Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

From above, Skate..."We don't have enough firepower to go toe to toe with Cornell or Minnesota." (or Dartmouth...)

Easy. Ver.
U all lookin' only at Minn.


See u in Hanover.

I do wish WE had this Fry gal!

Maniac

I think Harvard has enough to beat Dartmouth. They had the better of the scoring chances, just couldn't finish. I would not put Dartmouth in a class with Minnesota or Cornell despite the Green's victory over the Big Red earlier this month. Holdcroft played very well; without her, the game would have gone to the Crimson.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Great, great game this afternoon at Bright. Harvard skated with Minnesota for the most part and had their scoring chances. But the quality of the chances belonged to Minnesota. They are so fast and move the puck with tremendous speed and accuracy. Harvard again matched their effort and had their own opportunities but again, the quality was the difference.

Bellamy stood on her head; easily her best game in a Harvard uniform. Nora Raty was a cool cucumber and never got rattled by anything Harvard threw at her. You really have to beat her with a high quality shot to have any hope of winning.

We lost Michelle Picard again with an ankle injury. I doubt she'll be back before January. She was in a lot of pain leaving the ice.

I don't think Harvard will have much left in the tank for tomorrow's rematch. Katy Stone shortened her bench for the last half of the third period and the first line played the last 3 minutes due to a Gopher penalty and the ensuing extra skater for the goalie pull. They were clearly gassed in the last minute of the game. Jillian Dempsey took a vicious beating the entire game but kept on coming with relentless passion and energy. I don't know how she will get up out of bed tomorrow. Harvard's lack of depth really hurts them in games like this. We can't match lines because Minnesota was rolling four lines all afternoon (and by the way, their fourth line is better than most second and first lines in the ECAC).

That said, I would really love to see more of Minnesota and Wisconsin. These teams bring out the best in Harvard and they are fun games to watch even if the wrong team won today (sorry brookyone and ARM!).

 

[ARM]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

We can't match lines because Minnesota was rolling four lines all afternoon (and by the way, their fourth line is better than most second and first lines in the ECAC).

Minnesota has a couple of skaters out this weekend, one of their senior D and the 4th line center. From what I could gather from the audio, they were using the 3rd-line center between both the 3rd and 4th line wings. Maybe they had other people double-shifting as well, I don't know, but I think they played 11 forwards.

That said, I would really love to see more of Minnesota and Wisconsin. These teams bring out the best in Harvard and they are fun games to watch even if the wrong team won today (sorry brookyone and ARM!).

Harvard/Minnesota has usually produced good games over the years because both tend to feature speed and want to get up and down the ice, rather than pack five skaters around their own net in the hope of winning a 1-0 game. I certainly understand the "wrong team" perspective in the Harvard thread.

 

[D2D]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Harvard/Minnesota has usually produced good games over the years because both tend to feature speed and want to get up and down the ice, rather than pack five skaters around their own net in the hope of winning a 1-0 game.

The Crimson may not be packing five skaters around their own net, but whatever the heck they're doing seems to have worked very well defensively. They've somehow managed to limit the Gophers to just 2 total goals the last 3 games they've hosted them at Bright.

 

[papulaisle]

Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Would enjoy Crimson win today. Are capable of it (A R E.)
Home ice to protect?

Much of contests desire, determination.
As they say, get your team ready to play.
How do we accomplish that here?

?

Perhaps, appeal to names in H. pantheon already?
I donno. How would u stir these women?
Deal individually? Create the appropriate winning atmosphere? And what would that be?
Carefree, likely.
F U N, methinks...



Nice- NICE, description of walking to game!

 

[ARM]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Much of contests desire, determination.
As they say, get your team ready to play.
How do we accomplish that here?

?

Perhaps, appeal to names in H. pantheon already?
I donno. How would u stir these women?
Deal individually? Create the appropriate winning atmosphere? And what would that be?
Carefree, likely.
F U N, methinks...

Crimson -- feel free to use papulaisle's motivational speech on Wednesday as well.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Would enjoy Crimson win today. Are capable of it (A R E.)
Home ice to protect?

Much of contests desire, determination.
As they say, get your team ready to play.
How do we accomplish that here?

?

Perhaps, appeal to names in H. pantheon already?
I donno. How would u stir these women?
Deal individually? Create the appropriate winning atmosphere? And what would that be?
Carefree, likely.
F U N, methinks...



