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Colgate 2010-11

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Re: Colgate 2010-11

Gaterrooter said:
Here is my summary for the issues with this team thus far. Entitlement of players who don't hustle but are rewarded with more and more ice time. Look at the number of games played, the first number and the plus/minus, the second number.

Leadership is EARNED not granted!

Kurtis Bartliff, F, So 8 +4
Christian Long, F, So 6 +4
Mike McCann, F, Fr 8 +2
Chris Wagner, F, Fr 8 +2
Thomas Larkin, D, So 8 +2
Billy Rivellini, F, So 7 +2
Jeremy Price, D, So 8 +1
Austin Mayer, F, Sr 8 +1
Kevin McNamara, D, Sr 7 +1
Brian Day, F, Sr 8 0
Robbie Bourdon, F, So 8 0
Francois Brisebois, F, Sr 8 0
Nathan Sinz, D, So 6 0
Wade Poplawski, D, Sr 7 0
Mike Leidl, D, So 4 0
Alex Evin, G, Jr 7 0
Corbin McPherson, D, Jr 8 -1
Nick Prockow, F, Jr 7 -1
Anthony Hamburg, F, Fr 3 -1
Mark Nasca, F, Jr 1 -1
Austin Smith, F, Jr 8 -2
Matt Firman, F, Jr 8 -2
Click to expand...

-I had decided I wasn"t going to get into any Blogs, however, I would like to pass on a thought.
-Leadership isn"t based on the +/-.
-Day belongs on the wing, other than face-off's, as he is a power forward.
-Comments based on the coaching is redundant.
-Lower classmen should be working on every aspect of there game now, as when they become upper-classmen, we won't be reading comments on whom deserves more Ice-Time.

I can only share this last thought. Many successful Colgate Hockey Grads, Hobey Baker Nominee's, Past Captians, and numerous other players, were never just given extra Ice Time as underclassmen, other than maybe Burton.

Don't bother comparing. The lesson is, your growth as a person and experience as a player will grant you a bigger slice of the Pie.

Amen !!
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

doghok said:
-I had decided I wasn"t going to get into any Blogs, however, I would like to pass on a thought.
-Leadership isn"t based on the +/-.
-Day belongs on the wing, other than face-off's, as he is a power forward.
-Comments based on the coaching is redundant.
-Lower classmen should be working on every aspect of there game now, as when they become upper-classmen, we won't be reading comments on whom deserves more Ice-Time.

I can only share this last thought. Many successful Colgate Hockey Grads, Hobey Baker Nominee's, Past Captians, and numerous other players, were never just given extra Ice Time as underclassmen, other than maybe Burton.

Don't bother comparing. The lesson is, your growth as a person and experience as a player will grant you a bigger slice of the Pie.

Amen !!
Click to expand...

DOGHOK glad you commented. I agree with some of your points, while I disagree with others.

-Plus/Minus is not what leadership is based on, absolutely. Plus/Minus however is a statistic used to measure performance whether you agree with it or not. So just like a goalie with a high GAA, plus/minus tells us quite a bit.
-Leadership is something that usually comes as a result of "time put in" or experience. So your leaders are your upper classmen, they've put in their time an they've been through this before, so they should be "granted" leader "status". They have definitely earned that right. You have to admit that there is a big difference between being given leader status and being a leader.
-I too agree that coaching comments are redundant, I believe the coach has done a great job here with the players he is bringing in year in and year out. He runs a very clean program at one of the top universities in the country. Regardless of what we may think about Hamilton, NY, it's a tough sell to bring high end hockey players who have the CCHA, WCHA and HE to look at. Never mind the fact that most players are filtered out by their academic record.
-Where I disagree with you is with your "grant you a bigger slice of the pie" comment.

What does everyone think the coaches job at the Division 1 college hockey level is? Is it more about winning or more about developing young men? If it is more about winning, then I believe you play the players, regardless of their year, that give you the best chance at winning.

If a coach is looking to win as his 1st priority, then you have to look at your team based on the track record and the statistics that you have accumulated. For example, if all your goalies are equal in talent, the older one should get the shot first. If he is not doing the job, then the younger one should get his chance. If the younger plays well then you stick with him, if not, go back to the experience. I think it's the same at every position on the ice. The experienced upper class D and F's should always get the chance to play and win. They have put in their time and deserve that chance. At some point when the coach has not seen the results he has expected, doesn't he owe it to the team to take a look at the films and the stats to determine if the upper classman playing the minutes and the positions they are playing are still their best option to get a Win?

I do think we can way over do the focus on stats alone like plus/minus. But after playing 8 games and winning just 2 against Army and Sacred Heart, you do have a body of work for the coach to look at.
DOGHOK, this is not all about who "deserves more ice time". This is about giving the team the best chance to win. The guys who have played the most, up to this point have had their chance and it hasn't worked out with wins. Now I think it's time to try something different. If the players that are playing all the time had the best stats as well then I say keep playing them. But if the players that get limited ice time have better stats than the players with more ice time, then I think it's time to change after 8 games.

Regardless, if there are changes or not, I do hope the team can pull of a win on Friday to get some momentum heading into Saturday nights game against Yale. Plenty of hockey left to be played

Just my opinion.
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

GateRooter, I always put the onus on the player, to become a strong leader on and off the Ice. The leadership skills developed as an underclassmen, by watching the Elder players ahead of them, some of whom may have graduated, or some may be in there Senior Years, provides opportunity to garner more Ice Time when playing or more opportunity in life outside of the game.
The experience gained may be the positive's they have witnessed that works, or even the negative's that don't work. Sometimes the negative's, are the greatest lessons.

