Harvard 2024-25: Once More Unto The Breach

[thirdtime's . . .]

Assuming there is an incoming class, these recruits will be among Henry V’s "happy few,” joining the band of sisters who once again this season throw themselves into the face of overwhelming odds. Of course Shakespeare, and history, did have that warrior band of brothers winning, but it’s the fortitude I want to call attention to, not the probable outcome.

Apart from seeing just how ragtag this team is going to be, for me it’s the Davidson v. Pellicci minutes in goal that will be the most interesting question going forward, as we watch how the ex-goalie Bellamy in Year Two handles her two strongest players.

Also, Bellamy v. Crowell will make the Dartmouth games the most compelling they’ve been in years. These will feature apprentice and master vying to see who can mold the best product out of basically the same raw material. Certainly Crowell’s return to the ECAC will give its lower tier a much needed jolt.

And Harvard has wisely chosen to limit its OOC exposure to the HEA.


Voila! A new thread.

 

[Skate79]

The incoming classes that I posted in the other thread look thin in terms of numbers. Possibly the Katey Stone effect that Thirdtime referenced in the other thread. I think it will take Bellamy and her staff a few years to establish their program and make connections to different youth programs where they can find the next generation of Harvard superstars.

 

[thirdtime's . . .]


Last month when Harvard announced the addition of former Badger Cami Kronish to the staff I was afraid there were going to be more bodies standing behind the bench than sitting on it this season. Now, in mid-September, with no fanfare, the previously ghosted class of 2028 pops up on the roster, just like that. (No changes from the list first posted on March 31 by BWW on his ECAC thread.) So, my fears have been allayed: no need for skate-ons this year. But this kind of PR lapse, if you can even call it that, is very weird.

As always, intel on Harvard recruits is invited, though never expected.

 

[Skate79]

So, I happened to find the BC-Wisconsin game on ESPNU Friday night while flipping channels. And lo and behold, AJ Mlezcko's daughter Jamie is suiting up for BC. One of the greatest players ever to suit up for the Crimson and her daughter is playing in Chestnut Hill. That should tell you everything you need to know about the state of Harvard women's hockey.

And if that's not bad enough, Andrew Ference, who played on the Bruins' Cup-winning team in 2011, was watching his daughter play rugby for Harvard instead of ice hockey, which is her first sport. Imagine that.

It's really depressing to be a fan of Crimson Hockey.

 

[Skate79]

The latest on the Katey Stone suit from the Boston Globe:

Harvard seeks to dismiss former coach Katey Stone’s lawsuit (bostonglobe.com)

 

[shelfit]

The latest on the Katey Stone suit from the Boston Globe:

Harvard seeks to dismiss former coach Katey Stone’s lawsuit (bostonglobe.com)

Hey I thought we all agreed to keep the Katey Stone sh*t separate from the current team's thread out of respect for the current players and coaches and their effort to start a new and well-respected chapter of this storied program's history. Take this crap and get it out of here! We don't want it here anymore!

 

[Skate79]

Hey I thought we all agreed to keep the Katey Stone sh*t separate from the current team's thread out of respect for the current players and coaches and their effort to start a new and well-respected chapter of this storied program's history. Take this crap and get it out of here! We don't want it here anymore!

I don't remember agreeing to this but if this is what the people want, fine.

 

[thirdtime's . . .]

Take this crap and get it out of here! We don't want it here anymore!

Whoa! We never signed a formal prenup re dividing the Stone spoils. She’s still part of the landscape, if only a fading one, and since the non-lawyers among us have already shot our bolt we can only hope further references here will be limited to posting interesting links, like Skate’s. If not, be our guest and open a thread.

 

[thirdtime's . . .]

So, I happened to find the BC-Wisconsin game on ESPNU Friday night while flipping channels. And lo and behold, AJ Mlezcko's daughter Jamie is suiting up for BC. One of the greatest players ever to suit up for the Crimson and her daughter is playing in Chestnut Hill. That should tell you everything you need to know about the state of Harvard women's hockey.

And if that's not bad enough, Andrew Ference, who played on the Bruins' Cup-winning team in 2011, was watching his daughter play rugby for Harvard instead of ice hockey, which is her first sport. Imagine that.

It's really depressing to be a fan of Crimson Hockey.

