Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

[HUCrimson#1]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

Gratifying to see Ryan Donato and the boys hitting their stride with great wins over the weekend. Concerned now about the annual break for exams and what that does to the team chemistry and newly found momentum. Happy holidays to all!

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

Gratifying to see Ryan Donato and the boys hitting their stride with great wins over the weekend. Concerned now about the annual break for exams and what that does to the team chemistry and newly found momentum. Happy holidays to all!

Solid performance against the Tigers. I think shots were 31-11 after 2 periods or something to that end. Harvard spent minutes on end in the Princeton zone.

Yes, the break comes at a tough time, but at least we know and Harvard knows that they are capable at playing at a much higher level than they did for most of the season thus far. Always nice to head into a break with a 4 point weekend, especially one on the road!

 

[HUCrimson#1]

Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

Solid performance against the Tigers. I think shots were 31-11 after 2 periods or something to that end. Harvard spent minutes on end in the Princeton zone.

Yes, the break comes at a tough time, but at least we know and Harvard knows that they are capable at playing at a much higher level than they did for most of the season thus far. Always nice to head into a break with a 4 point weekend, especially one on the road!

Aside from tinkering with line composition the big difference over the weekend was starting Michael Lackey. Gutsy decision given NHL bound Merrick Madsen's ultra dependable high level of play. Starting Lackey must also be a factor in the newly found team energy. It's also advance prep for next year where a game tested senior goalie will be essential.

 

[Game0n]

Good to see the team getting the results we've expected. Our depth of talent certainly showed this weekend. Hopefully the momentum will continue as we could be short two or three players for the games in VT due to the WJC - 27 man roster should be published on Tuesday. And Donato could be going to the Olympics?

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

Gratifying to see Ryan Donato and the boys hitting their stride with great wins over the weekend. Concerned now about the annual break for exams and what that does to the team chemistry and newly found momentum. Happy holidays to all!

I wouldn't be too concerned. They needed a sweep to restore confidence. I expect they'll be looking forward to post Christmas practices and the tournament in Burlington.

Regarding players for the WJC - I expect Badini will get the call. Maybe Fox and Reilly Walsh? Not sure but it's always a possibility.

Do we have a goalie controversy? Is Madsen hurt? Or is Teddy sending a message to his senior that his play isn't good enough? Whatever, it certainly got the team's attention. Maybe this should be a harbinger for other players especially the forwards. If you don't produce, you sit.

 

[bothman]

I wouldn't be too concerned. They needed a sweep to restore confidence. I expect they'll be looking forward to post Christmas practices and the tournament in Burlington.

Regarding players for the WJC - I expect Badini will get the call. Maybe Fox and Reilly Walsh? Not sure but it's always a possibility.

Do we have a goalie controversy? Is Madsen hurt? Or is Teddy sending a message to his senior that his play isn't good enough? Whatever, it certainly got the team's attention. Maybe this should be a harbinger for other players especially the forwards. If you don't produce, you sit.

I think just Fox. Badini is right there and could go, but we shall see. Walsh is a possibility for next year.

 

[slapperjack]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

Good to see that Lackey finally got a chance to play. Hard for a goalie to show what they can do when they are sitting on the bench all the time. Same thing with the 3rd and 4th lines, not much quality ice seems to come their way.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

Good to see that Lackey finally got a chance to play. Hard for a goalie to show what they can do when they are sitting on the bench all the time. Same thing with the 3rd and 4th lines, not much quality ice seems to come their way.

Third and fourth lines generally don't see a lot of ice time. Blue chip prospects don't often find themselves as bottom six forwards. The one exception where Harvard is concerned happened in 1989 when Teddy was a third line left wing with Mike Vukonich and John Murphy. That line would have been a second or first line on a number of college teams.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

Fox, Badini, and Walsh make Workd Junior prelim roster. There should 1-2 rounds of cuts.

 

[Game0n]

Fox, Badini, and Walsh make Workd Junior prelim roster. There should 1-2 rounds of cuts.

