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

[Skate79]

Good win today in Belfast against Merrimack. Unfortunately, our power play has gone as cold as the weather recently or this would have been a rout. Nice to see Casey Severo notch a hat trick. His third goal was a thing of beauty. Cam Johnson netted his first two goals of the season during the tournament. Overall, I'm sure it was a great experience for the boys. Also good to see Alex Gaffney back in the lineup. Congrats to both he and Jack Bar for their 100th game in a Crimson uniform.

Seems one of the weaknesses of the team is down the middle. We aren't getting production from Philip Tresca or Zach Karpa. Hoping that future recruiting will bring in some high end centers.

 

[Scoop85]

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.

That would be a grad year transfer due to COVID. I’m referring to “traditional” undergrad transfers.

 

[ROMD]

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.

I am watching the Blues vs. Flames game tonight and trying to imagine Coronato as Harvard Captain this year. He scored his 7th of the year beating Binnington cleanly even without any traffic. Just imagine him in D1! In all seriousness, perhaps the Harvard Mag article on Ivies in the time of the portal is spot on . . . time to switch to D3 and take on Utica and Hobart and throw in the towel on the Beanpot! That's especially true if the Ivies decline to allow Major Junior players as between that, NIL, and the portal it will be pretty tough to compete.

 

[Skate79]

I am watching the Blues vs. Flames game tonight and trying to imagine Coronato as Harvard Captain this year. He scored his 7th of the year beating Binnington cleanly even without any traffic. Just imagine him in D1! In all seriousness, perhaps the Harvard Mag article on Ivies in the time of the portal is spot on . . . time to switch to D3 and take on Utica and Hobart and throw in the towel on the Beanpot! That's especially true if the Ivies decline to allow Major Junior players as between that, NIL, and the portal it will be pretty tough to compete.

This is the problem Harvard will be facing now and into the future. Erin McDermott is in over her head as AD and will continue to stall on NIL. Transfers have never been our thing so that will also hamper us, especially if players leave for other programs. Decommits happen across the board and there is little you can do about it. The men's and women's programs are in a rut - the women look like they are headed for another 5-win season. Unless the University is willing to bend and make some concessions to what is happening in D-1 athletics, particularly hockey, then Harvard should think about moving back to D-II or D-III.

 

[Skate79]

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.

Thanks! Forgot about Henry. Glad to see he is getting time with the big club. And I should have remembered Marshall because I saw one of the Marlies' games.

 

[Skate79]

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

Callow seems to have little in the way of hockey sense. He doesn't go to the net very often and doesn't appear to be a very good skater. Not sure what they see in him but he has been a major disappointment.

 

[bothman]

This is the problem Harvard will be facing now and into the future. Erin McDermott is in over her head as AD and will continue to stall on NIL. Transfers have never been our thing so that will also hamper us, especially if players leave for other programs. Decommits happen across the board and there is little you can do about it. The men's and women's programs are in a rut - the women look like they are headed for another 5-win season. Unless the University is willing to bend and make some concessions to what is happening in D-1 athletics, particularly hockey, then Harvard should think about moving back to D-II or D-III.

Princeton just allowed 2 kids in from Major Junior for next year. Will Harvard follow suit?

 

[Skate79]

Princeton just allowed 2 kids in from Major Junior for next year. Will Harvard follow suit?

Great question. At some point, the University and specifically the athletic department have to make a call on whether or not they will compete to recruit and secure players using what is available to them (transfer portal, NIL, and now the Major Junior route). I can imagine that Teddy is probably quietly frustrated with what he sees going on in D-1 hockey as compared to Harvard. If he doesn't get some help from the administration, I wouldn't blame him for starting to look at greener pastures.

 

[bothman]

Great question. At some point, the University and specifically the athletic department have to make a call on whether or not they will compete to recruit and secure players using what is available to them (transfer portal, NIL, and now the Major Junior route). I can imagine that Teddy is probably quietly frustrated with what he sees going on in D-1 hockey as compared to Harvard. If he doesn't get some help from the administration, I wouldn't blame him for starting to look at greener pastures.

Aidan Lane just left St. Andrews for the OHL but still plans to go to Harvard per the press release. So my assumption is that Harvard is not going to reject kids that go the Major Junior route. I think you will see a lot of Eastern Canadian kids go to the OHL and QMJHL now as opposed to the USHL or even the BCHL so they can stay closer to home. Before that option did not allow them to play college hockey but now, it keeps the college hockey pathway open so they get the best of both worlds.

This past weekend was tough. On the positive, Harvard was competitive in both games, unlike last year where games were over so early and Harvard was clearly outskated and outcompeted.

 

[Skate79]

Aidan Lane just left St. Andrews for the OHL but still plans to go to Harvard per the press release. So I assume that Harvard is not going to reject kids that go the Major Junior route. I think you will see a lot of Eastern Canadian kids go to the OHL and QMJHL now as opposed to the USHL or even the BCHL so they can stay closer to home. Before that option did not allow them to play college hockey but now, it keeps the college hockey pathway open so they get the best of both worlds.

This past weekend was tough. On the positive, Harvard was competitive in both games, unlike last year when games were over so early and Harvard was outskated and outcompeted.

Agree on the weekend results. Was surprised that it was so difficult to score on SLU but Harvard is lacking the skill up front. Still, it's better than last season.

 

[Skate79]

Harvard has decided to join the NIL revolution so to speak...

NIL

 

[bothman]

Good game vs Quinny. I did not see a lot of high end talent on either team which is the biggest issue. Too many 3rd and 4th line guys being asked to do 1st and 2nd line things.

Harvard could have folded being down 2-0 but battled back which was great to see. Thought Charette looked great.