Nice- NICE, description of walking to game!

Sorry it didn't turn out like you wanted papulaisle. If it's any consolation, I would enjoy a Crimson W in their next game.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

The Crimson may not be packing five skaters around their own net, but whatever the heck they're doing seems to have worked very well defensively. They've somehow managed to limit the Gophers to just 2 total goals the last 3 games they've hosted them at Bright.

Not today. As I suspected, they gave it everything they had yesterday and had nothing left over for today. Can't blame them really. They don't have the talent or depth of prior teams to compete with the top teams especially out west. We're down to 15 skaters because Picard is hurt and Baumgartner has an injury that prevents her from playing even though she is suiting up. That makes it hard to go against teams with depth and talent like Minnesota.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Crimson -- feel free to use papulaisle's motivational speech on Wednesday as well.

Last Wednesday's game is motivation enough to take down the Green in Hanover.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

$15 for Gopher tickets. Wow. Maybe that is to make up for all the Freebies for others .

And to top that off, on Sunday there was a $10.00 fee to pahk in Hahvad Yahd

Thankfully I was able to take advantage of some Minny contacts and secure a spot on the comp list (many thanks, BTW!), or it is a $40 proposition for 2 people to see a women's hockey game with a reported 559 other people. Really? When they (meaning any venue) sell out, then feel free to charge whatever price, but who can (wants to) afford to go to games at that price on a regular basis? I enjoy watching games, but I would happily trade the fancy, multipage "free" color game program for $8 or $10 of my money back.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

was just looking at box scores, and it slipped my mind until seeing them, but late in the game yesterday, Dempsey was whistled for goaltender interference - in her own defensive end????? I have been at this game for a long time, and never knew a penalty could be called for an infraction against a teammate. Anyone?

 

[ARM]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

was just looking at box scores, and it slipped my mind until seeing them, but late in the game yesterday, Dempsey was whistled for goaltender interference - in her own defensive end????? I have been at this game for a long time, and never knew a penalty could be called for an infraction against a teammate. Anyone?

Per the U of M broadcast, she made contact with Räty at the other end. The result was a delayed penalty, and the puck was moved down to the Harvard end before the play was whistled.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Per the U of M broadcast, she made contact with Räty at the other end. The result was a delayed penalty, and the puck was moved down to the Harvard end before the play was whistled.

We were sitting directly behind Harvard goaltender Bellamy, and I didn't notice the delayed penalty arm up, but coincidently, Dempsey cruised through the crease and kind of jostled Bellamy just prior to the whistle. Guess it would have been a good time to watch the play off the puck!

 

[brookyone]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Thankfully I was able to take advantage of some Minny contacts and secure a spot on the comp list (many thanks, BTW!), or it is a $40 proposition for 2 people to see a women's hockey game with a reported 559 other people.

I repeat......

 

[D2D]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Thankfully I was able to take advantage of some Minny contacts and secure a spot on the comp list...

Hope for your sake that a couple of Canadians who regularly peruse the Forum didn't see that!

Here's gocrimson's recap of the second game:
http://www.gocrimson.com/sports/wice/2011-12/releases/20111127hgow4p

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

And to top that off, on Sunday there was a $10.00 fee to pahk in Hahvad Yahd

Thankfully I was able to take advantage of some Minny contacts and secure a spot on the comp list (many thanks, BTW!), or it is a $40 proposition for 2 people to see a women's hockey game with a reported 559 other people. Really? When they (meaning any venue) sell out, then feel free to charge whatever price, but who can (wants to) afford to go to games at that price on a regular basis? I enjoy watching games, but I would happily trade the fancy, multipage "free" color game program for $8 or $10 of my money back.

If you parked in the Yard, then the fee was certainly more than $10 as it is illegal to do so (in fact, you can't get into the Yard any more during regular school sessions unless you are a University employee I believe or are picking up a student at the end of the school year).

While I agree that $15 is a steep price for a women's hockey game that doesn't sell out, the cost of operating Bright has gone up considerably in the past few years making it necessary to charge higher prices. Parking is what it is. If you parked over at the Business School parking lot across the street, it would have cost you $5.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Hope for your sake that a couple of Canadians who regularly peruse the Forum didn't see that!

Here's gocrimson's recap of the second game:
http://www.gocrimson.com/sports/wice/2011-12/releases/20111127hgow4p

Well I did wear the Gopher T-shirt that I bought during my trip out there last week! (Under my jacket, of course!)

