BU 2021-22: Albie's Great Adventure

[joen05]

Quiet couple of days after a better than expected weekend results-wise...

Is anyone here going to Red Hot Hockey? My understanding is that ticket sales for BU are quite sluggish. Is interest in RHH be bottoming out, impacted by the team's performance this year as well as in recent years?

I'm thinking about it, but for me, you're right. The team's performance in recent years as well as this year has made it a much less interesting trip. It's going to be a pain to get there and back especially around that time, and hotel prices are up (where I'm used to staying). In past years when the team was doing well, it was quite a fun trip.

Basically there's potential to spend a good amount of money on a lackluster effort. That's a tough sell for anyone, IMO.

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

I think all the message boards are quieter than normal....parity across college hockey so no fans are confident in what team will show up any given weekend. RHH sales may be down because of the rules in NYC regarding covid. Very strict.

I think the biggest difference in NYC COVID rules is proof of vaccination/negative test to even enter a restaurant or bar. But given that RHH wasn't even formally announced on BU's schedule 'til late-Summer, many people prioritizing spending time with family this year since many were unable to do so last Thanksgiving, are also contributing factors to the lack of interest from the BU side.

Although when looking at available tickets on Ticketmaster, the "home" sections allocated to Cornell has several sections sold out and has far stronger ticket sales compared to the "away" sections for BU. In recent years, the crowd at RHH was become even more lopsided in Cornell's favor -- understandably so given the core of their alumni and student base is in the NYC area, and the Cornell community's much stronger affinity for this event compared to BU.

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

I'm thinking about it, but for me, you're right. The team's performance in recent years as well as this year has made it a much less interesting trip. It's going to be a pain to get there and back especially around that time, and hotel prices are up (where I'm used to staying). In past years when the team was doing well, it was quite a fun trip.

Basically there's potential to spend a good amount of money on a lackluster effort. That's a tough sell for anyone, IMO.

Agreed that the cost (tickets, hotel, mode of travel) factors in to the decision for the Boston-area fan base. Also, regardless of the team's performance, might RHH have simply "run its course" being played on a biannual basis? It's not dissimilar to the outdoor games at Fenway where it's impossible to replicate the original, and each subsequent edition just seems to dilute the event.

 

[joen05]

Agreed that the cost (tickets, hotel, mode of travel) factors in to the decision for the Boston-area fan base. Also, regardless of the team's performance, might RHH have simply "run its course" being played on a biannual basis? It's not dissimilar to the outdoor games at Fenway where it's impossible to replicate the original, and each subsequent edition just seems to dilute the event.

I've wondered recently if they would consider either of the following:

Rotating between Agganis and Lynah instead of just MSG?

Doing TD Garden and MSG rotating instead.

In terms of running it's course - that may be true as well. The initial event was awesome. BU's success in the event afterwards helped my decisions to go, and for Cornell, the desire to win one would drive their interest even more. BU's lack of results in the past few RHHs, along with their continued struggles, hasn't made it as appealing as it would have been. I don't "need" BU to win RHH, like Cornell may have wanted their team to do when BU kept winning. I'd rather BU just put a better product on the ice regularly.

 

[Scarlet]

This is the first RHH I'm missing.

 

[ericredaxe]

I've wondered recently if they would consider either of the following:

Rotating between Agganis and Lynah instead of just MSG?

Doing TD Garden and MSG rotating instead.

In terms of running it's course - that may be true as well. The initial event was awesome. BU's success in the event afterwards helped my decisions to go, and for Cornell, the desire to win one would drive their interest even more. BU's lack of results in the past few RHHs, along with their continued struggles, hasn't made it as appealing as it would have been. I don't "need" BU to win RHH, like Cornell may have wanted their team to do when BU kept winning. I'd rather BU just put a better product on the ice regularly.

I wouldn’t mind a 3 venue rotation between Lynah, Agganis, MSG. Having it at TD garden has zero appeal to me…. Nowhere near the history of MSG…. Plus we already get the opportunity at least 2x per year (and sometimes more) to overpay for college hockey at TD Garden.

This year is still a wildcard for with COVID still lingering and people choosing not to travel… combine that with a few sub par seasons tells you why interest is down.

Have a couple of winning seasons and BU interest will be right back up there for the next edition.

 

[mookie1995]

Was indeed suppose to rotate between the 3 sites from the start, but then fat Mike & co realized they found a gold mine and said to continue at msg exclusively or we will invite pedd state.

 

[ericredaxe]

Was indeed suppose to rotate between the 3 sites from the start, but then fat Mike & co realized they found a gold mine and said to continue at msg exclusively or we will invite pedd state.

