HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

[Skate79]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

Gotta be a bad situation with the team right now. When things don't go well for young players who are used to considering themselves stars, it's the rare one who takes the responsibility, or the initiative, to make things better. The usual path is to join a few other players who aren't used to a little adversity, and blame the coach for their trouble. And these kids are smart enough, and confident enough, to convince themselves that no matter what the coach says, it's useless, and won't work. Regardless of what merit the players' opinions might have, if they have indeed rejected the coach, it's probably time for a change, because you can't replace all of them.

Coaching in the Ivy League is the toughest assignment in college sports- something Bill Fitzsimmons, who has served on plenty of coach search committees, will tell anyone. Once the kids, who are smart and prone to making sport out of scrutinizing authority figure, decide against you, there's trouble. (And plenty of the folks who are reading will have no trouble coming up with examples of this occurring in their college days- woe to the tubby coach with the limited vocab...)

I hope I'm wrong on this. The coach is a personable man, from a great family, and is a good family man himself. Maybe these players don't deserve him, and maybe they'd be better off if they had the character he had as a player. But it looks like whatever connections need to be made to score goals and win hockey games aren't being made. It's really too bad....

Great post. Teddy is a great guy and a very good family man. I don't think there are any questions about him as a person. But clearly he has lost the team although they have to man up and shoulder some of the blame because their effort, focus and attention are just not there. I don't know who out there can turn this around. Names that have been kicked around include Leaman and Sneddon because of previous ties to Harvard. It's all speculation at this point. This should be a very interesting off season. Teddy doesn't strike me as a quitter so I can't see him resigning but who knows? Maybe he will realize that coaching is not for him and start a new career.

 

[Ned Brayden]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

With all the tradition Harvard has, this is incredibly tough. There is certainly talent on the roster. It takes the right coach to meld the talent. Teddy maybe a great guy and a great family man but coaching and being a leader of young men he may not be. It is time for a change. The program is pretty much at rock bottom. Since 05-06 it has been 14-17-2, 17-13-4,9-16-6 and last year 9-21-3. Its time to thank Teddy and move on. The team looks like a ship without a rudder...........Just thoughts from an outsider with an inside connection......................

 

[alslammerz]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

New: If the ECAC Playoffs Started Today, Ver. 2. Harvard has a new Ivy opponent as compared to last week.

 

[Skate79]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

If a tie is truly like kissing your sister, then we should all get ready to pucker up because tonight it was worth it. The Crimson didn't start all that great but got better as the game went along and it was definitely one of the more entertaining games I've seen in a while at Bright. Lots of great chances at both ends, some beautiful power play goals from Alex Killorn and Dan Moriarty and hustle all night long from Connor Morrison whose motor never stopped running. Too bad some of his teammates didn't show the same drive and energy.

Rather than focus on the continued sloppiness and poor defensive zone play, we should at least be thankful for the point and that Harvard stood up to a Top Twenty team. Princeton's goalie isn't doing any Zane Kalemba imitations and that helped on Connor Morrison's goal.

Got to talk briefly with Billy Cleary tonight. He looks great and is funny and energetic as always. I'd go through a wall for him if I played on a team he coached. You can't help it. He loves the game, knows it like the back of his hand and always pushes you to be your best on and off the ice. I think he could even relate to today's player but before anyone starts in on me, I'm not suggesting he come back and coach. He is just a special guy and I don't think it is an accident that Harvard hasn't been able to replace him. Duke is going to face the same problem when Coach K retires. Maybe they'll come calling for Tommy Amaker.

 

[eaglehockeyrules]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

A good win tonight over a "quality" team tonight. It would be nice to see H actually get double digit wins this season - tough remaining schedule.

 

[alslammerz]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

After a boring first period, the consolation game heated up nicely. It was a fun one to be at, even if it started to remind me of 2008 in a bad way (and a good way I guess.) Nice to see my first Beanpot win while on campus as well.

Here's my recap of the game for those who missed it or want to relieve it. Plenty of notes on the bottom related to the Beanpot, Harvard and the ECAC. My favorite one? That Pete Starrett, entering with 0 career points tonight, picked up 2 with assists on the game-tying and game-winning goals.

 

[allnightwong]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

Props Harvard...nice win.

 

[bothman]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

Beating BU in the Beanpot should count as 2 wins. A great win for Harvard and hopefully something to build on.

That said, while I'd love to beat the drum after this win, until we see some consistency, I'm still not wuite sure what to make of this team.

Harvard's remaining schedule:
@ Cornell - Loss
@ Colgate - Win
Brown - Win
SLU - Win
Clarkson - Win

If Harvard can go 4-1 or 3-1-1 to finish the year, then perhaps fans can optimistically hope for a first round upset, and then who knows.

 

[vicb]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

Beating BU in the Beanpot should count as 2 wins. A great win for Harvard and hopefully something to build on.

That said, while I'd love to beat the drum after this win, until we see some consistency, I'm still not wuite sure what to make of this team.

Harvard's remaining schedule:
@ Cornell - Loss
@ Colgate - Win
Brown - Win
SLU - Win
Clarkson - Loss

If Harvard can go 3-2 or 3-1-1 to finish the year, then perhaps fans can optimistically hope for a first round upset, and then who knows.

Fixed your post .

 

[hockeyenthusiast]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

Beating BU in the Beanpot should count as 2 wins. A great win for Harvard and hopefully something to build on.

That said, while I'd love to beat the drum after this win, until we see some consistency, I'm still not wuite sure what to make of this team.

