Harvard Crimson 2024-2025 - Will our Youth be Served?

[Skate79]

Figured I would get the jump on the new season by starting the thread with a look at renovations done to Bright-Landry over the summer:

Major Renovation Project Completed at Bright-Landry Hockey Center - Harvard University (gocrimson.com)

 

[Skate79]

And here is a look at the incoming recruits:

Men's Ice Hockey Announces Class of 2028 - Harvard University (gocrimson.com)

 

[Skate79]

Season is off to an unofficial start with last night's exhibition game against BU. Crimson more than held their own although the third period left a lot to be desired. Hoping that Matt Gilroy, ex of BU, can help there. Nice to see the frosh get involved early on. Hope it bodes well for the rest of the season. Aku is on his game and will be counted on to steal a few games this year.

 

[Skate79]

Season officially gets underway tonight @ Bright Landry against the Big Green. To celebrate, I thought it might be fun to look at Crimson players skating in the NHL and AHL.

Here goes:

1. Jimmy Vesey and Adam Fox, NY Rangers
2. John Marino and Alex Kerfoot, Utah Hockey Club
3. Jack Drury, Carolina Hurricanes
4. Colin Blackwell, Dallas Stars
5. Ryan Donato, Chicago Blackhawks
6. Alex Laferriere, LA Kings
7. Matthew Coronato, Calgary Flames
8. Alex Killorn, Anaheim Mighty Ducks

AHL:
1. Jack Rathbone, Rochester Americans, farm team of the Sabres
2. Sean Farrell, Laval Rocket, farm team of the Montreal Canadiens
3. Mitchell Gibson, Hershey Bears, farm team of the Washington Caps
4. Reilly Walsh and John Farinacci, Providence Bruins, farm team of the Boston Bruins
5. Kyle Criscuolo, Charlotte Checkers
6. Sean Malone, playing professional hockey in Switzerland

If I have missed any, apologies. I did this from memory mostly.

 

[Skate79]

Not a great way to start the season and it became evident early on that Harvard has a big problem again this year. They can't find the net. They either shoot wide and miss altogether or they shoot it into the goalie's stomach. And even though they carried the play for the better part of the second and third periods (outshooting Dartmouth something like 28-9), it was the lack of quality of shots that was troubling. They had high danger chances, they just could not convert. And I'm afraid this is going to be a theme this season.

Two other troubling aspects to the game. First, there was too much individual play and not enough passing to set up plays and create space. It was too easy for Dartmouth to bunch up in the middle of the D zone or simply ride a Crimson player along the boards. You can't create high quality chances if you don't force the D to scramble.

The other aspect was our D. Too often out of position, lazy in their passes, taking the wrong angle or inexplicably allowing Dartmouth to breeze into the zone and get a clear shot on goal. Mason Langenbrunner was one of the culprits but he wasn't alone. Louis St. Louis and Ryan Healey also had their 'moments'. Hoping that Matt Gilroy can work with these guys to put some structure into place.

The frosh looked good - Mick Thompson, Justin Sloveney and St. Louis looked very comfortable out there and I think their games will progress as the season unfolds.

What was surprising to me was seeing Ben McDonald on the fourth line. He scored the only goal and I'm not sure why he's in the bottom six. Maybe he had a slow start to training camp.

 

[Skate79]

Great weekend sweep, made doubly sweet by beating the Bobcats in their own barn. The frosh showed up this weekend and were the difference in both games. Like the way they hung tough at Princeton before ending it in OT. And of course the shutout in Hamden.

Wondering what's up with Alex Gaffney. Hoping he isn't hurt for too much longer. We could really use him next weekend.

 

[Skate79]

As good as last weekend felt, this weekend was a total downer. With maybe the exception being last night's tussle with Cornell. We went at them toe to toe and frankly, if we had scored on the 5 minute major power play, we could have won it in regulation. Cornell's physicality wore us down as the game went along which was probably expected. And we were a complete no show in OT.