I saw Johansson (USA Hockey) interviewed by the NHL network, this evening. He said they are targeting 13 forwards and 7 D for the final roster. The 28 man roster has 15 forwards and 10 D, so expect 2 F and 3 D to get cut on December 23rd

 

[bothman]

I saw Johansson (USA Hockey) interviewed by the NHL network, this evening. He said they are targeting 13 forwards and 7 D for the final roster. The 28 man roster has 15 forwards and 10 D, so expect 2 F and 3 D to get cut on December 23rd

Fox is a lock and a likely captain, Badini the 13th forward a la Vesey, and Walsh is likely a year away.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

https://www.nhl.com/news/oliver-wah...ospect-flashing-nhl-quality-moves/c-293738390

 

[Game0n]

https://www.nhl.com/news/oliver-wah...ospect-flashing-nhl-quality-moves/c-293738390

He's projected to be a top 10 overall pick. I wonder if he will make it to Harvard? And if so, for how long??

 

[bothman]

He's projected to be a top 10 overall pick. I wonder if he will make it to Harvard? And if so, for how long??

2yrs max

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

2yrs max

If that. I'm surprised he's coming to Cambridge. After Louis LeBlanc, admissions really soured on kids coming in for one or two years and then jumping ship. The way he talks about himself and his skills reminds me of Brad Marchand. Not that it won't be fun to see him play but for only one or two years, what's the point? We're not BU or BC.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

If that. I'm surprised he's coming to Cambridge. After Louis LeBlanc, admissions really soured on kids coming in for one or two years and then jumping ship. The way he talks about himself and his skills reminds me of Brad Marchand. Not that it won't be fun to see him play but for only one or two years, what's the point? We're not BU or BC.

And where is Louis Leblanc now? Leaving Harvard was a HUGE mistake that probably will haunt him for the rest of his life.

Don't disagree with the above, but Harvard will never be a mercenary program like Kentucky hoops or BU hockey. If there is one "one and done" out of a team of 30, I think Harvard and Donato can manage that. The culture will carry the torch.

 

[HUCrimson#1]

Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

And where is Louis Leblanc now? Leaving Harvard was a HUGE mistake that probably will haunt him for the rest of his life.

Don't disagree with the above, but Harvard will never be a mercenary program like Kentucky hoops or BU hockey. If there is one "one and done" out of a team of 30, I think Harvard and Donato can manage that. The culture will carry the torch.

Seems Louis is back at Harvard to finish his degree. Unlike some schools Harvard tries to select students who want their degree. It is not always done in four years, but Harvard is good about allowing students to finish what they ultimately came for, a college degree.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

This from a piece in the Boston Globe this week (the lead of course was BC hockey - what else is new?)

“We thought that we deserved to give somebody a chance to play,” Donato told reporters after the game. “We wanted more competition.

“We’re at a spot now where we’re still trying to form our identity as a team, and guys that go in and play the best are going to be rewarded with playing time.”

These comments came after last weekend's sweep of Quinnipiac and Princeton and referenced the fact that Lackey broke Madsen's streak of consecutive games played. None of what he said surprised me and if it makes some of the players uncomfortable, so be it. Time for some of these players to show they belong and start contributing especially since we're going to lose some guys over Christmas break and then the Olympics. From front to back, we need to continue what we started last weekend and carry into 2018.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

And where is Louis Leblanc now? Leaving Harvard was a HUGE mistake that probably will haunt him for the rest of his life.

Don't disagree with the above, but Harvard will never be a mercenary program like Kentucky hoops or BU hockey. If there is one "one and done" out of a team of 30, I think Harvard and Donato can manage that. The culture will carry the torch.

I like that phrase "The culture will carry the torch". I'm hoping that's the case as we go forward. Some guy on 98.5 the Sports Hub said this week he expects Ryan Donato to be in a Bruins uniform once Harvard's season ends. Not sure where he is getting his information or if he is just trying to throw stuff against the wall.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2017-2018

Seems Louis is back at Harvard to finish his degree. Unlike some schools Harvard tries to select students who want their degree. It is not always done in four years, but Harvard is good about allowing students to finish what they ultimately came for, a college degree.

I'm glad he's back finishing up his degree but he could have had a solid four years here improving his hockey ability while getting his degree on time and still had a shot at the NHL. I get that once on campus, Harvard isn't for everyone and people have different reasons for leaving. It's just that he came out before setting foot on campus to declare that he most likely was going to leave after one season. Admissions flat out hates that kind of declaration. A lot of work goes into selecting a class and some other deserving kid got bumped because of Louis.