into the exam break, and a rematch with BU looming.

I wonder if it's Clemente, Borelli or Defelippo getting the knod against PC... and what sort of adjustments can be made in one practice to solve the defensive assignment miscues.

 

[bruno]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

Of course, one could argue that, after the abysmal performance against RPI and Union, coupled with a poor performance against Princeton, why would the fans come out? It's a chicken-egg argument. Does success bring the crowd, or vice versa?

I've been to all of the home games over many years and even during those seasons when the Bears were in contention for a first-round bye in the ECAC Playoffs [1994-95, 1997-98, 2002-03 and 2003-04], the fans (primarily students) did not show up in any significant numbers to support the team. And, apparently, no one has yet found the right incentive to consistently draw near-sellout crowds through the Meehan turnstiles.

 

[jmhusker]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

I've been to all of the home games over many years and even during those seasons when the Bears were in contention for a first-round bye in the ECAC Playoffs [1994-95, 1997-98, 2002-03 and 2003-04], the fans (primarily students) did not show up in any significant numbers to support the team. And, apparently, no one has yet found the right incentive to consistently draw near-sellout crowds through the Meehan turnstiles.

RPI alum here. Having been to a handful of Brown games over the years I will say that the one thing that seems totally missing are young kids in the stands. Go to almost any other college hockey game and there are kids in the stands. At Brown, I see few, or none. My son walked away with 5 pucks from warm-ups yesterday due to the lack of competition. And this when kids don't even have to pay to get in! Brown must have the cheapest tickets in all of NCAA hockey. If I lived in Providence and could take my wife and 3 kids to a game for a total of $10 I'd be there all of the time. Obviously there is no marketing effort (or very little) from the school to try and get local kids or families to the games. With all of the youth hockey in Mass and RI, it should be pretty easy to make some connections and build a fan base of locals. Perhaps the University looks down on the town too much?

Here's hoping you can get some more folks out to support the cause. It's always better to watch hockey with a crowd.

 

[Euler18]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

Brendan Whittet was hired because of his defensive expertise, and yet the only area that's thriving is the offense.

Let me assure you that Brendan Whittet wasn't hired because we were looking for a defensively-minded coach. He was hired because the search committee and the Department of Athletics believed he had the best combination of qualities, among a strong group of applicants, to change the course of Brown hockey and revive this once proud program. The program is in excellent hands with Brendan, and is on the right track. There will be bumps along the way. This is a young team and several talented players are still adjusting to the college game. Have some faith. Better days are ahead.

 

[kdiff77]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

Let me assure you that Brendan Whittet wasn't hired because we were looking for a defensively-minded coach. He was hired because the search committee and the Department of Athletics believed he had the best combination of qualities, among a strong group of applicants, to change the course of Brown hockey and revive this once proud program. The program is in excellent hands with Brendan, and is on the right track. There will be bumps along the way. This is a young team and several talented players are still adjusting to the college game. Have some faith. Better days are ahead.

Sure, but my point was that he was the equivalent of a Defensive Coordinator at Dartmouth for several years, so one would assume that the area in which a team he coaches would excel in would be defense. Clearly that isn't the case, although, again, I am extremely grateful for the offensive overhaul, as it was much needed and more than welcome. It is my perception that Dartmouth is/was consistently one of the better defensive teams in the league (perhaps I'm incorrect; prove me wrong with statistics if this is so), so I expected a vast improvement defensively. Yes, it's a long process, and I'm not doubting the future of this program one bit. One weekend means nothing in the long run; it simply serves as a fine example that we aren't quite ready to be national contenders yet. However, I still have to question why the defense isn't better than it is. In a word, it's embarrassing. 3.8 goals a game? If that's not the worst in the country, it's dam n close. 19 goals in the last four games, and 6 games of allowing 4+ goals? Only 3 games in which we've allowed less than 3? Sheesh. Yes, we've been playing highly-ranked competition, but that's just unacceptable. I obviously can't attest to what goes on in practice, but if I had a chance to offer suggestions personally to Brendan, I'd tell him to focus on defense and discipline for now. Those are our two worst areas, by far. As far as goaltending goes, I don't know what to say. I think Clemente clearly has the talent, but he's as inconsistent as Scott Stirling used to be.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not trying to criticize the job Brendan is doing, because I recognize and appreciate the enormous strides we've made in just over a year. I'm merely questioning our abysmal defensive efforts (or lack thereof). A former defender and defensive coach in particular should be embarrassed by this problem.

 

[brown_penguin]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

When the Mayor's Cup game ends in a tie, what happens to the trophy? Is it like divorced parents with joint custody? PC gets it Monday/Tuesday, Brown on Wednesday/Thursday and they alternate weekends and divvy up holidays and school vacations?

jk lol

Brown had a nice comeback, but I wish they'd stop digging themselves these holes.

 

[Humanoid]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

When the Mayor's Cup game ends in a tie, what happens to the trophy? Is it like divorced parents with joint custody? PC gets it Monday/Tuesday, Brown on Wednesday/Thursday and they alternate weekends and divvy up holidays and school vacations?

jk lol

Brown had a nice comeback, but I wish they'd stop digging themselves these holes.

I think the trophy actually reverts back to the team that last held it (in all seriousness). Although your comment... pretty funny.

I think part of the problem is that the team has no natural, strong, stay-at-home defensemen. Most teams can collapse back into their zone with two blue-liners who are anywhere from 6-2 to 6-5. They can stand in the back and clear the slot. The forwards meanwhile can cycle out to protect against the outside shots and get breakouts.

For the past couple years, Brown has been converting forwards to defensemen. This makes the offense explosive, but the defense ends up nonexistant. Couple that with a few goalies who aren't fantastic, and the goals start mounting.

On top of it all, the offense itself is explosive, but at the same time they're not getting production from anything outside of the top 2 lines (specifically Line 1). Jack McClellan should garner some type of mention for All Conference. What's he on pace for? 60-70 points? But outside of that, what's the third line done this year? What's the fourth line done? Is there even a fourth line at this point?

The fourth line is supposed to go out and spell the top 3 lines just long enough to keep the other team from scoring. They give you 5-7 minutes a game of physical tough play that doesn't put up points, but it keeps the other team from scoring and breaks them up a little bit. They soften them. brown doesn't have this. And the third line is supposed to occasionally play strong. I don't even think they see ice time because they're not great.

It's troubling because it shows a real drop-off and lack of depth.

 

[kdiff77]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

Good to see us come back from a deficit late, because lately, we've been blowing leads (Princeton, UNH, BU, Union). I wasn't there and didn't watch, so I can't attest to how we looked, but it seems like we slumbered through two periods and then woke up in the third. That's not so reassuring.

But hey, we're 0-0-3 against Hockey East opponents. That's not too bad.

 

[burgie12]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

Congrats to Yann Davis who got elected into the ECAC Top 50 this week.

 

[brown_penguin]

Re: Brown Hockey 2010-2011 - Onward and Upward

I think the trophy actually reverts back to the team that last held it (in all seriousness). Although your comment... pretty funny.

::sigh:: Maybe next year.

Also, someone at the game asked me what the Brown goal song was and I just shrugged and answered "techno?"

haha, anyone know?