Panthers right on schedule for a 20-loss season. Problem? No! Actually an accomplishment! Extremely difficult to so quickly become consistently bad at a level where every team has basically the same range and types of players. Unreal!
The announcers for the Norwich game last night --- much better and knowledgeable than the garden-variety commentary you get on these games --- were very direct in laying the blame right at the feet of the current Middlebury coach.
They observed that Middlebury has many strong players (skating, skill level, speed, size, etc.) and could not understand how poorly they work together, move the puck and flow as a team. Sure, they make the same mistake many observers do --- confusing physical ability with hockey IQ --- but that is for another day …. And why it is so important, and a huge differentiator, to have good coaching at this level.
Late in the game, they called out the Panther coach for conveying a profile of “giving up” and observed that this attitude flows to the team. Agree!
Players respond to leadership. Without it --- you consistently lose.
Again --- I watch these games. Every team has the same type of players. There is general parity across all rosters. Sure, a team here and there has a better group on a given year, but no team --- especially a team with Middlebury’s cache --- should be losing at such a consistent rate. Coaching is absolutely the problem.
Blaming the admissions department is a joke. Middlebury has players of equal talent to their competition. They just are not coached. Not at all.
Announcers last night were “shocked” at how inept the Middlebury power play operates. They are now something like 1 for 43. A shockingly dismal ~2% efficiency rate. Unreal! Another accomplishment? Yes, it is really hard to be this bad.
No puck movement, bad angle slap shots off shin guards, five guys standing on the perimeter, same cast of characters paraded out for every opportunity. What do they do at practice? Does anyone focus on this? Film work? New group? Anything …
Oh well, coach will remind the remaining faithful that “we worked hard”, “went toe-to-toe with a top ranked team”, “outshot this one or that one” (big deal), “we are improving”, “we have a fine group of student athletes”, and on and on … Complete nonsense!
Beaney would have someone by the throat …. He never spinned moral victories …. Never!
They keep score for a reason.
Fire the coach or the AD for hiring him … or both …. Or … melt the ice and turn the building into a sanctuary student center preaching diversity and inclusiveness and downplay competition and keeping score. Teach effort over results, and have weekend kumbaya sing alongs …. More people would attend --- count on it!
Last point(for now) --- at the end of the game last night --- 5 seconds remaining in a 5-1 game --- a Norwich player completely leveled a Middlebury player --- who was upright in no-mans-land, 2 feet off the boards with his head down in the corner--- with a 5 step cheap shot. What was Middlebury response? Nothing, absolutely nothing! The coach stood on the bench with his arms folded, the players on the bench stared at their skates, and the guys on the ice (including the Captain) did NOTHING! They stood still and lined up for a face-off, no response …. Unreal!
What should have happened (on a real hockey team with passion, heart and pride)? It’s obvious! The coach should have gone berserk and showed some passion … calling out the refs and the other teams coach … players on the ice should have gotten themselves thrown out of the game for going absolutely crazy in defending their teammate … the bench should have flew over the boards like they were shot out of a canon --- the state militia and national guard should have been called to get the Middlebury players off the ice …. Something, anything! We get nothing … a few frowns, handshakes, kind words, coaches and players milling around after the game sharing stories from the past …. The Middlebury Captain all smiles hugging people on Norwich …
Pathetic! Really Pathetic!
Beaney would have lost his mind … He also would have lost his voice screaming on the bus ride (if he still had a voice when he got to the bus) all the way back to the sanctuary campus!
That’s if he let them on the bus ….
Fire someone --- please!