There is not any guarantee's in any event, however, creating your own opportunities will stay with you forever, even after hockey is over.
Colgate is an awesome Academic School, whom attracts strong gifted students for the most part.
The success of any team depends mostly on the the quality of the sum of all the parts. Usually the most successful teams have great cohesiveness in the dressing room, and you are right when you say the leaders shouldn't just be granted that status. However, sometimes as parents, we should guide our children's success by there own development, and not the comparison to others.

In the big picture, these players will graduate with a degree from Colgate. Whats "fair", or not is also redundant.

Look at the NHL. If you look at the standings, whom would have predicted Tampa Bay may be in a position to make a good run for the Cup. But, from all reports there dressing room is littered with great characters and charm. New G.M., and head coach or not, the players are making a difference.

Now look at other teams that were supposed to compete this year. Whats Wrong. Maybe Large Ego's, ?? Who Know's.

The lesson, "Only you can make a difference". Its your choice.
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

What's important is the word T E A M. The coaches have to look at the entire team as a unit and play the players who are producing the most. There should not be any difference between a freshman and a senior when it comes to playing time. The line combinations that are going to give you the best chance to win the game, this is what Coach V should be looking at IMHO..;)
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

Was browsing collegehockeystats.net and looking at our forward line combinations for several games last season -- when we were putting together unbeaten streaks. There were stretches where we had Firman-Day-Smith paired together and it produced. Similarly, we had Bourdon-Brisebois-Prockow paired together and they produced. Why not try these combinations as our 1st and 2nd lines? I would then go with Long-McCann-Rivellini as a 3rd line then for a 4th line, anyone who's been practicing well. Maybe Wagner-Mayer-Bartliff or Wagner-Hamburg-Bartliff?

As much as I hate to say it, Friday's game is looking more and more like a "must win." After playing Brown we play 5th-ranked Yale, then our next league game is not until January. And we sure as h-e-double hockey sticks don't want to enter the new year with a big donut in our league win column.

I'll be watching the games online. Here's to a great weekend!
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

I agree with some of your thoughts rainman, but have to say Wags looks like the best player on the ice right now. He's got the energy and is coming along in the tradition of Jason Williams -the hitting, enthusiasm, skating, and overall anticipating the plays. I think he works well with Brisebois offensively.

Barliff looks good to me on the line with Day and Smith, and has had a few points so far. I think his game has been elevated this season by playing with the more *talented* veterans.

GRadio -have to echo the thoughts of others. Have enjoyed your blog and your announcing on the radio broadcats. We are lucky to have you back this season; ( I know you were on the fence about returning). Your neutrality is commendable... (although sometimes I wish you were more of an overt "homer.") :)
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

One would have to think that this is a "must" game. With Yale tomorow an 0-5-1 start would certainly make things very difficult, uphill battle to say the least. I think the ship gets righted tonight. Wonder who starts in goal ??
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

Just noticed we have scored "one" powerplay goal in twenty four chances in league play !! We have given up six PP goals on the same twenty four chances. So...special teams are killing us.
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

Have to agree - this is a "must win" game tonite.

Now would someone tell me which game to attend? And don't say "both." I have one night free or there will be a divorse in the family. I tend to want to see how Yale plays, but know that Bruno might be a more "even" opponent...:)
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

For those who get the NHL Network, tonight's matchup vs. Brown will be aired on that channel via tape-delay at 12:00 PM tomorrow. Here's hoping for a good outing tonight, since it'll (eventually) be televised nationally!
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

For the unfortunate who witnessed this display of hockey I will reserve most of my comments...however, if one picture is worth a thousand words consider the obvious for this game...furthermore, I am frankly sicked and tired of hearing people, including Coach V, stating that it's simply a question of not getting the "good bounces"...what do you get when you have a team with mediocre talent playing really dumb hockey? 0-4-1...
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

Rainman, as you probably know, I'd LOVE to be positive. BTW, is Chris Wagner injured??? I feel for Evin; he had absolutely no chance on any of the four goals that went by him. Several years ago I postulated that our program would potentially be in trouble and, sadly, nothing has changed my mind. Beating a dead horse once again, losing Stan Moore and then Andrew Dickson has definitely hurt recruiting. We either have had no luck getting athletes from the USHL or we simply haven't really made an effort there (take a look at the rosters of other ECAC teams). Any past success in the BCJHL seems to be waning. RPI and Union are now passing us by in the talent area. And look at the job Keith Allain has done at Yale - two consecutive top 10 rankings in his third and fourth year of coaching with another top 10 team this year. With the exception of Dick Biddle's football team year-in and year-out mediocrity appears to be the norm for all of Colgate athletics (I miss Mark Murphy as AD). Maybe a little of the real world can creep up to Hamilton...
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

First time I've gotten to watch them this year. Hard to find much to be impressed with. I liked the energy they played with to start the 3rd, but where was that for most of the game? The seem to lack cohesiveness as lines, it's like they're not sure where each other is/will be on the ice. Not sure what do about that

They were clearly frustrated as the night went on. Guys like Day and Smith just not making plays, really no one is

Is the talent really waning? There's 7 NHL Draft picks on the roster, there's clearly some talent there. Is it the talent we need? That I don't know

I'm not even going to talk about the special teams

Admittedly this is fairly rambling, but it's late and just what was on my mind. Oh, and how did this team finish 4th last year?
 
Re: Colgate 2010-11

'Gate Radio said:
FYI, Chris Wagner was a healthy scratch.
Click to expand...

WHY?!

DOGHOK I think I am more convinced of my comments now than I was this week. ANYBODY who is NOT going to put it all on the line should be in street clothes in the stands and it should start with seniority IMO. It is definitly time to push the panic button on the team and the program.
 
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