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Colgate 2010-11

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Re: Colgate 2010-11

TchrBill said:
I think our location and barn severely hurt our efforts but that true players know that the value of a Colgate degree is priceless :-)

GateRadio, can you come right out and ask Vaughan about a new rink and when/if it will ever happen?!
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I agree you play in a high school rink, but you can't blame anything on that. Look at Union. Schenectady has nothing on Hamilton and Messa doesn't have much on Starr. The difference is in the coaching and the philosophy.
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

From what I've read, the Spink twins, Tyson and Tylor, aren't headed to Colgate until 2012 as part of the class that will replace the current juniors. They still have one more year left in junior hockey with Cornwall of the CJHL. In a few articles, the brothers mentioned that they got a lot of advice and guidance from current Ottawa Senator Jesse Winchester. Jesse played in the CJHL and grew up in northeastern Ontario much like the Spink twins.

In my personal opinion, a new rink isn't going to happen anytime soon. I think it was certainly in the works before the economy tanked and there were drawing plans for it but it's hard to justify it now with the economy the way it is. Basically, one would need a private donor or multiple donors to step up and foot what would be a massive bill - see Penn State's Pegula Ice Arena. If anything is built, it would more than likely be a set-up like Reid currently is with both a new ice hockey rink and a gymnasium for the basketball team.

In regards to the comparision with Union, you have to look at a couple different reasons why things are different. One, Union is in a decent sized metropolitan area in Schenectady and isn't very far at all from Albany. There are things to do, malls/shops/fancy restaurants nearby that the kids like and it's much different location-wise than Hamilton. There is also respectable media coverage of the hockey program from Ken Schott at the Daily Gazette - there's no local daily fish wrap in Hamilton. Two, the ice hockey program at Union is the big ticket sport. The rest of the athletics program at Union, aside from women's hockey, is Division III. While Union did have a beautiful new Athletic Center built a few years ago, I would gather that the administration has put a lot of monetary support behind Nate and the hockey program. I'm sure the same goes at Clarkson, SLU and RPI as well as at CC out in the WCHA just because hockey is the only D-I sport at the schools. At Colgate, every sport is Division I and while the hockey program is taken care of, each sport is fighting for every dollar it can get.

Hockey is a game constantly of cycles, both on and off the ice. Programs go through good times and they go through bad times. The better programs are the ones that can keep the bad times away the longest but no program is perfect and everyone goes through a down cycle. Currently, some of the teams on top of college hockey now are ones that have traditionally been not very good. At some point in the future, they may return to where they were or their stretch will continue to hold out. Who knows in 10 years how Yale or Princeton or even Union will be? Things change, players graduate and other trends and teams emerge.
 
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Re: Colgate 2010-11

UHhky said:
Doghok, you're actually the worst poster in this thread. Real talk.
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Actually, It may be best if you leave this thread. I have never read as many attacks on a coach in such a short period of time. Your dislike for him runs far beyond normal day to day hockey issue's. It is personal for you.
You add no value to colgate. Find some other thread.
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

Boys, boys, boys...doghok is not the worst poster on this thread and I think UHhky should continue to add his opinions...I've been quite negative, with a lot of justification, but have consistently said that the kids are trying their best (and I watch almost every game)...there's nothing wrong, however, with suggesting a complete analysis of this program, especially in light of the fact that from 1978-79 through 2005-06 we had, generally speaking, a successful program. Since then, with last year SOMEWHAT of an exception (.500 overall record), we have see the program drop precipitously.
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

Not boys.....children !!! I have started this thread for over ten years and three or four of you are simply pathetic. This thread has always welcomed "constructive criticism" but now we're bordering upon pathetic. I don't even post on here anymore, or rarely. I'm speechless.
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