About the Mleczko and Ference offsprings’ choices all we can do is speculate. What if A.J.’s kid wasn’t admitted? (Times have changed.) Or what if she was admitted but preferred BC, for any number of reasons? (Stranger things have happened.) Maybe she read reggiedunlap9 and pictured more ice time at Conte than Bright! Really, who’s to say? As for Ference, at some point hockey might have been her “first sport,” but, given her standout CV, rugby clearly is her first love. Women’s rugby at Harvard is of championship caliber and would be an irresistible draw for such a talent. (Also, for any athlete with a special family history you have to account for the very human factor of parental shadow avoidance. Not common, but it happens.) In any case, the Stone fallout would be too broad a brush with which to paint these two decisions in particular.

On the cusp of the season’s start it should be noted that Bellamy has no fewer than four support staff, the most in recent memory for Harvard: one associate (Roth), two assistants (Hovi, Flygh), and one goalie coach (Kronish). This indicates that H intends to be back in the mix sooner rather than later. After the probable near collapse of its recruiting machinery it is now in position to find special players who want to be part of a Crimson rebuild. They’re certainly out there, so I expect Harvard to more than keep pace with its traditional peers in the next few years. At the same time, the ECAC as a whole will likely remain relegated by the Three Big Cs for more years to come than I’ll have left to post about.


And finally, under subpoena, Harvard has released details about its new class:
https://gocrimson.com/sports/womens-...ockey&season=0

 

[hab]

About the Mleczko and Ference offsprings’ choices all we can do is speculate. What if A.J.’s kid wasn’t admitted? (Times have changed.) Or what if she was admitted but preferred BC, for any number of reasons? (Stranger things have happened.) Maybe she read reggiedunlap9 and pictured more ice time at Conte than Bright! Really, who’s to say? As for Ference, at some point hockey might have been her “first sport,” but, given her standout CV, rugby clearly is her first love. Women’s rugby at Harvard is of championship caliber and would be an irresistible draw for such a talent. (Also, for any athlete with a special family history you have to account for the very human factor of parental shadow avoidance. Not common, but it happens.) In any case, the Stone fallout would be too broad a brush with which to paint these two decisions in particular.

On the cusp of the season’s start it should be noted that Bellamy has no fewer than four support staff, the most in recent memory for Harvard: one associate (Roth), two assistants (Hovi, Flygh), and one goalie coach (Kronish). This indicates that H intends to be back in the mix sooner rather than later. After the probable near collapse of its recruiting machinery it is now in position to find special players who want to be part of a Crimson rebuild. They’re certainly out there, so I expect Harvard to more than keep pace with its traditional peers in the next few years. At the same time, the ECAC as a whole will likely remain relegated by the Three Big Cs for more years to come than I’ll have left to post about.


And finally, under subpoena, Harvard has released details about its new class:
https://gocrimson.com/sports/womens-...ockey&season=0

This is the sort of wise, knowledgeable post that keeps me coming back to fan forum.

 

[Skate79]

About the Mleczko and Ference offsprings’ choices all we can do is speculate. What if A.J.’s kid wasn’t admitted? (Times have changed.) Or what if she was admitted but preferred BC, for any number of reasons? (Stranger things have happened.) Maybe she read reggiedunlap9 and pictured more ice time at Conte than Bright! Really, who’s to say? As for Ference, at some point hockey might have been her “first sport,” but, given her standout CV, rugby clearly is her first love. Women’s rugby at Harvard is of championship caliber and would be an irresistible draw for such a talent. (Also, for any athlete with a special family history you have to account for the very human factor of parental shadow avoidance. Not common, but it happens.) In any case, the Stone fallout would be too broad a brush with which to paint these two decisions in particular.

On the cusp of the season’s start it should be noted that Bellamy has no fewer than four support staff, the most in recent memory for Harvard: one associate (Roth), two assistants (Hovi, Flygh), and one goalie coach (Kronish). This indicates that H intends to be back in the mix sooner rather than later. After the probable near collapse of its recruiting machinery it is now in position to find special players who want to be part of a Crimson rebuild. They’re certainly out there, so I expect Harvard to more than keep pace with its traditional peers in the next few years. At the same time, the ECAC as a whole will likely remain relegated by the Three Big Cs for more years to come than I’ll have left to post about.


And finally, under subpoena, Harvard has released details about its new class:
https://gocrimson.com/sports/womens-...ockey&season=0

All of your points are well-taken and indeed, it's purely speculation on my part. I just can't help but wonder if part of the fallout from the Stone debacle has led to players who otherwise would be shoo-ins to play for the Crimson to pursue other avenues. Especially someone whose Mom happened to be one of the greatest players ever to suit up for the Crimson. Again, she might not have gotten in so who knows?