Harvard’s 4th line was invisible which speaks to the general talent issues Harvard has and a lack of depth. Harvard's class next year brings in some much needed higher end guys. We lose out on Veiulleux (Cornell), Katzin (Penn State) and most recently Morin (Dartmouth), but guys like Bracco, Gallant, and Stefanek will bring in some much needed talent. I would not be surprised if they bring in Drake Murray early as well.

 

[Skate79]

Well for 10 minutes at least in the first period, things were looking oh-so good. The Crimson were skating like I haven't seen them in a couple of years and the D kept their structure and the UConn forwards away from Ben Charrette. Michael Callow and Ben McDonald scored two beautiful top-shelf goals. It looked like we might come away with our first win of the season at Bright-Landry.

Then the roof caved in.

From the 10-minute mark of the first period until the end, UConn took over and blitzed the Crimson outscoring them 7-1 and outshooting them by a wide margin. It was a combination of the Huskies' speed and physicality that forced Harvard into ungodly mistakes that wound up behind Ben Charrette and eventually Aku Koskenuevo. Even with Casey Severo's power play goal near the end of the second period, you just knew that Connecticut would keep the pressure on for the rest of the game and breakthrough. Which they did.

Two big problems plague the Crimson beyond their D zone breakdowns. Their puck management is mediocre and that kills good scoring opportunities. And for some reason, each of the defensemen seems to think they are the second coming of Bobby Orr taking the puck from the D zone across center ice and refusing to hit their teammates with a simple pass that would lead to a scoring chance. Time after time, the defenseman who controlled the puck in the Harvard zone tried to lug it out instead of hitting an open forward. It was maddening. Why the heck doesn't the coaching staff pick up on this? For the first ten minutes, they made the one pass to spring the forwards, and boom, we were in the UConn zone attacking. Thereafter, it was all individual play which played right into UConn's D structure.

The Crimson can't compete outside of the ECAC unless they start reeling in blue-chip prospects. The talent simply isn't good enough to go toe to toe with a UConn team that admittedly is having an off year. And frankly, we're getting outcoached on a nightly basis. Which just should not happen.

Not the way to start 2025...

 

[Skate79]

Good game vs Quinny. I did not see a lot of high end talent on either team which is the biggest issue. Too many 3rd and 4th line guys being asked to do 1st and 2nd line things.

Harvard could have folded being down 2-0 but battled back which was great to see. Thought Charette looked great.

Harvard’s 4th line was invisible which speaks to the general talent issues Harvard has and a lack of depth. Harvard's class next year brings in some much needed higher end guys. We lose out on Veiulleux (Cornell), Katzin (Penn State) and most recently Morin (Dartmouth), but guys like Bracco, Gallant, and Stefanek will bring in some much needed talent. I would not be surprised if they bring in Drake Murray early as well.

Losing out on commits means that the coaching staff will have to work harder to make up for those losses. I hope they have other players they are tracking or can poach from someone else's recruiting list. I'm getting tired of continually seeing players de-committing and going elsewhere.

 

[PullTheGoalie]

I've seen UConn play a few times. They have several players I like but more telling is how they play. They keep coming. They make it hard for the other team. Not a good match up for you guys this season.

 

[Skate79]

I've seen UConn play a few times. They have several players I like but more telling is how they play. They keep coming. They make it hard for the other team. Not a good match up for you guys this season.

No kidding.

 

[LastRowRegular]

As I watched started to think about that Ohio State debacle. It's not that they quit, but the play becomes incoherent. (I feel like I'm talking about the patriots!) so... speaking of coaching, I never see anyone really develop under Donato. Joe Miller, for example. Is this just an Ivy League thing, given that academics get major focus, presumably? Is it coaching that's chronically underwhelming here at Harvard?

There's just not much energy at any level.

#beanpotdread

 

[Skate79]

As I watched started to think about that Ohio State debacle. It's not that they quit, but the play becomes incoherent. (I feel like I'm talking about the patriots!) so... speaking of coaching, I never see anyone really develop under Donato. Joe Miller, for example. Is this just an Ivy League thing, given that academics get major focus, presumably? Is it coaching that's chronically underwhelming here at Harvard?

There's just not much energy at any level.

#beanpotdread

I was just thinking the other day about the very point you are making regarding players regressing under Teddy. The player I was thinking of was Ian Moore. You can add Zach Karpa to that list as well. Both players have gone downhill instead of raising their games. I don't attribute it to academics. Some of it has to do with the supporting cast, some of it is the responsibility of the player and most of it is with the coaching staff. Supremely talented players like Jimmy Vesey, Sean Farrell, and Matt Coronato will push themselves to improve because they know the NHL awaits them. Others may not have that motivation. It's up to the coaching staff to get them to raise their games. Marek Hejduk is another player. How can a kid with his lineage be such a fundamentally unsound player?

 

[Skate79]

A nice weekend sweep of Brown and Yale at Bright this weekend. Doubly sweet tonight with Coach Cleary's 90th birthday celebration. It would have been a major downer to lose to the Eli. We outplayed the Eli for the first two periods until they scored on the power play. Philip Tresca's goal provided the breathing room and after that, it was just a matter of counting down the minutes.

 

[bothman]

A nice weekend sweep of Brown and Yale at Bright this weekend. Doubly sweet tonight with Coach Cleary's 90th birthday celebration. It would have been a major downer to lose to the Eli. We outplayed the Eli for the first two periods until they scored on the power play. Philip Tresca's goal provided the breathing room and after that, it was just a matter of counting down the minutes.

Glad they won. Lots of injuries right now (I assume). Ryan Fine, Alex Gaffney, Will McDonough. Bar & MacDonald did not play against Yale, but did play against Brown so I hope those are not 2 more injuries. It's a bit scary right now and the depth is quite limited with all of those guys out.