East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

[JB]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

Mike Sislo, Bobby Butler, Phil DeSimone and Dick Umile speak about UNH's game against Cornell on Friday

Video from Biz Jacobs:

What they say is great. Now just go out on the ice and prove it. Particularly the part of getting pucks on net and driving for the rebounds...

 

[MoFan]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

Any Cornell fans care to do the same?

I was in Albany. They seem to be peaking at the right time. They won all 4 ECAC playoff games by a combined 14-1 score. Scrivens (goalie) was really positionally very solid with good rebound control, very little scrambling around. They have a couple of really good d-men who see a lot of ice time and they break out of the zone well, with only a few exceptions per game. On offense, Riley Nash is at the top of his game - and he plays a lot of minutes. He has excellent puck control and is complimented well by big captain Collin Greening's size (listed at 6'2" but seems taller, probably 215+ pounds) and grit. Blake Gallagher isn't huge but he's a very experienced senior with a lot of determination. He had 16 goals combined his first three years but lit the lamp 18 times so far this year. They've found secondary scoring and playmaking from a lot of players, I feel comfortable with just about anyone on the ice. Last weekend I was impressed with several forwards beyond the big three, such as John Esposito, Tyler Roeszler and Locke Jillson.

Oh yeah, they have decent size and they like to hit. I think the stereotype that they're big (and perhaps a bit slower than many NCAA tourney teams) and wear teams down is at least directionally accurate. But they do have some really talented guys like Riley Nash and a few smaller players who can really skate. And I can't emphasize enough that they are going to come right at you, hard, and make it a physical game whether that's your team's style or not. They block a lot of shots and really compete hard every shift - sounds like a given at this level of competition but I think that they really will impress you in this regard relative to most most teams. If there's a criticism of the team, all I can think of is they likely don't have the same speed from the top of the roster to the bottom that many teams in the NCAAs have.

I've only seen three games this year so someone more knowledgeable about this year's team, please feel free to enhance/disagree with my thoughts.

 

[komey1]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

Interesting stats. DU much better in 1 goal games and winning games when being outshot. Reason = Chevy (for the most part). DU is very good at winning close games.

Both teams have losing records when being down in the first. I'm surprised especially that RIT only won 1 game after being down that early considering the offensive numbers. I suspect the bulk of those were OOC games though.

Makes that first goal even more important.

 

[tangledupinblue]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

Thanks a lot for that UNH video. Love the Barry Edgar/Ralph Cox Look Sislo and DeSimone are sporting. Maybe that's "The Look".I know the bleach-blonde nor Mohawk did much for us in the past. I'm all for the 'stache though ,might even do it myself. It's kinda UNH Old Time Hockey.GO BLUEThanks again INSIDE HOCKEY.

 

[unhpuckfan2001]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

Just picked up my tickets at the box office today. According to their seating chart at the ticket window, UNH will occupy the vicinity of sections 102-103 (same corner Union had last weekend).

Also, for anyone confused about the game times, the ticket agent was adamant that the Friday games are 3:00 and 6:00, despite what was printed on my ticket...even though I told him I was more concerned about the start time of the first game.

Thanks for the info. According the website, I can buy one ticket, but not two . . . . and over the phone, she's telling me 'the event has been closed' but they can get one ticket at a time . . .

 

[freak]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

I've never heard "home of the Red" - just the entire Cornell crowd yelling RED at the "rockets RED glare" part of the song.

I still think UNH should just steal the "Screw BU" cheer from Cornell. Cheer is simple "Screw BU, BC too" for example. I just can't remember which band song starts it. Then use it during Hockey East games.

It's called "Let's Go Blue" (or insert your own team color, mascot, etc). Michigan is famous for it along with The Victors.

UNH plays it already, as "Let's Go Cats," although rarely because one section of the student section insists on yelling "Pep Band Sucks" instead.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

I was in Albany. They seem to be peaking at the right time. They won all 4 ECAC playoff games by a combined 14-1 score.

Yes, but let us not forget that this was against teams currently ranked #28, #44, and #47 (x2) in KRACH. UNH at #11 is a completely different hockey game. UNH may not be peaking, but UNH at half speed is better than Union (sorry, Schenectadians).