Kind of an underwhelming freshmen class. Doesn't look like any of the forwards are goal scorers - no stats tell me they probably were complementary players on their teams. Does Bellamy realize that it is just as important to score goals as it is to preventing them? Over reliance on defense and goaltending can only take you so far.

 

[Skate79]

Quite a start to the season. Beating the #8 team in the country is no small feat, especially when said team has already played six games. That said, the Crimson need to exert more forechecking pressure to give Emily Davidson or Alex Pellicci a break now and then. Territorially, the Crimson are getting boxed in. I get that there is a talent discrepancy, especially up front but the coaching staff needs to do more to give the team a chance. Otherwise the goalies are going to be gassed by January.

On to the Capital District...

 

[hab]

Quite a start to the season. Beating the #8 team in the country is no small feat, especially when said team has already played six games. That said, the Crimson need to exert more forechecking pressure to give Emily Davidson or Alex Pellicci a break now and then. Territorially, the Crimson are getting boxed in. I get that there is a talent discrepancy, especially up front but the coaching staff needs to do more to give the team a chance. Otherwise the goalies are going to be gassed by January.

On to the Capital District...

Another smart post. I don't know how well the Crimson is rebuilding, but it is great to see how engaged their supporters are on this thread.

 

[thirdtime's . . .]

Quite a start to the season. Beating the #8 team in the country is no small feat, especially when said team has already played six games. That said, the Crimson need to exert more forechecking pressure to give Emily Davidson or Alex Pellicci a break now and then. Territorially, the Crimson are getting boxed in. I get that there is a talent discrepancy, especially up front but the coaching staff needs to do more to give the team a chance. Otherwise the goalies are going to be gassed by January.

If the first game of the year can be a signature game then Saturday's was a signature game. Ranked #38 in team defense last year, Harvard demonstrated that the only thing that wins 1-0 games is wildly tenacious defense, including going 4-0 on the PK. Despite being pushed around for two periods, this team grew more energized with each minute that passed without UConn getting on the scoreboard. Whatever inevitable losses await down the line, Bellamy will be able to say “Remember the Huskies!” ----- maybe Harvard's first rallying cry in years.

So Skate, if we are to be co-recipients of the keeper of the flame award (thanks for the kind words, Hab, though I see it as basically getting an A for attendance) we should be honest about our de facto roles: I’m on the day shift while you work nights. To me the UConn game was like a six ounce Corpse Reviver. To you, self-described as depressed about HWH, it was a great win, sure, but also an occasion for chastising the coach: Teach them to not get so boxed in! Maybe that’s just you being the Xs & Os guy, while I’m ever the Hockey for Dummies guy wondering how a coach does that, given the apparent talent disparity. Isn’t it enough to scratch and claw until you do get free? And after such a Game One isn’t there time enough to learn how to get a little less bruised? At the end of the day can’t we just celebrate a huge W? Different temperaments.


BTW, no more Pellicci on the roster! Last year’s co-captain was always my #1 to Davidson’s 1A. Davidson’s late season performance clearly turned Bellamy’s head, with good reason as we saw Saturday, but the team will miss a player who would have been the best #2 goalie in the league. Pellicci is the one who stoutly suffered the slings and arrows during the last two seasons of outrageous fortune. Here I agree one hundred percent, Skate79: the prospect of a gassed goalie this season is not a good one. I wish we knew more about FY Ainsley Tuffy from SSM, now our only back-up.

 

[Skate79]

If the first game of the year can be a signature game then Saturday's was a signature game. Ranked #38 in team defense last year, Harvard demonstrated that the only thing that wins 1-0 games is wildly tenacious defense, including going 4-0 on the PK. Despite being pushed around for two periods, this team grew more energized with each minute that passed without UConn getting on the scoreboard. Whatever inevitable losses await down the line, Bellamy will be able to say “Remember the Huskies!” ----- maybe Harvard's first rallying cry in years.

So Skate, if we are to be co-recipients of the keeper of the flame award (thanks for the kind words, Hab, though I see it as basically getting an A for attendance) we should be honest about our de facto roles: I’m on the day shift while you work nights. To me the UConn game was like a six ounce Corpse Reviver. To you, self-described as depressed about HWH, it was a great win, sure, but also an occasion for chastising the coach: Teach them to not get so boxed in! Maybe that’s just you being the Xs & Os guy, while I’m ever the Hockey for Dummies guy wondering how a coach does that, given the apparent talent disparity. Isn’t it enough to scratch and claw until you do get free? And after such a Game One isn’t there time enough to learn how to get a little less bruised? At the end of the day can’t we just celebrate a huge W? Different temperaments.