'Gate Radio said:
Two, the ice hockey program at Union is the big ticket sport. The rest of the athletics program at Union, aside from women's hockey, is Division III. While Union did have a beautiful new Athletic Center built a few years ago, I would gather that the administration has put a lot of monetary support behind Nate and the hockey program. I'm sure the same goes at Clarkson, SLU and RPI as well as at CC out in the WCHA just because hockey is the only D-I sport at the schools. At Colgate, every sport is Division I and while the hockey program is taken care of, each sport is fighting for every dollar it can get.
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Sorry GR, I disagree with you on this. DIII schools with a DI sport(s) usually get treated with a DIII mentality. The administration does not put a lot of money into the DI programs, of course, RPI being the exception of late. As far as what the men's DI team gets vs the women's DI team, that discussion needs it's own thread.
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

sshablak said:
Not boys.....children !!! I have started this thread for over ten years and three or four of you are simply pathetic. This thread has always welcomed "constructive criticism" but now we're bordering upon pathetic. I don't even post on here anymore, or rarely. I'm speechless.
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Shabby:

I can understand your frustration with the thread, but you don't own it. Freedom of speech here. I think everyone who posts on this site is passionate about Colgate hockey and this is a very frustrating time. Some posters are more constructive in their delivery while others (like UH) are pure emotion. When UH let's his emotions get to him he can be an annoying personal attacker- not constructive, but he has drafted some insightful posts too. I guess I fall into the same category (sometimes my emotions about the program get the best of me).

Personally I believe a variety of opinion and a variety of viewpoint is healthy. Frankyly I think Dog is connected to the coaching staff in some way- too many defenses of undefensible positions and too much inside knowledge.

In regard to holding out hope for our saviors from the north- the boys from the CJHL- I have my concerns. The CJHL is not the USHL. It has also been criticised by many colleges as being in a two year cycle of weakened level of play. Seeing as I live up here and watch this league a lot, I would say that there are a lot of good players in the league but it is definitely down from prior years. That may inflate the numbers that some of these guys are putting up, so a comparison to players in the past may not be relevant. I think our coaches have a Canadian league biased because it is closer, they are from there, and less competition for players. I'd love to see them put an effort into landing a quality player from the USHL. They must feel they can't compete for players there.

On a positive note, I agree with the comments that the boys aren't giving up. They keep fighting. I am skeptical that forwards not dressed (Nasca and Mayer) were hurt. Nasca hasn't played so how can he be hurt and Mayer seemed fine in his last start. Unless they got hurt in practice, they should have been dressed. Think that "banged up" excuse is a DV smoke screen.
 
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Re: Colgate 2010-11

I think most of us are wondering why we apparently have cut back our effort in British Columbia and have never really even tried to be in the game in the USHL...take a look at the various rosters, especially ECAC teams...even Tim Taylor in his last recruiting year started to bring in USHL kids, including Sean Backman. Maybe we don't have a good working relationship with Steve Poapst who, I think, still coaches the Chicago Steel...to me, it's curious...
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

Colgate is being really hurt by the gradual decline of Ontario as an NCAA feeder. Since the OHL has reduced weekday play, changed elgibility rules and upped educational packages, the OHL has retained more and more of the top players, and this has really hurt those NCAA schools who historically have relied on Ontario for skilled players.

To make matters worse, the US prep schools are no longer turning out as many fine players as they used to, and this is because of the decline in Massachsetts numbers and the growth of junior hockey.

For Colgate to thrive in this era of recruiting, they will need stronger USHL relationships, as well as a stronger presence in Western Canada.
 
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Re: Colgate 2010-11

USHL - Eric Mihalik, Des Moines Buccaneers
USHL - Anthony Hamburg, Omaha Lancers (door open for him to return next season)

Jack McNamara took a close look at the USHL but opted to play junior hockey in Sweden. Steve Poapst isn't coaching in the USHL anymore - he is an AHL assistant coach now in Rockford.

I think the USHL is an exceptional league and the higher end talent out of that league can definitely compete at the next level where they are paid to play. That said, it isn't the only league out there. Looking at some of the top freshman right now in the ECAC, most of them are not USHL kids.

Princeton - Calof (Nepean, CJHL), Bonar (Penticton, BCHL)
St. Lawrence - Carey (Burlington, OJHL) - probably the rookie of the year
Quinnipiac - C. Jones, K. Jones (Vernon, BCHL)
Union - Jooris (Burlington, CCHL); Carr (Powell River, BCHL)
Yale - Agostino (Delbarton Prep)

Dartmouth's Matthew Lindblad is the only top freshman scorer in the league that played in the USHL last year.

