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Friars Hockey 23-24: Season-Long Thread of Pain

PaulKorea

PaulKorea

Not related to North or South
Starting on the road at Michigan for 2.

In:

Luke Krys
Cal Kiefiuk
Matt Hubbarde

Hudson Malinoski
Graham Gamache
Tanner Adams
Andrew Centrella
Clint Levens
Marcus Brannman

Returning for one more year:

Jamie Engelbert
Cam McDonald
Craig Needham

Think I got them all.

Who ends up the captain & alternates this year?

PK makes no predictions on anything Friars related.
 
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NEW Friar said:
Craig Needham coming back for year 5 too. Looks like a veteran group, hope for a good year.
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Thanks for the mention, adding him to update. Needham grew on me his senior year and I really saw he had a place in their lineup where in years prior I didn't think he fit. With Berard and Ford gone they need to find those goals lost, but they also need bottom six players like Needham too.

Looks like in coming years, PC is getting more from the Tri-City USHL team (besides Connelly). I wonder if there's a connection with the coaching staff.
 
When I saw "Season-Long Thread of Pain" I assumed Zlax started the thread. Are you saying the Friars will suck this year?
 
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Personally optimistic about the season, lots of experience and high character players on the roster. See the potential for a great year by our goalie as well, he was awesome in the playoffs last year and came within a bounce of beating BU in OT at the Garden. I am a little concerned about starting the season away at Michigan, but the coach will have them prepared so I don't rule out a good outcome, (that would be a great momentum builder if it turns out well). I think the odds are in favor of a year of "gain", maybe a slight misspelling by PK.

An exhibition against a Canadian squad the week before is a surprise, those games are pretty different though and the risk of injury to key players often makes that not a good tradeoff. It seems far fewer teams are scheduling those matches recently, could be more risk than reward.
 
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The Freds said:
When I saw "Season-Long Thread of Pain" I assumed Zlax started the thread. Are you saying the Friars will suck this hear?
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Nah, it can be interpreted any way but I'm on the optimistic side. Do I expect BU and BC to be atop the conference? On paper, yes. PC should be competitive. I think their biggest challenge will be replacing the losses of Berard, Ford and Crozier. I do think Brett had a tendency to hold onto the puck too long at times but he could also make plays. I'm excited to see what the freshmen like Adams, Gamache and Malinoski can bring to the team. I was pleased to see they got Brannman, a former Michigan commit. Helps to have what should be a more reliable backup this year if Svedeback misses any time or gets a rest for a game here and there. Bennett Schimek played well after getting more ice time as the season progressed. Reminded me a bit of Duran freshman year. Hope the boys can stay healthy this year and get back in the NCAA tourney.
 
I haven't seen anything about a game with Canadian team prior to season, not listed in the schedule on Friars.com site.

As for expectations, I have none right now. They do return quite a bit of experience but still wonder where the scoring will come from. Hopefully they can close out games with wins and not get into those dam OTs like last year.
 
Just responded to the prior poster about Michigan getting an exception to schedule an exhibition with a Canadian team the week before starting the season vs the Friars.
 
The Freds said:
When I saw "Season-Long Thread of Pain" I assumed Zlax started the thread. Are you saying the Friars will suck this year?
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They were picked to finish sixth. The backslide of the PC program continues under Lehman. This will be the ninth year since the shock National Championship by the Friars and they have been back to the Frozen Four once in 2019 and have not made the NCAA tournament since 2019. It is time for the heat to get on Leaman for this as he is one of the highest paid coaches in the country.
 
The Zlax45 said:
They were picked to finish sixth. The backslide of the PC program continues under Lehman. This will be the ninth year since the shock National Championship by the Friars and they have been back to the Frozen Four once in 2019 and have not made the NCAA tournament since 2019. It is time for the heat to get on Leaman for this as he is one of the highest paid coaches in the country.
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It is a shame that this thread is plagued by a person who may be the most persistent negative person in the entire USCHO community. Most of us look forward to delving into the potential of new prospects, news of great strides made by alums in the NHL, and epic battles like last year’s very close loss to BU in the Hockey East tournament.

