Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

Thanks wwhyte for the good wishes, and a blanket thank you to all, whether posting or not, well-wishers. It would be unseemly for me to keep reappearing, having announced my retirement. Above all, I do not want to freeze the thread.

So, there won’t be any phantom fourth line this year, I imagine, and I was all set to tout the potential reunion of Harvey with a healthy Crugnale back on a third line when I noticed that Crugnale is no longer on the roster. As for the first and second lines, I’m not sure any chemistry can be taken for granted (to say nothing of “granite,” as one is beginning to hear). Laing, Heffernan, Mullins seems stable enough, but Parker, D’Oench, Daniels seems a bit volatile, given positions, style of play etc., even for a Mary Parker to control, so I think we’ll see various mixes for a while. (What’s new?) On D, I hope the sophomore Ziadie gets some real minutes. We'll see.

Um, not for nothing but I checked the roster and there are enough forwards to fill out four lines. So I'm not sure where you think there will or won't be a phantom fourth line. Unless you were making a Halloween reference.

I also don't understand your reference to a Parker, D'Oench and Daniels line being 'volatile'. What does that mean exactly? What does position and style of play have anything to do with being volatile?

I'm sorry you are not going to be posting anymore and I hope you're okay but this post makes very little sense to me.

 

[Watson Rink]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

We'll see tomorrow what chemistry the initially constituted lines will have....I'm really excited about that! Although quite possibly the lines will evolve over the initial games.
Hope that, as an exhibition game, the limitation on numbers of players will be relaxed so that there won't be any need for healthy scratches.
And, just to reiterate for our brethren and cistern posters with allegiances to other schools who had a fluffy brouhaha over last year's EXHIBITION game, this is an EXHIBITION game. If they win, it was an EXHIBITION win. If they lose, it was an EXHIBITION loss. If they tie, it was an EXHIBITION tie. All on the same page about that? You're welcome.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

We'll see tomorrow what chemistry the initially constituted lines will have....I'm really excited about that! Although quite possibly the lines will evolve over the initial games.
Hope that, as an exhibition game, the limitation on numbers of players will be relaxed so that there won't be any need for healthy scratches.
And, just to reiterate for our brethren and cistern posters with allegiances to other schools who had a fluffy brouhaha over last year's EXHIBITION game, this is an EXHIBITION game. If they win, it was an EXHIBITION win. If they lose, it was an EXHIBITION loss. If they tie, it was an EXHIBITION tie. All on the same page about that? You're welcome.

Nailed it Watson!

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

Since Watson eloquently described how to gauge an exhibition, I won't go into that aspect of the game. Suffice it to say, it was fun to be back at Bright-Landry for another season. Rink looks great and they finally paved and fixed part of the parking lot.

Since this is going to be the first on everyone's checklist, I'll get it out of the way. Everyone played today and yes, we had a fourth line. The only two players who didn't dress were Mary Parker and Lexie Laing and I'm assuming it is because Katey wanted to see the freshmen in action. I saw both players at the rink and they looked fine.

Harvard came out flying and skated hard in the first period. Karly Heffernan got things going with a weak wrist shot from the slot that the McGill goalie mishandled letting it get behind her. The second goal was a thing of beauty on the PP with Miye D'Oench feathering a pass through two McGill players to Abby Frazier busting down the left side. Frazier roofed it for a 2-0 lead.

Second period saw McGill use the body more and pressure Harvard's D. They scored twice, once on the PP and both goals came after scrambles in front with poor clearing attempts by the Crimson.

Grace Zarzecki got the winner early in the third with Harvard shorthanded. She and Karly Heffernan applied pressure and when a McGill D slipped, Zarzecki corralled the puck, shifted by another McGill player and while falling and on her knees, roofed a wrist shot. Great individual effort.

Overall, it was a pretty good game. The D needs work. The freshmen had their moments, good and bad. Tse and Hallet looked okay on the blue line but I would not play them together as a pairing. Katey mixed up the lines and D pairings throughout the game so it was hard to get a read on anyone in particular. Maschmeyer and Tissenbaum split the goaltending and each gave up a goal. Maschmeyer looked sharp, especially her glove.

On to Hanover next Friday night.

 

[Watson Rink]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

Supplementing Skate79's comments:

Yes, with the two top line centers as the healthy scratches, we got no clues to satisfy our curiousity about line combinations. To address driventoit's concern about D'Oench and Daniels bookending the same line: Mullins often centered them, and they seemed to mesh all right. Just before Zarzecki's highlight reel winning goal, I was emboldened to expect a shorty when Katey rolled D'O and D together on the PK (they must have made the McGill power play nervous!)....but after they wore down the Martletts, out popped Heffernan and Zarzecki to continue applying pressure until it was just a matter of time for one of them to snipe one in. They really buzzed!