And then look at Harvard. The Crimson has a roster full of kids from the USHL and USNTDP. They're the second-worst team in ECAC Hockey right now record-wise.

Really, for schools such as Colgate, it's all about finding those diamonds in a rough. Guys that might get passed over because they're too small or a late bloomer. Or, you'll look at someone in the light of what they will become while they're still pretty young and have to gamble that they turn out into the player that you are hoping for down the road.
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

THANK YOU Puck Swami...our recruiting efforts regarding US Prep Hockey have not been overly successful (a few exceptions) and we've haven't been in the game in the USHL at all...the BCJHL used to be a decent recruiting ground for us, but not recently...BTW, take a look at the Union and Cornell rosters re: the BCJHL...
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

Agree with HockeyEh. Doghok just keep choosing to ignore the glaringly obvious problems and worry about which stock motivational one-liner you're going to put at the end of your next post. That's about all you've been good for.
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

Thanks as always 'Gate Radio...got live feed of Cornell games, but had to listen to their broadcasters (probably a radio simulcast)...the Cornell announcer was OK, but color guy was a putz...overall, can't hold a candle to 'Gate Radio who provides objectivity even while a 'Gate fan...Quiz...best sport at Colgate other than football??? Women's cross country...yes siree, AD Roach you're doing quite a job up in Hamilton...why, for C*****sake do you think he was canned at Brown???
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

I’m not a poster, but am amused by the current back and forth and feel compelled.

BTW, I have heard that the new rink is all but about $1 million to being fully funded. That said, I wonder if the new pres will want to make his first project a new rink?

But I do think that it goes well beyond the rink. Union is the best example, and while you’re at it, Baker Rink isn’t much better, it may be worse. Do kids really want a great rink? Maybe what they want is a full rink. If you’ve been to Lynah, Messa, Q Pac, the Whale, Baker, or Houston Field House and seen the Colgate, you’ve observed that their crowds dwarf our crowds both in the percentage of occupied seats, and the average volume per spectator.

I don’t see anything wrong with wanting to see a good, indeed a very good team on the ice. This kumbayeh stuff, please. The purpose of athletics at the D I level is to try and win against the best of your peers. The “gloomy Guses” are simply identifying issues that may be a little unsettling to some. On the other hand, those of you who are constant optimists remind me of the line in Animal House where Hoover says to Dean Wormer – to wit – “… we’re really going to get our grades up”.
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

Go Gate 3747 said:
But I do think that it goes well beyond the rink. Union is the best example, and while you’re at it, Baker Rink isn’t much better, it may be worse. Do kids really want a great rink? Maybe what they want is a full rink. If you’ve been to Lynah, Messa, Q Pac, the Whale, Baker, or Houston Field House and seen the Colgate, you’ve observed that their crowds dwarf our crowds both in the percentage of occupied seats, and the average volume per spectator.
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They have fatter fans? :eek:
 
'Gate Radio said:
Back end meaning among the defensemen. Nasca and Mayer were healthy scratches.
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So the staff keeps scratching players like Nasca, Long and now Mayer, sometimes in favor of 7 D and sometimes for no reason (princeton). All three of these players are hard nosed emotional and aggressive. They may not be our most skilled but perhaps our most passionate. So DV is saying a D sitting on the bench, an unbalanced forward line or just a plain open roster spot is better than these guys? Geez that seems harsh. Also Bessette plays two great games and you reward him by not even dressing him for a televised game and then not giving him more starts. I would think all but the coaches top guys find this staff hard to play for. Frankly I am shocked that this team is still fighting as hard as they are. Says something for the character of these players and I guess something (tongue in cheek) about the coaching staff too, eh?
 
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Re: Colgate 2010-11

Long was DQ'd from the Friday game because of the checking from behind major that he received after a hit on Kirill Gotovets in the first period. He received an automatic one-game suspension because of the game disqualification. Long is eligible to return for the Harvard game this coming Friday.

As for who plays, who does not and how many minutes they play, that's up to the coaches. You all can argue amongst yourselves who you think should and shouldn't play. Just remember that Coach Vaughan has been at this a long time and the line-up that is on the ice is the one that he thinks is suited best for that particular night. The guys in the line-up are the ones that give Colgate the best chance to win. I'll leave it at that.
 
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