Friday night's game was a huge disappointment. No reason to play the way we did and Aku wasn't as sharp as last night. Perhaps we were looking ahead to last night's game. No excuse. Gotta be better and ready to bring it every night.

UMass up next at their place and then it's off to Belfast!

 

[Kepler]

Harvard honored Schafer on the scoreboard. That is much appreciated. Thank you.

Harvard played us well; they controlled the game. Their game plan was well conceived and they had great discipline executing it. If we play that game 10 times, they win 7 of them.

Good luck, particularly in non-conference play. I always root for the Crimson in the Beanpot, so maybe that's part of the problem.

 

[bothman]

Harvard took 4 penalties 150-200 ft from their net against Cornell. End of story.

a few other thoughts:
- Ian Moore looks lost. Countless give away o blue line and did not pressure passer on tying goal
- Ben Macdonald has taken a big step forward
- love the freshman
- surprised callow on the line up. Seems to play at half speed and compete level

 

[bothman]

Harvard took 4 penalties 150-200 ft from their net against Cornell. End of story.

a few other thoughts:
- Ian Moore looks lost. Countless give away o blue line and did not pressure passer on tying goal
- Ben Macdonald has taken a big step forward
- love the freshman
- surprised callow in the line up. Seems to play at half speed and compete level

 

[LastRowRegular]

As good as last weekend felt, this weekend was a total downer...

The first 10 minutes against Colgate were refreshing; we were giving them real trouble until...we weren't! What a mood swing. In both games, the team started to look tired in the third period. There is no offensive player on our team that the opposition has to worry about. The penalty by Macdonald late in the third period led to the critical power play goal that cost Harvard the game. A tie score after 3 feels like a loss, even before OT beings. 3 on 3 gives me a knot in my stomach, and they are no threat in a shootout. It's baffling how poor their shots are, which is a reprise of my earlier comment on the lack of offensive play makers. I am always glad to be watching college hockey again in person, but I am growing weary of seeing the same issues year after year.

On another note, I had an exchange with a communications staff member over email about the lack of replays during the game. They have the beautiful new video board but after a goal, there were no replays to be seen! He indicated they were working through technical issues. I sure hope they figure it out soon.

 

[HUJFKLINE]

The first 10 minutes against Colgate were refreshing; we were giving them real trouble until...we weren't! What a mood swing. In both games, the team started to look tired in the third period. There is no offensive player on our team that the opposition has to worry about. The penalty by Macdonald late in the third period led to the critical power play goal that cost Harvard the game. A tie score after 3 feels like a loss, even before OT beings. 3 on 3 gives me a knot in my stomach, and they are no threat in a shootout. It's baffling how poor their shots are, which is a reprise of my earlier comment on the lack of offensive play makers. I am always glad to be watching college hockey again in person, but I am growing weary of seeing the same issues year after year.

On another note, I had an exchange with a communications staff member over email about the lack of replays during the game. They have the beautiful new video board but after a goal, there were no replays to be seen! He indicated they were working through technical issues. I sure hope they figure it out soon.

I too have missed videos replaying goals. Hard to understand it's a technical issue after seeing instant video of penalties and other plays on the ice.

 

[HUJFKLINE]

Season officially gets underway tonight @ Bright Landry against the Big Green. To celebrate, I thought it might be fun to look at Crimson players skating in the NHL and AHL.

Here goes:

1. Jimmy Vesey and Adam Fox, NY Rangers
2. John Marino and Alex Kerfoot, Utah Hockey Club
3. Jack Drury, Carolina Hurricanes
4. Colin Blackwell, Dallas Stars
5. Ryan Donato, Chicago Blackhawks
6. Alex Laferriere, LA Kings
7. Matthew Coronato, Calgary Flames
8. Alex Killorn, Anaheim Mighty Ducks

AHL:
1. Jack Rathbone, Rochester Americans, farm team of the Sabres
2. Sean Farrell, Laval Rocket, farm team of the Montreal Canadiens
3. Mitchell Gibson, Hershey Bears, farm team of the Washington Caps
4. Reilly Walsh and John Farinacci, Providence Bruins, farm team of the Boston Bruins
5. Kyle Criscuolo, Charlotte Checkers
6. Sean Malone, playing professional hockey in Switzerland

If I have missed any, apologies. I did this from memory mostly.