BTW, no more Pellicci on the roster! Last year’s co-captain was always my #1 to Davidson’s 1A. Davidson’s late season performance clearly turned Bellamy’s head, with good reason as we saw Saturday, but the team will miss a player who would have been the best #2 goalie in the league. Pellicci is the one who stoutly suffered the slings and arrows during the last two seasons of outrageous fortune. Here I agree one hundred percent, Skate79: the prospect of a gassed goalie this season is not a good one. I wish we knew more about FY Ainsley Tuffy from SSM, now our only back-up.

FYI, I work during the day. When I post, it's usually because I'm on a quick lunch break. But I do like the night/day symmetry!

Thirdtime, I get where you are coming from and I agree wholeheartedly that the team badly needed this win and it should be celebrated. I'm very happy they won and beating a highly ranked team is no small feat. All good. What I meant by my comments on getting boxed in is that the team needs to exert more forechecking pressure and not rely on the typical strategy of lesser talented teams where they play D and put heavy reliance on the goalie. That is not a sustainable strategy - you can't play not to lose. And yes, it is on the coaches to come up with a system that helps the players create chances in the O zone. They have the most assistant coaches in the program's history so why should this be a problem?

As far as Tuffy is concerned, the fact that she is an SSM grad is good enough for me. It's a top tier program and I hope this means that more SSM grads will be making their way to Cambridge.

BTW, why did Pellicci quit the team? Did she feel that Davidson had taken her job and that she wasn't going to see playing time this year?

 

[hab]

Seems to be a lot of early season angst in the Crimson camp, as there is in the Engineers camp. Saturday night may lift one team's spirits and sink the other's. Everything, always, gets decided by the women on the ice.

 

[thirdtime's . . .]

FYI, I work during the day. When I post, it's usually because I'm on a quick lunch break. But I do like the night/day symmetry!

Thirdtime, I get where you are coming from and I agree wholeheartedly that the team badly needed this win and it should be celebrated. I'm very happy they won and beating a highly ranked team is no small feat. All good. What I meant by my comments on getting boxed in is that the team needs to exert more forechecking pressure and not rely on the typical strategy of lesser talented teams where they play D and put heavy reliance on the goalie. That is not a sustainable strategy - you can't play not to lose. And yes, it is on the coaches to come up with a system that helps the players create chances in the O zone. They have the most assistant coaches in the program's history so why should this be a problem?

As far as Tuffy is concerned, the fact that she is an SSM grad is good enough for me. It's a top tier program and I hope this means that more SSM grads will be making their way to Cambridge.

BTW, why did Pellicci quit the team? Did she feel that Davidson had taken her job and that she wasn't going to see playing time this year?

Let's just split the difference and say that Bellamy came up with a brilliant strategy against UConn: adrenaline. Now that the rush is over I'm as eager as you to see how this team handles something called "the O zone" this weekend. We'll see what they make of it.

As for Pellicci, I have no idea. Reed also was not on the roster her senior year.

 

[Skate79]

Seems to be a lot of early season angst in the Crimson camp, as there is in the Engineers camp. Saturday night may lift one team's spirits and sink the other's. Everything, always, gets decided by the women on the ice.

As it should be. I'm not sure I would call it 'angst'. More like wanting to see progress and some semblance of a system that focuses equally on offense and defense.

 

[Skate79]

Not much to say after getting shut out this weekend. It's beyond embarrassing not to be able to at least score one goal. I guess the only positive is that in the Union game, they had some close in chances which is better than flipping the puck in from the point and getting it blocked. Union goalie played well. Tuffy got her first collegiate start today. It must be beyond agonizing to realize as the starting goalie that the only way your team can win is if you pitch a shutout. Way too much pressure.

So far, Mia Biotti is the best player on the team. It's not even close.

 

[Skate79]

Okay, count me as officially stunned by what happened this afternoon at Bright-Landry. They can't put the puck in the ocean last weekend and today against a ranked team, they put up a 5 spot. Geez, talk about a Jekyll and Hyde performance. Hoping that they can continue the momentum into tomorrow afternoon. Have to like the fact that five different players scored. Still giving up waaaay too many shots, both on goal and in total. But hey, a win is a win. Especially against Yale.