They already have a game at MSG every year in the off year between RHH events. At least they have for the past 3 off years. Very possible that if we backed out they would just continue to find other people to play at MSG every year.

 

[joen05]

They already have a game at MSG every year in the off year between RHH events. At least they have for the past 3 off years. Very possible that if we backed out they would just continue to find other people to play at MSG every year.

I thought they were doing that, but I didn't feel like looking it up.

On a related note, I don't like how BU isn't offering the tickets directly (through the ticket office). The fees are high, and just adds to the cost for those of us who would be coming from the Boston area. I suppose you could buy the tickets at MSG after getting there, but it's just an extra pain for those of us who are considering the trip.

 

[Rogie21]

Luke Tuch returns to the line-up. Third line with Zabaneh and Boucher. 13 forwards tonight, likely so that Tuch can be spelled on a few shifts. Peterson is out tonight.

 

[Split-N]

On the other side of the coin, NU is down four forwards (Colangelo/RHughes/both Jacksons).

 

[RossiRules]

On the other side of the coin, NU is down four forwards (Colangelo/RHughes/both Jacksons).

Yeah Levi 38 saves in the win, best goalie in the nation. 5 shut outs, 1 OT loss, 1 Shoot out loss. .945 save percent. Yikes.

 

[Lemonade]

Yeah Levi 38 saves in the win, best goalie in the nation. 5 shut outs, 1 OT loss, 1 Shoot out loss. .945 save percent. Yikes.

BU has 38 shots but not many grade A chances. Not much traffic out front and zero rebounds. NU defense did a solid job. When you hit a post on an open net and have three breakaways and only get off one shot that isn’t good. It’s the difference in hockey East games. Also, 3v3 is too gimmicky for me. Play 4v4 for 5 then go 3v3 for 3 min then shootout.

 

[RossiRules]

BU has 38 shots but not many grade A chances. Not much traffic out front and zero rebounds. NU defense did a solid job. When you hit a post on an open net and have three breakaways and only get off one shot that isn’t good. It’s the difference in hockey East games. Also, 3v3 is too gimmicky for me. Play 4v4 for 5 then go 3v3 for 3 min then shootout.

I agree. However HE never considered 4v4 because I believe the NCAA was trying to mimic the NHL game and adopt what some of the other college leagues had already put in place I believe it was decided that the goal was to end these games quickly and 3v3 really showcases skill player abilities. Having played I think 3v3, it's just more fun, with more open ice and more chance to catch a sleeping D man out of position or mentally not ready for 3 on 3 transition. I do think it's a tough call in a short 32 game schedule as apposed to a longer one.

 

[ericredaxe]

The 3v3 is gimmicky but fun to watch.

Not sure how you are defining a grade -a chance but it’s not like we were just lobbing the pick at the net from the perimeter all night… he made some good saves, didn’t give up much for rebounds and did a good job covering them up. yeah we gotta get a shot off on those breakaways. NU D did do a good job in tight.

gotta bring the same energy tomorrow night.

Oh and it’s nice having Tuch back

 

[BU93]

I really liked our game tonight (except for the score obviously). We played fast, great breakouts, great entries, good defense most of the time and good goaltending. Outshot opponent by 2-1 margin. I thought we had plenty of Grade -A chances -3 breakaways and other chances to stuff it in close. Missed the net a bit from 10 feet in, but I think they were trying to hit the corners. No real bounces to speak of to get us a goal. Levi was very solid. He will probably give everyone in the league fits. If we play like this every night we will win some games. Looking forward to tomorrow night’s game for once!

 

[bu98]

Remember when BU beat UMass 14-0 in the Hockey East Quaterfinals? (Best of 3 series). Good times.

Hey hey, give them some respect, it was 14-1. During spring break of my sophomore year, 95-96. I remember the sieve chant being interrupted multiple times by goals. Back when the band was allowed to pound the drum at a normal speed no matter how many goals needed to be counted off....

 

[defkit]

I only saw the last 28 minutes of the game, but I thought we looked very good. Levi was obviously the difference. And Tuch looked like last year's Tuch, not this years first few games, so that is a positive. Since an at-large bid has seemed out of the question for some time now (at least to me, I could be wrong), the fact that we played well is almost more important than the outcome.

 

[Rover]

I too appreciate that they've tightened up the D after only 2 months into the season. But on offense they still play like they all just met each other. Terrible power play, missed centering passes, guys skating one on three into the zone, shooting into the goalie's chest, etc. Isn't this the 2nd time they've been shut out on home ice?

I am warming up to 3 on 3 hockey. One mistake and you're screwed which makes that 5 minutes really fun to watch.

 

[J.D.]

Albie on a mission to save his job!