On D, Katey continued her practice of frequent single substitutions so that each player played with more than a single partner and most played both sides of the ice (though we know that EVER playing a defenseman on their off-wing is anathema to Claude Julien). Zladie often paired with Picard, Frazer with Mastel, but those weren't the only pairings by any means.

Katey played 7 D and rolled four lines at the beginning (with Mullins double shifting at center) but eventually went to three lines with the bottom five Fs rotating in and out on various lines.

As Skate79 observed, the lines and D pairings were definitely hierarchical, so that the last 5 players in the rotation were all relatively inexperienced, and on the goal against Tissenbaum I counted at least 3 first-years, possibly more, all out together on the ice in front of her. Presumably that won't be the case when (Mary) Parker and (Lexie) Laing return to the lineup.

All in all, a lot of fun today!

 

[Watson Rink]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

Any idea why the top two centers didn't dress tonight?

 

[alslammerz]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

Any idea why the top two centers didn't dress tonight?

Well since they also didn't play in the exhibition, based on your report, maybe they're not so-healthy scratches after all?

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

Well since they also didn't play in the exhibition, based on your report, maybe they're not so-healthy scratches after all?

I saw them at the rink during the exhibition game and I didn't see any crutches or slings so I'm not sure what's going on.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

sounds good. did they install any heating equipment? $44 billion and no heat in the rink is a bit puzzling.
maybe they could consult with Merrimack and find out how heating works in a rink...and while they're talking Harvard can tell Merrimack how lights work.

the great thing about Women's Hockey is that 99% of the players are great kids. glad you had a good time. get set to go back to the Frozen Four. on paper (at least) it looks like a repeat of last year.

There is heat for sure but we like to keep the rink cold because it keeps the ice hard and fast. Plays to the strength of the team.

Not sure we'll be back to the FF. We got hit hard by graduation. Although we have a number of returning starters, we lack the depth of last year's team. We'll be good, just not sure how good.

 

[HockeyEast33]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

I saw them at the rink during the exhibition game and I didn't see any crutches or slings so I'm not sure what's going on.

Well, they both have extensive concussion histories. If it's not a disciplinary/academic issue (seems unlikely for these two kids - model citizens) and there are no obvious slings, crutches, etc. then concussion would be my guess. Hope they get back on the ice soon - a pleasure watching them play.

 

[Ted Knight]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

Well, they both have extensive concussion histories. If it's not a disciplinary/academic issue (seems unlikely for these two kids - model citizens) and there are no obvious slings, crutches, etc. then concussion would be my guess. Hope they get back on the ice soon - a pleasure watching them play.

Wow, this is how the rumor mill starts. with all of the inside info many have on this board i'm surprised people don't know what's wrong. it's not major news. they'll be back in the next couple of weeks.
if last season proved anything it's that the beginning of the year means nothing. Harvard will be there in NH in March...not a Nostradamus-like prediction. solid team...better than solid goalie.

 

[HockeyEast33]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

Wow, this is how the rumor mill starts. with all of the inside info many have on this board i'm surprised people don't know what's wrong. it's not major news. they'll be back in the next couple of weeks.
if last season proved anything it's that the beginning of the year means nothing. Harvard will be there in NH in March...not a Nostradamus-like prediction. solid team...better than solid goalie.

Ted, we don't have your national team connections so we don't know what is going on, but when a top 5 ranked team in the nation has their top 2 centers sitting in the stands for games it is major news (at least within the world of women's ice hockey). That's why folks post about it and speculate - sorry it is not to your liking (and it is indeed why rumors start - welcome to the world). Disclosure of course always clears up rumors, but it can start other discussions.

I'm not at all convinced that Harvard (even with the missing two) will be a Final Four team again - don't have near the skill or depth of last year's team. Even without Laing and Parker, I would have expected them to find a way to handle Dartmouth. But as you suggest, time will tell.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

Well, they both have extensive concussion histories. If it's not a disciplinary/academic issue (seems unlikely for these two kids - model citizens) and there are no obvious slings, crutches, etc. then concussion would be my guess. Hope they get back on the ice soon - a pleasure watching them play.

Very true although I didn't know that Lexie had prior concussion issues. You can add Maschmeyer to that list as well. I too was disappointed in the Dartmouth result. We had enough talent on the roster to win that game. It's not unusual for the team to get off to a slow start. We'll see what they look like in February.

And for the record, I wasn't trying to spread rumors. I was merely speculating based on what I saw at the rink. I have no confidential informants other than family or friends of the players.