The thing that impressed me the most (only saw the Cornell/Union game) was how badly the Cornell players wanted the puck. They absolutely attacked the Union puck carriers at every turn - lifting sticks, taking bodies, whatever it took. They also did a fantastic job of defense by committee, where the first guy took the body coming across the blue line and the second guy calmly collected the puck. A speedy, quick-passing team should be able to side-step some of this defensive aggressiveness and be able to work the puck into the zone much more effectively.

 

[Kepler]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

Driving up for this regional; I need college hockey. Appreciate the DU, RIT, and UNH scouting reports that have been posted. Any Cornell fans care to do the same?

I'll probably blend in with the Cornell fans from afar in my BU jersey.

You're probably not going to blend in during the "Screw BU" cheer.

Cornell's playing great Schafer Hockey right now: disrupt, play the body, block shots, always be aware of your defensive responsibilities. Scrivens is on fire but the defense has been at least half the story: the two opponents last week combined for maybe 4 or 5 dangerous chances on him, the Total Team D took care of the rest. As in 2003 when they came within an eyelash of the title game, they also have top tier forwards who can hurt you -- Greening, Gallagher, Riley Nash -- and they have a couple D with very heavy shots and good playmaking ability. They're also a very experienced team.

They're a solid, lunch-pail team with just enough firepower to, oh, say, not get stuck in a triple overtime scoreless tie...

Edit: I agree with eLynah that the most definitive description of the team is "calm." They do not blow any opponent, even the weakest, out. The victim dies from a hundred small wounds, very, very slowly.

I expect every game from here on to be close, maybe even so close that it's just a dumb bounce that decides it either way. We shall see.

 

[thecomicbookguy]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

(of course I know this jinxes it...I'll sit back and wait for the arguments of who's girls are hotter and which school is ranked better now )

UNH.

This will be the 24th time in history that CU and UNH have played. So far (including this season's game ) it's 12W-CU and 11W-UNH and no ties. 11 of 24 played at neutral venues. One game went into OT (2OT) 03/11/1977 score: (believe it or not)UNH-10 Cornell-9.

Wow, you'd think some of the older UNH fans would talk about that 1977 game in the UNH season thread. At least mention it once in a while.

 

[Kepler]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

(of course I know this jinxes it...I'll sit back and wait for the arguments of who's girls are hotter

Over the span of the student body this resolves to the same question in any comparison of any two schools: which is farthest from Boston.

Over the span of the traveling faithful, there is no comparison -- Cornell's women hockey fans are incomparably hotter.

 

[MoFan]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

UNH may not be peaking, but UNH at half speed is better than Union (sorry, Schenectadians).

Do you really believe that or is that some sort of anti-woofing? No disrespect to UNH intended, I actually think that Union is a pretty good team. It was early in the season, but their out of conference play was strong, beating Maine 2x and playing respectably vs St. Cloud State. Other than their results vs Harvard and Brown I thought they had a pretty good season and were an impressive team overall. Just my $0.02 and of course putting aside pure statistical comparisons.

I actually think that Union vs UNH would be a good game, I think that both teams are good. Am I insane?

Could be.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

Do you really believe that or is that some sort of anti-woofing? No disrespect to UNH intended, I actually think that Union is a pretty good team.

I believe in KRACH the father almighty, maker of worldbeaters and cupcakes...

#28 out of 58 is barely top half, and the talent scale is not linear.

 

[35-Year Go Big Red Fan]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

Just to add a few comments to MoFan, Lynah Fan, and Kepler from a fan, not a hockey expert:

Justin Kruger, just named the ECAC defensive defenseman is a rock on defense. As a senior, he's been effectively paired much of the time with Freshman Braden Birch. They pretty much just play solid defense although Kruger has 12 pts. (11 assists).

Mike Devin, Brendan Nash and Nick D'Agostino are somewhat more offensively minded defensemen and are the sixth, seventh and eighth leading scorers on the team. Freshman D'Agostino, in particular has good puck sense on offense. Brendan Nash can have a wicked slapshot, but needs to curb his temper -- he leads the team in PIM, often at the worst times (see the end of the BU game ).