Here's a few updates: Henry Thrun is with the San Jose Sharks, Ryan Siedem is with Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL), Wylum Deveaux is with Maine Mariners (ECHL Portland) and Reilly Walsh signed with the Ontario Reign (CA) LA King's AHL affiliate. Also, don't forget Marshall Rifai, a regular D on the Maple Leafs' AHL team the Toronto Marlies. He's been called up at various points to play several games with the Maple Leafs.

 

[HUJFKLINE]

Great weekend sweep, made doubly sweet by beating the Bobcats in their own barn. The frosh showed up this weekend and were the difference in both games. Like the way they hung tough at Princeton before ending it in OT. And of course the shutout in Hamden.

Wondering what's up with Alex Gaffney. Hoping he isn't hurt for too much longer. We could really use him next weekend.

Alex Gaffney's absence is definitely hard for me to understand. One of Harvard's best clutch players, Alex had game winning goals last year against Cornell and St Lawrence. We could have used his feisty energy level, total commitment, and skill versus Colgate and Cornell.

 

[Kepler]

Don't see that every day.

 

[bothman]

Yes you do not. I assumed Veilleux was going to BC or Michigan. Katzin going to Penn St makes sense now that he is going MJ prior. I assume that the Ivies are not going to embrace this pathway.

Be interesting to understand Veilleux rationale.

 

[Skate79]

Don't see that every day.

Actually, you do. Case in point: John Marino, committed to Yale but then de-committed and came to Harvard. Matty Beniers, who committed to Harvard but then de-committed when the pandemic hit because the Ivies shut down for a season, went to Michigan. John Weisbrod, who got a full ride to Denver, de-comitted and chose Harvard instead. The list goes on and on. The Fusco kids, John transferring and Matt de-committing are another example. It happens. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. And hey, maybe we should talk with Ryan Walsh and get him to enter the transfer portal and come to Harvard. You poach, we poach.

 

[Scoop85]

Actually, you do. Case in point: John Marino, committed to Yale but then de-committed and came to Harvard. Matty Beniers, who committed to Harvard but then de-committed when the pandemic hit because the Ivies shut down for a season, went to Michigan. John Weisbrod, who got a full ride to Denver, de-comitted and chose Harvard instead. The list goes on and on. The Fusco kids, John transferring and Matt de-committing are another example. It happens. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. And hey, maybe we should talk with Ryan Walsh and get him to enter the transfer portal and come to Harvard. You poach, we poach.

I believe his point was that you don’t see Harvard commits flip to Cornell, not that players don’t often switch their commitments. While I realize you were speaking tongue-in-cheek regarding Walsh, don’t hold your breath. Outside of the COVID grad season, Cornell rarely has guys who are lineup regulars transfer. Clint Lewis, who transferred to Minnesota State a decade ago, is the last one I can recall.

 

[Kepler]

Be interesting to understand Veilleux rationale.

It may have just come down to timing: lineup depth and graduation slots (which could indicate he won't come until Fall 26). Maybe he really liked Casey but had no interest in Clarkson and, now, problem solved.

I'm less excited about churn among the Ivies than when we manage to dislodge a factory school commit.

 

[Skate79]

I believe his point was that you don’t see Harvard commits flip to Cornell, not that players don’t often switch their commitments. While I realize you were speaking tongue-in-cheek regarding Walsh, don’t hold your breath. Outside of the COVID grad season, Cornell rarely has guys who are lineup regulars transfer. Clint Lewis, who transferred to Minnesota State a decade ago, is the last one I can recall.

You had one transfer recently to Providence, I think. Not sure, but I remember the announcer saying that he was a grad transfer from Cornell. That I am sure about.