Could do without this negative drag on a site where insightful analysis would otherwise occur. Very unlucky that the PC thread deals with his garbage year after year.
 
Updated rule for this thread: Stop responding to Zlax. Poor guy gets no attention at home and gets it all here. PK out.
 
PaulKorea said:
Updated rule for this thread: Stop responding to Zlax. Poor guy gets no attention at home and gets it all here. PK out.
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Good idea, let’s talk hockey on this forum.

Will be interested in hearing Nate’s comments on the upcoming season tonight on AM 790 at 6-7PM. Looking forward to watching the Sunday game on the Big 10 Network which we get on cable. College hockey has a long season, hope to see lots of games either in person at Schneider, or on TV. Haven’t heard whether ESPN+ will carry Hockey East this year, hope so as it was pretty reasonable and we got to see a higher quality broadcast than prior internet packages.

New season coming up, (so to speak), good luck to the Friars!
 
I saw it announced their Sunday game @ Michigan is on Big Ten Network. Any info on availability for Saturday?
 
Well a 4-2 win over #5 Michigan at Yost Arena is a terrific way to start the season! Four different goal scorers and Svedeback with 35 saves. Kudos to the team.
 
The Freds said:
Well a 4-2 win over #5 Michigan at Yost Arena is a terrific way to start the season! Four different goal scorers and Svedeback with 35 saves. Kudos to the team.
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Absolutely agree. Listened to the radio broadcast, Mike Logan is so good at bringing the game alive that way. Sounded like a complete team effort and really good goaltending. Incredible that Nate’s record for the first game of each season is 11-1-1. They certainly were ready this year against a very good Michigan team - 1st win ever for PC vs Michigan. Just one game in a long season but a great boost for team chemistry and morale I expect. Look forward to watching game 2 tomorrow on the Big Ten Network at 4 PM.
 
Listening to Mike is the absolute opposite experience listening to Jack Edwards. I'd be interested how tomorrow's game goes. It'll be nice to have one to watch and not feel restricted with the radio broadcast.

If any Michiganders wander into this thread, is goaltending a concern this year? I know Brannman was a commit there originally, but would he have been the expected starter?
 
PaulKorea said:
Listening to Mike is the absolute opposite experience listening to Jack Edwards. I'd be interested how tomorrow's game goes. It'll be nice to have one to watch and not feel restricted with the radio broadcast.

If any Michiganders wander into this thread, is goaltending a concern this year? I know Brannman was a commit there originally, but would he have been the expected starter?
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Not a Wolvie fan but a Spartan, so pay attention to both teams. UMich is relying upon three transfers, two from AHA and one D3, so while they're mature and presumably experienced, it's unclear whether they're up to the B1G level. Furthermore, MSU is now relying upon a Frosh goalie from the NTDP who was, ironically, poached from UMich relatively late in the process. So UMich doesn't appear to have a young goalie-in-waiting this season.
 
FLHockeyMom said:
Not a Wolvie fan but a Spartan, so pay attention to both teams. UMich is relying upon three transfers, two from AHA and one D3, so while they're mature and presumably experienced, it's unclear whether they're up to the B1G level. Furthermore, MSU is now relying upon a Frosh goalie from the NTDP who was, ironically, poached from UMich relatively late in the process. So UMich doesn't appear to have a young goalie-in-waiting this season.
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I like what Nightingale is doing with your team already, the players brought in now, and for years to come. Good to see some non-Providence people chiming in. I've got family out that way so it's a must for PK to follow your team as well.
 
Not a good start today going down 2 goals early in the 1st, but after the Friars got back in the game it seemed to me that the refs felt it was their job to see that Michigan won. The major against Needham was questionable to say the least. That canceled a PC power play and ultimately accounted for 2 goals for the opponent instead. Great grit by the Friars at the end, came close to tying the game, but coming back from 5-1 to a final 5-4 score could be big boost.

A split away against a very good Michigan squad is a good outcome, especially when the refs seemed to exemplify what the home court advantage is all about.
 
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