Collins, Scali, Nichols, and sometimes Esposito are forwards assigned to tie up opponent's top offensive lines. They have been effective, particularly in the last few games.

Kennedy, Joe Devin, Jillson, and Roeszler are talented scorers, who can turn a game around, but just aren't as prolific as the sometimes astonishingly amazing Gallagher, Greening, and Riley Nash .

Scrivens, of course, leads the nation in goalie stats and is working on the longest shutout streak in Cornell history. He has fulfilled his promise this year and shows less of the wandering from the net that has thrown panic into Cornell fans in past years.

After a season of Saturday slumps, the team has put together four very solid games, raising this fan's hopes of making some noise in the tournament. Go Big Red!

 

[thehockeymaven]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

How Union played in Albany was not indicative of how they played all year. They looked much slower than usual, most likely because of what happened the prior week against Quinnipiac. Last week was also finals week which I’m sure didn’t help.

 

[Kenny L Parker]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

I was thinking the same thing. It's a refreshing change from so many other threads. I think it's partially because of the unfamiliarity of the teams / posters with each other. I like these threads, where it's as much about getting to know the other team you're playing, and the area (I've never been to Albany).

I've also noticed, despite their rabid fan base and loyalty, and how well they travel, there are few Big Red posters on here. But with basketball, men's and women's hockey in the NCAAs, who has the time?

At some point (not sure when, as I'm a sporadic visitor to this site) most of the Cornell fans / alumni left USCHO for the e-Lynah site's fan forum.

As for whose girls are hotter, it's probably UNH's. At least the one UNH grad I work with is. I hope that my daughter will someday follow in my footsteps and go to Cornell, because a pretty girl has it all her way up there - not much competition! My son, I'll send to UT-Austin!

 

[Kenny L Parker]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

(Have also enjoyed the general maturity and good-naturedness of this thread, perhaps except for that rabid apparent RIT fan from CC!!)

Seriously, what a breath of fresh air. SteveF and nate 91b must be rolling over in their graves somewhere.

Someone should nominate this thread for the Hall of Fame. Not only is it civil, but there is representation from all 4 fan bases, which would be impossible if Harvard were here.*

* they have no fans

 

[UNH09]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

At some point (not sure when, as I'm a sporadic visitor to this site) most of the Cornell fans / alumni left USCHO for the e-Lynah site's fan forum.

As for whose girls are hotter, it's probably UNH's. At least the one UNH grad I work with is. I hope that my daughter will someday follow in my footsteps and go to Cornell, because a pretty girl has it all her way up there - not much competition! My son, I'll send to UT-Austin!

Send your son to Florida State... Just trust me on this one, every girl I've met here in DC who went to FSU is hot...

As for actual hockey... UNH needs to put forth the effort that they did last season against BU in the regional final... They played their hearts out against better competition that weekend, (except for the usual late 2nd period swoon against ND) and really gave the faithful hope coming into this season. Cornell plays a brand of hockey that really doesn't feed well into UNH's chances, unless they are willing to grind it out in the corners with a bigger, more physical team.

As for the Denver/RIT game, I know virtually nothing about either team, therefore based upon rank and handling of leagues, I would expect Denver to have a relatively easy game on Friday and play on Saturday for the trip to Detroit...

 

[Biddco]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

Barry Melrose is doing the color for these games. Have fun.

 

[e.cat]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

UNH.


Wow, you'd think some of the older UNH fans would talk about that 1977 game in the UNH season thread. At least mention it once in a while.

what game in 1977

What they say is great. Now just go out on the ice and prove it. Particularly the part of getting pucks on net and driving for the rebounds...

i would have liked it even more if di simone had mentioned getting traffic in front of the net.

btw, the hottest girls i have ever seen at a hockey game were the minnesota ice dancers at the frozen four in st paul in '02.

 

[GreatLakerMohawk]

Re: East Regional: #1 Denver v. #4 RIT; #2 Cornell v. #3 New Hampshire

At risk of appearing a lush (and despite there's a thread about watering holes)... Wondering about places to find pre/post beverages among hockey nuts. With greater specificity, places where blue and white will abound...

Check the thread.

http://board.uscho.com/showthread.php?t=89945

Lots of choices abound in Albany.