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Harvard Crimson 2014-15

Re: Harvard Crimson 2014-15

As a former player I always felt playing as a team sooner than later was best, and felt we always had better results as a team throughout the year when we believed in each other and our coaches. Coaches truly need to believe in the team first concept as much as we did as players, and that is when I felt they best found the answer to “Where and how to play them!”
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I somewhat agree with this although I can provide two examples of Harvard teams that overcame slow starts. In the '04-'05 season, we had a very talented and deep team that started off something like 5-3-1. Over Christmas break, Katey kept the team around and ran them through a mini training camp as much to get their attention as to get them to play as a team. After Christmas, we ran off a 23 game unbeaten streak losing only the championship game to Minnesota and Natalie Darwitz.

In '08-09, it was a similar situation as the team started slowly despite having a boatload of talent. We started to turn it around after the New Year and really got going in February leading into the playoffs. Unfortunately, we ran into a white hot RPI goalie who beat us in the semifinals of the ECAC tournament in OT. It was a once in a lifetime game for them and a heartbreaker for us.

In both instances, I think Coach Stone and her staff had to work overtime to get the team to play as a TEAM. It may be the case this year. I really hope they do figure this out because when you look at how last year's team overachieved, this year's team should be embarrassed by what they have submitted so far.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2014-15

Skate79 said:
I somewhat agree with this although I can provide two examples of Harvard teams that overcame slow starts. In the '04-'05 season, we had a very talented and deep team that started off something like 5-3-1. Over Christmas break, Katey kept the team around and ran them through a mini training camp as much to get their attention as to get them to play as a team. After Christmas, we ran off a 23 game unbeaten streak losing only the championship game to Minnesota and Natalie Darwitz.

In '08-09, it was a similar situation as the team started slowly despite having a boatload of talent. We started to turn it around after the New Year and really got going in February leading into the playoffs. Unfortunately, we ran into a white hot RPI goalie who beat us in the semifinals of the ECAC tournament in OT. It was a once in a lifetime game for them and a heartbreaker for us.

In both instances, I think Coach Stone and her staff had to work overtime to get the team to play as a TEAM. It may be the case this year. I really hope they do figure this out because when you look at how last year's team overachieved, this year's team should be embarrassed by what they have submitted so far.
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If there ever was a perfect example of "coaches truly need to believe in the team first concept as much as we did as players" NOT being embraced by a coach it would possibly be that 08-09 team. While the ideal team performs such that the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts, that team revolved on and off the ice around Vaillancourt and supported by a very select few other individuals to the detriment of the chemistry and functioning of the team as a whole. When the going got tough, running into a great goalie was the least of its problems. Over-reliance on few individual players making individual plays, particularly an overused and exhausted Vaillancourt, is actually not that difficult to defend against....late in the game/season. Players should never feel that they or certain teammates are bigger than the team. The responsibility for that failure is actually all on Stone.

A question of how and when to play them? If ever there would be a time to share the load, and other team members given the opportunity to perform to their potential, it would have been in the 8-0 thrashing of BU that season in the Beanpot. Nevertheless, vaillancourt continued to dominate in playing time throughout that entire game to the detriment of the team as a whole, and figuring into the scoring on every goal from 2 through 8. Team first? Belief in the whole team concept? Playing as a team? Puh-lease!!!!

Players are not stupid. You can parrot the words "team first" ad nauseum, but actions speak far louder.
 
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Re: Harvard Crimson 2014-15

You can see the BC game live or archived on a CBS-affiliated pay streaming site: http://www.collegesportslive.com/

A 30 day subscription costs $10, including the recent women's and men's hockey games against BU as well as the upcoming BC game. You do have to remember to unsubscribe during the 30 day window, since otherwise you'll be automatically renewed and your credit card charged.
 
Watson Rink said:
You can see the BC game live or archived on a CBS-affiliated pay streaming site: http://www.collegesportslive.com/

A 30 day subscription costs $10, including the recent women's and men's hockey games against BU as well as the upcoming BC game. You do have to remember to unsubscribe during the 30 day window, since otherwise you'll be automatically renewed and your credit card charged.
Click to expand...
No need to register -- BC women's games are free
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2014-15

TonyTheTiger20 said:
No need to register -- BC women's games are free
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Thanks for the tip!

I had had to pay for the women's/men's BU games last week and therefore never considered that the BC game by itself might be free.