 

[DC78-82]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

If you parked in the Yard, then the fee was certainly more than $10 as it is illegal to do so (in fact, you can't get into the Yard any more during regular school sessions unless you are a University employee I believe or are picking up a student at the end of the school year).

A tongue in cheek reference to the Boston accent. To me it's all Harvard Yard

While I agree that $15 is a steep price for a women's hockey game that doesn't sell out, the cost of operating Bright has gone up considerably in the past few years making it necessary to charge higher prices. Parking is what it is. If you parked over at the Business School parking lot across the street, it would have cost you $5.

It's a given at this point that college Women's Hockey programs operate at a loss, but why alienate fans by attempting to recoup the losses from the few who go. I don't "have" to go to the games, particularly when UNH isn't in them, I choose to. It's a great chance to see other teams play, catch up with fans and parents with players on other teams, and see some more great hockey.

I can get into home games at the Whitt for nothing - I'm often there before the team to set up the merchandise booth and raffles, but each year I purchase 2 sets of season tix: one for me, and one for anyone I can talk into seeing a women's hockey game on the premise that if they see it, they will like it, return, and become part of the fan base. In fact, I just gave a ticket to a coworker who is a men's fan, but will be attending her first women's game this Saturday.

I understand the financial angle, but I think that regarding women's hockey, at this point the head count is more important than the dollar count.

As regards parking, sometimes there is no charge. I didn't have to pay Wednesday to park, but did Sunday. As I understand, there is a charge for parking when other events are happening simultaneously, or later that day. What I don't understand is why I have to pay for an event I'm not going to, because the "other" event seems to be the one they are charging for. If I knew in advance when they are going to be charging, I'd get there early enough to park somewhere else and walk.

BTW - It's not the money - it's the principle.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

A tongue in cheek reference to the Boston accent. To me it's all Harvard Yard



It's a given at this point that college Women's Hockey programs operate at a loss, but why alienate fans by attempting to recoup the losses from the few who go. I don't "have" to go to the games, particularly when UNH isn't in them, I choose to. It's a great chance to see other teams play, catch up with fans and parents with players on other teams, and see some more great hockey.

I can get into home games at the Whitt for nothing - I'm often there before the team to set up the merchandise booth and raffles, but each year I purchase 2 sets of season tix: one for me, and one for anyone I can talk into seeing a women's hockey game on the premise that if they see it, they will like it, return, and become part of the fan base. In fact, I just gave a ticket to a coworker who is a men's fan, but will be attending her first women's game this Saturday.

I understand the financial angle, but I think that regarding women's hockey, at this point the head count is more important than the dollar count.

As regards parking, sometimes there is no charge. I didn't have to pay Wednesday to park, but did Sunday. As I understand, there is a charge for parking when other events are happening simultaneously, or later that day. What I don't understand is why I have to pay for an event I'm not going to, because the "other" event seems to be the one they are charging for. If I knew in advance when they are going to be charging, I'd get there early enough to park somewhere else and walk.

BTW - It's not the money - it's the principle.

Again, it isn't about a particular program, men or women's. The men's basketball team gets hosed even though they are on their way to a historic season. The University doesn't see fit to support the coaching staff with a recruiting budget so former players have to help out by making phone calls to alums like myself. Harvard is all about the bottom line and it's operating costs. Bright is expensive to operate; we longer can afford to operate a full JV hockey program which was once considered sacrosanct. It is a fact of life.

I don't think the head count is going to change regardless of the price. This is more about marketing and promotion. Earlier in this decade, we had more games that drew 1000+ especially when Dartmouth and UNH came to town. Not any more. 500 plus or minus 100 is about the norm and sometimes it isn't even that big. Fact is women's hockey is getting lost in the shuffle of other sports, college and pro. UNH, Dartmouth, Cornell and other schools have captive markets because there isn't much competition for the sports dollar. Harvard competes with BU, BC, Northeastern and our pro teams for every nickel and we aren't marketing demons.

 

[DC78-82]

Re: Harvard Women's Hockey 2011-2012: Taking the Next Step

Earlier in this decade, we had more games that drew 1000+ especially when Dartmouth and UNH came to town. Not any more. 500 plus or minus 100 is about the norm and sometimes it isn't even that big. .

Unfortunately, we are seeing the same trend in Durham