 

[Ted Knight]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

Ted, we don't have your national team connections so we don't know what is going on, but when a top 5 ranked team in the nation has their top 2 centers sitting in the stands for games it is major news (at least within the world of women's ice hockey). That's why folks post about it and speculate - sorry it is not to your liking (and it is indeed why rumors start - welcome to the world). Disclosure of course always clears up rumors, but it can start other discussions.

I'm not at all convinced that Harvard (even with the missing two) will be a Final Four team again - don't have near the skill or depth of last year's team. Even without Laing and Parker, I would have expected them to find a way to handle Dartmouth. But as you suggest, time will tell.

I don't have any more contacts than you do...i'm somewhat sure of that. I knew as soon as I submitted the post that it would be taken by some the way you took it. what I meant was that lots of people know the 2 problems. with your vast contact list it wont be too tough to find out. I wouldn't elaborate out of respect to the players and team. don't get me wrong, I want BC to beat them 10-2 every time they play but disclosing injuries are another story.

 

[papulaisle]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

Very true although I didn't know that Lexie had prior concussion issues. You can add Maschmeyer to that list as well. I too was disappointed in the Dartmouth result. We had enough talent on the roster to win that game. It's not unusual for the team to get off to a slow start. We'll see what they look like in February.

And for the record, I wasn't trying to spread rumors. I was merely speculating based on what I saw at the rink. I have no confidential informants other than family or friends of the players.

To wit: For many years I believed that somewhere on a bulletin board in the H. locker room it was written- " ... its best to get off to a slow start". So, Amen to that, Skate.

It would INFURIATE me yr. seemingly l a c k s i d a s i c a l attitude. Ho hum- we are, after all ... Harvard. We don't rush.
Ick.

It seemed as if the H. women, team and coaches, were purposely dragging along in order to show disdain for the rest of the sporting world and its need for results. We're Harvard and we're going to advance here at our own lei sur el y pace. Ugh.

So maybe the loss in Hanover was just ... more of the same.

 

[Ted Knight]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

To wit: For many years I believed that somewhere on a bulletin board in the H. locker room it was written- " ... its best to get off to a slow start". So, Amen to that, Skate.

It would INFURIATE me yr. seemingly l a c k s i d a s i c a l attitude. Ho hum- we are, after all ... Harvard. We don't rush.
Ick.

It seemed as if the H. women, team and coaches, were purposely dragging along in order to show disdain for the rest of the sporting world and its need for results. We're Harvard and we're going to advance here at our own lei sur el y pace. Ugh.

So maybe the loss in Hanover was just ... more of the same.

or maybe Dartmouth was better than you without your 1st and 2nd line centers. yeah, that's it.
it's okay to admit it. after all, your school is the number 1 breeder of Psycho Psychiatrists...among other things

 

[alslammerz]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

or maybe Dartmouth was better than you without your 1st and 2nd line centers. yeah, that's it.
it's okay to admit it. after all, your school is the number 1 breeder of Psycho Psychiatrists...among other things

Papu's a Dartmouth fan, so there's that.

 

[Ted Knight]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

Papu's a Dartmouth fan, so there's that.

maybe it s an ivy thing then...UGH

 

[Veritas]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

Update re tonight:

I just received this email from the Harvard Ticket office that went out to all season ticket holders:

"Good Morning Crimson Fans,

We are reaching out to let you know that the cost to park for the Women’s Hockey game this evening will be $20 due to the Football game against Dartmouth.

You will still be able to park within Gate 8 but at the $20 rate.

We apologize for the inconvenience. The price increase occurs only when there is a Men’s athletic competition that overlaps with a Women’s home game."

I did call Greg Collins at the ticket office and he told me that the Winter Parking passes will be valid without surcharges. He also suggested getting to Bright early.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson - 2015-2016

To wit: For many years I believed that somewhere on a bulletin board in the H. locker room it was written- " ... its best to get off to a slow start". So, Amen to that, Skate.

It would INFURIATE me yr. seemingly l a c k s i d a s i c a l attitude. Ho hum- we are, after all ... Harvard. We don't rush.
Ick.

It seemed as if the H. women, team and coaches, were purposely dragging along in order to show disdain for the rest of the sporting world and its need for results. We're Harvard and we're going to advance here at our own lei sur el y pace. Ugh.

So maybe the loss in Hanover was just ... more of the same.

Pap, you and I have had our back and forth exchanges over the years. I do respect your reaching out to me when things get a bit heated as they often due in these forums. And I know a lot of what you post is tongue in cheek which some on this board don't get about you. So I'll refrain from taking a shot here because I know my team and coach and I know that come February, they'll be a better team than what they showed in Hanover. In fact, they'll be a much better team when the Greenies come to Cambridge.