Do I remember correctly that the upcoming NU game will also be streamed for free over NU's own facilities?
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2014-15

TonyTheTiger20 said:
Correct -- and it is top, top quality at NU.
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Right there, TTT! Northeastern and Vermont in Hockey East have set the bar, and they are both free. Quinny is right up there too. It is starting to be great play by play and color that sets them apart. I have been quite impressed.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2014-15

Trillium said:
If there ever was a perfect example of "coaches truly need to believe in the team first concept as much as we did as players" NOT being embraced by a coach it would possibly be that 08-09 team. While the ideal team performs such that the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts, that team revolved on and off the ice around Vaillancourt and supported by a very select few other individuals to the detriment of the chemistry and functioning of the team as a whole. When the going got tough, running into a great goalie was the least of its problems. Over-reliance on few individual players making individual plays, particularly an overused and exhausted Vaillancourt, is actually not that difficult to defend against....late in the game/season. Players should never feel that they or certain teammates are bigger than the team. The responsibility for that failure is actually all on Stone.

A question of how and when to play them? If ever there would be a time to share the load, and other team members given the opportunity to perform to their potential, it would have been in the 8-0 thrashing of BU that season in the Beanpot. Nevertheless, vaillancourt continued to dominate in playing time throughout that entire game to the detriment of the team as a whole, and figuring into the scoring on every goal from 2 through 8. Team first? Belief in the whole team concept? Playing as a team? Puh-lease!!!!

Players are not stupid. You can parrot the words "team first" ad nauseum, but actions speak far louder.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree with your assessment. That '08-'09 team did have some dysfunction. And there is no question that Katey plays her favorites. Much to the detriment of the team as a whole. I believe it has cost us on numerous occasions especially around playoff time. I've always said that one of her Achilles heels has been an over reliance on 'star' players while sacrificing team depth that really shows up in March when the team appears burnt out. Last year they had no choice because of a short bench. They don't have that excuse this season and I was hoping against hope that she would recognize this and play the whole team.

Perhaps today's game at BC will be a wake-up call. Who knows? I'm going to tomorrow's game; if we don't have a significantly better result, the season may spiral. I'm at a loss to explain the start to this year given the talent we have on this team. Something has to give and it may come down to the leaders on the team getting everyone on the same page. If that's possible.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2014-15

Skate79 said:
I don't disagree with your assessment. That '08-'09 team did have some dysfunction. And there is no question that Katey plays her favorites. Much to the detriment of the team as a whole. I believe it has cost us on numerous occasions especially around playoff time. I've always said that one of her Achilles heels has been an over reliance on 'star' players while sacrificing team depth that really shows up in March when the team appears burnt out. Last year they had no choice because of a short bench. They don't have that excuse this season and I was hoping against hope that she would recognize this and play the whole team.

Perhaps today's game at BC will be a wake-up call. Who knows? I'm going to tomorrow's game; if we don't have a significantly better result, the season may spiral. I'm at a loss to explain the start to this year given the talent we have on this team. Something has to give and it may come down to the leaders on the team getting everyone on the same page. If that's possible.
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OMG...what an old fashioned *** kicking!!

All that Assabet talent and they get 10-goaled?? [I guess they need Whistle-Boy]
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2014-15

The only losses on par with this in Katey Stone's career were a 10-3 loss to SLU in 1998 and a 11-2 loss to Brown in 1997. The worst losses since then were the 6-0 Providence game in the early 01-02 season and the two 6-1 losses to UMD in the 05-06 year, back when Harvard was more prone to having Olympic-year swings. Harvard had only once ever allowed more than 7 goals in a game since 1998 (the 8-5 loss to UMD in early 01-02).

Harvard will have to try to turn things around like the 11-12 Saints team that got slaughtered 6-1 & 7-1 in the regular season and then came back and ended Harvard's season in ECACs.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2014-15

Ugly looking score. This game is either a wake-up game, or just end the season game, because BC might be a better team, even a MUCH better team, but they aren't THAT much better. In following this team since '08, I don't think I could have ever imagined a score like that.
 
alslammerz said:
Ugly looking score. This game is either a wake-up game, or just end the season game, because BC might be a better team, even a MUCH better team, but they aren't THAT much better. In following this team since '08, I don't think I could have ever imagined a score like that.
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They are that much better.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2014-15

All that Assabet talent is correct but the problem is not the talent it is the guidance. If they were guided by their former coach you can rest assured the score would have been nothing like what just happened. Taking nothing away from the offensive powerhouse BC. Harvard is not going in the right direction they are getting worse instead of better. All that talent and 2 hour practices.....what on earth are you practicing....after that display I would have to say not much.
 
Re: Harvard Crimson 2014-15

alslammerz said:
Ugly looking score. This game is either a wake-up game, or just end the season game, because BC might be a better team, even a MUCH better team, but they aren't THAT much better. In following this team since '08, I don't think I could have ever imagined a score like that.
Click to expand...

The wake up call was losing to STL and they respond with a 10-2 beat down.......this team is going backwards not forward. Wait til tomorrow when the wheels really fall off the bus.
 
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