Harvard's remaining schedule:
@ Cornell - Loss
@ Colgate - Loss
Brown - Win
SLU - Win
Clarkson - Win

If Harvard can go 4-1 or 3-1-1 to finish the year, then perhaps fans can optimistically hope for a first round upset, and then who knows.

Tweaked a bit.

 

[Skate79]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

Okay gang, we're officially hot! Just kidding but doesn't it feel great to beat Cornell up at Lynah?? I love ruining their weekends and tomorrow should be even better since Dartmouth lost to Colgate. They'll be in a great mood won't they?

This season is a train wreck by any measure but beating Cornell up there takes some of the pain away. I'm sure they were ready to run us out of the building but somehow we pulled it out. Alex Killorn is really starting to play up to his press clippings and I hope he and Danny Biega decide to stay for next season. I can imagine the Lightening will be calling on Killorn with his recent play.

Unfortunately, tonight's win means nothing if we don't beat Colgate tomorrow because they are only 1 point behind. I don't want us to finish dead last. Too painful.

 

[alslammerz]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

Harvard's remaining schedule:
@ Cornell - WIN
@ Colgate -
Brown -
SLU -
Clarkson -

If Harvard can go 3-1 or 2-1-1 to finish the year, then perhaps fans can optimistically hope for a first round upset, and then who knows.

Updated your post.

 

[alslammerz]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

The weekly ECAC playoff picture update. Harvard has my favorite matchup for them (and by my, I mean, the team I want us to play the most for my own reasons, though I think the series would be close, so other team's fans that run this board, don't get angry ) so it's incredibly unlikely it'll happen.

 

[hockeyenthusiast]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

The weekly ECAC playoff picture update. Harvard has my favorite matchup for them (and by my, I mean, the team I want us to play the most for my own reasons, though I think the series would be close, so other team's fans that run this board, don't get angry ) so it's incredibly unlikely it'll happen.

I surely am not hoping for a "Colgate-Cornell rivalry series". Probably only Cornell fans are.

P.S. Who would have thought we'd be playing for a four-point weekend tonight, going into Friday's games.

 

[alslammerz]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

I surely am not hoping for a "Colgate-Cornell rivalry series". Probably only Cornell fans are.

P.S. Who would have thought we'd be playing for a four-point weekend tonight, going into Friday's games.

I'd rather play a local rival in a matchup like that (5/12 or 6/11) than anyone else...anything can happen in a rivalry game and in a playoff season, plus less travel (look at the fight Clarkson gave SLU last year, or, dare I say it, the sweep Brown gave Harvard two years ago). Though I meant more generally every ECAC/hockey fan without a rooting interest for either team.

 

[alslammerz]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

If you've never been to a Harvard-Cornell game at Lynah as a Harvard fan, this is what it would be like.

 

[bothman]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

Solid win for Harvard last night and looks like Carrol saved the ship in the 3rd on some fairly tilted ice.

Playing at Meehan is like watching paint dry. Horrible lighting, no atmosphere - teams hate playing there because it is such a joyless experience.

 

[ALONZO]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

Solid win for Harvard last night and looks like Carrol saved the ship in the 3rd on some fairly tilted ice.

Playing at Meehan is like watching paint dry. Horrible lighting, no atmosphere - teams hate playing there because it is such a joyless experience.

I wouldn't exactly call it "solid". Still, a win is a win. We couldn't get the puck out of our own zone in the third period but Carroll was a wall and the defensemen were able to clear many rebounds to the sides. Nobody should be surprised. The inability to clear our zone has been a glaring problem for years. Lately we've been able to score just enough to overcome our weaknesses and win the kind of games we lost earlier in the season.

Let's hope it continues. A couple of wins this weekend and we'll play a first round series at RPI or Quinnipiac instead of at Cornell, Princeton, Dartmouth or Clarkson. Big difference.

GO CRIMSON!

 

[bothman]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

I wouldn't exactly call it "solid". Still, a win is a win. We couldn't get the puck out of our own zone in the third period but Carroll was a wall and the defensemen were able to clear many rebounds to the sides. Nobody should be surprised. The inability to clear our zone has been a glaring problem for years. Lately we've been able to score just enough to overcome our weaknesses and win the kind of games we lost earlier in the season.

Let's hope it continues. A couple of wins this weekend and we'll play a first round series at RPI or Quinnipiac instead of at Cornell, Princeton, Dartmouth or Clarkson. Big difference.

GO CRIMSON!

Alonzo,

I love your optimism, but beggars can't be choosers. I would rather have seen the SOG totals inversed, but a win is a win.

Anyone notice how our PP has really picked up of late? Not sure what the changes are, but that could be big come playoff time.

Also, anyone else notice the season Danny Biega is putting up. First Team All ECAC in my book with some very solid offensive and defensive numbers.

 

[eaglehockeyrules]

Re: HARVARD CRIMSON 2010-2011 - A New Beginning

Alonzo,

I love your optimism, but beggars can't be choosers. I would rather have seen the SOG totals inversed, but a win is a win.

Anyone notice how our PP has really picked up of late? Not sure what the changes are, but that could be big come playoff time.

Also, anyone else notice the season Danny Biega is putting up. First Team All ECAC in my book with some very solid offensive and defensive numbers.

All Team ECAC?! Isn't that kind of like a player from the Detriot Lions being invited to the Pro Bowl?! LOL. Just kidding, sort of.

Let's hope for a weekend sweep to close, yet another dismal regular season.

"Maybe" H could be spoiler post-season.